ari hicks shares her new EP « It’s Not That Deep: Chapter 1 »

photo credit Nichole Davis (ND)

ari hicks

New EP « It’s Not That Deep: Chapter 1″

Spotify

Released via AntiFragile, the six-track Chapter is an immersive experience of character play that salutes to a lustrous new sound coupled with the original hard-hitting vocals we know and love from the artist. On the release, ari confides,

“Chapter 1: My forthcoming album “It’s Not That Deep” is an all encompassing soundtrack of entering your Villain Era. Each Chapter a collage of stories and experiences that were derived to hone in on the concept of reclaiming your power. »

ari’s furious feminist energy is palpable, flaunting her genre-spanning style as she ricochets between themes of empowerment and bravado, giving listeners a first glance at ari entering her Villain Era as she pays homage to the death of a male centric narrative.

Showcasing a different dimension of the pop singer, this Chapter acts as the start of her newest era. Featuring three brand new tracks as well as familiar favorites “Romeo Dies”

, “

Sucker”,

“

Shut Up »

and “Look Pretty”

.

We start off with the self-assertive pop anthem “Two Sides

”

followed by “Pull your Tooth” and “Jaded”, giving the euphoric darker sound and get-under-your-skin lyrics to end the chapter on an edgier note, offering listeners a more haunting glimpse into

Chapter 2

.

“

It’s Not That Deep: Chapter 1

follows ari hicks’s 2020

Kiss Me, Kill Me EP

, which introduced the world to her halloween hit “Kiss Me, Kill Me” Since then, the dark pop siren has firmly proved herself as a top artist to watch this year. Reigning as a Live Nation’s “Ones to Watch 2022” with nearly 200k TikTok followers and earning acclaim from the likes of

Wonderland, Vogue, ALT Press

and many more. Consider this an honest and bold storybook about unapologetically stepping into your power,

It’s Not That Deep

is an all encompassing soundtrack of entering your Villain Era. Each Chapter a collage of stories and experiences that were derived to hone in on the concept of reclaiming your power.

On the release, ari confides,

“Chapter 1: My forthcoming album “It’s Not That Deep” is an all encompassing soundtrack of entering your Villain Era. Each Chapter a collage of stories and experiences that were derived to hone in on the concept of reclaiming your power. Chapter 1 really embodies a lighter energy, its a little petty, a little savage but its FUN. It’s tapping into your feminine energy and taking these cookie cutter stories and giving them a bit of a plot twist, because why shouldn’t girls have their fun? Sonically and visually I aligned and designed each of these tracks with main character energy (hence why they all have an actual character). These tracks are for the brats, the girls that feel silenced, the ones that are entering their villain era selflessly or selfishly – I want this Chapter to be the voice for that.”

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Haley Johnsen shares her new single « Renegade »

Haley Johnsen

New single « Renegade »

Spotify

Entitled « Renegade » the song is « about fully stepping into who you are and what you’re meant to do in this life, which I believe is one of the most badass, rebellious things we can do. I needed to write this song to remind myself that even though I still struggle with my self-esteem and trust in myself at times, that I am still brave enough to be continuing to push through and follow my dreams. In this video made by the incredible Maris Jones, I get to become the superhero I always hoped I’d be for myself. Saving the world from evil storms of self-doubt and battling it with self-love and courage, one day at a time!” confides Haley.

Haley Johnsen is a Portland, Oregon-born musician with a knack for genre-bending and a hard-earned career path that is uniquely her own. Raised listening to powerhouse singers such as Brandi Carlile, Grace Potter, Eva Cassidy, and Bonnie Raitt, her greatest inspirations become apparent in her soaring vocals, introspective lyricism, and cross-pollinated style of indie-pop, and bluesy folk rock music. Whether her songs muse on the aches of self-doubt, the joy that can accompany nostalgia, or simply trying to stay afloat in tough times, her bona fide songwriting combined with her performance ability is bound to evoke an emotional response. “I want my music to encourage people to push through their challenges and continue to have hope and belief in themselves and their authenticity,” she says.

Growing up as a competitive gymnast, Haley quickly learned how to be a daredevil and step outside her comfort zone. This influenced her musical journey by prompting the prolific songwriter to take inventive and unexpected risks sonically at an early age. In the span of about three years, Haley wrote around 200 songs in her parents back shed, with the most memorable songs being added to her debut EP,

Through the Blue,

which was released in 2015. She followed up with her second EP,

When You Lit The Sky,

in 2017, along with a handful of singles and national tours. It was through her critically acclaimed 12-track debut album,

Golden Days,

where she gained much deserved recognition and ignited the interest of Allen Stone who appeared on the album. Later that year, Haley began touring with the power-trio sister-band

Joseph

and with EDM/Indie pop artist

Big Wild,

who she currently works with as a bassist and back-up vocalist. During her first Europe tour in January of 2019, Haley was further granted the opportunity to record an acoustic album entitled

London Sessions

at the Legendary Abbey Road.

Her 2021 single “Goner” was written in a bathtub in a vintage trailer in the midst of having an existential crisis. The songwriter confides, “it came to be about the romanization of nostalgia; the longing for what once was our youth and also the fear of death. It’s about my own internal struggle trying to stay present and at peace with who I am now, where I am now, and realize that my childlike self is still very much alive in me. It’s a reminder that I don’t need to be afraid or insecure with where I am in my life.” Featuring honey-dipped vocals, breezy guitars, and sweeping 70s inspired folk rock soundscapes, “Goner” is a sun-drenched melancholic daydream.

With her release « Higher » Haley Johnsen explores « not giving up on yourself. It’s that feeling of knowing that no matter what, you’re going to continue growing, continue dreaming, and that in itself is the greatest high. Knowing that you’ve built that trust within yourself to keep going even when life has worn you down, » she confides. Featuring a stirring melodic hook,

orchestral percussion and dreamy slide guitar, « Higher » is the perfect anthem of self love.

Haley Johnsen’s single « Common Ground », « was written during the Summer of 2020, which felt like the precipice of an even deeper divide being carved between our country. Circumstances of the pandemic lead us to be more reliable to our devices, more obsessed with the news, and more at odds with our family and friends who had differing views. I wrote this song about my own sadness and frustration with the reality of this political landscape. How taking a stand on something I believed in only furthered the divide between the ones I loved. This song is a desperate plea asking society, are we ok with this? Are we capable of coming together and finding common ground, or is it too late? »

With her latest single « Renegade », Haley Johnsen crafts a song all about stepping into who you are as a person and to follow your dreams. Johnsen wrote this song to remind herself that she is brave for pursuing her goals.

Her full length twelve track album

GONER

is about « this constant push and pull between confidence and self doubt. Fear and trust. This longing to be PRESENT with myself. To be grateful for who and where I am. Not worrying about the past or future, or getting caught up in the desire to constantly WANT as opposed to just BE, » confides Johnsen.

GONER

is quirky, dramatic, soft, somber, eclectic, and energetic.” Kinda like Haley Johnsen.

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UWUW Announce debut LP with lead single “Scattered Ashes”

UWUW

New single “Scattered Ashes”

Spotify

Self Titled Album Releases October 21, 2022

UWUW (pronounced you-you) have just announced the release of their debut, self-titled LP with their lead single

Scattered Ashes

. With some of Toronto’s most experienced and revered musicians making this project possible, it’s no wonder why the sonic presence of this project demands your attention and doesn’t let you go. The impressive cast of players includes Jason Haberman of Dan Mangan and Yeahsun, Jay Anderson of Badge Epoque Ensemble, Biblical and Lammping, and Ian Blurton of Ian Blurton’s Future Now, Change of Heart, and C’mon. Giving the songs a voice are two of Toronto’s most distinctive songwriters: Chris A. Cummings aka Marker Starling, adding his distinct, easy-glide, story-telling charm to

Box Office Poison

, and

Scattered Ashes

, and Drew Smith (Bunny, The Bicycles), providing his trademark, 60s harmony pop and lyrical prowess to

Staircase

and

Landlord

.

Scattered Ashes

is the first offering from their upcoming self-titled album on We Are Busy Bodies, due out October 21st, 2022. Fans of Euroboys, T2, and Manfred Mann Chapter Three will be enamored with these exceptionally crafted and exciting compositions.

The lead single

Scattered Ashes

breathes soul and rock, while blurring sounds and influences which call to mind James Brown’s horn section and the compositional layers of experimental Beach Boys recordings. In response to the meaning behind his lyrics, singer Marker Starling says, “I attempted to shoehorn every stray apocalyptic thought I had circa Summer of 2021 into the song, including readings from the screenplay of Jean-Luc Godard’s Alphaville (1965). The world is ending, or perhaps, as Sun Ra believed, we’re already past the end of the world. You might end up dying for a cause, or even « just because. » Who knows what tomorrow may bring, and like The Zombies, being forever Hung Up on a Dream—in this case, a lost vision of a kind of hippie or punk utopia—is the only way to live your life, the only way to maintain a healing state of mind”.

UWUW came into being when Jay Anderson and Ian Blurton came together through a run of shows, backing mutual friend and singer/songwriter, Kate Boothman as her drummer, and guitarist, respectively. Anderson suggested bringing in Jason Haberman, a talented bassist, who Anderson had seen play with Toronto indie-folk band, The Wooden Sky. Realizing they didn’t want an instrumental record, they layered on bright horns and smooth vocals, lifting the songs from instrumental jams, to the undefinable yet distinctive sound that is, UWUW. Saxophonist, Jay Hey, was brought in to provide horn arrangements, along with Tom Richardson on trombone and Patrick McGroarty on trumpet, all three contributing on every song. The result is a blissfully cool album with music that will appeal to all listeners, from record store snobs, garage rock slobs, and even psych-pop heartthrobs!

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Photo Credit: Colin Medley

Lydmor shares her new single ‘LSD Heart’

Lydmor

New single ‘LSD Heart’

Lydmor is the moniker of Jenny Rossander. Since the release of her debut album 10 years ago, Jenny has effortlessly remained an unpredictable, new artist with the rare ability to stay timeless. She has become notoriously known for never compromising for the art, always challenging herself and the listener, making Lydmor one of the most renowned artists to come out of Denmark.

In December 2021, Jenny went to Oslo to play the final show of a long-awaited European Tour but eventually, the production was hit by COVID-19. Determined to finish her tour, Jenny sat down by the piano at the venue and played a fully acoustic Lydmor-concert to the astonished crowd. The morning after, she was supposed to fly home to Denmark for x-mas and New Year’s but instead, Jenny booked a studio on a tiny, remote Norwegian island and isolated herself completely.

“I knew, I had to create music without the possibility of hiding myself behind layers of sounds and endless editing. I needed something real with room for everything that’s beautiful, unpleasant, intimate and free. It was a frightening but necessary process to me, that instantly developed into a no break kind of get-mad-or-die-trying session of hugging and fist fighting myself,”

Jenny Rossander tells.

The new Lydmor album is entitled ‘Nimue’. It’s going to be an organic, lively and naked experience incorporating the natural sounds of the waves from the Norwegian sea and Jenny’s steps as she walks through the snow and across the creaking wooden studio floor to sit by the piano – as if the recordings invite the listener to take a seat right next to the artist herself.

‘LSD Heart’ is the piano-driven lead single – a teeth bite of a feminist song, critiquing modern art, gender structures, as well as flirtingly presenting an alternative way of loving and existing in modern society. ‘LSD Heart’ is an acoustic remake of a 2019-Lydmor single and the new album will consist of remakes, new songs and covers.

Last year, Lydmor released the multifaceted electro-pop album, ‘CAPACITY’. It was later followed by ‘The Last Call’ – the title track for the critically acclaimed movie, Venuseffekten – that was praised with the award for ‘Best Song’ at this years’ prestigious Danish movie awards, Robert Prisen.

The release of ‘Nimue’ will be followed by an acoustic tour this autumn. Then, what happens next, no one but Lydmor knows…

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Elizabeth shares her new single « Sweet Connection »

Elizabeth

New single « Sweet Connection »

Stream – Download

Entitled « Sweet Connection », the single is the second in a suite of three, interconnected singles and accompanying visuals that expand and complicate her richly alluring world. « Sweet Connection » produced by and co-written with Alice Ivy, is about fear of falling into a serious relationship too fast adding complexity to an otherwise elated love song.

Elizabeth captures the reckless thrill of romance like no other. On her debut album the wonderful world of nature, she stepped away from a messy divorce like a world-weary heroine pulling herself from the wreckage of a car crash: broken glass shining like glitter, bloodstains smearing like blush. Contrasting lush dreampop haze with visceral, disarmingly truthful lyricism, it was a pop record out of time — glamorous and tragic, ultra- modern and undeniably timeless, a queer answer to nihilistic, powerfully feminine pop heroes like Lana Del Rey and Lorde.

In 2022, Elizabeth returns with a suite of interconnected singles, three new songs that expand and complicate her richly alluring world. This time around, her music is animated by a jolting electronic pulse — a current of icy trap drums and unearthly vocal samples that firmly place the indie ingenue in the world of contemporary pop music. It’s a dramatic, exhilarating change of pace that stands in stark contrast to a new wrinkle that’s emerged in Elizabeth’s music: A new understanding that anyone — including oneself — can change. Although Elizabeth’s vices remain the same, the protagonist of these songs is far less willing to burn it all, more beholden to other lives and her own happiness, more instinctively aware that nihilism is a dish that only serves one.

“Happier Now”, co-written with The Temper Trap’s Toby Dundas and produced by Tones and I collaborator Konstantin Kersting, is a perfect introduction to the Elizabeth of 2022. The lyrical motifs of the wonderful world of nature are recast in neon here, their old prismatic glow replaced by a dangerous, alluring coolness. Unlike Elizabeth’s protagonist’s past, though, the main character in “Happier Now” is marked by her defiance, her total refusal to backslide even as she’s pulled into an ex-partner’s web: “I am happier now,” she insists, “you’re not around.”

Across these songs, Elizabeth finds power in her own self-determination. The ebullient “Sweet Connection” might, on its surface, be the most purely happy song she’s ever released — produced by and co-written with Alice Ivy, it’s a cavernous, sugary sweet trap- pop song that finds Elizabeth serenading a new love. Underscored by a warm Mellotron hum, the song’s sunny disposition hides an undercurrent of uncertainty, the fear of falling into a serious relationship too fast adding complexity to an otherwise elated love song.

“If You Died”, the final star in this constellation, brings the emotions of this suite of songs full circle. Where the protagonist of “Happier Now” is content to leave an unpleasant relationship behind, “If You Died” is decidedly anti-resentment, a free-associative rush of feelings that argues for love’s power as a feeling far stronger than hatred. As with “Sweet Connection”, there is precarity woven deeply into the emotional relief of “If You Died”, anxiety that saying goodbye forever could be one’s only path to healing, always roiling underneath the surface. Co-written with and produced by Holy Holy’s Oscar Dawson, “If You Died” is as formally inventive as it is emotionally rich, finding Dawson tinting Elizabeth’s vocals with auto-tune and contorting them into a wordless hook.

Although each song was made with a different producer, “Happier Now”, “Sweet Connection” and “If You Died” form a cohesive whole without detracting from their individual power. Recalling electro-pop heroes like Robyn and Troye Sivan, these love songs refuse to gloss over the ugliness of desire, even as they exalt its beauty. In many ways, they comprise a perfect sequel to the wonderful world of nature: the sound of a heart mending, rather than breaking.

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Ayoni nous dévoile le live de « Before I Prosper »

Ayoni

« Before I Prosper » live

Ayoni a la musique pop qui coule dans ses veines. Inspirée par des artistes comme Lorde et Adele, la chanteuse barbadienne utilise sa musique comme un moyen de se découvrir.

La musique d’Ayoni est fortement influencée par des expériences personnelles et des événements mondiaux. Sa réponse à Black Lives Matter,

Unmoved

(

A Black Woman Truth

), a été qualifiée par Ones to Watch de « l’une des chansons les plus puissantes qui soit arrivée sur notre bureau en 2020″.

Avec son héritage barbadien et son temps passé à Singapour, en Indonésie et aux États-Unis, Ayoni continue de puiser dans ses expériences de jeune femme noire et d’immigrée pour guider son parcours musical. Son son pop éthéré, ainsi que son talent pour le piano, la guitare et la production technique, font d’elle une voix unique pour un public mondial.

Mi-mai, Ayoni nous livrait l’addictif

You Said I Love You Too Soon

. Suivait, fin juin, le single

Before I Prosper

,

à propos duquel elle déclara : “

Before I Prosper

est une étape tellement importante de ce projet. Un tour d’honneur à bien des égards pour moi en tant que chanteuse, productrice et narratrice, j’ai vraiment l’impression que cette chanson brise tous les moules et existe dans un espace très singulier. » Cette semaine, elle nous livre une version live du single, rendant l’attente du 14 septembre – date de sortie de son EP

The Vision

– moins douloureuse et nous rappelant, si besoin était, toute l’étendue de son talent.

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Dame Zina shares her new EP « DÉJÀ VU »

Dame Zina

New EP « DÉJÀ VU »

Spotify

We’re a prolific family band, making music in our basement… and we love it .We do everything together with my father, I write and sing, he plays and writes and produces, and we both hope you’ll like our music and share it with your friends.

If you like electro, poetry, nature, love and dreams, our music is for you! we write on what matters to us, feminism, freedom and emotions, and we would love to know your feelings, as you only started our music journey

Everything started with my dad asking me to sing on a song he wrote, as he often composes on his own. I had taken theater, dancing and singing lessons for years (opera, if you can believe it!), but I still was very shy about my voice… so it took a few days to record that song. But when we actually started, everything went so fast! we recorded a 16 tracks album in two months time, and released it later that year (2020), as indies.

Now time has passed, I’m gaining more and more confidence in my voice, in my message, in the power music gives us. We recorded our second album in summer 21, and we made so many tracks that we decided something crazy: this second album will be like a series, and we’ll release one track every Friday. Like, a lot of tracks.

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Lisabel shares her new single « Flor de Louis »

Photographer Credits: Nik Kovacevic

Lisabel

New single « Flor de Louis »

Spotify

Lisabel is a contemporary artist, forming a melodious blend of soul, jazz and pop to create her individualistic soundscape. The Italian born, London based singer-songwriter has become quite the globetrotter having studied in various music schools around the world, infusing her music with a rich musical heritage that shines bright.

Her latest single “Flor de Louis” is a pop/dance/funk track filled with synth pads, arpeggiators, synth leads, powerful grooves, vocal harmonies and a funky bass. Like most music that Lisabel has written and produced together with her long term collaborator Nikola Kovačević, a London based pianist, producer and mixing engineer, the song takes the listener onto an unpredictable journey made of distinctive structural sections that have the power to convey different moods and to surprise the listener.

“Flor de Louis” is about Lisabel’s relationship and bond with her brother, she shares, “I wrote the song a few years ago when I was boarding a plane to go back to London after spending time with my family in Italy. I always had a strong bond with my brother, we inspire each other to grow in our respective careers and lives in a way that to me is very special and unique. It’s hard to live in different countries but we are always connected even when we’re far.”

Lyrically, Lisabel chose to use the metaphor of the Flor de Louis usually known as ‘Flor de Lis’ to describe the colourful aura that her brother emanates. She explains, “I really like the musicality that lives in the phrase ‘Flor de Lis’ and as I researched the history of the term out I found out that in the 13th/14th century it was used by the French Monarchs as their coats of arms and it was often referred to ‘Fleur de Louis’ being that the term was coined by the French Kings. This discovery inspired me even more to write a story that could be perceived as a dedication to a person, as well as a more ‘abstract’ story.”

Driven by an urge to be boundaryless, her songwriting is intimate and introspective, often depicting personal stories about her life, her relationships, the power of nature and the social environment around her. Characterised by a compelling mix of acoustic instrumentation and electronically charged synthesisers, Lisabel’s infectious sound makes you want to dance.

Having performed in some of London’s most renowned venues, and racking up an impressive following, Lisabel is emerging into a synth-pop sensation with humbling praise from the likes of

Clash

and numerous Spotify editorial playlists. Needless to say, she is set to soar in success this year.

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Cimo Fränkel & Skofee Share Intimate, Stripped Version of ‘Where Do You Hide Your Love’

Platinum-Certified Pop Musician

Cimo Fränkel

&

Alt-pop Singer Skofee

SHARE video for

‘Where Do You Hide Your Love’ (Stripped/ Live version)

Stream / Buy

LABEL: Sign From The Universe / Tunecore

Multi-platinum musician Cimo Fränkel and alt-pop singer Skofee have released a live video performance of their collaborative remake of Cimo Fränkel’s beloved single

‘Where Do You Hide Your Love’

on the 5th of August via Sign From The Universe / Tunecore. The original track is featured on Cimo Fränkel’s previously released self-titled debut album. The musician co-wrote and co-produced the Multi-Platinum single

‘Sex’

by Cheat Codes & Kris Kross Amsterdam, which has been streamed globally over 1 Billion times. Cimo Fränkel has collaborated and toured with Armin van Buuren with their song

‘Strong Ones’

reaching

#37

on Billboard Charts. He has also accumulated just over 2 billion streams globally.

Cimo Fränkel was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and is currently based in Los Angeles. He grew up around his father who was a funk musician who would invite Cimo to join him in the studio and enlightened him on the DIY ethos of funk culture. At the age of fifteen, Cimo would explore music production and collaborate with other young and passionate Dutch musicians. The musician has cited the works of Michael Jackson and Huey Lewis as highly inspirational to the artist he is today. This latest collaboration draws strong comparison with The Weeknd, Billie Eilish, Frank Ocean and Tate McRae.

Singer Skofee is an emerging artist who was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas and is currently based in Los Angeles. Her breakout release, EP

Polished

released via

Sign From The Universe received

accolades from renowned publications.

The singer has been supported by LA Weekly, Rolling Stone India, AltPress, Medium.com, Earmilk, and Ones To Watch to name a few.

Layer by layer, Cimo Fränkel and Skofee peel back the covers to reveal the raw beauty that is their stripped-down live performance of ‘Where Do You Hide Your Love’. With their backs toward each other, the two singers give it their all, emphasizing the central theme of the song by illustrating what it’s like to be present in the same room with someone you love yet still feel lonely.

Cimo Fränkel talks about taking Skofee’s lead for the remake:

« I originally released « Where Do You Hide Your Love » as part of my debut album called « Cimo Fränkel » which I released in 2020. After this the original take had multiple versions that definitely varied in approach but I never came up with the idea to make this smooth version Skofee initiated. I was blown away by her idea and knew I had to be a part of it. »

Cimo Fränkel

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Image credit: Christina Bryson