TRP.P debuts at Roundhouse Music with their voluptuous single “Way I Like.” The Toronto duo, individually known as Phoenix Pagliacci (Singer) & Truss (Producer), have composed this compelling & sensual R&B composition consisting of ambient pads, captivating bells, & an addicting bassline that can lure listeners to an overwhelming sense of euphoria. Atop the beautiful production by Truss, Pheonix’s voice and storytelling abilities turn this track into an evocative yet irresistibly erotic musical experience. Her remarkable voice truly compliments the message she delivers through the lyrics. At the same time, the flawless delivery from verse to chorus shows the artist’s qualities that can genuinely bring this track to great heights in the Toronto R&B scene & beyond. The beautiful & impressive arrangement of sonics curated by TRP.P is undoubtedly one of the most alluring songs to arise from Toronto – and we look forward to hearing more at Roundhouse Music.
Khamari debuts at Roundhouse Music with his beautiful single, “Doctor, My Eyes.” This song delivers itself through a stunning array of production & evocative lyricism. By incorporating beautiful guitar atop a prominent low-passed snare – Khamari provides listeners with a vivid display of storytelling and narrative. As he addresses issues of self-trauma & the difficulties in coping with addictions/substance abuse – he exhibits his creative potential and level of artistry through a soothing composition. The artist concludes the song with a heartfelt voice & low distortion before hitting a sudden stop – a perfect ending to this captivating song.
UK artists Knucks & Stormzy have made a tremendous impact on the UK Hip Hop scene in the last half-decade. After paving their separate paths in the industry, the two have finally contributed to a long-expected collaboration with their latest single – Die Hard – a nonchalant track that displays their ambitions of transcending into new levels within their careers.
Atop the compelling messages within their lyrics & jazzy influences in the beat selection, the two rappers display chemistry in their sound that can situate them into a position of dominance in the UK Hip Hop scene.
Impressively matching each other’s energy, the artists showcase an immaculate display of storytelling, highlighting the risks and challenges they’re willing to overcome to bring forth a grandiose suit & tie lifestyle into fruition. In the chorus, Knucks cleverly references the 1998 film “Die Hard” with lyrics, ‘I pray to God I’m in the right lane, Goin out a hundred on the highway, Out the sunroof screamin “Yippee Ki yay.” The American cowboy one-liner has been graced as an expression of extreme joy & excitement in classic pop culture. The wordplay evokes the artist’s desire and eagerness to reach his goals and aspirations while assessing the risks of advancing too quickly in the industry. He continues to deliver messages throughout his verses, indicating his awareness for those attempting to skip through their own difficulties by tying themselves to his accomplishments. In conclusion to his verse, he expresses his vigour and resilience through the lyrics ‘mans word, I can never be a mans worker/work the plan, we can never let the plan work us.’ This powerful statement addresses his inclination toward success without succumbing to the pressures of the industry.
After the third chorus, Stormzy makes his gracious appearance in the song – providing the track with his distinct yet laid-back flow. Much like the messages delivered by Knucks – he too exhibits a vivid story of his experience in the music business – calling attention to the ingenuine personalities of others & his willingness to protect all that he’s worked to achieve. The artist implies his disposition to stay oblivious ‘in the hood with geniuses and illiterates’ as he endeavours to succeed in obtaining his big dream.
From a music producer’s perspective – the artists flawlessly convey their message atop the sinister-sounding production. By incorporating prominent live basslines, dark fender rhodes & a sprinkle of jazzy saxophone licks at the end – the sequence and instrumentation act as a perfect backdrop for this evocative single.
Despite the song’s ominous and thrilling outcome, the two highly prolific UK rappers present this inspiring track, revealing their devotion and willingness to excel in their careers. “Die Hard” is undoubtedly an inspiring collaborative effort that leaves room for anticipation.
Over lush, slow instrumentation, Ty Jouska recalls a former relationship and the pain he associates with it. The melodies Jouska strings together are both interesting in form and delivery. Through this combination, Jouska reveals a multitude of feelings for the audience: the relief of growth after a questionable relationship, the discomfort that is driven by internal confusion, and the bittersweet conclusion that he both loved and was unable to love the person of subject in “Am I Over You.” And though the track seems to drown in uncertainty, Jouska’s confidence and unique style helps elevate the track past typical self-loathing. It’s charming, sweet, and an overall easy listen.
Emerging from San Francisco, Jthurston releases his latest single ‘Seven Days.’ This bouncy, bass-driven track reflects the roots of Bay Area music – incorporating catchy hooks, melodic wordplay, and upbeat nature that’s perfect for blasting through the streets of the 82nd block, East Oakland.
Jthurston flawlessly displays his lyrical potential in this newest release as he transitions through the hooks and verses. This two-minute and twenty-five-second track draw forth a hustler’s no-days-off mentality – perfectly indicating the artist’s desire and hunger for success. The composition and production of the song blend different factors of traditional bay area music – highlighting the prominent grand piano, rhythmic low-end 808s, and a distinct signature clap – that’s fitting for the city’s classic hip-hop sound. With a good balance between lyricism, production, and mastering – the overall outcome of the song is a clear reflection of the prolific artists’ integrity and work ethic.
‘Seven Days’ is an anthem – undoubtedly a fitting take on the flourishing Bay Area sound. Listen to the track here!
grape milk has blessed us with a new single titled “we don’t need therapy!”. Here, the 3-minute pop track sees grape milk make use of his signature soft delivery. In the track, grape milk addresses a person that says he doesn’t need therapy and instead needs money to buy drugs. I talked to grape milk about what the song meant to him and he told me “I struggled with depression around the time of my graduation from high school then I spent a lot of time trying to figure out why I was depressed and what I could do to get out of it. Over the course of this entire past year, I have taken myself on a few magic mushroom trips and I think they’ve slowly but steadily changed my life. Currently, I think my depression is at an all-time low since I first felt it, and that’s when I decided to write the song about it. All that to say, “we don’t need therapy!” is really a song about escaping what so many people are struggling with, and hopefully the song sparks hope for some people who are going through hard times”. grape milk put his all in this song and didn’t disappoint one bit.
NB: grape milk isn’t glorifying drugs or trying to undermine therapy but is highlighting his own experiences with depression.
Juko has finally blessed us with his highly anticipated single “Change (It Won’t Be Long)”. The 3-minute track is way different from Juko’s previous work, as he switched up his vocals and even production style here. It’s a song about forgetting who you are, and then finding a way back. When I asked Juko what the track meant to him, he told me “the song has many meanings to me. I wrote it during a particularly difficult time in my life. One night-I was so scared of the fact that I felt like I haven’t changed as a person lately; that I haven’t grown into the person I wanted to be. I needed to force myself into a situation where I needed to grow. It took me a bit to realize that all of that should come naturally. Do your thing- try your absolute hardest- and the growth will follow”. Well, the growth is obvious on “Change (It Won’t Be Long, but instead of taking my word for it, give it a listen right now and I promise you won’t be disappointed.
AYJ Wavey has finally dropped his long awaited EP 4EA. The 4 track EP shows AYJ’s versatility with turnt tracks like “Fall in Love”, to deep cuts like “Feel Something”, to a more bar heavy feel with “Whole Lotta Red”. AYJ was able to mix different sounds and emotions in just 4 tracks. When I talked to the England-based Nigerian about what 4EA meant to him, he told me “4EA is a state of mind, a way of life I maintained for most of the lockdown. I was in my head, in my own world, studying the game, learning, watching everything and this project is sort of my reaction to everything. This project is a care package for those that really fuck with what I do and think they can see the vision, cause I gotta keep those guys fed; they’re my core listeners. 4EA is also a reflection of my versatility and untapped sound”. It’s obvious with this project that AYJ has grown as an artist and we can’t wait for the visuals he has on the way.
Vancouver, Canada artist BAINS. has shared a new single called “Feel Awful”. The second single from his upcoming album Punch Drunk, this self-produced offering contains emotive sonics and relatable lyricism- making for an evocative and memorable listen.
Fluttering guitars create an appropriately wistful introduction for BAINS.’ reflective, candid verses. He comes through with captivating lyrics that find the artist at a low point, ruminating over past mistakes and time lost. Also themed around his love/ hate relationship with alcohol, the honesty of this single’s subject matter shines through and impacts the listener directly.
Production-wise, “Feel Awful” is engagingly dynamic, with bouncy percussion and grooving bass dropping in mid-way through the first verse and crescendoing in the chorus to create a gripping effect. Drawing the listener into the song’s atmosphere as it builds, the production here is sharply-crafted and vivid.
The latest from BAINS., “Feel Awful” combines hip-hop, alternative R&B, and alt-pop influences into a vibrant and refreshingly personal medley. The second single from his upcoming album Punch Drunk, this release finds BAINS. expanding upon his previous work to present a relatable and infectious offering.
Singer, songwriter, and TikTok influencer, Kylie Muse is back with another new single dubbed “Burning Home” part 2, this single talks about falling in love for someone who isn’t necessarily good for you. The new single follows one of her most recent tracks, “Burning Home” which was a track Kylie wrote from her dad’s perspective regarding his relationship with what Kylie notes as a narcissist.
This single contains atmospheric pianos underscored by graceful strings and light, airy percussion that provide an emotive backdrop for Muse’s powerful vocals. Showcasing her sharp songwriting abilities and evocative voice, “Devil in Disguise” continues her run of captivating, personal alt-pop singles.
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