All posts by Anastim Ducray

Sxee Finesse – CITI

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CITI is a new single from hip hop artist, Sxee Finesse. This prolific artist has really been cranking them out lately. We just recently featured one of Sxee’s other tracks, YOURS TRULY. The backing music in CITI features a sweet retro-synth, vaguely reminiscent of classic 16-Bit video game soundtracks. The beat itself has a nice “snap, crackle and pop” rhythm. In terms of delivery, the substance that Sxee brings to the table is a unique blend of artful timing and sentimental lyrics. His demeanor is cool, and the vibe is conversational. He’s a good vocalist, too. There’s more musicality in his voice than what you’d get from more “attitude and image-oriented” hip hop. As the title implies, CITI has a late night, metropolitan ambiance that’s perfect for closing out a club or going for a relaxing drive. The song finishes strong with some fresh bass. Once again, Sxee Finesse delivers as advertised.

For more info:

Kidd Clxoud – Serena

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Serena is a new single from pop artist, Kidd Clxoud. The self described “Prince of Pop” has pioneered a unique and refreshingly unconventional sound. Featuring a synth-driven beat and a full sound, the backing music is fairly standard for what you’d expect in a pop jam but does have a slightly “groovy” twist. The mix is high octane and warm. It really has a lot of energy and will most certainly entice you to dance. What really gives the song it’s character though are the vocals, which have a delightfully “wavy” quality to them. The best way to describe it is that it’s like hearing melodically pleasing voices in your head. Serena has a very collage-like structure. Everything sort of blends together into one large, energizing beam of sound. This song is an original work of art, in the purest sense of the word. It’s just a track, it’s a vibe.

For more info:

https://www.instagram.com/KiddClxoud25/

Flippin’ Gothic Fabp – Real 2 Reel

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Real 2 Reel is a new album from hip hop artist, Flippin’ Gothic Fabp. Backed by synth beats that often have a somewhat industrial and electro-goth feel, Strategic noise and light processing give the recording a raw mysterious vibe. Flippin’ Gothic Fabp’s delivery is straightforward and assertive, yet he maintains a contemplative and cerebral tone. His effective usage of “quick repetition” in the vocals adds a bit of catchiness to the tracks and gives him a distinctive style. There seems to be a lot of freestyle here, which is refreshing in an age where performers rely on carefully crafted images. As the title implies, this album is the real deal.

For more info:

http://www.x-caladepromotionz.com/

Benya Vya – Mountains (feat. Dee Wilson)

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Mountains is a new single from Chicago-based artist/producer, Benya Vya. The song blends elements of summertime pop, R&B and light hip hop. With a peppy pace and bright, colorful sound, this track dazzles with its complex melodies and well choreographed structure. Maintaining a carefree and innocent vibe, the song sets us to remind us of the way that love has the ability to move mountains. Perhaps Benya Vya’s fruitful zest for life can be traced to a near-death experience he once had, after falling in the Arno River in Florence, Italy. He cites this incident as one of the primary catalysts for his decision to pursue music. Musically speaking, Mountains has a bit of an old school, retro flavor to it. The backing music is smooth groovin’ and the beat has a nice hop to it. Really it’s an excellent song. It’s a “fun in the sun” jam and will make you smile, but there’s an underlying sentimentality there to tug at your heartstrings as well.

For more info:

https://open.spotify.com/album/3uXX8IKFIEasWLHXswnd6M?highlight=spotify:track:5NHjdr2A5lEeNzNdCILYao

Matilde Girasole – Cup of Tea

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Cup of Tea is a new single from Italian (but based in Singapore) singer/songwriter, Matilde Girasole. This is about as close as you can get to a perfect pop song. Unlike many contemporary stars, Matilde can actually sing. Her voice comes through crystal clear on this recording. It’s not all loaded up with autotune or “smoke and mirrors” processing. The vocals here are clean and pristine. I have to say this production is extremely polished and sonically pleasing. Matilde gives one of the best pop vocal performances in modern memory. The song itself is melodic and dynamic, with a complex, imaginative structure that’s layered to magnificence. Musically Cup of Tea is largely synth-driven and—when combined with Matilde’s vocals—culminates in the musical equivalent of a laser light show. The sound is full, bright and exhilarating, comparable to that of acts like Chvrches (whom she cites as an influence). This single is impressive on every level.

For more info:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matilde_Girasole

https://open.spotify.com/album/7n7TLSoiqarMe1x43LXc8t?si=pe-GX_rUS0ykZ3JpEcYKag

Mzra Eiller – What’s Wrong?

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What’s Wrong? is a new single from Los Angeles-based artist, Mzra Eiller. As part his background, he studied psychology, which has helped him to achieve greater depth in his artistic endeavors. One thing that becomes immediately apparent in What’s Wrong? is that Mzra is a strong vocalist. Not only is he an excellent singer technically, but his voice has a certain stylish and jazzy lounge quality to it. His delivery is emotionally expressive as each word is subtly accentuated and enhanced. The backing music has a warm analog feel, with a hint of tape noise and record crackle, securing the track its organic, avant garde identity. The humble sentimentalism and quiet detail in the audio help to distinguish this track from so many flashy and lifeless R&B style pop songs. Refreshingly, this is not another dime-a-dozen, ego-driven artist. What’s Wrong? has a personal touch and is brimming with sincerity.

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Lyrically, the song is romantic and reflective, filled with sentiments of longing, hopefulness and regret. The mood oscillates between somber and celebratory, in the sense of recognizing how great someone makes you feel while agonizing over what went wrong. It will ultimately resonate with anyone who’s ever faced a similar situation.

The music matches the ambiance perfectly, and Mzra Eiller’s approach really does engrace itself deeply to the “psyche.” What’s Wrong? manages to complete a successful trifecta of talent, substance and tone. The production value is professional quality and certainly radio friendly but doesn’t come off as “manufactured” for consumer consumption the way most contemporary major label releases do. This song maintains its indie cred while also being approachable to normies. Mzra Eiller claims his goal with music is to “create something that people can connect and relate to and by doing so feel less alone in the world.” I think What’s Wrong? achieves that, but just as importantly, it is also an enjoyable listen and very good musically.

https://music.apple.com/us/album/whats-wrong/1522891982?i=1522891983

https://soundcloud.com/mzraeiller/whatswrong

Michael-John – I’ve Gotta’ Get My Freedom Back

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I’ve Gotta’ Get My Freedom Back is a new single from composer, producer and recording artist, Michael-John. To call this a mere song would be an understatement. This is a rock anthem. Though I wouldn’t necessarily classify this as retro, it channels the spirit and energy of those powerful 80s rock classics from your favorite iconic film soundtracks. The music is vibrant and polished, with Michael-John’s vocals soaring like an eagle on the 4th of July. As the title would suggest, the song expresses what has been a common sentiment in this rather strange and cumbersome year: the yearning to be free again. This jam is the musical equivalent of a stress ball that will relieve your tension. It’s a rock’n’roll pressure valve. If you’ve been cooped up in your apartment for the last 6 months, this song will make you feel like you’re cruisin’ in a convertible on the open highway.

The lyrics are sentimental, and Michael-John is clearly a socially conscious individual. Don’t let that fool you though. This song rocks! Having participated in several musical endeavors and played in numerous bands, Michael-John is a veteran musician and knows his way around the billboard charts. The video for this song already has 100k views. Michael-John’s debut solo album, Phenomenon is scheduled to be released later this year.

For more info:

http://michael-johnmusic.com
http://www.facebook.com/Michael-John-Music-650780255534036/
https://michaeljohn.bandzoogle.com/home

Eugenio Oliveras – BAE (feat. BigChildSupport)

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BAE is a new single from hip hop artist Eugenio Oliveras. The track also features an appearance by BigChildSupport. Eugenio’s hard hitting, no-nonsense delivery style is balanced nicely by an ambient, synth driven backbeat. He has a decent flow and maintains a tight sync with the bet. The lyrics are assertive while the tone reflects a mellow vibe. Usage of echo and delay effects temper and blend the vocals into the ethereal landscape of the music. The beat itself is crisp and boasts a bass that’s not overbearing yet powerful enough to feel through my laptop. Cranked up in the right car stereo this jam would make a bold statement. It’s a solid single that accomplishes what it sets out to do.

For more info:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7qvczLQPFtURyqnosEV9tT?si=CbJ-2nF2Q4ee-s9073m6eQ

Yaseen – Summer Beach House

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Summer Beach House is an EP from Calgary-based artist, Yaseen. Containing 8 tracks, this release almost reaches full album territory. Among Yaseen’s prominent influences, he cites Majid Jordan, as well as the Canadian group, Hades. Yaseen’s music doesn’t seem limited to a particular genre, but the best way to describe the sound is that it combines contemplative and sentimental pop vocals with an organic, avant garde synth backing. The mix has a warm, outdoorsy analog quality, with subtly audible tape noise and a natural background.

The tracks seem intensely personal, as tracks like Old Civic feature nostalgic references to people, places, and things that presumably have meaning to the artist. Ultimately, that’s what makes this release a little more special than the average pop release. The artist takes you to a particular place and time. Even just the titles will offer listeners a vivid image of the setting. He sings with sincerity and utilizes some ambient vocal effects to accentuate the abstract, dreamlike vibe. Yaseen saves the title track Summer Beach House, and it’s definitely worth the wait. It has an awesome, retro-futuristic beat and is the best song on the album in my opinion. This EP is definitely heartfelt and represents a noble debut.

For more info:

http://instagram.com/downtownscene

Waikiki – Midnight Taboo (Tropical House) and Hula Ce Soir (Hula 2 Nite)

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Midnight Taboo (Tropical House) and Hula Ce Soir (Hula 2 Nite) are two fresh new singles from Waikiki, a singer/songwriter and entertainer (currently based in Norway and the South of France) who is originally from from Maui, Hawaii. She’s an established artist with a lot of impressive musical accomplishments already under her belt. Just to give a couple of examples, she was once signed to EMI Warner, where her single Maui No Ka OI made enough of a splash in France (and other parts of Europe) to be featured in an episode of Baywatch Hawaii. Through a deal that was brokered through EMI & BMG (her publishing company) with JVC Records in Tokyo, her song Paradise was another international success. That’s barely even scratching the surface of Waikiki’s comprehensive, global list of impressive credits.

The sound of Midnight Taboo (Tropical House) can best be described as “tropically futuristic.” That is to say that it combines carefree, tropical music vibes with futuristic synths and cutting edge house beats. It has that bright, euphoric quality that’s associated with EDM and just makes you want to smile. The song emits beams of pulsating, dreamlike synth waves that both energize your spirit and uplift your mood. The chorus is super catchy, and I found myself already singing along when I was only halfway through the first listen. It’s a very professional and distinctive song and has all the ingredients to become a dance club favorite. In the hands of the right DJs, this track should get a fair number of spins.

Waikiki- Hula Ce Soir (Hula 2 Nite) Tropcial House

The track Hula Ce Soir (Hula 2 Nite) has received a substantial number of streams on Spotify. While Waikiki’s #1 audience is technically the US (especially New York), this track has also received airplay and recognition in Europe, in countries such as Germany, England, the Netherlands & Spain.Hula Ce Soir (Hula 2 Nite) has even gotten the attention of the music media in Brazil & Latin America. Having just now listened to this jam, I can see why. This song has a beautiful intro that builds into an elaborate garden of organic tropicality, fresh synths and sparkling vocals. The aquatic vibe feels so invigorating, fun and free that this almost reminds me of late 90s summertime pop songs. It has a wonderfully innocent and escapist feel. Really it’s the perfect antidote to the crazy times we live in. This is my favorite of the two new singles. Hula Ce Soir (Hula 2 Nite) is a chartworthy song that is ready to make some big moves.

These new songs are great, but there are a lot more where they came from. I highly recommend taking some time to explore Waikiki’s earlier musical endeavors. There are a plenty of other worthy gems in this artist’s catalog.

For more info:

https://www.facebook.com/WaikikiMusic
https://waikikientertainment.com/