Four-piece pop group and singers Whatever We Are bring us a gorgeous new acoustic pop song called "Church", and from the first verse we immediately get Ed Sheeran vibes. Their voices harmonize together perfectly over the acoustic and they even tie in a rap section on the song that is: "a reminder that love is easier to spread than hate."
Perhaps one of the reasons they sound so effortless singing together is that although each used to focus on their own solo careers, they've all since moved into a shared house on Long Island where they can make music in their living room-turned-studio-space full time, fully committing to their shared project. And it's sure paying off with quality music coming out like this! Church is the final single from their upcoming debut EP "Limbo".
Seoul-based electronic producers Mitte and TRY DENY send us all the right "signals" on their new future bass collaboration. With gorgeous vocals over softly chiming production in the verses, the track then introduces orchestral percussion and a lovely higher vocal harmony as it builds to a powerful future bass drop. Mitte will soon be changing name to Chill Satellite and has already released a single called "All I Love" under the new name on label Inextremis' album "Sagrada Familia". And if you're looking for a something little cruisier, TRY DENY also runs a side project for chill lofi music called Ajjae. Signals is the first collaboration these producers have released together and we hope it signals more from them in the future!
Having previously collaborated with other artists on popular songs such as LNY TNZ's "Secrets" and Campsite Dream's "Little Do You Know", CATALI has honed her voice into a perfect pop weapon and she's now focusing on releasing her own music. She shows both her strength and vulnerability on her catchy new single "Harder", of which she's released a fantastic acoustic version. On this, her voice is given all the space to shine as she tells her story and what she wants from a lover over an alluring acoustic melody. Her voice rings confidently and powerfully over the track, particularly after the second chorus where she sings the hip shaking melody of the horns from the original studio version.
Shortly after the release of his sophomore album "First Love", Malaysian indie pop artist thisis. DY has followed up with a fun, upbeat new single called "Bedtime Story", the second of three he has planned for 2019. The track is full of catchy hooks, dancey guitars and rhythms and has a gorgeous breakdown. Also known as Daniel Yoong, thisis. DY started his career in Malaysia as a teenager finding success with his debut album "T.I.N.Y". He's kept himself busy ever since, studying at Berklee College of Music, writing music, touring, producing and recording for himself and other artists and writing for film. We look forward to hearing the next single from him soon!
Pop artist TAELA kicked off with a "Bang" earlier this year, the name of her debut single in April, and she's now followed up with another pop banger called "Dance Drink Repeat". She lets her emotion flow unbridled in the powerful bridge and then finds distraction in the chorus, shutting it all out with the catchy hook: "dance, drink, repeat".
"With Dance Drink Repeat I really wanted to capture that feeling of doing whatever you can to get your mind off of someone/something, and fighting the temptation to push your problems aside until the morning. And I was visualizing different party scenes and taking myself back to moments where I just wanted to go home - but knew I needed to be around other people in order to feel okay. It's been really exciting to watch this small idea I had for a song one day grow into something so meaningful to me."
Need some heavy music to lift those heavy weights to? Or just need some musical catharsis? Can't decide between metal and electronic? How about both! Mazare and Essenger come together combining Linkin Park and BMTH-like rock with Pendulum-like drum and bass. And it is EPIC! Essenger's singing and screams are full of intense emotion over swirling, dramatic production in the verses. The track then picks up into a heavy, climactic drum and bass drop.
U.K.-based rapper HEX continues to drop fire with his latest single "Paranoia", set to feature on his upcoming EP later this year. The track starts off with soft picked guitar, then the beat drops with HEX's melodic rap vocals taking the lead. His lyrics speak of mistakes and trusting no-one but himself, with lines like: "Don't care if she lied to me, she fine but she ain't fine for me. Broke one side of me, but that's on myself" and "Signed away my trust, big mistake without a lawyer, keep it on me, I've been feeling paranoia."
The song came together quickly in the studio working with producers Mohr and Roy Lenzo. Check out the neat behind-the-scenes video below for how Paranoia came together. HEX has made a big impression since his debut in 2017 and he's on the rise!
The bassline in this song is more delicious than chocolate to me right now. I'm talking about alt-pop artist Upsahl's new single "Wish You'd Make Me Cry". Upsahl sings about craving something real, a real emotion, something that's not just "perfect" from a partner. Combining a gritty rock rhythm with her fantastic vocals, she brings a hard edge to this alt pop gem.
She wrote of the track's inspiration: "'Wish You'd Make Me Cry' is about being with someone who is so good to you that it almost seems fake. When I wrote this song with Pete Nappi, I was caught up in that feeling, so I started just venting to him about it. At one point, I think I said something along the lines of 'I just wish that he would make me cry'. We wrote the song within an hour after that."
Toronto/Vancouver-based alt pop group Jade The Moon get us daydreaming on their sparkling new single called "If I Had Lots Of Money". The track has a nostalgic, airy melody propelled by a punchy drum beat. Singer Dani Le Rose's beautiful vocals lead the track, telling the story of someone in a broken relationship who admits if they had lots of money, they would leave. The track is the lead single from their upcoming album 11:11, following their 2015 self-produced release "Habits and Hindrance".
Armenian-born pop artist Asmik brings us her gorgeous vocals echoing over smooth synth pop production on her first single since 2016 called "Nice". The song speaks of a relationship with someone that is difficult to work on or leave because of the things they say when you talk to them about it.
She's always been into music and singing, showing talent early at 15 when she made her way into a national jazz orchestra in Europe, performing as the lead vocalist. Now having moved to L.A. and released Nice, we look forward to hearing where she goes from here.
Speaking of her music and where she is today, she said: "I'm inspired by who I am today because I am at the point in my life where I trust myself more than ever. I want my music to encourage all girls to be confident and appreciate themselves".