Category: Roundhouse Features

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Blog Roundhouse Features

ATL rapper Rama Kazi drops summer anthem built to bump in the v

By Mustafa Abubaker

Rama Kazi, a Blindian (Black + Indian) rapper out of Atlanta, emerges this summer with a record all about vehicular bass. Produced by Rama Kazi himself, the temporary beat switch at 1:14 legit sent chills down my spine. That’s Joh.lo on the feature. For everyone whose ride’s sound system turns heads, this fun, positive and up-lifting track is the perfect addition to your playlist to help turn summer 2024 into one of the waviest and happiest yet.

Follow Rama Kazi on Instagram.

As a bonus, for a glimpse into Rama Kazi’s versatility, check out his track “Ghost In The Machine”. This is my personal favorite Rama Kazi track. It shows an entirely different side of him. Dude’s mad talented.

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Israel Jones, Giahni Bosquet, and BOMA release fresh single “Brick World” as Brick Road Records

Israel Jones, Giahni Bosquet, and BOMA have dropped off a new single called “Brick World”, their first as Brick Road Records. Channeling quintessential west coast vibes into an infectious, focused new song- “Brick World” finds the Brick Road Records artists displaying a natural chemistry atop potent production. Underscored by memorable key riffs, atmospheric, swelling strings, and rich grooves laid by producer Giahni Bosquet, BOMA and Jones lay down commanding verses that grasp the listeners attention from the get go. Check out their latest offering “Brick World” here now:

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Nate the Great lets us know that there’s ‘Still Pressure’ on fresh album

Nate the Great has shared a new album called Still Pressure. Naquan Brown, better known by his stage name Nate the Great, is an artist hailing from Far Rockaway, Queens, New York. With a passionate feel to his art and content, Nate is a versatile lyricist and producer who blends his love for anime, video games, and other avenues of pop culture into his sharp lyricism. His latest album Still Pressure, follows up a prolific string of releases with a heartfelt, inspiring release featuring appearances from the likes of A.D.V.I.S.S., Subjxct 5, and more.

Nate the Great demonstrates a natural skill for relatable, down-to-earth introspection, as he weaves together poignantly personal narratives throughout Still Pressure. The hypnotic, airy soundscape of “Retreat” brings in influences from both boom-bap and cloud rap while it paints the perfect canvas for Nate’s cathartic, vividly poetic lyricism. Glitchy, memorable grooves on “Overnight” make for an infectious listen as Nate touching on overcoming obstacles and maintaining a strong work ethic- while the latter is somewhat apparent intrinsically across the album. Nate comes off as a hard-working artist with focus on Still Pressure, as he goes the extra mile to create worlds for the listener sonically and lyrically. The potent “The Force Awakens”, produced by Subjxct 5, provides a highlight on Still Pressure with its weaving, lush samples and powerful lyricism.

Listen to Queens artist Nate the Great’s latest, the thoughtful, yet raw, Still Pressure here now:

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OJ Mountain delivers a layered listen with “don’t praise me, i won’t take it too well”

By Jacob Ezra

New York-based artist OJ Mountain has shared a new song called “don’t praise me, i won’t take it too well”. A tapestry of jazz-laced samples on “don’t praise me, i won’t take it too well” conjures an atmosphere that’s both relaxed and eery, while OJ matches the track’s otherworldliness with detailed, abstract lyricism.

Weaving, darkly hypnotic guitars and saxophones drift atop a fast-paced, frenetic rhythm section, accentuated by OJ’s surreal lines and deft flows. With rhyme patterns as unpredictable as the instrumentation, he keeps the listener on their toes and drops off an offering with “don’t praise me, i won’t take it too well” that is thought-provoking- as well as somehow soothing and ominous simultaneously.

Continuing his prolific run after a series of poignant singles and collaborations with T H R O N E, DAMAG3, and more, the intriguing single “don’t praise me, i won’t take it too well” appears ahead of OJ Mountain’s forthcoming album WRONG NOTES PLAYED WITH GUSTO.

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kJADE dives deeper on ‘THE SOUND THAT TREES MAKE’

By Jacob Ezra

kJADE has caught our attention for her fresh project THE SOUND THAT TREES MAKE. On , THE SOUND THAT TREES MAKE, kJADE delivers anthems of empowerment atop soundscapes of shimmering, jazz-laced minimalism. With a penchant for descriptive, introspective lyricism that gets to the heart of the matter- kJADE keeps the listener engaged with deft poetics atop smoky, intriguing instrumentals.

The cozy, freeing sound of THE SOUND THAT TREES MAKE– produced largely by esteban.mp3– gives it an intimate atmosphere that entices the listener, creating an apt backdrop for kJADE’s personal, observant lyrics. While sonically the album is often hazy and lo-fi, it contains uplifting undertones of self-empowerment that make THE SOUND THAT TREES MAKE a character-rich and multi-layered listen. “SPIRITUAL WARFARE VETERAN” is a highlight track that uses soaring, warm samples and deeply thoughtful lyrics to great effect. The album finishes especially strong with a series of expansive instrumentals that create an aura of freedom that takes the record to new heights on tracks like “INNR CHILD”.

Take a listen to kJADE’s latest project THE SOUND THAT TREES MAKE here.

Photo credit: Apetight

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kevspeakstruth releases introspective EP, ‘K.E.V.’

By Jacob Ezra

kevspeakstruth has shared a new EP, titled K.E.V. K.E.V. further showcases his signature sound, which finds a balance between his roots in both NYC and Florida- with southern-tinged percussion and rhythms merging with Kev’s East Coast-influenced delivery and lyricism. Like much of his output, it finds him unwilling to be placed in a box, while he also wears his heart on his sleeve across the EP’s five tracks. Discussing topics like trying to find direction in your mid-late 20’s, staying true to your grind, and more, Kev wastes no time in delving deeper into matters that directly impact listeners.

“Imposter Syndrome” poignantly discusses self-doubt atop an emotive, vibrant instrumental, contrasted by the ominous, darkly jazzy sound of follow-up track “Clover”. He also delves engagingly into drill on the energizing “Hermanos” and even left-field electronic on closer “Siamese”, as K.E.V. takes on an identity of its own with its diverse soundscape, paired with kevspeakstruth’s heartfelt introspection. Give a listen to K.E.V. here now.

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SpaceCave and freespottie find a ‘Freespace’ on international collaboration

By Jacob Ezra

Freespace is a 6-song offering from SpaceCave and freespottie that caught our attention for its transcendent sonics and unfiltered energy. SpaceCave hails from Novosibirsk, Russia, while freespottie originates from across the globe in Atlanta, USA- and the two manage to find a blissful common ground atop a series of layered, immersive instrumentals while displaying light-on-their-feet flows and heartfelt lyricism.

The carefree feel and off-the-cuff presentation of Freespace makes it enticing from the get-go. Hypnotic, cloudy samples and punchy percussion accentuate the two emcees potent flows on songs like “Find the Groove” and “Words of Advice”. “Just Another Night” adds jazz tinges with glitchy undertones that give it a mind-expanding style- while closer “New Day”‘s tranquil, reflective sound and warm flows recall hints of Nujabes while SpaceCave and freespottie also give it character of its own.

The fun-loving, free-spirited mood of Freespace feels desired in today’s musical landscape, as the two artists approach the EP with little cares as to an overly manicured presentation of themselves. With a natural, off-the-cuff feel and rich, laid-back production, Freespace is an enjoyable release from these two. Check it out here now.

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Valid and Stretch Money deliver an anthem for hard workers on “Nine To Five”

Valid and Stretch Money, also known as “Bill & Isiah,” come together once again on Valid’s latest single, “Nine To Five.” Following their successful collaboration album in 2023, the duo delivers a Summer 2024 anthem with this track produced by Vuk Starinac. This track resonates with hardworking individuals who clock in day after day, yet still manage to keep their style and spirit alive.

Valid’s latest release featuring Stretch Money demonstrates the pair’s creative vision, charismatic approach, and ability to inject humor into their work. Demonstrating the chemistry that the duo has become known for, “Nine To Five” finds them trading clever verses that have the listener re-winding throughout. With hypnotic, playful production centred around sleek keys, punchy percussion, and rich bass, “Nine To Five” makes for an infectious listen. Featuring a new music video that captures the track’s humorous, laid-back swagger with an engaging performance from Valid and Stretch Money – “Nine To Five”, released on Valternativa Records– provides the whole package from the two Detroit mainstays.

Listen to “Nine To Five” here and check out the new music video.

Connect with Valid: Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook

Connect with Stretch Money: Instagram | Facebook

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Myles Clayton connects with Chris Celestial for raw single “Sittin’ N da Middle”

By Jacob Ezra

Myles Clayton and Chris Celestial have connected for a new single called “Sittin’ N da Middle”. The new song finds I’ll Nevah Die member Clayton and I N D affiliate Celestial demonstrating a potent chemistry atop a beat with a powerful energy that’s both thought-provoking and unsettling.

It seems that Clayton and Celestial are natural collaborators, with both emcees demonstrating pensive, introspective lyricism and an ear for dark, cacophonous production. “Sittin’ N da Middle” brings their strengths together atop a cerebral instrumental that is equal parts grimy and atmospheric. Walls of imposing samples, droning backing vocal samples and a rumbling rhythm section underscore the emcees’ cathartic, hard-hitting vocal performance and imagery-rich lines. Give “Sittin’ N da Middle” a listen here now.

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How to build stronger connections with your listeners

By Jacob Ezra

Fostering a fanbase and building stronger connections with them over time is an essential part of being an independent artist. If you think about musicians you feel connected to, consider what it is that makes you invested in them. One element would certainly be that you can relate to them on an emotional level- and that their story, messaging, and identity aligns with you and your values. Another could be that they directly connect with their fan-base at a ground level, with things like personalized merch, mailing lists, free offers and contests, and a discord or some kind of “fan club”. These ideas are not just limited to one’s favorite, well-known artists- as they can be utilized by musicians at any level to leverage themselves and their community of listeners.

To foster deeper connections with your fan-base over time, think about how your fans want to feel that you care about them, in a same way you want them to care about you and your work. By no means does one have to inbox each one of their fans every day or anything, but there are numerous ways to make fans feel as if they’re connected to you personally. I would say that there are two sides to doing this: how you present yourself,andwhat you actually do.

In terms of how an artist presents themself to their listeners, if you come with a relatable, authentic story people can relate to, they will be able to see something of themselves in you and connect more deeply [see also our guide on how to use storytelling to promote your music]. This could be a personal story of how you overcame obstacles on your path to being an independent artist, went against the grain and found success, or more. Just a story that shows a human side to you in the communication of something universal that people care about on an emotional level. 

Moreover, as an artist, it is important to show sides of your personality in order to connect with others. Rather than just posting to promote new music and merch, one can talk about their interests and passions, many of which could be shared interests with their listeners. This can present a fuller picture of who you are, and further allow listeners to see something of themselves in you. An example could be something like artists like MF Doom and others, who display an interest and knowledge in comics, cartoons, and film, and these are interests that many people can relate to. In the case of MF Doom, it also deepened his story and lore as an artist.

Now on to the second element I had mentioned, which involves what you do literally in terms of your interactions with your fanbase. Through taking action, one can aim to develop stronger relationships with their listeners and make them feel like their included in a “club” or even “movement” of sorts. A fanbase greatly appreciates when an artist shows they care about them by going the extra mile with certain endeavours or gestures, and they also love to feel as if they’re a part of something, alongside other fans. Keeping those two things in mind, here are some practical ideas for how to make deeper bonds with your fans through action:

-personalized merch or giveaways, where you include something like a hand-written note or letter addressing the fan purchasing your merch, vinyl etc, or anything of the likeness

-create exclusive content: produce exclusive content for fans, such as behind-the-scenes footage, demo recordings, or exclusive merchandise (can be tied into the email newsletter or patreon)

-a mailing list that includes a newsletter free giveaways, contests, and more, directly addressing fans and trying to keep things personal 

-a discord community in which you can keep listeners updated, connect with them personally, and allow them to build community with other fans

-a patreon in which fans can receive special music, offers, content and more- try to make it personalized if possible

-going the extra mile at live shows to meet fans, doing meet and greets, offering fans backstage passes 

-of course, communicating via social media directly with them and showing appreciation and gratitude for their support

These are just some practical ideas of how to connect with your fanbase more deeply and foster relationships with listeners. Remember that these steps need to be taken consistently over a long period of time in order to work. 

Bringing these elements together, while adding your own unique touch and flair, can certainly help create a strong following as listeners feel like they can relate to you, are a part of something, and are connecting with you on a more personal level.