Song of the Day: Butter – Vessna Scheff

Beginning her artist career in San Francisco, VANESSA SCHEFF began playing ukulele after acquiring one from a thrift store for $14. Inspired by personal stories of growth and interpersonal relationships, she began writing intimate music and playing live throughout the San Francisco Bay Area at venues such as the Bazaar Cafe, The Fillmore, The Hotel Utah, and The Lost Church. In 2014, she began experimenting with visual art, utilizing projections in her musical performances and collaborating with dancers and poets in interdisciplinary performance.

In 2015, Scheff moved to the East Coast where she met and began collaborating with Lee Clarke, a Philadelphia based music producer. While in Philadelphia, she performed at venues, galleries and museums such as Johnny Brenda’s, World Cafe Live, Boot & Saddle, Urban Art Gallery, The Barnes Museum, The Affordable Art Fair, and The Philadelphia Museum of Art. In spring of 2022, she graduated with an MFA in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design, and is currently writing and recording her debut album titled ‘Nevermind the Moon,’ inspired by Adult Skate Nights pairing 80’s beats with 90’s R&B vocal melodies in a celebratory call for intimate connection.

Her single off this forthcoming album, ‘BUTTER’, possesses mesmerizing vocal harmonies, shimmering 90’s to early 2000’s synths, and an 80’s club backbeat, which drops you right into the feeling of swooning when you see your crush under the disco ball at the roller rink.

“This song is inspired by a desire to feel playful, fun, sexy, and confident while navigating being a caregiver during the pandemic. I wrote ‘BUTTER’ inspired by Adult Skate Night (unofficially known as Black skate night at rinks throughout the U.S.) as a dreamscape of the freedom found on the rink” Vessna says.

Together with her collaborator Lee Clarke, Scheff builds an electrifying current glistening with the anticipation and rush of pushing off the rink wall, and gliding into your confidence. Have a listen to ‘BUTTER’ below…

Song of the Day: Bibliography – Pete “Phatdaddy” Rudd

Noted for his for his lock it in the pocket style of playing drums, making the most-sampled drummer in hip-hop today, multi-instrumentalist PETE “Phatdaddy” RUDD is also one of the most celebrated and sought after musicians amongst some of the music greats in soul and jazz. He has performed and toured with the likes of Patti Labelle, Kool and the Gang, Chaka Kahn, Miles Davis, George Benson, Natalie Cole, Luther Vandross, Teddy Pendergrass, Pointer Sisters, Barry White, Donna Summers, plus so many others.

After rubbing shoulders with numerous prominent figures in music, Pete has decided to step out into his own lane to create his debut album titled ‘New Thing’, released in March 2023. Written, arranged and produced by the man himself, ‘New Thing’ represents the different styles and expressions of music that he has performed throughout his career, which spans over five decades.

Taken from the album, Pete presents his single, ‘Bibliography’. The title of the single perfectly reflects Pete’s long and varied music career as he intricately channels different elements to create a highly gleeful smooth jazz instrumental with heavenly topical tones, which immediately evoke a euphoric experience for the prospective listener.

‘Bibliography’ is available now across various music platforms. Have a listen below…

Connect with Pete ‘Phatdaddy’ Rudd via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/pete.rudd1
T: https://twitter.com/pocketisme
IG: https://www.instagram.com/petephatdaddyruddjrmusic/

Song of the Day: On The Low Klay Cartier

Emerging US-born vocalist and songwriter KLAY CARTIER‘s latest single, ‘On The Low’ is soulful, sultry and gyrating, loaded with lyrical sauce, with Cartier flexing his vocal muscles over a simmering and dreamy R&B beat. His voice is crisp and velvety, with a strong yet delicate sonic undertone that surrounds the listener.

Exploring the topic of forbidden love, Klay Cartier refuses to hold back, candidly referencing a lover who may or may not belong to him and their romantic explorations, emboldening her to keep their relationship ’hush-hush’ as they go about their provocative adventures. His dazzling candor is felt in his raw and unapologetic delivery, as his soulful voice oozes an almost effortless timbre alongside his vivid and sensual storytelling. It harkens back to the old days of classic R&B, emitting a nostalgic fervor that is hard to beat.

The Midwestern artist has gained support from numerous tastemaker publications, including CLASH Magazine, NOTION Magazine, WordPlay Magazine, Music Crowns, CLOUT, and more. With an almost irresistible and soulful allure, Cartier is influenced by the likes of Drake, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, and Stevie Wonder, creating music akin to artists such as Childish Gambino, Cimo Fränkel, and Frank Ocean.

‘On The Low’, is out now via Kult Klassic Studios. Check it out below…

MiParis Music teams up with soul songstress Carol Riddick for single, ‘I Love Me Too’

Philadelphia based label MIPARIS MUSIC has unveiled an anthem that will resonate with people around the world which comes in the shape of ‘I Love Me Too’, released 10th October. The single forms part of MiParis Smooth Jazz Compilation album Vol.2, set to be released in Spring 2024.

‘I Love Me Too’ features soul songbird Carol Riddick who showcases her infamous sultry vocals to proclaim love for herself. In a world which holds so much negativity that can have a knock effect on self-worth, the therapeutically soulful single also serves as the perfect ode to encourage every person to take a moment to appreciate themselves – and most importantly to practice self-love.

The single was written by singer-songwriter, producer and record label owner of MiParis Music, Michael Upshaw along with Right Side Music Publishing owner, Dexter T.Moore. Together they own 1 Vision Music Productions.

Michael Upshaw founded his record label MiParis Music back in 2011, after which he reached out to esteemed jazz/soul keyboardist from Philadelphia, Dexter T. Moore, to work with him in writing and producing songs that featured world renowned bassist Gerald Veasley, Grammy nominated saxophonist Gerald Albright, bassist for Will Downing and Richard Smallwood, Mark A. Walker and Grammy Winning Saxophonist, Kirk Whalum.

A prolific singer from Philadelphia, Carol began her career touring with Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith, aka Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince. The soul songstress went on to work alongside neo soul heavyweights Anthony Hamilton, Jill Scott, Norman Brown, Kindred The Family Soul, Jeff Bradshaw, Musiq Soulchild, as well as Chris “Big Dog” Davis and Kim Waters. She also collaborated with Grammy Award winning producers and songwriters including Multiple Grammy Winners, The Roots, James Poyser, Erykah Badu, and Eric Bellinger’s 2022 GRAMMY nominated album on the track ‘Shine On The World.’

Carol is coming to the UK to perform with Will Downing and Maysa at the O2 Forum Kentish Town on 11th March 2024 and Band On the Wall In Manchester on 15th March 2024.

Until then Carol Riddick spreads some love and positivity to the world, with ‘I Love Me Too, released 10th October across various music platforms.

Follow Carol Riddick via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/CarolRiddick.Vocalist/
T: https://twitter.com/carol_riddick
IG: https://www.instagram.com/carol_riddick

Follow MiParis via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/TheMichaelUpshaw/
T: https://twitter.com/MrSong2u4u
IG: https://www.instagram.com/miparismusic/

Jovian’s throwback-futuristic debut album, ‘JOVIAN 2000 AD’ was inspired by 70s and 80s sci-fi films

Hailing from New York City, JOVIAN‘s new debut album, ‘JOVIAN 2000 AD’, was inspired by his fascination with 70s and 80s sci-fi films. “I thought about how that alternate future would have sounded and created this body of work with that in mind!” He explains.

The ten-track throwback-futuristic album was first introduced to music lovers around the world with the single, I’m Ready’. The breathtakingly beautiful song was written by Jovian and Kay’vion and produced by Jovian and Blood Cultures.

It was then followed by the infectious “LASER DISCS.” “Laser Discs,” was the perfect alignment as the song came to be exactly when I had decided I wanted my album to be half R&B/80s Synth and half Hip-Hop,” mentions Jovian. “Overall it’s about begging for someone to see your perspective despite them being unwilling to, or maybe incapable of doing so! Despite that, the memories that were shared are still something to hold dear,” he adds.

However, it was the eighth offering ‘Oceans’ that sealed the direction of the album: “Oceans, was the first song I happened to write for the album once I discovered the direction I wanted to take my first body of work! It’s about a plea to the moon. Being in love with something you cannot attain, no matter how much you may desire it,” Jovian shares. The song was written by Jovian and produced by YZ,

‘JOVIAN 2000 AD.’ is out now via the December Records/SRG-ILS Group label imprint. Why not check it out below…

Must Listens: Ready, Guava, Oceans, Where’d U Go, Sha’s Outro