SUN's Upcoming EP "Brutal Pop 2" Drops on January 13th
Straight from the German Black Forest and Paris, brutal pop artist SUN has made a huge name for herself in the music industry with her in-your-face mix of metal and pop music. Continuing to fuel her fans with more of her intricate music, SUN is back with her new “Brutal Pop 2” EP dropping on January 13th.
Straight from the German Black Forest and Paris, brutal pop artist SUN has made a huge name for herself in the music industry with her in-your-face mix of metal and pop music. Continuing to fuel her fans with more of her intricate music, SUN is back with her new “Brutal Pop 2” EP dropping on January 13th.
“This is my second EP, and I would like to dedicate BRUTAL POP 2 to my dear cousin Karine, who passed away in 2017. Karine was a very talented painter who combined collage, painting and tearing up layers of paper to create breathtaking artwork”. SUN continues, “I only know how to express myself through my songs and since my first EP, so many untold emotions had built up in me.”
SUN meticulously wrote, composed, arranged and produced her “Brutal Pop 2” EP. She has finally, as she put it, “put on my producer cap, once and for all, and stopped hiding behind others.”
Be on the lookout for SUN’s new EP on January 13th; in the meantime, connect with her on social media and check out the first “Brutal Pop” EP below.
Noah Klein Shares His Brand New EP "whatdidyoudo2me"
“whatdidyoudo2me” is the newly released four-track EP written in the third person, with songwriter and producer Noah Klein as the deliberately unreliable narrator. Check out this DOPE new project now!
“whatdidyoudo2me” is the newly released four-track EP written in the third person, with songwriter and producer Noah Klein as the deliberately unreliable narrator.
The soundscape throughout the EP itself jumps from lighthearted to melancholic, and yet provides the perfect backdrop to the series of cautionary tales. The record was born out of an immersive musical retreat, where Noah invited producers Bearcubs and Aud Syn to experiment with sound production and vintage cassette recorders to find the EP's wide range of sounds.
Listen to “whatdidyoudo2me” right now, stream it on your preferred music service, and connect with Noah Klein on his website and social media.
Stream and Share “whatdidyoudo2me”
Connect with Noah Klein: Website | Instagram | Soundcloud
Emotional Oranges Share Their Last Project "The Juice: Vol.III"
Following the reveal of well received single “Let Me Go”, LA duo Emotional Oranges have revealed their new project, “The Juice Vol III”. Their final offering before promising to return with a whole new sound in 2023, this body of work captures the late night R&B vibes that have seen the duo pick up hundreds of millions of streams and embark on tours across the US, UK, Europe, Asia and Australia.
Following the reveal of well received single Let Me Go, LA duo Emotional Oranges have revealed their new project, The Juice Vol III. Their final offering before promising to return with a whole new sound in 2023, this body of work captures the late night R&B vibes that have seen the duo pick up hundreds of millions of streams and embark on tours across the US, UK, Europe, Asia and Australia.
Having collaborated with Vince Staples, Becky G, Kiana Lede, Chiiild and more, Emotional Oranges have left an indelible footprint on modern music since debuting with their hotly received first track, Motion. Since then, their music has been featured on such shows as Love Island and Gossip Girl, they’ve sold out shows tours in the US and Europe and built a passionate fan base. 2023 will see the duo fly to even great heights, with their upcoming Pulp Fiction tour set to span North America. See all dates below.
Not much is known of the LA-based R&B-Pop male/female duo, A+V. Described by critics and fans alike as experimental and futuristic, EO are the physical manifestation of alternative R&B, Soul and Funk. Provocateurs extraordinaire, Emotional Oranges have been unanimously lauded everywhere from Complex, Fader, Paper, VIBE, Highsnobiety to Hypebeast, BBC1, Triple J, MTV & more. They have established themselves as one of the most exciting new acts without ever truly revealing themselves. Their debut singles, “Motion” and “Personal” immediately created a cult following. The Juice Vol. I and Vol. II have amassed over 400 million streams globally. In June of 2021, they released their first collaborative mixtape, The Juicebox. With features with artists like Vince Staples, Channel Tres, Kiana Ledé, Becky G and more, the duo reached to shatter genre boundaries on the project.
Lollapalooza and Life is Beautiful kicked off The Sad Fruit Tour as A+V ventured across 24 US cities during the Fall of 2021. The Sad Fruit Tour continued in Spring 2022 with 12 dates in Europe, and two incredibly successful weekends in the desert at Coachella. They kicked the Summer off at Pharrell’s Something In The Water festival in D.C., followed by a co-headlining slot at Korea's Haus of Wonder Festival, 4 headline dates in Australia & New Zealand and a stop over in South Africa for a once in a lifetime festival slot at Rocking The Daisies. Rounding out the year with the release of the much anticipated The Juice: Vol. III, EO has never been more invigorated about the music they are making. The juice is certainly worth the squeeze.
Listen to "The Juice: Vol.III" below, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with Emotional Oranges on their website and social media.
Stream and Share "The Juice: Vol.III"
Connect with Emotional Oranges: Website | Instagram | Twitter
Grace McKagan Unveils Her Introspective Debut EP "Heart of Hearts", and the Title Track's Visual
Grace McKagan has stepped into her own with the release of her debut solo EP “Heart of Hearts”, and the music video for the title track. Check out both right now.
Grace McKagan has stepped into her own with the release of her debut solo EP “Heart of Hearts”.
The eight-track EP takes listeners through an introspective journey of self-realization for the 25 year old rocker and delivers a collection of work that combines a 2010's indie rock with 60's garage rock punch. Mixed that with sultry melodies and a bold yet retro vocal delivery, and you have a fully realized artist that is ready to be in a category all her own.
On her release, McKagan shares, "This EP represents softer aspects of myself. Listeners can expect a vulnerable and more honeyed sonic experience than they have ever received from me and my past musical projects. What I feel to be the whole ethos and resonating theme of this project is identifying with the commonality in all of us; insecurity, sorrow, heartbreak and kindness. Or perhaps, at least attempting to see the good in a world full of some many pre-disposed judgments and hate."
In addition to the EP, Grace has released a music video for the title track, which she shares is the most personal song she's ever written.
"I really always knew that I wanted the video to feature little kids at the end, when the song is peaking, and the lyrics echo 'When you see me, do you really see me?', the kids represent all of us, how we were all once those kids, and in our heart of hearts, we still are. We are those kids on the playground playing with whoever and expressing ourselves without the fear of judgement, we are naive to judgments and what people may say."
After fronting the critically acclaimed, alternative group, The Pink Slips, Grace is stepping out as a solo artist commanding audiences to rave reviews. Her vibrant sound is reminiscent of her musical heroes, from Iggy Pop to The Kills to Nancy Sinatra, intricately weaved throughout with her tough yet vulnerable songwriting.
Fans can expect more live performances, music and stunning visuals in the new year.
Listen to “Heart of Hearts” right now, stream it on your preferred music service, and connect with Grace on her social media.
Chicago Bedroom Pop Artist Walker Shares His Debut Album "Phew"
Songwriter and guitar virtuoso Walker Landgraf, who shares music simply as Walker, just self-released his debut album “Phew” independently.
Songwriter and guitar virtuoso Walker Landgraf, who shares music simply as Walker, just self-released his debut album “Phew” independently. He recorded, produced, and even mastered the entire album himself outside of a cello (Jonathan Gardner), trumpet (Noe Mina), and mixing by Daniel Hayn.
Blending literal bedroom pop production and classic R&B, the songs catalog a lot of Walker’s experiences over the past few years, from finally finding his “home” in Chicago after growing up in LA and going to music school in NYC to sorting through the bitter feelings that follow a break-up.
Atwood Magazine summed up Walker’s music well earlier this fall when they wrote, "his songs are catchy and fit into a greater pop frame, but within his music one can expect to hear everything from jazz, to blues, to classic R&B." Crossing over into other genres helped him to get on Spotify’s official playlist Fresh Finds Jazz too.
Citing artists like D'Angelo, Paul McCartney, and Shuggie Otis as inspirations, Walker is set on classic, soulful songwriting with a modern sound through (literal) bedroom pop production while recording and producing everything himself.
Walker said of the title and concept, “the album is called ‘Phew’ because it’s about the first time in my life when I stopped and took a breath. I had just graduated from NYU and moved from New York to Chicago. I slowed things down and took a moment to process my life up until then and take care of myself.”
He continued to describe the process, saying, “I made the album completely by myself in my apartment using my collection of drums, guitars, synths and audio gear The process was a lot about letting go of self criticism and just doing my best. I allowed myself to write about whatever, whenever. And at the peak moment of the recording process I was spending 5-10 hours every day.”
Walker started playing jazz guitar at 16 and then quickly picked up digital production and beat-making. As he studied music in college, he brings his adept skills as a multi-instrumentalist — recording every single instrument on his upcoming album at home — to create intelligent but soulful, pop-based music.
After working with two major labels for some of his previous singles and EPs, Walker proudly self-released his debut album “Phew”.
Listen to Walker’s new album now, stream it on Apple Music and connect with him on social media.
Review: "The Dancing Cavaliers" Album by KS
Los Angeles based artist KS brings the grooves in unexpectedly sly ways on his cinematic new album “The Dancing Cavaliers”. Check out our in-depth review of KS’s project now.
Los Angeles based musician/filmmaker KS brings the grooves in unexpectedly sly ways on his cinematic new album “The Dancing Cavaliers”. Forgoing vocals, there is a classic cool to the way that he stretches the rhythms out. Elements of trip-hop, folk music, electro, pop, and dance all blend together in this rather beautiful way.
The soaring elements have their own charm to them for KS possesses a great ear for melody, and various different details bounce off of each other. Instrumental variety ensures that the listener is kept on their toes for KS switches things up in a gleeful fashion. Layer upon layer is applied with the utmost of care.
Plenty of reference points exist for this rather eclectic mix. For the raw gritty approach, KS brings in elements of Portishead and the Sneaker Pimps into the atmosphere. Like those groups, KS certainly knows how to lay down the beats and bass in a way that feels quite natural. The work out of the dance rock mixture brings to mind a bit of DFA records output, though with perhaps a more surrealist bent. Despite these influences KS embraces a style that is distinctively his own.
Dusty beats and fanfare start the album off in grandiose fashion on “Boludo”. For the title track “The Dancing Cavaliers” KS brings together dance rock and funk in a way that has a fever dream quality to it. Light as a feather, “Nostalgia” has a delicacy to it. On “Dimension Latina”, KS employs quick, sharp edits. “Pop Stupide” has a lustful quality.
Going for something quieter and reflective, “Danse” begins quietly before working itself into a frenzy. Hip-hop aspects filter into the expansive “Gadabout”. Noir vibes with a hint of jazz comes together on “Mon Cul”. Keyboard chords swell on “Esperando” complete with a delirious soundtrack getup to keep it interesting.
Distortion defines the heaviness of “Lamento”. “Funky Church” is aptly named as there is a gospel meets electro aspect to it. Woozy synthesizers lazily weave their way through “Too Cute”. A mediative, reflective stance on “Topo” has an easy-going elegance. Completely spaced-out things come to a lovely conclusion on the finale “Soledad”.
A psychedelic swirl of sound, KS delivers a thing of exquisite beauty with his “The Dancing Cavaliers” album.
Stream and Share “The Dancing Cavaliers” on Spotify
High Vibe RnB Artist Mayyadda Gets in the Holiday Spirit with Her New EP "Holiday Joint"
It’s official — the holiday season has begun! Minneapolis-based alternative R&B artist Mayyadda is ready to set the tone for the season with the release of her new EP, “Holiday Joint”, out now!
It’s official — the holiday season has begun! Minneapolis-based alternative R&B artist Mayyadda (may-YAH-duh) is ready to set the tone for the season with the release of her new EP, “Holiday Joint”, out now. The five-track project was crafted to encourage listeners to focus more on the spirit of the season rather than the sometimes-stressful commercial aspects that are typically associated with this time of year.
On the EP, the high vibe R&B artist created an original R&B-soaked holiday track, “Holiday Joint,” about resting as nature does in the wintertime, as well as her original soulful takes on the Christmas classics “Jingle Bells”, “Winter Wonderland”, “Sleigh Ride”, and “Silent Night.” With her delicate guitar accompaniment and unique vocal arrangements, the artist seeks to provide listeners with a fresh perspective on the traditional sounds of the season.
As someone who doesn’t tend to subscribe to the tradition of this season, Mayyadda explains her intention and inspiration behind her new holiday EP, saying “I wanted to create a holiday project that my Grinchy self actually enjoyed.”
On Saturday, December 3rd, at the David Rubenstein Atrium, Mayyadda will close out the S3 Underground: Seen, Sound, Scribe series, hosted by Lincoln Center’s first ever Poet-in-Residence Mahogany L. Browne. Mayyadda will take the stage at 7:30pm and perform tracks from her previous album TRY&REMEMBER as well as her new EP, Holiday Joint. The concert is free and open to the public, find more information here.
Singer-Songwriter AV. Finishes Her EP Duology With the Upcoming Release of “Made Of Stone”
Singer-songwriter AV. announces the release of her second EP titled “Made Of Stone”, which touches upon topics unresolved from her debut EP “Guess I’m A Ghost”. The impending EP finishes the duology that is based around overcoming trauma.
AV. announces the release of her second EP titled “Made Of Stone” which touches upon topics unresolved from her debut EP “Guess I’m A Ghost”. The impending EP finishes the duology that is based around overcoming trauma. Set to be released on January 13th, 2023, this sequel EP is centered around self-growth and indifference, which was a critical part of AV.’s life whilst writing this project. In her final moments of highschool, AV. searches to find her true identity succeeding trauma.
The title track “Made Of Stone” illustrates the perspective of a young adult finding herself after having survived a traumatic experience. As the chorus goes, “Lately I’ve embraced the changes, so I went out and saved me, cause I once was a ghost, but now I’m made of stone” AV. manifests this viewpoint by describing someone who was once considered vulnerable to becoming indestructible.
AV. also touches upon how her trauma has impacted her in relationships. One song in particular, “Maddening Lullabies”, describes this with vivid lyrics like, “Reluctance fills my mind, should I say goodbye, I’ve been hurt before.” However, by the conclusion of the EP in the song “Who I Am”, AV. begins to find herself and sings, “My rusted armor feels brand new, I feel brand new.”
Similar to her recording process for “Guess I’m A Ghost”, AV. collaborated with Josh Preston of Me and The Machine Records in a two-day studio session in Nashville, TN.
Release Timeline:
December 2nd, 2022 - “Ghost Of You” single
January 13th, 2023 - “Made Of Stone” EP
Listen to “Made Of Stone” below, connect with AV. on her IG and be on the lookout for her next single, “Ghost Of You”, due out 12/2, and the “Made Of Stone” EP, coming on January 13th.
Connect with AV.: Instagram
Norwegian Band MARBLES Announce Their Upcoming Album "Humour", and Release the Music Video For "One of a Kind"
Norwegian band MARBLES announce their sophomore album “Humour”, which will be released in full on February 10th, 2023. They have also released a music video for their syrupy dream pop track “One of a Kind”.
Norwegian band MARBLES have released a music video for their syrupy dream pop track “One of a Kind”. This track, along with “Heading Out” and last week’s new single “World Inside Me”, will be appearing on the forthcoming sophomore album from the band, which is titled “Humour” and will be released in full on February 10th, 2023.
Hailing from Kolbotn, the black metal capital of Norway, the music of MARBLES sounds about as dramatically different from the stereotypical idea you might have of the music this nordic country tends to produce, with a colorful indie pop sound that bridges the gap between washed out guitar-driven dream pop ala Wild Nothing or Beach Fossils and the chilled out style of artists like Toro Y Moi and Glass Animals.
“Humour” takes their irresistible dream pop sound and refines it, with more focused songwriting and more richly detailed production. With "Heading Out", "One of a Kind", and now "World inside Me" all released this year, stay on the lookout for more new music in the new year before the album released in full on February 10th.
Watch the music video for “One of a Kind” below, stream it on Spotify and connect with MARBLES on their Instagram.
Stream and Share “One of a Kind” on Spotify
Connect with MARBLES: Instagram
LA Based Artist/Producer/Songwriter Caye Announces His First Ever Headlining Tour
LA-based artist/producer/songwriter, Caye (pronounced KAI), is thrilled to announce his FIRST EVER headlining tour. Kicking off in Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 1st at The Moroccan Lounge…
LA-based artist/producer/songwriter, Caye (pronounced KAI), is thrilled to announce his FIRST EVER headlining tour. Kicking off in Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 1st at The Moroccan Lounge, the tour will visit 10 cities across the US including San Diego, CA, Seattle, WA, Washington, DC and New York, NY before wrapping in Philadelphia, PA on Saturday, April 1st at Milkboy.
Tickets for the tour will be going on sale this Friday, November 11th at 10 AM Local time. See below for a full list of dates and visit HERE to buy tickets.
“I wrote these songs while imagining playing each one of them live. It really helped keep me sane over the last 1.5+ years, kept me inspired, gave me goosebumps at times, and made me fall even deeper in love with writing, producing, recording, and of course, playing music,” says Caye. “When others listen, I want them to be transported the same way I was when I was writing them—to a vibrant, exhilarating, sonically beautiful world that's totally immersive. I’ve been working on the live set for months now, and I absolutely cannot wait to share it in 2023.”
Last week, Caye shared his latest single, “SCARS.” Written and produced by Caye himself, “SCARS” reflects on how we are constantly rushing through life, focusing on moving from one thing to the next but never taking time to look around and live in the moment.
“SCARS” follows the previously released tracks – “MILFORD SOUND,” “DOPAMINE,” “SOME LAKES” and “WE LOVE PT. 1” – which will be featured on his upcoming debut album, We Love. For the first time in his career, Caye is leaning into what makes him unique, instead of shying away from it. On both a musical and personal level, We Love reflects Caye’s own experiences as a creative and as a person. With this project, he feels at home singing over wavy didgeridoo lines, sultry piano, and rock inspired production, but it’s the lyrics, themes, and genre-less blend of influences that truly capture who he’s evolved into as an artist today.
Based in Santa Monica, Caye is an artist/producer/songwriter with an evocative falsetto and a gift for melodic improvisation. He's been steadily winning fans across the US and around the world since breaking onto the scene in 2015.
Building on his classical training by experimenting with jazz, hip hop, calypso, and reggae, Caye defies genre to create a signature sound that is all his own. Inspired by the creative freedom of Bon Iver, the soul-moving rhythms of Bob Marley, and the lyrical genius of Kanye West, Caye creates music that’s as captivating as it is technically complex.
Caye has always felt at home behind the console and began by rapping over his beats—earning Wiz Khalifa’s attention and ultimately a feature from him on Caye’s single “Easy”. Throughout the years, bars transformed to choruses and verses, as Caye honed his vocal control, range, and his now signature falsetto. In addition to producing all his own records, Caye has continued to hone his sound by producing for Alessia Cara, Meghan Trainor, and Abhi the Nomad.
In 2020, he set out on an artistic exploration, traveling to remote regions of California with his instruments, art supplies, and a band of like-minded creatives. The last 2+ years have culminated in a full-length LP that thrives on headphones and speakers but is best experienced when improvised live—in the same method it was written. Grounded in his love for the steel drum, We Love explores Caye’s excellence across instruments that create music that’s emotionally engaging and spectacularly cinematic.
2022 promises to be his biggest year yet, which will introduce his expansive new sound to his ever-growing audience. The full album, We Love, will be released as singles, with a new one out each month for the rest of the year. He intends to continue spreading inspiration and building his reputation, with live shows beginning early in 2023.
R.em.edy Announces Her Intimate Debut EP "Last Summer" and Debut Headline at The Toff
Rising Melbourne R&B singer-producer superstar R.em.edy has announced the release of her debut EP “Last Summer” on November 25th, launching it with her first ever headline show at The Toff on November 26th.
Rising Melbourne R&B singer-producer superstar R.em.edy burst onto the Australian music scene in late 2019, quickly becoming known for her powerful voice, intimate lyricism and impressive production chops. 3 years on, after accruing over 450,000 streams and receiving placement on some of the most prestigious editorial playlists, being named as one of Cool Accidents Artists To Watch in 2022, getting shortlisted for Acclaim All Stars 2022 as well as achieving Triple J and FBi Radio airplay, she is set to release her debut EP Last Summer on 25th November, launching it with her first ever headline show at The Toff on 26th November.
Announced on Monday, Last Summer is an extremely personal project that has seen significant evolution throughout its creation. Originally written as a concept EP about a whirlwind summer fling R.em.edy had in 2020, the project quickly turned into something more meaningful and came to represent self reflection, letting go and processing past feelings.
To celebrate the release of her debut project, R.em.edy is hosting a Last Summer EP Launch on Saturday, 26th November at The Toff in Town, featuring her full live band, indie pop darling Jade Alice and neo-soul extraordinare YARA. The show serves as her first ever headline set, having become known in the local scene for her dynamic live performances as a support act over the years.
Featuring hit singles 613, Hurry Up and Questions, Last Summer lets R.em.edy fully showcase her near-unmatched level of talent in every area, putting her heartfelt songwriting, trademark hypnotic layered vocals and window-rattling production on full display, combining elements of R&B, soul, hip hop and indie pop into a harmonious blend that’s distinctly her own, even breaking new ground and exploring alt rock on Don’t Love You.
The creation of Last Summer took an emotional and physical toll on R.em.edy, painstakingly recording and re-recording each track over the course of 2 years until everything was perfect while dealing with bouts of serious vocal injury and her ongoing experiences with chronic fatigue, chronic pain, TMJ and other significant disabilities, putting her body and heart on the line for the project.
The visuals of the EP were produced throughout 2020 and 2021 when R.em.edy was originally intending on releasing the project, but now have a whole new meaning associated with them for her compared to when they were first created.
"Releasing them in late 2022, they act as a time capsule of the era of myself I’m letting go off with this project.
The low self esteem, toxic relationships, eating disorders, lack of self love, perfectionism, putting others before myself to a fault.
With this project I say goodbye to her & leave her in ‘Last Summer’, allowing myself to embody my truest self & embracing my alter ego ‘Nikki’ as who I am today.”
Follow R.em.edy on her social media, pre-save “Last Summer”, and get tickets to her headline show at The Toff on 26th November HERE.
Atlanta Based RnB Artist Kay Soul Drops Her Concept EP "Connections"
Kay Soul is a recording artist, songwriter, plus model and aspiring actress based in Atlanta. She just released her six-track concept EP entitled “Connections”, which she wrote, and features production by Erik "Mrdoublebeats" Ficklin and Anthony Smith.
Kay Soul is a recording artist, songwriter, plus model and aspiring actress based in Atlanta. She just released her six-track concept EP entitled “Connections”, which she wrote, and features production by Erik "Mrdoublebeats" Ficklin and Anthony Smith. “Connections” was recorded, mixed, and mastered at Miller Street Studios in Chicago.
Talking about her newly unveiled project, the multi-talented creative says, “The EP is a fusion of genres, including gospel, R&B, pop, Hip Hop, jazz, and Soul. Its harmonies are layered over bass-heavy synth beats with deep lyrical content and good vibrations. The lead song "Strong Connection", is about the type of love that I felt I always wanted but never had. It maps out a new way of loving by being patient, dedicated, and kind, and it's about something more than just romantic love. There's a universal theme of building strong connections in our lives with ourselves and others." The EP is completed by the tracks "Bad Connection", "Disconnection", "Reconnection", and "Lost Connection".
Speaking about the artistic vision for herself and her listeners, Kay states that “I am a healing artist. My goal is to share the broken pieces of myself through music in hopes that others will find beauty in their broken spaces. I'm hoping that my songs will provide listeners with hope and the courage to heal their souls.”
UK Singer-Songwriter Demi Jordanae Shares Her Debut EP "How Did We Get Here"
UK based Pop/R&B artist Demi Jordanae brings out an outspoken, expressive, and extroverted character in her music. Check out her newly released debut EP entitled “How Did We Get Here”.
From writing and recording as a D.I.Y introverted bedroom singer-songwriter from a young age, UK based Pop/R&B artist Demi Jordanae brings out an outspoken, expressive, and extroverted character in her music. Her artistry reflects versatility in her sound and style. Influenced by artists across multiple genres, she seeks inspiration from artists like Diana Ross, to Aaliyah and Amy Winehouse. Following her release “Smell Like You”, Demi joined all-female music LA label Powher Sound this past June.
Moving forward a few months and Demi has just released her debut EP, The "How Did We Get Here", which is an emotional rollercoaster. Each song has a different mood, emotion, sound and style, so it is evident why the EP ends with “How Did We Get Here". You finally get to that place or feeling in your life that you visioned a long time ago after the unpredictable, emotional journey.
Not only is "How Did We Get Here" the last track, but unintentionally also the last song to be created out of them all.
"I had no narrative or idea whatsoever for the EP. I was just creating and writing about anything I felt. I don't write from personal experience but from imagination. I get inside a character's mind with lyrical places that can resonate or relate with other people's life experiences."
Kihyun of Monsta X, Releases His First Mini Album, "YOUTH"
Kihyun, of Monsta X, is taking off with his 2nd solo journey with the release of his 1st mini album “YOUTH”. Dropping 6 months after his solo debut of VOYAGER, and 7 years after his debut in Monsta X; YOUTH is filled with songs stemming from personal stories and the things Kihyun wants to tell his own self.
Kihyun, of Monsta X, is taking off with his 2nd solo journey with the release of, KIHYUN 1st Mini Album YOUTH. Dropping 6 months after his solo debut of VOYAGER, and 7 years after his debut in Monsta X; YOUTH is filled with songs stemming from personal stories and the things Kihyun wants to tell his own self. Kihyun expands “YOUTH is about my current perspective on my youth and my determination as a solo artist. The lyrics include the things I want to tell myself, both in the past and present. Even though this album is my personal story after 7 years as an artist, I think many people can relate to my emotions because everyone reflects on their youth at some point in time.” Youth is a transient world that everyone visits but cannot return to, making it a world that we all wish to visit again someday. In this album, Kihyun acts as an observer and storyteller as he asks, answers and discovers himself.
Following the success of his solo debut in March, which entered multiple Billboard charts and also scored the year’s largest opening first-week album sales for a K-pop male soloists so far [Forbes]; this album’s title track of the same name, “Youth,” vividly expresses Kihyun traveling back to the raw emotions that he felt when he was younger. An alternative track that features Kihyun’s refreshing vocals, “Youth” has present day Kihyun alternating between telling his younger self about his past emotions and his current resolutions. From imagination to reality, Kihyun unapologetically tells the range of emotions he feels while on the path to his destination. The song offers a new experience for listeners to empathize with as Kihyun expresses his confidence as a seasoned artist, now 7 years post debut, and his newness to being a solo artist.
“It is really meaningful that I can share my story to all my fans through my music. I hope you will fully enjoy all the songs and stories I’ve shared with you through this album! Thank you!” - Kihyun
Through the album’s 5 tracks, Kihyun shows off his diverse range as a vocalist and the variety of genres he can perform. “Bad Liar,” written, composed and arranged by Hyungwon, an active DJ and fellow member of Monsta X, artfully expresses the bad lies and conflicted heart of wanting to break up but also get back together. Another track by Monsta X’s Hyungwon and inspired by the movie Closer, “Where Is This Love” expresses a love that cannot be felt. “Stardust” shows off Kihyun’s dynamic vocal charm. The full English-language track, “Where Is This Love” showcases Kihyun’s raw emotions through his vocals and powerful lyrics. “Cause of You,” an easy listening pop number with a bright acoustic guitar, closes out the album with a surprise appearance from Monsta X’s Joohoney. The support of RYAN JHUN, Ea Na Kim, Hyungwon, BrotherSu, among many others, boost Kihyun’s confidence in releasing this album.
Listen to “YOUTH” below, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with Kihyun on his website and social media.
San Francisco Indie Hip-Hop Trailblazers RPxSB Release Their Triple Album "Creatures"
San Francisco-based Indie Hip Hop trailblazers RPxSB (or Roddy Picante and Stay-Bizzy or Rock Plaid and Survive Bullshxt) have unveiled their ambitious and heavy-themed triple album entitled "Creatures (Acts I-III)".
San Francisco-based Indie Hip Hop trailblazers RPxSB (or Roddy Picante and Stay-Bizzy or Rock Plaid and Survive Bullshxt) have unveiled their ambitious and heavy-themed triple album entitled "Creatures (Acts I-III)". Act I was released August 26th, followed by Act II on September 2nd, and Act III on September 9th. The project is released through the artist's Vibeland label imprint.
Bold, genuine and uncensored, this project delves into real life themes and all their inherent problems while musically experimenting along the way with reckless abandon. Fans of artists ranging from Dom Kennedy, Earth Gang, Odd Future and Larry June should find something to enjoy in this wide-ranging collection.
“Creatures is a three act project. Each act is a different tone or mood that embodies our brand of RPxSB, an abbreviation for our names and our mantra, Rock Plaid and Survive Bullshxt. Act I (Things That Kill Me Inside) is the moodier, more melancholy side of us. When your friends and family and personal problems consume you to a state of anger and angst. Act II (Boar) is the aftermath of Act I. When you indulge in the vices and say f**k it. Nothing matters. This is the turn up. Act III (JOPO, an acronym for Jack Off Pass Out) is the aftermath to the aftermath. The come down if you will. A stop and smell the roses moment. Nothing still matters, yet everything does.”
Electronica/Synth Pop Producer rx1f Will Release His New Album "r8c180” on November 13th
Vancouver-based Electronica/Synth Pop musician and producer rx1f champions his unique style self-dubbed 'music for robots', on the far-reaching new album "r8c180", due out November 13th.
Vancouver-based Electronica/Synth Pop musician and producer rx1f champions his unique style self-dubbed 'music for robots', on the far-reaching new album "r8c180", a release not only themed around space, but one that actually sounds like space. Freely experimenting and travelling the outskirts of the universal mind is a natural process for this electronic music innovator.
"This album is an end-to-end re-imagination of a maximalist indie punk album that I made with a friend a few years ago, which I can no longer bear to listen to. Shortly after finishing that, I went to see a documentary about the 808, and fell headfirst into making electronic music. The old album has been put into a capsule and shot into space.
There are a lot of samples from NASA and other space-related sources on r8c180, you can hear planet sounds on pretty much every track. My favorite sample was this thing called an earth whistler, which is apparently a radio wave caused by lightning in the atmosphere. It sounds like a quick little filter sweep."
The "r8c180” album’s release on November 13th is right around the corner, but in the meantime, check out rx1f’s new music video for “Accidents”, stream it on Spotify and connect with him on his website.
Stream and Share “Accidents” on Spotify
Connect rx1f: Website