Category: Blog

Sean Pixel has shared a fresh new single called “muda muda”. The prolific artist, who follows up his vibrant, warm recent song “not as easy” with this offering, continues to showcase sharp songwriting and a keen ear for infectious production here. Evocative guitars enter first, creating a wistful foundation for Pixel’s emotive melodies as crisp drums and bouncy 808s are brought in to bolster the song’s hypnotic rhythm. As he delivers smooth yet powerful verses and caps the song off with a memorable hook, one can’t help but be drawn into this song’s nostalgic, balmy atmosphere. The latest from Sean Pixel, “muda muda” continues his streak of charmingly catchy offerings.

Listen to “muda muda” now:

By Griffen Elliot

Yngboyewy is one of those new artists that excite me. His discography only began in 2020, but Ewy has already proven to be a prolific songwriter- and a good one at that. Throughout his tracks there seems to be a fluid blend of different genres like indie, pop, and hip hop, and his latest release “<3” is no different. The track opens with an acoustic guitar strumming behind a synth melody while Yngboyewy vamps hip hop-like vocal stabs, even including a producer tag before the beat drop- all of which has been ingrained in you to make you believe you’re about to hear rapping. So, it’s a real fake-out when it launches into the main more indie-centered theme of the song. This fake-out however, does not diminish the quality and flow of the song as a whole and adds replay value, in my opinion. Yngboyewy is a hidden gem.

Listen to “<3” now:

By PJ Ouellet

Canadian artist Dxadpoxt returns with his second single of the year, teaming up with YUNG FUFU for the release of “Lone Traveller”. Wavey and packed with subtleties, a hypnotic guitar line drives the track as both artists deliver powerful verses. “Lone Traveller” is both soothing and engaging, reminiscent of the modern west coast sound of the early-2010s. Light keys and harps float in and out from start to finish, while angelic, yet ghostly choirs support Dxadpoxt’s hook to round out a spirited offering from the pair.

Stream “Lone Traveller” on Spotify now:

By Abakam Michael

Michael: What was your first introduction to music?

SS Jay: My first introduction? Man, I don’t know for real lol. Earliest memories is of mom playing Teena Maria. She would make me sit down my brother and throw a concert in the living room. She couldn’t sing for shit but the joy and determination on her face made me sit there and enjoy every word she “horribly” sang out. Lol.

Michael: What inspired you to start making music?

SS Jay: J Coles “Friday Night Lights” and Early Drake. A lot of other artists have reignited my passion throughout the year but those boys are TIMELESS. I just wanna create something like that.

Michael: How would you describe your sound?

SS Jay: To be honest? I don’t know, never thought about it. If I had to describe I would just say it’s Jay. When you hear you hear all my vulnerabilities, my fears, my vices. Different songs fit into different categories where one is hard hitting and fast the next introspective and thought provoking. But it all comes down to it being me and my different sides.

Michael: What’s your creative process like?

SS Jay: Low lights, beat catalogues, and the notes app on my phones.

Michael: You plan on dropping anytime soon?

SS Jay: I dropped my latest “Life can wait” last month and I’m loving the response. I’m working now on a project and more stuff to release soon.

Michael: What does “Life can Wait” mean to you?

SS Jay: To me it’s just a pause for real. Fuck the stress, the hardship, and the disappointments that comes with life. It’s like a timeout, a moment to catch your breath and gather yourself.

Michael: Can you tell us more about this project you’re working on?

SS Jay: I wanna drop a video and a little EP. My video ideas are out of this world and I have to find the right person to help me execute it or I’ll never get it done lol. I need my first video and
everyone after that to be something different and something special.

Michael: What you hoping to achieve at the end of the year?

SS Jay: I just want my music heard and to be able to do this full time. I’m only giving myself a year and a half to pursue this so I’m all in.

Michael: What would you label your career highs?

SS Jay: Right now lol I won a song writing contest for 500 and I just surpassed 25k plays on Spotify. That alone is a huge victory for me. I’m just hoping I can hit 100k and then on and on.

Michael: How do you cope with the feeling of being under appreciated as an artist?

SS Jay: It makes me mad low key but even more hungry to prove myself. I know if given the right resources I could make shit SHAKE.

Listen to “Life Can Wait” by SS Jay HERE.

By Griffen Elliott

CHLSY is a Nashville-based rock band that has brought back a wave of 90ʼs nostalgia with their newest single “garden”. This song’s opening guitar riff is simple but has a certain quality to it that piques your curiosity, this is then followed by the vocals which are as gorgeous as the lyrics of the song, which can be quite poetic at times. All of this is then builds to an absolute smack in the face of killer riffs, pounding drums, and driving bass all expertly complimented by an impressive vocal top line that will bring you back to the days of 90’s hard rock and grunge. The final result is a song that is impossible not to headbang to. I predict big things for CHLSY as this talented group continues to hone their craft.

Listen to “garden” now:

By Damilola Grey

Dami: What was your first introduction to music?

jimmy: My first introduction to music was my father. He used to be an MC as well and my mother was a part of a band. I didn’t even like music at first, but it became something I was natural at.

Dami: What inspired you to start rapping?

jimmy: I was always interested in rap but I was never the MC. I was inspired by works of OutKast at a young age. There was one night a Tupac song came on and no one will believe me for this but while I was watching the video, it was like he was speaking to me. This was back when I was 23. My life was hell. I was in all sorts of shit but for some reason that night, I listened to “That’s Just the Way It Is”. That’s when I truly got inspired. I was inspired but not to that extent at that point. I’ll never forget that night.

Dami: How would you describe your sound?

jimmy: Gritty, grungy, real. In some instances, it takes all aspects of music that are considered “dark”. Some of my biggest inspirations are Kurt Cobain and artists like ScHoolboy Q or ODB. My lyrics are honest yet poetic. My production provides a lot of low-keys and low end, and there can be some dysfunctional frequencies, while at the same time, I can be melodic and influenced by the mantra of a guitar. The lyrics typically always equate to that oceanic mood. The mood of always going with the flow. I like to consider my sound the storm within the calm. The inner demons that tend not to express themselves. I often let them out on record. That’s how I’d describe it.

Dami: What’s your creative process like?

jimmy: There isn’t one lmao. Honestly, the creative process is that I’ll hear a sound, start with a melody or flow. I then lay my first few bars down once I get the melody or the flow. 80% of the music I make is all free-formed thoughts or freestyles. I may take a swig of some drank or a drag of a spliff and I’m on the mic. In some of my upcoming work, this process has been applied. I can’t wait to share it with the world. It’s been a while since I released.

Dami: What’s your relationship with lucidjason?

jimmy: That’s my lil bro, my compadre, my main man. We’re actually working on something special for the culture. We got something we testing out for everybody in the works at the moment but me and lucid have a certain chemistry that can’t be matched whenever we work in the booth. I have nothing but love for the kid and he has the same amount of love for me, so we just vibe on that level and the music is even more phenomenal. I got a lot of songs with him so ask him about the drops lol.

Dami: Can we know more about this special thing on the way?

jimmy: Well I got a lot coming out. I’m dropping an EP this year and my first album could come out later this year. Now I can’t unveil all the secrets just yet, but it’s been a long time coming. Just tell the people to look our for Testing and follow us at “testing.atl”. Some other things are coming as well. Shout out to the boy Spxke; me and him got something crazy too.

Dami: Any collabs on either?

jimmy: Been working with the 380 Gang on shit most definitely. Blvck Lvrd, Pyjign, TK, Spxke, kus.co. My boys Joe Kappa and lucidjason. Just know we tryna get shit popping out here in the south but we all coming different. With my own personal work, I got some special production and features but it’s at a minimum. Expect an introduction to jimmy. this year though. We coming heavy all year.

Dami: Who are your biggest inspirations?

jimmy: My biggest inspirations are Malcolm X, Bruce Lee, Kurt Cobain, Andre 3000, and most of TDE. Can’t leave out my mother and father. Without them, I wouldn’t have known this path, so I’m actually very grateful they had a son with this much potential. I’m inspired by legends and I aim to be one as well.

Dami: What moments can you classify as your career highs?

jimmy: My first show at the masquerade. Reaching one million views on Spotify. Those were two moments I think really set the tone for me to step my game up and take my platform seriously. I want to create more moments like that no matter what it takes.

Dami: What do you hope to achieve at the end of the year?

jimmy: I want to establish an actual connection that sets the tone for my future. Whatever that connection is, whatever that big moment is, I’m looking for it. At this point, it’s just anticipation. I’m putting it up to the higher being that it’ll work out.

Listen to “.Old Converse” by jimmy. HERE.

By Darasha Singleton

Augusta artist 32 Evan has just dropped a new single “Take it” featuring another Augusta native, Rot Ken. This modern-day love song goes back and forth between giving their love and soul to their partner and then encouraging them to just take it – take it like you would anything else. 

At the start of the track, you can tell it’s going to be one you can vibe out to with its calming beat and the dash of bass. Subtle uh-huh’s ride over the beat at the beginning of the song like an unwritten agreement to the title of the song. 

Rot Ken, who takes over the chorus, has a distinct flow that can often be heard in many of his solo tracks. He takes you along as the beat picks up. The familiar tone works here, too. 

The torch is handed back over to 32 Evan as he comes in with a less lover boy vibe. Delivering with a courageous tone, 32 Evan switches his flow to match seamlessly with the beat. 

“Take it” is a track that will keep you wanting to hear more from these two. 

Listen to “Take It” now: 

Berlin-based artist Mr Pigeons has shared a new album titled Blue Heron. The musician, who first came onto our radar with his expansive 2021 album Pink Fossil, builds on the surreal foundation he created with that record on Blue Heron, a dense, varied set of tracks that are mind-expanding and abstract. Frequently blending different genres and influences, this album combines disparate elements in a way that feels natural and engaging.

Blue Heron kicks off with the powerful, cacophonous opener “Subtle Needs”, a track that creates a mercurial, dark atmosphere using shrieking woodwinds that aptly resemble bird calls. Underneath, heavy 808s and metallic percussion create a solid foundation for Mr Pigeons dynamic, poetic vocals. Introducing the album’s mysterious, grand sound, “Subtle Needs” makes for an album highlight early in the tracklist.

Next, “Where U At?” follows with an otherworldly instrumental containing a heavy, memorable bassline and clanging percussion. Here, Mr Pigeons comes through with some evocative verses that highlight his sharp lyrical ability, as vivid lines paint psychedelic images in the listener’s mind. Album highlight “The Reed” follows next, with hypnotic strings and eery vocal samples ringing out atop rugged drums. As the beat swirls in kaleidoscopic patterns, Mr Pigeons delivers a series of thought-provoking verses that draw the listener even deeper into this track’s moody, organic soundscape.

With three powerful, sonically massive leading tracks, “Like Magic” and “Overflow” change up the pace midway through the record by bringing in more carefree, laid-back rhythms. Weightless and ethereal, these two tracks provide a lighter mood before “Bread” re-introduces the darker, sweeping soundscapes heard earlier. An enigmatic track, “Bread”‘s rich production is captivating, as winding samples meld smoothly with Mr Pigeons vocals to soar atop crunchy drums.

The album’s latter half features some eclectic experimentation, with songs like “Sleeps” and “Tateguru” making use of glitchier, more maximalist soundscapes that suit Mr Pigeons dynamic vocals well. On the flipside, it also includes more minimalistic, relaxed tracks like “Calmer” and “Grandma” that provide breathing room, allowing for an engaging listening experience that takes the listener on a vibrant journey through varied, lush sonics, making Blue Heron an intriguing and diverse ride overall.

The latest from Berlin’s Mr Pigeons, Blue Heron takes the listener into unforeseen sonic territory, exploring moody, vast soundscapes that are thought-provoking in nature. Pairing rich, esoteric production with vibrantly poetic lyricism, Blue Heron is a record that beckons many re-visits to grasp its full scope, as he pulls from a variety of eclectic influences to craft something refreshing in so many regards.

Listen to ‘Blue Heron’ now:

By Todd Anderson

“Brix” is the debut single from Rochester, NY artist Devon Alexis, a refreshing track that pairs vaguely unsettling melodies with heavy, memorable grooves to create an infectious blend. Alexis crafted this song based around the theme of how it feels to stay in a toxic situation that has a bleak outlook. “Brix” speaks to the difficulty of leaving something that you know is broken, no matter how much it hurts to stay. Alexis handled the vocals entirely, delivering dynamic, catchy verses full of personal lyricism, where the instrumental was crafted by Brady O’Keefe. Haunting in sound, it utilizes dissonant keys and distorted, swelling bass to capture a feeling of uncertainty. This ghostly backdrop suits Alexis’ vocals, enveloping them in a mysterious mood that makes this song a layered listening experience. The debut single from Rochester’s Devon Alexis, “Brix” has excited to hear what more she has in store musically.

Listen to “Brix” now:

Bronx artist Ricky Mapes has shared a fresh new visual for his track “SPEAKEASY”, featuring Yon Cash. The latest offering from the TRDTN Records rapper, “SPEAKEASY” pairs raw, nocturnal production with commanding, dynamic flows to create an exhilarating listening experience. With a refreshing new visual to accompany the track, “SPEAKEASY” is a release that is simply easy to keep re-visiting again and again.

The production here is textural and atmospheric, with gritty, dense samples drifting atop dusty percussion. This beat conjures a dark atmosphere that immerses the listener in its foreboding mood, while providing a highly suitable backdrop for Mapes and Cash’s sharp flows. They come through with powerful verses that meld seamlessly, showing a natural chemistry as artists that makes this track thrilling to listen to. Accompanied by an engaging visual, “SPEAKEASY” will likely to remain in our rotation for some time.

Watch the visual for “SPEAKEASY” now: