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Gangsta Party by cmfrt.

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Meeting someone at a random time and place and finding an instant romantic spark is some people’s fantasy. Cmfrt. makes this fantasy come to life with his bombastic song, “Gangsta Party.”

“Gangsta Party” is the product of cmfrt. and co-producer and vocalist Dareios’ collaboration. By mixing their talent and charisma together, they produced an energetic, danceable output. From the intro to the outro, “Gangsta Party” will lure you to be at this party and dance your feet off.

The fresh Hip-Hop song is all about good vibes. The vibrant beat is well-crafted, and the rhythms flow seamlessly along with the smooth rapping to offer a cool, upbeat atmosphere. The dope production highlights each element to create the kind of mood that you need to lighten your day and urge you to throw your own party.

 

The vocals own the place from start to finish. Dareios offers a confident, casual, and breezy performance that entices you to groove. His voice aligns well with the instruments to deliver the desired dynamic, affectionate vibe. The arrangement of the instruments is weaved smoothly enough to make one engage and be a part of the fun that cmfrt. and Dareios are having.

The artwork will set your imagination to their party destination, so all you have to do is hit the play button and focus on the cover, and you’ll be there bouncing! Press play and have a blast!

 

And Now It Comes by The Ari Joshua Quartet

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There are types of journeys like inner, spiritual, imaginative, and emotional journeys, and you’ll get to experience them all with The Ari Joshua Quartet’s “And Now It Comes.” It’s not an easy-to-take type of journey; it will dig deep into the darkest part of your memories and the most vulnerable part of your soul. However, enjoying the exquisite sonic landscape will ease the tension a bit.

The Ari Joshua Quartet is the brainchild of Ari Joshua, a Psychedelic jazz-rock guitarist who has released over 100 original compositions. With stellar, seasoned featured musicians, he’s offering us a free ticket to a melancholic yet somehow peaceful journey to inner self through the more than minute mastered track, “Nun Kommt es Werder,” which translated in English, “And Now It Comes.” It’s a bumpy ride as the jazzy, layered composition will unfold some hidden memories and spread some gloomy vibes; nevertheless, as it progresses, it won’t leave you hanging in the darkness; sparkling rays of light will get you out of the shades and make the darkness fade.

“And Now It Comes”‘s overall feel is like the imagery of a glamorous, precious gem glamming in dark shades. Ari Joshua (on guitar), along with Geoff Harper (on bass), Joel Bean (on piano), and Will Lone (on drums), made something phenomenal. This jazzy ballad will make you want to loosen up and lose control for a while; all you have to do is close your eyes and let it take the lead.

 

It starts off with a dreamy intro propelled by enticing piano notes and soft percussion. The stirring guitar riffs with their well-structured sensitivities are the flashlight that brightens the atmosphere in one way and adds density in another. Each instrument flows smoothly and joins together like waves meeting and ready to go to the shore to draw you into the depths.

 

After getting some thrills, the tempo slows at 4:20 in a notable manner, and starting at 4:27, I felt like I was hearing a new chapter of the introspective story. A chapter that is filled with both ache and hope. The standout guitar riffs compel you to embrace their grace, and all the other instruments follow their leads to create the soundscape you didn’t know you needed. The straight-forward bassline offers a balance between the bright and dark sides, and the masterful piano notes Swope in with tranquility while the drumming plays its role to add vibrancy and spice things up a bit.

While getting closer to an end, you’ll feel like you are not ready to say goodbye and don’t want to leave this majestic realm. With the track painting out closure and ready to hit its last note, you’ll be getting ready to put it in a loop.

Monster by Grace & Moji

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With their elated sonic signature, atmospheric rhythms, soulful vocals, and introspective lyricism, the married indie duo Grace & Moji are sending out an important message in their latest release, “Monster,” a message that all humans need to hear and embrace because we all need a reminder that we have a dark side and that’s okay.

“Monster” sounds the opposite of its title. It’s light and upbeat, with a warm ray in it. The song invites you to make peace with your demons and dance along with them through irresistible, energetic tunes.

It’s not easy to pick a standout element in this song; all of the elements work in harmony together to give such a soothing, danceable vibe and deliver a meaningful message. The lyrics strike a chord with how sincere and relatable they are. Both writing and performing inspire one to acknowledge their light and dark edges, embrace the unstable curve of healing, and go back to the dark phase again.

 

The vocals are tender and breezy, sending the message in a dynamic and smooth manner. Choosing the dreamy, bouncy pop was perfect for the theme and spread vibrancy. The entire instrumental compels one to groove along. The contagious guitar riffs, in particular, make one engage seamlessly.

A retro music video with dancing and mirror balls complements the song and invites you to join in. It perfectly captures the energy of the song. Once you watch it, you’ll want to start your own party, dance freely, and sing along, “I’m a monster.”

Grace & Moji clearly wanted to send a touching message, and they succeeded. They wanted to offer an atmospheric piece as well, and they aced it. In a single song, they have the capacity to move both your body and your emotions.

Lies, Lies, Lies! By Sunset Surrender

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A huge, electrifying synthwave along with the truth is waiting for you in Sunset Surrender’s “Lies, Lies, Lies!” I hope you are ready to get hunted, because such resonating sound, resilient performance, and evocative lyricism will stay in your head for a while.

 

Sunset Surrender is the alter ego of Matteo Zandonella Bolco, the Italian artist who knows how to structure a one-of-a-kind soundscape with both retro and futuristic flairs. With a single like “Lies, Lies, Lies!” you’ll find yourself transformed into a vintage synth-pop-themed party, yet somehow feel like you’re on a rocket ship going to a brand new realm.

 

“Lies, Lies, Lies!” is the kind of song that will stick in your head for a while, and you’ll end up trapped in endless repeats. The sound is influenced by iconic bands like The Cure; however, there’s a notable authenticity that will captivate you. It has such a catchy rhythm that will invite you to vibe in while comprehending the message behind the lyrics and all the “Lies, lies, lies, in this twisted game.” You’ll find yourself wondering about your existence and dancing at the same time.

 

The vocals strike a balance between the upbeat retrowave and the serious lyricism. It’s good to have thought-provoking lyrics along with a danceable melody and vocals that know how to deliver both energies well. The vocals are powerful and have a punk touch, yet there’s a sense of vulnerability in them.

 

You better be ready for the complex yet smooth delivery of this song. It’s all well-structured with top-notch production that will make you want to stay in Sunset Surrender’s realm, even if it is built with lies! But don’t worry; it isn’t. It’s only built with genuine, quality music.

 

Bed Head by Close Drive

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Close Drive’s latest single is a stylish piece of indie pop that drips with an equally stylish video that drips with a suburban charisma that gives the already pretty track an extra dimension.

Philly based indie rock and pop 4-piece outfit Close Drive are no strangers to the particular indie charm and character that they present on their latest recording ‘Bed Head’. Composed of John Antoni, Brandon and William Higgins, and Kevin Sullivan, Close Drive are inching their way forward toward recognition, and as a team, the group are readily capable of writing a gorgeous pop banger with memorable hooks and characterful performances. 

On ‘Bed Head’ we are presented with a stunner that is defined by a stone-solid groove from Sullivan, backing a gorgeously raspy rhythm guitar track that sounds deliciously straightforward, yet performed with enough zest and nuance to truly stand out as a unique rhythm guitar performance. Never failing to mention the song’s sublime composition, or the vocally explosive, unforgettable hook that features colorful yelps from the band’s lead vocalist Brandon Higgins, on top of melodic group oohs that totally elevate the chorus. 

The video’s simplistic forest and waterfall scenery are unquestionably beautiful. Shot in the (almost) wilderness of the state of Washington, the song’s rugged, outdoorsy locales play well off Higgins’s casual outfit, creating an accessible, relatable atmosphere that’s at once cozy and pretty. The band’s debut video is a promising start, and their debut production collaboration with Tyler Ripley represents a step in the right direction to the band’s ambitions and an increase in their production value for a final result that will be extremely hard to ‘get out of my head’.

Needed a Break by Nick Lovely

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With his unique experimental approach to songwriting, UK based director/writer and songwriter Nick Lovely releases yet another personal journey…

Nick Lovely’s released previously “Let Me In” which was a story about him wanting to be accepted into the artistic community…even though this community has been tough on Nick Lovely.

…this time Nick Lovely is back with his latest single “Needed a Break”.

Once again, extending his hands for peace to be a part of that community.

Nick Lovely doesn’t want to do anything but to show his art, speak his words, tell his stories and expose the truth.

With “Needed a Break”, Nick Lovely goes with the electro-pop-synth direction.

The music is nostalgic, with some 8bit elements in the mix that elevates that nostalgic feeling.

Beats drive the song forward, along with some sound effects that are also reminiscent of the gameboy era.

The song is just above 3 minutes and tries to maintain a light music mood.

We wish all the best for Nick Lovely.

Cheers!

Album: Blue Butterfly by PARJAM PARSI

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In 2017 musician Parjam Parsi released his classical album Blue Butterfly. The twenty-minute record was the composer’s fifth offering to the world and it told the story of a butterfly named Azure that wanted to defy the way of his society and traditions and embark on a personal journey. 

 

The opening track, A Piece Of Sun, sets the tone and feel that will continue the rest of the album with us. The warm and dark tone of the piano shows how greatly the album was produced, how detailed the phrasing of the piano lines is, and how the emotional impact of the story is delivered and conveyed through melodies alone and without words. A Song Of Despair perfectly describes the feeling of inability and facing obstacles, thanks to its ambient sounds that play the percussive role in the track. At this point in the story you can begin to visualize the butterfly and its movements in what felt like a fantasy world. Another Land is a little more hopeful and lets you think of Azure’s plan beginning to work with him soaring and reaching higher ground. It’s amazing how such closely related musical movements throughout the album can feel related, but at the same time represent totally different emotions and a different kind of vibe. 

 

August Rain has a faster tempo and a fiercer mood than the previous track, which felt like an amazing change. Blood Moon, Silver Star is the song that makes you think Azure is having a better understanding of life and some realizations that are different than his initial beliefs. The sixth track is the album’s title track, and it’s the peak of the ambient bassy sounds intertwining with the piano…I loved it so much. The following track, Each Day, has some more of these percussive sounds that make you feel like Azure is getting a slap of reality with facts he does not want to face. I Want You To Know is a soft and somber number that made me feel like there’s harmony amidst the chaos of mistakes and wrong decisions our protagonist has made…it’s hard to describe how soothing and calming the track makes you unless you hear it in the middle of the album to get that context. 

 

In This Sadness Of Mine feels like it’s propelling us towards the story’s conclusion with its warm and deep notes intertwined with the melodies, and once again those ambient percussion sounds. Like A Frozen Tree continues that same vibe but with an ascension towards a more positive place. After that we have the soft and serene Roots , and just from the name, you can feel like this song talks about how pleasant it can be to return to one’s figurative (and sometimes literal) roots and act like they did, and it’s all thanks to the amazing piano composition that I was able to reach this conclusion. The closer track, Sisters, makes the ending even happier as Azure returns not just to the habitat but also to the companions as well.

 

All in all, this is a record that doesn’t need a single word or a piece of vocals to tell a wonderful and majestic story. The piano, being the mother of all instruments, manages to carry the emotional impact of all these tracks on its own and the album will leave you with a lot of raw and honest emotions that other big records couldn’t even reach a fraction of.

Album: Windbreaks & Waves by Josh Jensen

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The latest release from Seattle-based musician Josh Jensen is the instrumental single “Windbreaks and Waves. The song is just under three minutes long, but through his technical playing of fingerstyle acoustic guitar you can feel the wind, waves, and the amazing concept that’s shown on the album artwork. 

The recording and production sound super professional and well-made, as we can hear fine details of  the guitar and its bright tone that made me suspect there’s more than one instrument playing. The choice to use little to no effects on the guitar makes this an amazing and pure sound that connects you with the artist and his vision so effortlessly.

All in all, this tune is a well-written, well-mixed, and well-thought-out release in general. How a straightforward progression can bring about all these honest and heartfelt emotions is beyond me. Whenever I want to chill by the beach in my summer vacation this amazing tune with country, folk, and classical vibes will definitely be on my playlist. Believe me when I tell you that this track carries a sense of peace inside it that’s unlike any other release I’ve heard this year.

Theme II by Tilda Allie

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A haunting web of piano-led arpeggios writhe their ways through the latest release from Swedish-born producer and vocalist Tilda Allie. Titled ‘Theme II’, the artist’s last single is thoroughly artful and entirely captivating.

Based in London, Tilda Allie gets inspired by the frigid northern wilderness of her homeland as she crafts this cinematic journey of a song, expertly layered, and carefully calculated. The sophisticated music of Tilda Allie defies categorization, but somewhere deep in there I sense a heightened influence, maybe a reverence to the freeform and eccentric sensibilities of another Nordic legend, Björk. But thoroughly Tilda Allie maintains a distinct identity in her more uniform and rhythmically accessible yelps and vocal acrobatics, and in ‘Theme II’ her identity shines in a sublime job of vocal layering that plays spectacularly well against the backdrop of a gorgeously written piano part and a swelling arrangement of stellar strings that gracefully carry the whole arrangement from a modestly operatic opening to a dramatic, emotive crescendo as the vocal layering gets more intricate and as Allie’s performance becomes decidedly more pulling and momentous, before the arrangement slowly retreats back in size, leaving us thunderstruck, equally by the soul-rending composition, production, and arrangement, and by Tilda Allie’s thoughtful lyrics discussing existentialism and the capitalist world we live in.

‘Theme II’ is an eloquent piece of sophisticated chamber pop that will get your arms waving and your mind wandering with its thoughtful words and elegant music. A beautiful piece of work that readily demands attention.

Blurred Vision by Moon and Aries

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Cologne, Germany based musical duo Moon and Aries are at it once again with a new single titled “Blurred Vision”…their iconic fingerprint of retro & futuristic genre-bending electro-cinematic-synth-pop is at a new height with their latest release.

“Blurred Visions” is one more excellent step in the very unique direction that Moon and Aries are taking…and claiming…this direction is a very unique one that combines electronic elements, fusing it with a cinematic storytelling approach, while mixing in their pop influences, making it a more accessible musical experience to basically any music audience.

Starting with the music production side of the equation…the instruments are almost taking a complete electronic direction, however, musically “Blurred Vision” is more of a cinematic experience with a strong storytelling approach…very evident in the dynamics of the production of this song.

…even how the song starts has this very unique storytelling DNA…

…and let’s not forget the energy this track carries into its beats…it’s very powerful, it’s packing quite the energy here, it’s something that you will definitely be able to move and vibe to.

Now looking at the vocals…this is where the melodic side of the equation starts to shine…

The vocal melodies hit very close to the heart, instantly engaging all listeners and getting them onboard the experience.

…and the heart that has been put into the vocal performance is on another level too…the emotional expression in the vocals is absolutely stunning…with harmonies and backing vocals that fills every little inch of the sonic realm.

Combining both the music and the vocals results in another extremely solid release for Moon and Aries…this could be one of the releases that sits very dear to me this year so far…a highly recommended experience to basically anyone.

Wishing Moon and Aries all the best in life.

Can’t wait to experience more of their unique musical approach.

Cheers!