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EP: The Centre Of The Downward Spiral by aldred

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The latest EP from aldred is a spiritual experience wrapped in a blanket of warped, experimental electronica that would send lovers of Radiohead’s Kid A absolutely reeling. 

The London based aldred is an electronic music artist whose sound, on his latest EP ‘The Centre Of The Downward Spiral’, is intellectually and artistically engaging. The sound and structure of the songs border on the avant-garde, with whimsical song segments and rhythmic and melodic ideas that intertwine, making the songs feel like pools of musical ideas that constantly evolve and change while accompanying aldred’s philosophical delivery and his matter-of-fact lyrical approach. The final results are often striking, but with soft, rounded edges, courtesy of aldred’s choices of generally gentle and pillowy synth sounds that make this album sound smooth and forgiving, while being simultaneously dense and challenging. 

The progressive thinking lyrical and musical themes follow tightly in the footsteps of Kid A, with its decidedly cold and abrasive musical soundscapes. ‘Red Light Energy’ is the first song on the record, and with its hollow coldness, it beautifully puts the sound of the album on full display. The songs feature layer upon layer of vocal or instrumental parts, and with puffy, driving beats that keep things tightly grounded, the listening experience goes like watching scenes of a movie unfold, as conventional song structures like verses and choruses are mostly absent, the varying, evolving song sections push the experience forward efficiently. 

‘The Centre Of The Downward Spiral’ is a forward-thinking spiritual album that brings to light mental welfare for the space age. aldred’s songwriting is a twisting affair of lyrical clairvoyance, vocal charisma, and harmonic and melodic mazes, making this EP a challenging one for the untrained ear, but for those who appreciate sounds that are constantly in motion, lyrics that are conceptual and provocative, and instrumentals that defy all expectations, then ‘The Centre Of The Downward Spiral’ will define a fruitful and rewarding listening experience.

Hey Alright! by Ashley Wolfe

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Rising pop artist Ashley Wolfe has recently taken the music world by storm with her debut single “Hey Alright!” The infectious dance-pop ballad has garnered over 2,000 streams and 1,900 listeners on Spotify in under a month, showcasing the incredible potential of this talented artist. Joined by Keith Low as a songwriter and guitarist, the duo has created an upbeat and groovy tune that’s sure to get stuck in your head with its catchy melodies and energetic sing-along vocals.

The song opens with a very groovy acoustic guitar that immediately sets the tone for the upbeat and uplifting track. With upbeat drums and Ashley’s energetic yet expressive voice, the listener is quickly drawn into the positive message of hope, love, and the power of a strong connection with someone else to light up the night and guide us through even the darkest moments. Ashley’s lyrics are known to be “honest and heartfelt, reflecting the joys and struggles of love, friendships, and the ups and downs of life” and this message is strongly conveyed in “Hey Alright!”.

On stage, Ashley is described as an energetic beast who leaves the audience breathless. It’s easy to see why when listening to “Hey Alright!” and witnessing the passion and energy that Ashley brings to her songs. With this debut single, Ashley has firmly established herself as a pop artist to watch. Fans of catchy, upbeat tracks with meaningful lyrics will undoubtedly fall in love with her music.

 



Poison Apple by Josh Tepper

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Josh Tepper, a rising artist from New York, just released his latest electrifying single “Poison Apple” on March 6th. With a background in music and cinema studies, Josh is quickly making a name for himself in the industry since starting his musical career in February of last year. Prior to “Poison Apple,” he released four singles, accumulating more than 200k streams and 24k monthly listeners on Spotify alone.

In “Poison Apple” Josh shares his personal experience of being in a toxic environment while encouraging and helping others to leave toxicity behind. He describes the song as an “anthem for taking back your freedom, leaving the negative, and staying strong”.

The song features upbeat drums and a bouncy and groovy synth bass that creates a chill and groovy vibe, accompanied by an ambient synth that adds a layer of depth to the atmosphere and gives the listener a floating sensation. Josh’s warm voice and melodic lead synth, along with reverbed lead guitar, infuse the song with a feel-good vibe.

Overall, “Poison Apple” is a perfectly produced song that touches on a relatable issue while helping listeners overcome it. It is guaranteed to end up on your night drive playlist. Be sure to check it out.



Promises by Genuine Leather

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Genuine Leather, the moniker of lo-fi singer/songwriter Chris Galis, is on a quest to find the “great song”, and he’s starting off the year with a fresh sound by releasing his latest single “Promises”, a guaranteed earworm that will get you grooving and dancing along.

Hailing from Texas, throughout his musical career Chris has been exploring various genres such as indie rock, alternative rock, and folk since 2015. He released a diverse range of singles, 2 albums, and an EP. This year, he decided to take a different direction and delve into synth-pop with “Promises”, which is part of a series of singles leading up to his upcoming EP.

“Promises” opens with a catchy hook featuring a funky guitar and groovy bass duo that will compel your body to move, backed by an upbeat drum line and melodic synth in the background. Chris delivers an energetic vocal line that draws you in before the song reaches the first verse. Where the song takes on a more ambient atmosphere with the synth and Chris’s soulful and flawless voice. Going back and forth between the two well-produced and written progressions, Chris ensures that the song will stay in your head long after it ends.

Overall, “Promises” is an exciting and infectious single that showcases Genuine Leather’s versatility and willingness to experiment with various sounds. The production quality and songwriting skills are top-notch, making “Promises” a must-listen for anyone who loves catchy and upbeat music.

In The Ring by Hoian

Indie artist Hoian released a hopeful indie rock debut single titled “In The Ring” on the 17th of February from London, United Kingdom.

Hoian is a new musical project by musician and producer Zena Zerai, who released her debut single “In The Ring” last month. The fresh voice promises more releases to come this year after her debut single.

Hoian has an incredible range of influences, including Julia Jacklin, Tame Impala, Radiohead, Mac De Marco, and others. The diversity of her influences already shows in the first release by the artist, as “In The Ring” sounds not like any of those other artists on their own, but a deliberate and mature blend of all of them together.

“In The Ring” was a home recording by Hoian, in which Zena Zerai wrote, recorded, and produced all of its parts besides the drums, which were recorded by Simone Langiu. The track starts off with the guitar, bass, and drums, swiftly followed by Hoian’s voice in the intro before it really opens up in the pre-chorus and chorus. The dynamic shifts and evolving instrumentation in each section keep it interesting throughout the whole track.

Hoian wrote “In The Ring” after experiencing two painful losses in one year, and as a response, she tried to remain hopeful about the future and started her latest musical endeavor with this emotionally charged, melancholic, and serene debut release.

 



Motif by Saif

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Artist Saif based in Sydney, Australia, released a socially conscious and awareness form of hip-hop song called ‘Motif’, on the 10th of March. This is Saif’s first song in 2023 that was inspired by the movie City of Gods. Starting in 2016c Saif has made 3 albums and released many cool singles in the past years, and still continues to evolve and innovate beautifully. The concept of the song is to shed light on the systematic violence and crime embedded in poor and unprivileged areas that keep creating more oppression and raising the survival mode level too high. The music, lyrics, and every aspect of the song is well put together and representational of the topic. The overall sound of the song is steady, chill, and smooth yet very intense. With Saif’s confident, raw, and or storytelling 

Slow smooth synthy vocals on a loop subtle saxophone flirting with the beat giving it. Chill hip-hop vibe lots of shaking sound effects magical xylophone sound effects. Imagery is very grave bar spitting clear vocals.

 



Touch the sky by IV Collin

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Artist IV Collin based in San Jose, US released a touching rap song called ‘Touch the sky’, on the 7th of March. Starting in 2018, Collin has 3 albums and numerous singles and makes music with the intention of releasing beats that are relatable and possibly making people feel like this music can be their life’s background and jam. This song was made as a dedication to his aunt and mom. He DJs for the specific songs by Diddy and The Police which he talks about in the first verse, and the second verse is about his journey of recovery and getting out of the wheelchair.

Charged with emotional and raw content and showing it to us through his words and choice of musical arrangements, this song is just a really chill and really moving rap song. His emotive tone and the nature of his storytelling make a great combination for a slow pace, a soul-fulfilling rap song that isn’t edgy or aggressive, but full of confidence and realness. You’ve got a really rich and cool musical arrangement, with a chill and sophisticated rap soundscape. You’ve got some sexy and synthy violin melody on a loop, subtle bass, some soft drums, and a scrunchy acoustic guitar that is also giving off the deep bass sound. The vibes are kind of mellow and definitely vulnerable. His vocals are soft singing giving off angelic vibes, and then he also starts rapping faster with some really good rhymes in his personal stories. You’ve also got some muffled electric guitar sounds and cool ad-libs. We can’t wait for even more real music from Collin.

 

 



EP: Room service by Sabreen Islam

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Emerging artist Sabreen Islam released an amazing indie folk EP on the 10th of March, in the name of ‘Room service’, a heartfelt and soft-spoken collection of personal experiences and emotions that will calm you down and take you on a nice and fluffy trip to emotional land. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, Islam is a Bengali/ New Zealand singer and songwriter, who has a really new and fresh outtake on indie music mixing it with lots of elements from soft rock, making her music always surprising and very distinct from other indie folk artists out there. This ep already has three previous releases like victory, alongside three new ones. This Ep was also produced by songwriter, musician, and producer Sophie Bialostocki who worked closely with her father. 

This album is amazing with the soft rock, country girl sort of vibes. Nothing is better than a girl expressing her feelings and being completely genuine in her sound and voice, and that’s what makes this EP and Sabreen really special. This EP’s production is high in quality and very well put together.

 The overall sound of the album is upbeat and has that pop positivity, and the subtle rock elements give the songs some sort of edge and darkness. The soundscapes are mostly indie folk rock. The pace is slow to medium with a steady beat. The musical arrangement is simple yet effective. You will feel like the music is going into your heart with Sabreen’s angelic vocals. You’ve got a soft acoustic guitar, an ethereal sound bed in the back city, peaceful energy, soft drums, fast clapping sound effects that give lots of texture, and lots of tune humming. There are many electronic pop sound effects that make the songs have a fruity and fluffy splash of mellowness. Everything about this EP is amazing and it’s definitely a friendly and emotive energy that will make any of your days much better.

 

 



Fever Dreams by Segana

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SEGANA’s stellar synth-pop releases return with ‘Fever Dreams’, a feverish, driving synth-pop banger with catchy hooks, stirring melodies, and terrific production. 

The Sydney-based duo is composed of producers Blair Djuna and JMap, both solo artists in their own rights. Their latest single, titled ‘Fever Dreams’, will be a must-add to anyone with a playlist for city-driving songs. The song is anthemic, with melancholic, descending progressions, and laser-sharp synth sounds. The beats are rock solid, and with a chorus that will be responsible for plenty of speeding tickets, the song rocks, and while it is doing so, it offers some provocative lyrical images too, that display the city as a horror house, with “monsters in the streets” and “jokers and killer queens”. The lyrics sound like a run for survival, which is definitely amplified by the song’s continuous motion and never ceasing dynamics. 

Segana’s return sounds timeless. With synths that were fresh in the 80s, somehow sounding just as fresh in 2023, I can say with confidence that what Segana has achieved is an accomplishment. In a music style that can quite easily fall upon ears as archaic, SEGANA’s approach is fresh and exhilarating, sounding just right.



Album: Through the Rain by Rebecka Molander

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Rebecka Molander returns with a sensual director’s cut EP of chill, seductive, easy-listening jazz that’s soothing and lush—a true pleasure to the senses.

Hailing from Malmö, Sweden, Rebecka Molander has been stunning audiences for a decade with her distinct smoothness. Smooth songwriting, arrangements, and smooth, delightful singing shine the light of a sensational diva upon Rebecka, while her reflective lyrics show her as a human being with vulnerabilities, someone we can relate to. ‘Through the Rain’ has a sound that’s calm for the most part. Like approachable pop, but with a richness that’s courtesy of Rebecka’s lush vocal timbre, her restrained and understated piano playing, her backing band, composed of a full-sounding bass, tight and functional percussion, and varied guitars that soar to rock you when needed, and swoon seductively when needed, acoustic or electric.

This EP is built of 6 songs, each one with its own memorable and distinctive charm that’s most soothing and gentle, with the possible exception of ‘Good Love’, which takes a decidedly more rocking path. Starting with a stunning piece of semi-modal jazz. ‘Through the Rain’ sounds exotic and lush with its warm-sounding verses, and familiar, sweet chorus, the composition is rounded and complete, just enough to lend the song a mystique, but not overcomplicate things. The title song is nice and serene, with finger snaps for rhythm and a stellar acoustic guitar solo. ‘Get Gone’ is expansive and airy. With a reggae-inspired beat, and an extremely tight-sounding snare, the song is sensual and the lyrics are confrontational, all in anticipation of the short chorus that sounds otherworldly with its grandiose-sounding pair of chords.

‘Good Love’ sits somewhere between soft rock, and just rock. The slow tempo is inviting and the verses are gentle as whispers, before a surprising and short chorus that features succulent bass licks. The song is built on a guitar and bass riff that features light, but effective, syncopation, with a crisp sounding and invigorating overdriven guitar solo. ‘Timeless Love’ captures the mystique of the first, and titular, cut, but this time spins it with a lilting, melodic sweetness that sets it apart. This song is decidedly gentle and jazzy, with a terrific bass arrangement, a ride-heavy drum work, and a guitar that remains polite for the most part, but strains at the leash occasionally, injecting the arrangement with energy. 

Rebecka Molander’s director-cut EP is a delight for English-speaking audiences, but those of us who dig Rebecka’s music will be more than eager to check her other songs in Swedish, even if we can’t understand a word. Her soft voice, restrained approach to song arrangements and unique-yet-familiar compositions are more than enough to draw massive audiences, which she will undoubtedly be able to achieve with the help of this masterful release.