Kansas City-based electronic artist Essenger has released a stunning new single called "Dissolve" that will have you melting into your headphones with its dreamy, enveloping electronic sound design and his gorgeous vocals. He describes it as "alternative electronic" as there's a definite alt rock feel to it with guitars and the vocal dynamic. There's even a guitar solo at the end, which is deceiving because it's actually played on keys. As Essenger explains: "there is quite a bit of real guitar throughout the track, but that solo in the last drop is actually all Xfer Serum put through NI Guitar Rig. You can get some crazy expression and harmonics if you mess with formant filters on the dry signal. However I do play it live, just on keys."
Explaining the inspiration for the song, Essenger wrote: "Dissolve is a song about loss and bittersweet nostalgia, a longing to relive the past and return things to the way they once were. Change has a way of creeping up on you and it's easy to romanticize the past, even (if) things are better now than then. Dwelling on it can stop you dead in your tracks and it's something I've been very prone to."
Joanna Sinkiewicz, Dominika Siepka, Patrycja Nowicka and Tulia Biczak make up the striking award-winning Polish vocal group "Tulia". In May last year they released their self-titled debut album featuring fantastic instrumentation and their beautiful choral vocals. Most of their tracks are sung in Polish but they made one exception to cover an English song - none other than Metallica's legendary Nothing Else Matters. They've done a fantastic job adding an acoustic and haunting choral style whilst remaining true to the power of the original. Check out their video clip for it below filmed in the snow and their colourful traditional dresses.
Prolific German producer Besomorph is on fire at the moment putting out release after release of high quality electronic bangers, from Paranoid with rapper Drama B in October to two tracks with Stephen Geisler, a solo track, remixes of Billie Eilish and Eminem (which you should definitely check out here) and many more in between. His latest original "Cycles" with Finish producer EBEN has a powerful drop and stormy feel matched by fantastic vocals from Veronica Bravo.
Starting out with gorgeous smooth vocals from Owl Eyes over slowly morphing synth pads from friend and fellow Aussie artist LO'99, their new collaboration single "Sometime" works into a delicious chilled out house track. Producer LO'99 is on the rise, having seen support for both his remixes and originals globally on BBC Radio 1, 1xtra, triple j and the Beatport and ARIA Club charts. Owl Eyes has previously worked with Illy and Flight Facilities and late last year released her first solo music since 2013. The two work together on "Sometime" so well, we hope to hear more collaborations from them in the future!
Canadian artist Mike Evin's latest single "Recovering Romantic" is deceptively catchy. With its light but dancey acoustic instrumentation and his delightful vocals, it will have you falling in love. He wrote on Facebook: "What a journey it was to make this. It was the 4th song with the title 'Recovering Romantic' that I wrote in 2017. I was really chasing it, but also being patient at the same time - which is probably how most good things happen. It finally began to come together when I was living in New Orleans that Summer. And here it is!" He will be releasing his sixth album "Evin On Earth" later this year.
US-based producer duo Christian Ellison and Zack Morgan, known as Focus Fire, have teamed up with California-based producer Similar Outskirts for their new melodic dubstep single "Dimensions". Driven by its lead synth melody, the track has a wonderful build to a powerful chorus and feels like a trip to an unknown, digital dimension. Focus Fire's branding prominently features a robot known as "GAR-E" standing for "Giant Audio Relay Engine", whom they credit with inspiring their blend of aggressive bass music with melody-driven pop sensibility. Only time will tell how the story of GAR-E unfolds through their music.
US-based rapper Just Domo only hit the scene last year with his debut release "Thankful" but has been following up with fantastic tracks since and now an album "Pvnk Durag" too. His single "Doped Up" has a hazy hip hop vibe with a chilled out guitar riff. He's always been into music having played the cello from age nine and now after establishing himself with tracks like this we look forward to hearing more in 2019!
St. Louis Missouri-based chill electronic artist Ryan Noble aka RN has released his debut album "Blurred Reality". The fourth track "Stick By You" is a lovely reassurance to a partner that no matter what, he's sticking by their side. As the chorus lyrics say: "You don't have to worry baby, even through all you're facing, I will stick by you". The track has a warm, gentle sound and a really cool eastern instrumental lead in the chorus.
In November last year Brisbane-based singer/songwriter Graham the Grand released his debut album "I Don't Know Why I Feel the Way I Do", a deeply personal outpouring of his innermost feelings and struggles. The last track "Go" talks of a lover suspected of unfaithfulness and the lyrics cut straight through to the most painful parts of that situation. Though only a short track of 2 minutes, it pulls a lot of emotional weight, with Grand's intimate vocals sitting starkly above acoustic guitar and soft production. You can stream/download the album on all major outlets and you can also download it free here.
Toronto-based recording artist and songwriter Mackenta has released a fantastic new R&B track called "Hypersensitive" featuring her gorgeous, honest vocals over experimental electronic production. The track has a soundscape that twinkles like diamonds, an expertly crafted build towards the chorus, and striking lyrics like: "I'm a sapiosexual, emotionally intelligent, rough around the edges 'cause inside I'm pretty delicate, I know how I feel, that's why I'm so intense with it, had to keep it real, I must be hypersensitive." If you're wondering what a sapiosexual is, it's someone who finds intelligence sexually attractive or arousing. Mackenta wrote of the track: "I can't be superficial in my relationships. If you want to get close to me, you have to be willing to be vulnerable."