RAVYN LENAE

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By Last.Fm

It’s hard to believe that someone so young could be bursting with so much talent; but listen to Ravyn Lenae and you’ll quickly realize that age is truly just a number. At 17 years old, the classically trained singer/songwriter is taking the music world by storm with her inimitable style, which seamlessly melds elements of R&B, Electronic, Soul and Hip-Hop. As Pitchfork declared, “She roars. She soars. She has the right.”

Born and raised on Chicago’s often turbulent south side, Lenae is part of “Zero Fatigue,” a local music collective that boasts artists like Smino and Jean Deaux, as well as producer, Monte Booker. In early 2015, Lenae released her single, “Greetings,” which quickly became a household favorite in the Chicago area and beyond. Soon after, she signed with renowned Chicago-based record label, Three Twenty Three Music Group.
In August of 2015, Lenae soft released her highly acclaimed debut EP, Moon Shoes, which premiered on Fake Shore Drive and My Mixtapes and has well over two million plays on SoundCloud. Hypetrak appropriately described the EP as a “combination of entrancing vocals, control over creative cadences and superb writing,” and noted that Lenae demonstrates an “incredible collection of skills that many singers work a lifetime on perfecting.” After the success of Moon Shoes, Lenae was named Verizon’s Big Break Artist on WGCI in Chicago, as well as one of BBC Radio’s New Names of 2016. To date, Lenae has performed all over the country, including headlining appearances at Chicago’s African Fest and at House of Blues Chicago. On 7/29, Moon Shoes will be available at all DSPs and will feature two new songs, “Right Of Spring” and “Something In The Air.”
Given her remarkable ability to blend genres, it’s no surprise that Lenae has been influenced by a wide variety of artists, from Stereolab and Outkast to Bob Marley and Ella Fitzgerald. “I tend to take small bits and pieces from my favorite artist, and incorporate them into my own work,” shares Lenae. And, maybe that’s why some of her favorites – like Erykah Badu and NAS – are now reaching out as dedicated fans of Lenae.

With a lifetime ahead of her, fans can look forward to a whole lot more from Ravyn Lenae. “I plan to touch as many people with my music as I possibly can,” says Lenae. “And, I can’t wait to learn more about the world and about myself. I know I still have to tap into my full potential, and discover the true Ravyn Lenae.”

This article was originally posted on Last.Fm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: https://www.last.fm/music/Ravyn+Lenae/+wiki

Photo: http://www.onestowatch.com/artist/Ravyn-Lenae

Video: www.youtube.com

SIGRID

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By John D. Buchanan, AllMusic

Norwegian pop singer/songwriter Sigrid followed her elder siblings into the music business, signing a major-label deal with Island at just 20 years of age. Born Sigrid Solbakk Raabe on September 5, 1996 into a music-loving family and brought up in the sunny seaport of Ålesund in western Norway, about 300 miles from Oslo, she was the youngest of three siblings, each of whom had their own musical career. Her sister Johanne was a classically trained singer who had studied in Italy and Spain, while her brother Tellef had tasted indie success at home with his own band. Growing up influenced by classic artists like Joni Mitchell, Chet Baker, and Neil Young, she was taught to play the piano at an early age by her grandmother and guitar by her brother, and for ten years was a dancer, studying several different styles. After a stint in her brother’s band, Sigrid turned her hand to songwriting and launched her solo career in October 2013 at the tender age of 16 with the single “Sun,” which saw her featured on NRK’s (Norwegian state television) hip tastemaker show Urørt (“Untouched”). Two further singles, “Two Fish” and “Known You Forever,” alongside spellbinding performances at several major European music festivals, sealed her reputation as a superbly talented songwriter and performer. With her rich, powerful, versatile voice and elfin good looks, she seemed ready-made for pop superstardom, and a bidding war ensued which finally saw her signed to Island. She delivered on the promise with her epic, anthemic debut single for the label, “Don’t Kill My Vibe,” released in February 2017. Co-written and produced by Martin Sjølie (Ella Henderson, Sam Smith), it was unveiled with much fanfare on BBC Radio 1, becoming their “Hottest Record in the World,” and immediately racked up millions of plays on streaming services. A debut album was planned for later that year.

This article originally appeared on AllMusic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/sigrid-mn0003598955/biography

Photo: http://www.musicweek.com/radar/read/on-the-radar-sigrid/067919

Video: www.youtube.com

VINDATA

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By Last.Fm

Vindata has sought out on a mission to expand how we define dance music. Their all-embracing electronic sound seems to balance rugged Hip Hop beats, with deep R&B passions, and Indie-Pop sensibilities. After notable underground success with their last EP “…For One To Follow” , Branden and Jared released a new EP titled “Through Time And Space…” , another piece of their discography puzzle depicting the human experience. This time around, they’ve crafted a 6 track journey through different perceptions of different realities. The final result is a cohesive body of energetic yet lush textures, polyrhythmic percussion, and soulful vocals.

In 2014, their single “All I Really Need” gained the interest of reputable tastemaker Skrillex, who brought them on his Fall Tour. The duo also played noteworthy festivals at TomorrowWorld, Hard Summer, Red Rocks, and Firefly Festival. Their music has gained the support of Flosstradamus, Zed’s Dead, Skrillex, Sweater Beats, Gladiator, Branchez, Kastle, Arty, and more.

This article originally appeared on Last.Fm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: https://www.last.fm/music/Vindata/+wiki

Photo: https://aestheticmagazinetoronto.com/2016/11/06/photos-anna-lunoe-vindata-dj-sliink-toronto/

Video: www.youtube.com

CHICANO BATMAN

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By Andy Kellman, AllMusic

Chicano Batman source their high-spirited alternative Latin synthesis from tropicália, West Coast psychedelia, and late-’60s/early-’70s soul, among other styles. Eduardo Arenas (bass, vocals), Bardo Martinez (lead vocals, organ, guitar), and Gabriel Villa (drums, percussion) made their recorded debut in 2009 with a self-released, self-titled album. After Carlos Arévalo (guitar) was added to the lineup, Chicano Batman issued the four-track Joven Navegante EP in 2012. The Los Angeles-based band released only handful of additional singles across the next few years, but they greatly expanded their fan base in 2015 with dates opening for Alabama Shakes and Jack White, as well as a performance at Coachella. In 2016, Chicano Batman signed to the ATO label, where they released Freedom Is Free, their third album, in early 2017.

This article originally appeared on AllMusic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/chicano-batman-mn0003441660/biography

Photo: http://www.loisaidafest.org/chicano-batman/

Video: www.youtube.com

GET TO KNOW AJ TRACEY, THE TOUGH-TALKING MC WITH AN ANIME OBSESSION

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By David Renshaw
West London grime MC AJ Tracey is fast and aggressive on the mic, boasts a versatile style, and his lyrics are packed with references to everything from soccer players to Dragon Ball Z characters. In 2015 he released two impressive EPs in The Front and Alex Moran, and he has recently locked studio time with Ratking’s Wiki and Sporting Life. Tracey’s tireless work on London’s radio circuit, typified by a jubilant 22nd birthday set on Radar Radio in March, has seen him build a considerable following. Combine this with his energetic, hook-filled music and Tracey’s future is bright. These six songs show why.
The best song on last year’s Alex Moran EP, “Naila” references Yu-Gi-Oh! characters, Netflix’s Narcos, and London chicken shop chain Morley’s over a frantic Zeph Elllis (f.k.a Dot Rotten) production.
Tracey sounds completely cold-blooded here, with a paranoid hook about dodging the pitfalls of a music career while making bare dough.
More love for east Asian culture from Tracey here as he name checks Dragon Ball Z, Pokémon, and Mortal Kombat while still sounding completely no-nonsense. Rising south Londoner Ezro’s beat provides the doomy setting for Tracey’s agile verses.
Tracey and 17-year-old rapper Dave make great teammates as they swap fast-paced bars on a song named after Brazilian soccer player Silva. A swirling beat lays the backdrop for the equally lyrical Tracey and Dave to go head-to-head.
 https://youtu.be/q9-9GWFuS5w
Source: http://www.thefader.com/2016/08/17/get-to-know-aj-tracey
Video:  www.youtube.com
Photo:https://onceuponagrime.blogspot.com/2016/09/mj-cole-calls-on-aj-tracey-for-rumble.html

NEW MUSIC TO LISTEN TO:BE CHARLOTTE

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By Roisin O’Connor

Be Charlotte is a three-piece Scottish band that evolved from the solo project of singer songwriter Charlotte Brimner: still in her teens, but already scooping up accolades for music that involves an impressively fluid use of analogue and digital sound.

They just picked up a nod for Best Electronic Act at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards, and are currently out on their first tour of south east Asia.

Q&A with Be Charlotte

What are you listening to at the moment? 

I’m a big fan of Milky Chance. I love their mix of digital and live and it’s something that we try to incorporate into our music too. 

How are you feeling about the SAMA award?

Great! It is such an exciting time for us. It was a really strong category of people who are making really cool digital and electronic music so to be recognised for that part of our songwriting is really nice. It’s great to be able to celebrate the diversity of Scottish music in one night and appreciate all the music that is often under the radar, 

What are your plans for the rest of 2016?

We are currently in Thailand doing some writing and recording before heading out on South East Asia tour in a few weeks. We will be playing in Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore before heading back to UK to do our first headline show in London on 23rd November at The Great Escape Festivals new First Fifty award. 

Read more

Twin Atlantic’s Sam McTrusty talks new album GLA

We then have a few Scottish dates in Edinburgh that are yet to be announced, and kick off some European dates in The Netherlands in January,  It’s all so very exciting. 

What was the first gig you ever played and what’s been the best so far?

It feels like a life time ago.  I was 13 or 14 and it was in Dundee.  I was playing guitar and I was so nervous. 

I’ve been on quite a journey in the five years since then and this is our first proper tour, and the fact it is in Asia makes it very interesting,  Hopefully people here enjoy the music and we can continue to build our fanbase in other parts of the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/be-charlotte-new-music-to-listen-to-this-week-a7373031.html

Video: www.youtube.com

Photo:http://rockatnight.com/2016/05/jamie-shoony-fill-the-stramash-with-confetti-and-pandemonium/

MARIAN HILL

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By Paul Simpson, AllMusic

Marian Hill are a duo from Philadelphia consisting of singer Samantha Gongol and producer Jeremy Lloyd. Their unique sound combines sparse, minimal electronic beats with seductive vocals (which are often chopped up and manipulated) along with sultry saxophone. The duo wrote a song called “Whisky” in spring of 2013 and sent it to dozens of blogs hoping to catch some attention. The song created a buzz, and the following year, the duo released their first EP, Play, as well as a 7″ single, “Lips.” They received mainstream exposure when Romanian pop star Inna credited them as co-writers of her song “Diggy Down,” which incorporated the hook of Marian Hill’s “Got It.” The duo signed to Photo Finish/Republic Records in early 2015 and released Sway, a seven-track EP. In 2016, they released their full-length debut album, Act One, featuring the single ” Down.”

This article originally appeared on AllMusic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/marian-hill-mn0003231177/biography

Photo: https://galoremag.com/marian-hill-childhood-friends-who-make-sexy-music/

Video: www.youtube.com

ONEINTHE4REST RELEASES THE INFECTIOUS ‘JIU-JITSU’ FEAT. CHRIS BROWN

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By Ashley Lyle, Billboard 

Up-and-comer OneInThe4rest steps into the spotlight with his infectious pop/R&B banger “Jiu-Jitsu,” featuring Chris Brown.

Years before a burgeoning songwriting career that included working with Nicki Minaj, French Montana, Big Sean and Tyga, among others, the artist born Melvin Moore was a young boy living in Kansas with his parents — his mom did theater while his dad was a percussionist — and little brother.

Early on, Moore let out his artistic expression via oil paintings, sketching and drawing portraits before beginning to rap in church. Family background aside, he set out to do music professionally, noting, “Nobody forced me to do music.”

Taking up guitar and piano as a young adult, Moore credits multi-platinum Grammy-winning singer/songwriter/producer Raphael Saadiq and critically acclaimed jazz musician Norman Brown as inspirations. After moving to Los Angeles around 2008, he met Saadiq, who played a pivotal part in his career, allowing him to use his studio for free and gifting him industry lessons.

He recalls of Saadiq’s suggestion to play guitar, “Raphael gave me the ‘pick this axe up, never let it down, and it will pay you in the long run.'”

The grind has paid off so far for Moore, whose first writing placement was Trey Songz’s 2011 track “Unusual” featuring Drake before going on to work for several months with Robin Thicke for his 2013 Blurred Lines album.

Around 2015, he circled back to longtime connect Chris Brown. “I had a relationship built with him and [singer] Sevyn for years,” he recalls. “So I ended up in a position where he was open to take songs, and we would email him song after song, and he just started cutting them.” He adds, “He cut about 75 songs this past year of mine. He’s one of the hardest-working artists there is. He’s like our generation’s Michael [Jackson].” One of the songs sent to Brown ended up being the recent No. 1 Rhythmic Songs hit “Party” featuring Usher and Gucci Mane.

Having had success as a songwriter, Moore always envisioned stepping out as an artist. “I’ve always wanted to shed my own light on the music that I was writing. I always wanted to have my own voice — that was the plan from the jump. I just knew that writing was a way to gain leverage.” For his solo debut, he tapped Breezy. “‘Jiu-Jitsu’ was one of those in-the-moment creative vibes where I was playing off words. I need ‘jiu’ like ‘jitsu,’ just finding a metaphor. I wrote it with my friend, Prince Chrishan, aka PC.” Moore played Brown the song who then wrote and recorded a verse for the record.

With upcoming collaborations including PartyNextDoor, Black Youngsta and Jeremih slated for his album, Moore hopes that his music brings a message of encouragement and motivation: “My ultimate goal would be to leave a legacy and to inspire everybody else that does music or just wants to be successful.”

“Jiu-Jitsu” is now available for purchase on iTunes and via all streaming platforms.

This article originally appeared on Billboard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7767854/oneinthe4rest-jiu-jitsu-chris-brown

Photo:  http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7767854/oneinthe4rest-jiu-jitsu-chris-brown

Video: www.youtube.com

RAYE

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By Caroline Sullivan

‘This is my dream,” says Rachel “Raye” Keen at the end of the evening, glass typically half-full. Outside, it’s freezing; inside, it’s a basement with obstructing pillars and a stage so cosy that she and her three musicians are almost literally cheek by jowl. Yet dreams are subjective, and for this teenager from Croydon, headlining XOYO is measurable progress after three years of co-writing songs for others and being the featured voice on other people’s hits. Coming third in the Sound of 2017 poll has given Raye a leg up, but tonight’s show proves that she would have probably got here under her own steam: she’s that confident, and that promising.

Current hit You Don’t Know Me heads a short set of emotional R&B, to which she brings musicianly deftness, a singer-songwriter’s intimacy – new song Sober, played on a keyboard, graphically describes a boyfriend’s drug addiction – and an extrovert’s unquenchable charm. Her tracksuit posits her as the anti-diva, and she sings what she knows: My Girl bouncily celebrates her best friend, and new track The Line jauntily makes light of queueing outside a club at one in the morning. Give her the chance to be Lana “Del Raye”, though, and she rises to the occasion, making a dark tour de force of the queasy weed ballad Hotbox. As a getting-to-know-you occasion, tonight’s well-plotted mix of bangers and sweetness succeeds in making you want to know a lot more about Raye.

 

 

 

 

 

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/feb/10/raye-review-xoyo-london

Video: www.youtube.com

Photo: http://www.lamoda.co.uk/blog/diggin-on-raye/

STEFFLON DON:REAL TING

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By Vanessa Okoth-Obbo

Real Ting is the first project of the impressive rising young London MC Stefanie Allen (aka Stefflon Don). The mixtape is a slightly rocky intro, but her raw talent shines through.

In late 2015, then-ascendant South London rappers Section Boyz made their presence felt with “Lock Arff,” the breakout single that netted them a place on BBC’s Sound of 2016 longlist at the end of that year. It’s usually an indicator of success when a song gets remixed—“Lock Arff,” a sprawling opus that boasts contributions from each member of the six-person crew, left little room for anyone else to get a look-in between verses. But a version with two new verses by Stefanie Allen (aka Stefflon Don), stripped of everything but the original beat and chorus, impressed the Section Boyz enough that they cosigned its official video treatment. The remix and video in turn raised Stefflon Don’s profile enough to land her on the 2017 Sound of… longlist at the end of last year.

In between, the young London MC stayed busy—churning out more remixes or hopping on songs by compatriots like Angel and grime veteran Lethal Bizzle. All of that that momentum culminated in Real Ting, her first full length solo project, released just before 2016 drew to a close.

With a running time of under 40 minutes, the tape’s rocky start is acutely felt, taking up more space than it should in proportion to the remaining nine tracks. “Intro” is a somewhat cartoonish announcement of Allen’s formal arrival on the scene (“Look to the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a Don!”) set to an excerpt from Nile Rodgers’ Coming To America score. The melody plays during the scene in which King Jaffe Joffer tracks Prince Akeem down in Queens; from the eastern borough Allen bears south for inspiration on “Real Ting.” It’s startlingly derivative of Brooklynite Young M.A’s “OOOUUU”—from the punchline delivery to the ad libs.

Comparison to established artists can be a boon or a blight for an emerging talent, foreshadowing similar levels of success in the former case or inviting dismissal in the latter. Since “Lock Arff” went viral, discussion of Stefflon Don has often touched on the parallels between her and Nicki Minaj: owing to her cadence, a penchant for brightly-colored hairstyles and a tendency to slip back in and out of Jamaican patois, which can resemble Minaj’s Trinidadian Creole to the untrained ear. Thankfully in Allen’s case the similarities seem both incidental and positive; no rapper could or should corner the market for bravado, and Stefflon Don clearly possesses a lot of it.

Real Ting picks up steam by track three “Tight Nooki,” an upbeat dancehall jaunt featuring Jeremih. It capitalizes on the unstoppable “Bam Bam” riddim, made famous by Chaka Demus & Pliers in the early ’90s, and complements the pair’s previous collaboration on Jeremih’s Late Nights: Europe mixtape. “Family Ties” is deeply personal, touching on a childhood marked by violence and her mother’s legal troubles (“She was looking at ten but the lawyer beat the case/By the grace and the power or the mercy of the state.”) The family affair is rounded out by her brother Dutch, who goes into detail about his own run-ins with the law, and UK House star Donae’o. “Envy Us,” another dancehall-tinged standout with an assist from Tottenham upstart Abra Cadabra, is a good example of the rhythmic space for which Stefflon Don’s voice is well-suited. But the tape’s overall scattered quality positions it as a teaser of things to come rather than a cohesive collection.

It’s hard to tell if or where the line between a mixtape and an album should be drawn—in 2017 a mixtape can be the vehicle for an artist’s unpolished experiments, or be in with a serious chance of winning a Grammy. On Real Ting, listeners get a proper introduction to Stefflon Don and a fuller understanding of her artistry. She sings as well as she raps, is a scholar of many genres (trap, dancehall, house and more) and has wide-ranging influences; the outtake from a Margaret Thatcher interview on “Lik Down” and even the antics of “Intro” are revelatory of her cultural interests beyond the music. So if Real Ting is her CV, it’ll be fun to watch her find her footing at work.

Source: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22806-real-ting/
Video:www.youtube.com
Photo:http://www.capitalxtra.com/radio/shows-presenters/manny-norte/highlights/stefflon-don-talks-nicki-minaj-comparisons/