Jessie Reyez Debuts Her New Single/Video “Mutual Friend” and Announces Upcoming Album "Yessie!"
Grammy-nominated, 4x Juno-winning, singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez announces her upcoming sophomore album, “Yessie”, and has unveiled her new single/video “Mutual Friend”.
Grammy-nominated, 4x Juno-winning, singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez announces her upcoming sophomore album, Yessie, coming soon via FMLY / Island Records. In anticipation of Yessie – her first album in nearly two years - Jessie has released a brand new track, "Mutual Friend," proving yet again she is an unstoppable force. Yessie picks up where her 2020 debut studio album Before Love Came To Kill Us left off - a highly anticipated release from a now unforgettable era. Her writing on the new album captures the human experience in a way that is at once unique and relatable.
Jessie took the Jimmy Kimmel Live! Stage last week with a show stopping performance of “Mutual Friend.” On the record, Jessie clears the air to an ex lover and releases any lingering emotion she carries while declaring her independence – shown as scenes of beautiful rage, dying flowers symbolic of the relationship, and fluid dancing in the music video directed by Peter Huang.
After releasing two critically acclaimed EPs, Kiddo & Being Human In Public, Jessie released Before Love Came To Kill Us in March of 2020. Against unenviable odds, the album charted Top 5 on Billboard’s R&B Album Chart, amassed over 1.2 billion global streams, and earned the title of Top Female Debut Album and Top R&B Album of 2020 - cementing Reyez as a worldwide phenomenon. Last week’s Jimmy Kimmel performance is Jessie’s second on that show in two years and follows a string of late night appearances including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Late Night With Seth Meyers, and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. She made live appearances at 2021 Lollapalooza, 2022 Coachella and just opened on Billie Eilish’s Happier Than Ever world tour. Earlier this summer, Jessie shared her first preview track “Fraud,” which is at 5.6M streams to date and garnered attention from MTV, Hypebae, and Rolling Stone.
Watch the performance and “Mutual Friend” video and stay tuned for more to come soon.
Aura Blaze Shares His New EP "Open-Mindedness"
Award-winning psychedelic rock/dream pop artist Aura Blaze continues his kaleidoscopic musical and philosophical evolution on the illuminating new 3-song EP "Open-Mindedness".
Award-winning psychedelic rock/dream pop artist Aura Blaze continues his kaleidoscopic musical and philosophical evolution on the illuminating new 3-song EP "Open-Mindedness". Aura Blaze is the brainchild of New Jersey-based musician Rhode Rachel, who writes, records and produces everything. This EP, out now, contains two new originals as well as is a cover of The Charlatans (“The Only One I Know”).
Speaking about "Open-Mindedness", Aura Blaze says:
“Featuring 3 tracks packed with blazing energy, neon color, and a swirling galaxy of texture and innovative sound design, I can say with confidence that the Open-Mindedness EP is one for the record books.
Let the cover art speak for itself as a glimpse into the atmosphere of this release, with the sanctity of transcendental introspection blossoming radiantly through what Aldous Huxley would refer to as the “mind’s antipodes,” or the regions of the mind that one may reach through intense meditation or psychedelic exploration. It is an honor to offer Open-Mindedness as an aural adjuvant towards a deeper discovery of self, acting as a cosmic catalyst for elevated consciousness.
Originally intended as an early summer release, the recording process has been met with no shortage of setbacks, including an external hard drive that decided to crash at a significantly inopportune time during production. Thankfully, I was able to revive the recording sessions and I am happy to finally bring this EP to life amidst the adversity that challenged its creation.
Between the aforementioned crisis, changing careers, and buying my first home, it has certainly been a busy and turbulent year but eternal doth the ardent spirit rise, breaching heights unimagined, in the direction of divinity made manifest.
Suffice it to say, the culmination of the conquering of these respective trials and tribulations have refined the essence of the Open-Mindedness EP, shaping it into the strongest Aura Blaze release to date with respect to both production value and unbridled aesthetic. I am overjoyed at the prospect of finally being able to share these tracks with you. I thank all of you for your continued support as well as your patience in the interim. Rest assured the wait shall be worth it.”
Fans of trailblazing psychedelic pop rock artists like Tame Impala, Ariel Pink, GUM, The Beach Boys, MGMT or Pond should enjoy this release. Listen to the EP now, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with Aura Blaze on his website and social media.
K-Pop Star Wonho Shares His First Single Album "OBSESSION"
K-Pop singer-songwriter-producer, @official__wonho, has released his highly anticipated single album, “OBSESSION”. Consisting of two tracks written and composed by Wonho; “OBSESSION” is his first release of 2022, following the release of “Blue Letter” in September.
Singer-Songwriter-Producer, Wonho, has released his highly anticipated single album, “OBSESSION”. Consisting of two tracks written and composed by Wonho; “OBSESSION” is his first release of 2022, following the release of Blue Letter in September. “I’m grateful that I’m able to greet my fans with my first single album in the year 2022. It feels like we are starting a new year together! I'll try my best to show great things to you all this year” Wonho says of this release.
Named by Rolling Stone as the “singer who’s breaking hearts just as quickly as he’s breaking stereotypes,” Wonho is set to continue pushing his own creative limits by exploring different themes within OBSESSION. Wonho further explains the meaning behind “EYE ON YOU”; “Sometimes there are people who look at others with stereotypes, as if they were wearing colored glasses. In the music for "EYE ON YOU," you’ll see there are CCTVs that follow me, representing one's gaze. The track originally started off with the theme of one's gaze, but as I progressed with the songwriting, it turned into a topic that one could apply to various stories. In my opinion, it could also be interpreted as a love song, and apply to many different scenarios.”
The b-side track, “Somebody,” showcases a more vulnerable side of Wonho as a storyteller and songwriter. You can feel the emotions as you fully immerse yourself into the lyrics; “I'm all alone in the world full of strangers. Blank faces staring I'm patiently waiting. I need someone to hold on. Take me back to where I belong.” In an interview Teen Vogue, Wonho compares the feeling of being alone to a wolf; “the feelings behind these lyrics are comparable to the image of a wolf being alone, and left in the dark” he explains.
Listen to the “OBSESSION” album right now, stream it on Apple Music and connect with Wonho on his social media.