imy: I feel like since I was out the womb. My dad and my uncles used to play Pac, Nate Dogg, Snoop and all the oldhead West Coast music. My other uncle was the one that put me on to alt rock at a pretty young age.
Dami: What inspired you to start making music?
imy: I think I always knew I wanted to. My uncle was in a group in the early 2000s and I always thought that shit was fire. I used to watch VH1 Soul, MTV Jams and all that when I was young too, so I guess music videos were a big influence as well.
Dami: Where do you grab inspiration from when making music?
imy: They are all about shit I have been through. People I’ve lost, relationships I’ve had, and just regular shit people go through.
Dami: How would you describe your sound?
imy: It started out as only hip hop but now I guess it’s more hyperpop/ alt R&B.
Dami: What’s your creative process like?
imy: I feel like I’m in discord with all my friends looking for beats all day. Once I find the beat, I play it over and over and work on the bridge first, chorus, and the verses. I mix and master everything myself on FL, so I punch in all my vocals and then rework everything at the end.
Dami: You dropped a track titled “Linux” sometime last month. Can you tell us more about it?
imy: That’s my one of my favorites so far and I usually don’t mess with songs right after but this one’s been on repeat for me. The song’s about old letters my dad sent to my mum when we broke up back before I was born.
Dami: What’s next for you after Linux?
imy: A few singles. Ichirou and I have an EP lined up and then I’m working towards another tape. I wanna get more features in. Videos for “Yellow”, “Cargo”, “Linux”, and “Lupin” are all on the way as well.
Dami: Can you tell us more about the EP on the way?
imy: Yeah it’s gonna be 6 songs, 2 pluggnb beats, either an indie beat like funeral or an R&B beat like vaile, and then the rest are hyperpop type beats. The first few projects I made were revolving around women and relationships. The next ones are about going as hard as possible. There’s not a lot of people where I’m from that make that type of music, and as of recently there’s a lot of people that never made anything other than West Coast or lyrical rap that, all of a sudden, are on a whole bunch of beats from producers I use. The project is gonna be called ‘Zeon’.
Dami: Any dream collabs?
imy: Tyler the Creator, Pharrell, Uzi, Kali Uchis and Uno.
Dami: How do you deal with feeling underappreciated as an artist?
imy: I don’t think I do. I think shit happens for a reason. When I pop off is when I pop off. The homie Haadi reminds me to keep being human. If I keep that shit with me, it’ll all work out.
Dami: What’s the most memorable thing you’ve experienced as an artist?
imy: Making Cargo. I started making music in 2016 but stopped cause of some bullshit at home. Cargo put life back into me. Me making Cargo showed all my friends that we should make music again. Now I got a team with me off that one song.
Jacob: What initially inspired you to start making music?
The China Blue: Music was sort of all I’ve ever known. It was always a huge part of my life growing up, in part because my father was a musician, so there was always a home studio with instruments to fool around with. I just always felt comfort by it, music has always affected me deeply, and I figured out my proper relationship with it is in the creation aspect.
Jacob: Where did you grow up, and how did it influence your music early on?
The China Blue: I grew up in south coast Massachusetts, in very much rural areas. I have a large and very close-knit Portuguese family, and all my cousins, aunts and uncles are musical or artistic in some aspect. The creation of music with some of my family members happened early on, and we were very much influenced by what we grew up listening; Toto, Journey, Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, The Police, etc. Lots of 80s music. But I wouldn’t say I acquired my own musical identity until I moved out of my parents’ home to Providence, RI. The city life suits me better, I love the people and experiences you can get out of it. Creatively, I moved and developed a lot faster there. There’s a bubbling art scene coming out of Providence and around Boston, MA that I’m lucky to say I’ve been at least somewhat a part of.
Jacob: Who were some of the main artists that shaped your sound over the years?
The China Blue: Michael Jackson was always my number 1 growing up. The ‘Thriller’ & ‘Bad’ albums are imprinted in my brain. I seriously take from everywhere though, there’s probably 100’s of artists that I try to reference in at least some way in my music, even if it’s not very noticeable. I’ve always been inspired by hip hop and rhythmic artists like Biggie, Lil Wayne, and Kanye and have tried to blend it with more atmospheric music I love, from say M83, Coldplay, or The 1975. I’ve been on a kick of female Rnb & Rap artists like Babyxsosa, Jenevieve, H31R, and YUNGCYBERPRINCESS.
Jacob: How did you come up with the name The China Blue?
The China Blue: “China blue” is a color. My name doesn’t really have a meaning, It just sounds like it has an element of mystery or elegance, like a clothing brand. I found out about the urban dictionary meaning after.
Jacob: What is your creative process like when it comes to songwriting and putting tracks together?
The China Blue: It always varies in some ways, but my roots have always started in production, so I usually start with crafting a beat or synth texture and build up a song from there. I do it all on my computer in my bedroom. I can play a “tiny” bit of everything, enough to at least get some ideas down, and then I’ll sometimes bring on better musicians than me if I need something in the instrumental tighter. For my vocals I kind of just start mouthing random sounds and cadences over the instrumentals so I can find vowels that sound pleasing and catchy, and then fill in the words. Often times afterwards I spend a while going through the lyrics carefully, making sure I’m saying exactly what I mean to say. I really care about lyricism and keeping myself current and honest in my expression. For the mixing and mastering stage, I usually now get an engineer for cleaning things up at the end; I realized it’s not ideal to do everything yourself even if you can.
Jacob: I really enjoyed your debut EP ‘The Last Several Months’. It feels like you blended genres and influences in an interesting way- what different genres did you pull from when making it? And was this a conscious thing or did it just happen naturally?
The China Blue: Like I said previously I definitely do pull from everything. I love all types of music, and regardless of genre, some songs just have that thing about them that feels like a gift from above. I’m just trying to chase that feeling regardless of what genre I’m playing around with to do that. At the time of writing ‘The Last Several Months’ I definitely applied my regular sort of rhythmic influences while also being super into emo music. I wanted to write something that felt cohesive but dynamic.
Jacob: Is there a song that you feel the closest to on ‘The Last Several Months’?
The China Blue: I think “Nervous” will always have a special place in my heart, because I felt like with that song I was able to take what had been the hardest thing I’d gone through in my life at the time (the break up from a long term relationship) and make something out of my pain that was both honest and catchy, and it was received well. I also think my beats on “SiLENCE” and “Why (It Didn’t Feel Right)” were pretty technically interesting at least from my end. I put a lot of thought into each millisecond of those songs.
Jacob: I understand you recently moved to Savannah, GA. What inspired the move? And how have you been enjoying it so far?
The China Blue: It was both the gravitation towards the ability of living with three of my best friends who are all creatives and are super inspiring, where we’d get to escape into nice weather and be in a new headspace, and also necessity. My place in Providence, RI was put on the market and I decided to take this leap without necessarily a clear plan forward. I’m loving it so far; the weather helps with my depression for sure. But I do plan on coming back up to New England soon.
Jacob: What inspired your recent single “out of my mind”?
The China Blue: I wrote it at really stressful time in my life, when my mental health was for sure getting the best of me. I was definitely smoking too much, partying too much, not sleeping or taking care of myself, and was starting to feel lost. I was risking my friendships and relationships, and I couldn’t ever relax no matter how hard I tried. I eventually hit a wall where I just could not get out of bed for a while. I started feeling a little insane, and with the stress and negative voices in my head I briefly convinced myself I was schizophrenic, which is definitely not the reality of my situation, but I at least feel like I could sympathize with someone who is.
Jacob: What was the process like of creating and recording “out of my mind”?
The China Blue: The other half of the conception of the song is realizing I wasn’t helping myself by taking myself too seriously. The music is a simple, percussive groove that helped me kind of shake out whatever voices were in my head at the time. It’s the opposite sound and feeling from the sort of depressing lyrics, which I think is helpful tool of mine to exit negative feelings. Uniquely in this song there really isn’t much going on besides the simple groove and I enjoy the restrain I showed here, because I have a tendency to throw layers and layers of atmosphere on songs.
Jacob: “out of my mind” discusses mental health and sends a message that can really relate with listeners today. How important is it for you to emotionally connect with your audience?
The China Blue: Mental health is a very important and personal cause for me, as I understand the destruction it can have on mine and other people’s lives if not kept in a good place. It’s always going to be a theme in my music, and I just want to approach it from my honest experiences as opposed to necessarily offering clear solutions. It’s something I struggle with too, but to me and my listeners; we’re in this together.
Jacob: What are your plans for rest of the year musically?
The China Blue: I want to play as many shows as I can, and release a few more singles as well as another EP. I have plenty to talk about and be honest about in my music.
Listen to The China Blue’s latest single “out of my mind” HERE.
Listen to The China Blue’s EP ‘The Last Several Months’:
In Jacob Maul‘s Latest Single “Online Gf”, he recounts the struggles of having a long-distance online girlfriend capturing a sense of longing in both the lyrics and feel of the song. At only 18 years-old Maul possesses an impressive knack for songwriting, marrying multiple different vocal melodies in a way that flows and carries the listeners through each section of the song. Not only that, but this track also has a wonderful vocal performance to go with it. Featuring lovely runs from both the backing vocals and lead sometimes, happening over top of one another creating interesting countermelodies. Simply put, a song you want to sing along with when you’re missing someone.
17-year old Georgetown, Guyana artist KGolden and Gio Perez have shared a fresh new single called “Too Deep”. An atmospheric alternative R&B banger, this track opens with airy keys that drift alongside ambient backing vocals. As groovy, energizing percussion drops in, the song’s catchy, smooth vocals enter in a graceful fashion, immersing the listener in the song’s warm mood. With a laid-back feel and memorable, focused melodies, “Too Deep” is a track that provides much replay value and refreshes the listener. For fans of alternative R&B and smooth hip-hop, “Too Deep” is a chilled out, elegant cut that is engaging in sound.
Austin, Texas artist Terrence Léon has come through with a refreshing new release called “I Want You”. After releasing engaging singles like “24 Hours”, as well as the sharp, poised EP, New Horizons, Léon has carved out a style that blends the relaxed, nostalgic aesthetic of 90’s R&B and the edginess of early 2000’s R&B. Léon’s latest single “I Want You” is an infectious, warm offering that captivates with soaring melodies and atmospheric, immersive instrumentation. Featuring airy vocal samples and smooth, refreshing keys gliding atop catchy, crisp percussion, “I Want You” is a memorable offering that provides heavy replay value.With its glowing sound and passionate vocals, “I Want You” provides a fresh soundtrack to warm nights.
Massachusetts artist Jxylen has shared his debut album PROJECT MAYHEM, a mind-expanding journey through gritty, abstract hip-hop soundscapes. A versatile collection of songs that are otherworldly and yet simultaneously deeply emotive, this project is refreshing in its honesty and willingness to explore unforeseen territory. With cacophonous, nocturnal instrumentals and vivid lyricism that revolves around thinking for oneself and being critical about society as a whole, PROJECT MAYHEM is already shaping up to be one of the year’s most thought-provoking new releases in underground hip-hop.
The opener “BURN THIS SHIT DOWN!” sets the tone for the record, with moody, expansive vocal samples that are texturally gritty, ringing out atop clashing percussion. Apocalyptic in tone, this track creates a mystical, dark backdrop that suits Jxylen’s baritone vocals perfectly, as he kicks off the EP with some raw verses that show his sharp ability to critique society and deliver touchingly introspective lyricism. “BURN THIS SHIT DOWN!” transitions smoothly into the esoteric “JACOB’S LADDER”. Here, Jxylen delivers powerful line after powerful line atop an ethereal instrumental from Jadooks centred around swirling strings and graceful guitars. This track has a distinctly spiritual feel, with a depth that is often missed in today’s musical landscape.
“MEMENTO” brings in icy keys and subtle vocal samples that give it a layered feel, as heavy percussion pounds beneath. Jxylen’s vocals are highly dextrous and dynamic, as he flows smoothly atop the Nomstks-produced beat with a series of evocative verses. An album highlight appears in the vibrant banger “SALVADOR DALI PAINTINGS”, a psychedelic track that finds PROJECT MAYHEM reaching towering heights with a behemoth instrumental from The Heretic that rattles the speakers. This beat is stellar, containing kaleidoscopic samples centred around dazzling harps and strings. Moreover, Jxylen’s verses here are scorching, packed with focused, descriptive lyrics delivered in engaging, elastic flows.
PROJECT MAYHEM closes with another album highlight in “BLXCK SHEEPS CLOTHING”, which slows the pace down for a more laid-back yet equally nocturnal and moody joint. Here, bittersweet, ruminative keys glow within a dark soundscape, conjuring an image of finding a light in a pitch-black night. Matching the tone of the keys, Jxylen’s verses convey a subtle sense of hope, as he dissects his life and position in the world, making the listener feel a little less alone among the chaos of our modern times.
An expansive, psychedelic offering, PROJECT MAYHEM is relentlessly dark and yet never feels as if it sticks to a gloomy mood for the sake of it, instead coming across as emotionally layered and refreshingly authentic. Spiritual and emotive yet raw and cacophonous, this record exists in a grey area that can be hard to come by in a world where pressure exists to categorize and deduce. The fact that Jxylen achieves this so naturally on this album is an impressive feat, and is part of what makes PROJECT MAYHEM one of our favourite records this year. If you want a project that is thought-provoking and esoteric and also personal and relatable, it is likely that PROJECT MAYHEM is for you.
Producers: AUR, Jadooks, Nomstks, NTVRME, The Heretic, OLEHEAD
With the weekend approaching, we wanted to find a new musical project to complement our wild celebrations in the best way possible. Our finding arrives just in time. Without further ado, let us meet Camila Colominas and Raelee, two of the most creative artists we’ve found recently.
The EP Heartbreak Hotel which is a collaboration of Camila and Raelee has been gaining traction in the music scene. The album consists of a total of 8 tracks in which “Bad Habit” has been one of the most streamed songs instantly after its release gaining over 8K streamers overnight and now stands at 12K streamings which is the most impressive thing one can encounter.
The EP is sweet, beautiful, melodious, and has a rhythmic beauty which makes the album a smashing hit. Few artists have the same distinct voice and talent that they bring to the music market, and their devotion is guaranteed to resonate with anybody who hears the album.
The album was performed by the extremely talented producer Bergotti. Bergotti composed two of the beats for Heartbreak Hotel, “Kamaals Outro” and “Heartbreak Hotel”, the opening track on the EP. They penned the songs while the beats were being generated, which is why the two individual tunes are so distinct. On “Heartbreak Hotel,” their dear buddy HighJak played a guitar solo.
Besides, both the artist were best friends and was fascinated by music. They had the same vision of creating an R&B album as they grew up watching big personalities collab but never saw female artists R&B Collaboration. This lit a fire in them to do something unique that one has never seen.
Guillotine Crowns, a collaborative group consisting of Uncommon Nasa and Short Fuze, have shared a new single called “Art Dealers”. The duo, whose abstract, evocative style pairs gritty New York boom-bap aesthetics with forward-thinking sounds, share a natural chemistry built over a decade of prior collaboration. Their latest song, “Art Dealers” is a layered offering with a thought-provoking instrumental centred around textured guitars, chilling keys, and pounding percussion. Atop the instrumental, the two rappers come through with focused, lyrically dense verses that mesh smoothly with the track’s grimy production. Another solid release from these two underground veterans, “Art Dealers” is intriguingly nostalgic yet also futuristic.
North Carolina artist and Goreset member Dylan Longworth has come through with a new single called “feresy”, produced by swazy* and dez forman. Longworth, who has been prolific of late, releasing a series of refreshing singles, showcases sharp songwriting abilities and a keen ear for mind-expanding sounds on this latest single. Here, ethereal guitars and psychedelic backing effects concoct a kaleidoscopic landscape, as Longworth’s silky vocals glide overtop. His melodies are infectious and memorable, and he delivers them with ease and poise. Culminating in an emotive and captivating hook, “feresy” utilizes dynamics in its sounds to provide an evocative, forward-thinking journey for the listener.
Massachusetts artist Pareto has shared a new single called “Low Hung Fruit”, produced by New York’s Dre A.M. of Faulty Piston Records. A smooth, dream-like track, “Low Hung Fruit”‘s wistful sound is reminiscent of warm nights, and inspires one to reflect. Containing glowing, psychedelic keys and organic-sounding percussion, Dre A.M.’s beat here is sublime and somewhat surreal, providing a perfect foundation for Pareto’s vivid, personal lyrics and nonchalant cadence. He comes through with some descriptive verses that paint clear pictures, as he contemplates his path so far in life and music. An emotive, laid-back offering, “Low Hung Fruit” provides the whole package of strong production, nimble flows, and rich lyricism.
ROUNDHOUSE MUSIC 