Illusion Hills have returned with a new single called “bittersweet”, featuring han.irl<3 and Ryan Hall. Continuing a prolific release schedule that included refreshing recent singles “genesis” and “chasm”, “bittersweet” further showcases their ability to harness introspective, emotive content through idiosyncratic sonics that flirt with a variety of genres including alt-pop, indie, hip-hop, and more.
Wistful, glitchy guitars open the song, conveying a mood of longing, matched the track’s poignant, expressive vocals. Building dynamically with crunchy, addictive percussion and buttery 808s, it conjures an enticing groove that draws the listener in to the song’s immersive warmth. The chorus provides a cherry on top, with a cathartic, infectious vocal performance that lingers in one’s head long after listening, demonstrating Illusion Hills’ deft ability to string together memorable melodies.
The latest from Illusion Hills, han.irl<3, and Ryan Hall, “bittersweet” continues their run of engaging, outside-the-box releases and has us excited for what may be coming next from them.
Los Angeles artist Geller has connected with wsteaway for a new single, titled “Losing Sleep.” Following up Geller’s well-received single “Boring Life”, “Losing Sleep” makes for a refreshing, genre-bending listen, immersing the listener in layers of warping, ethereal sounds.
Combining sharply-crafted production with textural, expansive sound design, “Losing Sleep” further showcases the California artist’s signature style- combining influences from electronic, indie, alt-pop, and more. Glowing, ethereal synths drift in kaleidoscopic patterns atop brisk, lively production, creating a mercurial, colorful backdrop for Geller and wsteaway’s dream-like vocals. The pair share a natural chemistry here, weaving together emotive performances as they discuss poignant topics such as insomnia, the tediousness of daily life, and mental health.
The latest from Geller and wsteaway, “Losing Sleep”‘s ethereal sound and infectious melodies make for a memorable, genre-less listen.
Gios4ma is an experimental hip-hop artist and producer from Jackson, MS. Following the success of his “Go Live” EP last year, he treated fans to a re-release of his 2017 project called “Heatwave Vol. 1.” Now, he’s returned with a fresh new single and accompanying video called “Excuse Us” from his forthcoming mixtape, “Heatwave Vol. III.” Gio lays the groundwork for the track with his production, but he leaves lyrical duties to fellow rap members of CQCX, a nationwide collective of artists and creatives. The record features Utah’s Lil Du Bois, Chicago’s King $ly, and South Carolina’s Savvy Mcfly.
CQCX has had a strong year, with Du Bois, Mcfly, and $ly each dropping singles within the last few months. Shot by filmmaker and photographer Boots Howard, the video captures the undeniable chemistry that exists within the collective. Howard pans the video to different sides of the room, candidly capturing each member present in the studio during the lauded “Chicago Sessions.” The rap members meet one by one inside and outside in order of their respective verses.
Gio laces the beat with crisp drums, a strong bassline, and looming synths. $ly kicks things off lyrically with a memorable hook. “Ain’t nobody messing with the movement,” he says boldly regarding his team. $ly raps about personal resilience, something he notes is lacking in his competition. Next up is Du Bois, who makes quick work of his verse. “Only dust settles, can’t stand in place,” he remarks swiftly. Du Bois is enjoying the heights that he and those in his circle are achieving. Mcfly closes the deal, expressing genuine happiness and flashing a competitive spirit. “It’s been some time since you feasted/We took your whole plate,” he raps cleverly.
Tyler Blankinship, creative architect and member of CQCX, takes a moment to flex on the outro and remind us that they “got our shoes on your neck!”
Tekki: My first introduction to music was Polish pop music from the 80s and 90s. After that, at the age of 7, I started listening to Polish hip-hop such as Paktofonika, Kaliber 44, and Tede. Few years later, Kendrick popped up on my YouTube page and after listening to few of his songs, I became really interested in US rap and trap.
Dami: What inspired you to start making music?
Tekki: At first, it was motivated by trying to have an interesting hobby that my peers have never heard of. I just wanted to have more friends than I had. Few months later though, meeting new people motivated me to keep going even though I was bad back then.
Dami: Who are your biggest inspirations?
Tekki: Hmm I’mma sound really cliché but Kanye, Frank, Mac Miller, and my friend SPiMP which was my biggest supporter since day one. He taught me how to rap to be honest.
Dami: What are you trying to achieve as an artist?
Tekki: I’m tryna make the best music I can and show others that everything’s possible. It’s all about hard work and being patient.
Dami: What do you want people to take away after listening to your music?
Tekki: My main goal is to brighten someone’s day. Let them clear their mind for a minute or two; basically get them in a better mood.
Dami: You just dropped a project. Can you tell us about it?
Tekki: Sure, it’s a collab project between me and my good friend and French producer Nxsada. We met each other on Kenny Beats discord and started working together around April 2021. In December, we decided to make a collab joint and after those few months, we’re here. Something about the project- it’s a drill tape where you can find a lot of different sounds, from hyperdrill to typical UK drill sound. Me and him mixed and mastered everything- we are really proud of that. There are 3 features- 1 German, 1 French, and 1 Polish (last two gonna be released on deluxe version). Lyrics wise, I am mostly talking about not trusting people and explaining why I don’t need and am not looking for love, I’d rather work on myself. The title “Was It All Worth It?” is a question that we used to ask each other all the time. Were these 6 months of constant work worth not releasing any other music? Will people enjoy it? Will it be a successful project?
Dami: What are 3 words to describe your music?
Tekki: Energetic, uplifting, and motivational.
Dami: What artists do you wish to work with?
Tekki: Def Kanye and Frank. Tyler seems like an interesting person too but besides them, I’m a really big Brent Faiyaz fan. I think that a song with him would go mad crazy.
Dami: How does it feel being a Polish artist trying to break into the mainstream?
Tekki: Weird and hard because of me making music in English and I don’t really have a lot of potential for Polish music- same with the audience. I don’t really have many listeners from Poland, and I’m not really surprised. Finding international connections is also hard, which leaves me stuck in the position I am in right now.
Dami: What would you say has been your biggest achievement as an artist?
Tekki: Seeing many people in my YouTube comments and Instagram DM’s talking about how I’m making their days with my music. Seeing them make edits to my music without thinking that I’m going to promote it. Basically genuine love that I’m getting from people. It keeps me going because I see that I have someone that needs me.
Polish artist, Tekki and French producer, Nxsada have connected for a new project titled “Was It All Worth It?” The album is a drill tape with lots of different sounds- from hyperdrill to even the typical UK drill sound- there’s something on here for everyone. The project was also mixed and mastered by Tekki and Nxsada.
“Was It All Worth It?” is also blessed by features from international artists- one German, one Frenh, and one Polish. According to Tekki, there are two more features which will be released on the deluxe version of this project. He uses the album to talk about his lack of trust for people and why he’s not looking for love, preferring to work on himself instead. When I talked to the Polish rapper about the significance of the project to him, he told me “The project means a lot to me because I went MIA for a few months just to finish it. I made a lot of connections, did a big progress and learned new stuff. The title “Was It All Worth It?” is a question that we used to ask each other all the time”.
Well the six month wait was all worth it, as this is nothing short of an amazing project. Stream Was It All Worth It? below.
SweetXO is a talented RnB artist from Miami, Florida who just dropped his first ever project titled “Love Lost”. The 6 track project boasts of features from Kaleb Mitchell, Dhalya Nicole, and JuiceBangers.
The project is blessed with strong vocals, not only from SweetXO but also the features, as we can see in “Playlist” where Kaleb Mitchell and Dhalya Nicole grace the track with heavenly performances. The project is filled with many emotional and romantic vibes such as a personal favorite, “Intro (Good Thing)”- a short but beautiful song where SweetXO is stuck on a woman he describes as a queen who has no need for a crown.
When I asked the Florida native what this project meant to him, he said “Love Lost as a concept is the mentor I never had growing up. I think we all spend so much time looking for love that we lose ourselves trying to find it. So much so that if we ever lose the love we find (which is 99% certain seeing as very few people find the right person on the first go), we don’t know what to do with ourselves”. “Love Lost” is about the journey of finding love and all the things that come with that journey too.
“Love Lost” is a really beautiful project and with a release like this, we won’t be surprised if SweetXO is a household name in a few months.
Johnny Quest The Rebel is a talented hip-hop artist from Trenton, New Jersey based in Los Angeles, CA. A seasoned rap veteran, Quest has opened for pioneers like Curren$y, Metro Boomin, and Bone Thugs N Harmony, respectively. He has had an impressive year, releasing his notable EP called “Vacation Bible School” in April. The project is grounded with strong storytelling and personal reflection on themes related to religion, human nature, and spirituality. The Renaissance Music artist has returned with a new video for “Designer Casket,” his standout record from the project.
The QuestGod-directed video is visually striking. Quest and Ruff Dyamonds (a frequent collaborator of Quest’s) take a stroll through a cemetery and a funeral home, and they take moments to view the open casket as well. While the funeral guests mourn the loss of life, Quest and Diamonds observe the proceedings– unaware to the audience.
“Gucci shades on, bitch, I feel expensive,” boasts Dyamonds during the catchy hook. He vows to chase material wealth as far as possible despite the “spiritual homicide” that’s attached to his pursuits. Quest shares a similar sentiment about luxury living, rapping confidently from various shots that include the graveyard, behind the pulpit, and in front of the casket. “Count it up/It’s all about the numbers in this game of life,” he says boldly. To close the record, Quest envisions his own passing. “It’s see you later, never goodbye,” he assures his loved ones. The visuals capture the essence of the message, making for a really powerful continuation of Quest’s noteworthy record.
Vancouver artist CEE has shared a new video for her song “BDE.” Born in Saint-Étienne, France and moving to Vancouver at 6 years old, she began singing from an early age. While working as a painter, photographer, singer, among other creative pursuits, she has been consistently dropping music and visuals for 2 years, building up a repertoire of infectious, relatable alternative R&B offerings. Her latest, “BDE” is no different, providing a catchy, sleek listen, and is now accompanied by a refreshing visual directed by Sunny Palak.
“BDE” contains silky, memorable production centred around luxurious keys and laid-back, crisp grooves. Atop the relaxed, slick production, CEE delivers a series of elegant melodies sung in a dream-like, sensuous fashion, giving the song a graceful feel. The new video is engaging and stylish as well, adding to the sultry warmth of the track with its glowing shots and rich coloration.
The latest from CEE, “BDE” makes for an infectious, airy R&B offering that provides much replay value.
Massachusetts rapper Pareto and Houston-based artist armstrongWW have connected for a new single called “habits”, produced by with me, with you. Affiliated with the rising Hidden Renaissance collective, the artists continue their streak of jazzy, lyrically-focused offerings with “habits”, a reflective track featuring evocative production and poignant verses.
“habits” contains elegant pianos laid smoothly atop rich bass and organic-sounding percussion. Atop the laid-back, subtly dream-like instrumentation, Pareto and ArmstrongWW deliver characteristically vivid, detailed verses that are admirably unafraid to be personal. Making for a relatable, contemplative listen, “habits” continues Pareto, ArmstrongWW, and with me, with you’s respective runs of prolific, sharply-crafted alternative hip-hop releases.
Ram Dass has released his third single “Trust in the Blue” from his upcoming album “The Unimaginable” on Spirit Voyage Records. Gently exploring melancholy, maturing, and coping with the unknown, the folk melodies of “Trust in the Blue” carry a message of encouragement. Finger-picked acoustic guitar, strings, and three-part harmonies reminiscent of Crosby, Stills, and Nash portray both sadness and serenity in this ballad that is at once current and timeless.
“Losing my son made me become an adult quickly and the dreams I had before disappeared in an instant.” says Ram Dass. “This song is a message to myself as my own friend, trying to give myself the reminder that I’m doing great even though things can be so hard.”
The latest from Ram Dass, “Trust in the Blue” makes for a poignant and impactful release from the artist. Ram Dass is a producer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter who instills a unique potency in his music through collaboration and improvisation that creates art greater than the sum of its parts.
ROUNDHOUSE MUSIC 