R3V3RS3 is a new single from OXE’N, a Georgia based artist born under the bull sign of Taurus. This “take charge” track dazzles and hypnotizes through OXE’N’s vivavcious delivery. Her voice is accentuated by some excellent vocal layering effects, giving the song a conversational feel. She has a knack for storytelling lyrics, as she casually relays her experiences with the opposite sex. Her style is playfully confident and a little bit sensual. R3V3RS3 is creatively structured, with unpredictable breaks and strategic pace changes giving the song an artistic complexity beyond its mininalist beat. This is a smooth and laid back jam with enough charisma to keep the action going.

For more info:

https://mobile.datpiff.com/mixtape/939047
https://www.facebook.com/IAMOXEN

Come At Me is a new single from hip hop artist, GUDM. This jam is lively and vibrant from start to finish, and the lyrics are peppered with nostalgic pop culture references (Bowser from Super Mario Bros, The Kraken from Clash of the Titans, etc). GUDM’s delivery style is playful and conversational. His voice frequently alternates in tone along with the beat and never sounds boring. It’s kind of “sing-song” actually. He really seems to have natural rapping and lyrical writing ability. The performance is poetic, and the childhood references in the song seem to reflect the artist’s desire to get back to basics and reestablish himself with the fundamentals, both in life and music. I really like the production on this song. It’s a very crisp and clear recording and doesn’t contain any abrasive processng or autotune, unlike so many contemporary hip hop songs. Lots of potential here and GUDM has a unique style. This song is available on most streaming platforms and GUDM’s official instagram is @gudmgrime.

For more info:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/gudm/come-at-me

Whisky n Honey is a new EP from Irish rock solo artist, Dar.Ra. A prolific artist with a number of successful rock anthems under his belt, his latest effort incorporates elements of EDM, resulting in a fresh and unique experimental sound. It’s like if you combined rock vocals with futuristic EDM synths, guitars and drums, while mostly maintaining a hard rock’n’roll pacing. He refers to this pioneering new style as Rock Step. It’s retro-futuristic in nature and reminds me vaguely of the music you’d hear in late 80’s science fiction films set in the future. Of course, we’re in the future now, and Dar.Ra is out here fulfilling musical prophecies and making visions reality. He’s really a solid singer, too. They don’t make too many rock vocalists who can perform at this caliber anymore.

His track Whisky N Honey is a late night bar crawler with deep and reflective vibes, while The Lights is an epic and ethereal introspection which utilizes a light/dark contrast metaphor as part of a desperate plea to a loved one. Both songs have a very dramatic and theatrical ambiance, which reverberates all the way so the stars. If you’re not listening to them while dancing at a club, I would recommend cranking these tunes at full blast with the windows down on a midnight drive through the desert in the middle of nowhere. This EP is powerful stuff.

For more info:

http://www.kushadeep.co.uk

Now or Never is a new mixtape from Chicago-based hip hop artist, Slaw Raw. This release is jam packed with over 40 minutes of musical content, which is mostly synth driven but in actuality combines elements from a wide variety of different genres (R&B, Rock, Trap etc). The synths have a symphonically eerie quality to them, creating an ambiance not unlike a Castlevania boss battle. I have to say this mixtape would be worth listening to even for just the backing music alone. It’s melodic and just very phonetically pleasing to the ear. For his part, Slaw Raw has a unique delivery style. His laid back vocals carry the music, his voice almost taking on a sleepy drawl at times, while still somehow managing to sound charismatic and lively. It’s a recognizably chicago sound, but Slaw Raw’s personal style is still distinctive through his creative experimentations with delivery. The best example is probably the track, Rock and Roller, which is weirdly catchy and absolutely awesome, all owing to Slaw’s lyrical positioning. Overall, this mixtape is a lot more artistically creative than meets the eye. In fact, Now or Never is overflowing with personality and is an indie hip hop treasure.

For more info:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/slawraw/now-or-never-mixtape

Machine is a new album from hip hop artist, Wayz. The title is interesting because the musical backing at times takes on a mechanical, almost industrial synth rock sound. Other parts have more of a computerized, minimalist synth vibe. The album is very futuristic in tone, and sonically it is unlike most contemporary hip hop releases. On a deeper level though, the album’s message is how about we as people have become programmed to act like machines, caught up in our little routines which we do without thinking. Wayz delivers lyrics at a modest pace but with a larger than life, commanding vocal presence. His voice has a rough, bellowing lumberjack texture to it, and he sings with a life-of-the-party energy. Machine also features really impressive synth intros across the board, reminiscent of sci-fi film soundtracks both in ambiance and style. With 11 tracks, this album is full and satisfying on many levels.

For more info:

https://wayzworld.com/

Maya’s Chalice is a new single from hip hop artist, Eli Ramsey. Lyrically, it’s one of the better indie rap songs I’ve heard. Eli’s lyrics are autoiogrpahical and personal, as he ventures into and remains in storytelling mode throughout. The song contains elements of nostalgia and heartbreak. Eli goes into such impressive detail that one can visualize these events as he relates them in a lenthy narration. The delivery combines rap and “spoken word” poetry styles, while a dreamlike beat and delightful female backing vocals set the ambiance. Maya’s Chalice isn’t just about looking backward though, since the artist makes clear he’s hopeful for the connection to be rekindled in the future. It’s a solid song with a story that will keep you interested.

For more info:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0lVcq97usBCMr9ZxQcVVnY

Playin With the Hustle is a new single from Florida based hip hop artist WESS MUSIQ. The song also features iconic rapper, Boosie Badazz. A theatrical musical backing with symphonic vibes gives the track a heightened intensity, while the artists maintain a cool and calculated delivery style. As the title indicates, the song mostly relates to the rappers’ committment to handlin biz, and the lyrics are conveyed in a professional, yet lively fashion. Playin With the Hustle is engaging and high energy. Even though the pacing is relatively moderate, the intensity on this bad boy is dialed up. Both production and performance are high quality. Musically, Playin With the Hustle affords audiences the opportunity to listen to a couple of true contemporary hip hop professionals at work.

For more info:

IG: wessmusiq_
Fb:realwessmusiq
Twitter:Wess Musiq

Pride of Sacrifice is a new single from Indonesian born artist, AMEL D (co-written with Matthew Adkins). Blending elements of alternative, punk and rock’n’roll, this song is powerful and rocks pretty hard. AMEL D’s vocals are passionate as she belts out the lyrics at full throttle without missing a beat. This track features some excellent, professional guitar playing. The groovin’ melodic interludes (around the 2 minute mark) are particularly impressive. There’s also a bit of sentimental piano mixed in to give the music a bit of an “adult contemporary” vibe. Production quality is surprisingly top notch for an indie jam. Actually sounds more like a major label release. The mix is very bright and uplifting, and AMEL D’s emotional performance expresses vulnerability while capturing the spirit of perseverance. Pride of Sacrifice is a good song for anyone who really needs to communicate their feelings and get some things off their chest in a big way.

For more info:

https://www.ameldmusic.com/
https://music.apple.com/id/album/pride-of-sacrifice-single/1501711163

Ignorance Is Bliss is a new single from hip hop artist, Red Dyemond. This hot and fiery jam combines sentimental, spoken word poetry with hard hitting hip hop. The soft, avant garde intro (featuring an exquisite piano backing) sharply escalates as the song kicks into high gear. Red’s delivery alternates between sincere reflection and passionate intensity. Ignorance is Bliss is effectively motivational as Red charismatically instructs people to wise up and take some responsibility for their life choices. Her vocal presence is commanding, she definitely demonstrates some rhyming skills. There are parts of the track where she really gets on a roll, maintaining tight timing even while going at an impressive pace. Ultimately, Ignorance is Bliss calls on people to take control of their own destiny. Listeners will find Red Dyemond’s persuasive tone and choice of words quite convincing.

For more info:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH70-iGOtqs

In case you’re not yet acquainted with Please Save The Space Bees, here’s some brief background info from the artists themselves:

Scott Wood has been in the broadcasting industry for years in Vancouver, Canada. After interviewing countless bands and artists, networking with professionals he decided to use his attained skills and expertise in the field pursue his vision of creating a podcast.

It’s an entertainment sci-fi drama punctuated with subtle commentary on modern issues; “Implants” of several characters are a fusion of the newness-obsolete smartphone technology and Elon Musk’s Neuro-link, soul capturing Ghost-in-the-Shell metaphysics, threat of GMO monoculturing entire planets, cloning ethics & the hyper elite vs political effectiveness rebellion naming a few.

Initially, I had thought this might be some kind of environmental activist podcast dedicated to raising awareness to our declining bee population and the effect its having on our ecosystem. This isn’t that kind of show at all (but someone out there should start such a podcast if they haven’t already). Having said that, Please Save The Space Bees is actually fantastic, and here are a few reasons you should check it out:

1. It’s an actual series. Unlike 95% of current podcasts, Please Save The Space Bees does not consist of people sitting around pontificating about current events. The best way to describe it is that it’s like a 21st century, futuristic audiobook, reminiscent of classic sci-fi radio programs like War of the Worlds. The plots are accessible and easy to get into into, even without being familiar with much of the backstory.

2. It’s action packed. Not a single second is wasted. Nonstop quick witted conversational dialogue hits you from start to finish. The editing style is punchy and to the point. Brimming with subtle humor and occasional sarcasm, this show is never boring and will hold the interest of even those with micro attention spans. The social commentary isn’t heavy handed, but it’s there if you listen for it. There are plenty of “spaced-out” sound effects to level up the ambiance as well.

3. The production quality is very high. This isn’t just some dudes blabbling away into an old Radio Shack omnidirectional microphone (not that there is anything wrong with that) and pots and pans sound effects. Audio and production are pretty much at the level of what you’d expect from something from big budget Adult Swim shows like Aqua Teen Hunger Force. I have no idea what it is costing these people to produce Please Save The Space Bees, but they are getting their money’s worth and then some. Excellent audio clarity, mixing and editing all around.

4. It’s epic. There are apparently 15 people involved in this project, as one might suspect from hearing the myriad of different voices on the show (male and female.) It’s almost unheard of for that many people to be dedicated to an indie audio production like this.

5. It’s free. As far as I can tell, this podcast is available for anyone to listen to on multiple streaming platforms, with no paywall. I listened to a couple of episodes with no issues. It’s actually kind of surprising, because clearly a lot of work and effort has gone into these productions, from some highly talented people. Episodes are available in explicit versions (which include mild profanity etc) and clean versions (for the kiddies!).

For more info:

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/dark-matter-podcasts/id1495280732