FLOJOBENZ – The Dance Song

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The Dance Song is a new single from Chicago-based artist, FLOJOBENZ. Blending elements of hip hop, R&B and EDM, the track is upbeat and energizing. The pace ranges from invigoratingly peppy to chill and reflective. FLOJOBENZ’s delivery is impressive in its rhythmic complexity. Demonstrating meticulous levels of precision, he definitely has some skills in the timing department. I can’t stress enough just how cohesive everything is.

As the title obviously implies, this is a dance song. The beat is classy and casually mellow but still fresh enough to put a spring in your step. The mix is smooth and dynamic, rather than overbearing. This is a great example of how “less can be more” when it comes to pop music. Brimming with a subtle sensuality, The Dance Song is an atmospheric and stylish jam, with a surprisingly mature and elaborate songwriting structure. Keep your eyes peeled for FLOJOBENZ’s upcoming project, METAMORPHOSIS, which is slated to be completed sometime in the near future.

For more info:

http://www.instagram.com/flojobenz

https://soundcloud.com/flojobenz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHTYNESg2hA

JKurd – Stewie (Feat. 2140)

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Stewie is a new single from Southwest Michigan-based hip hop artists, JKurd and 2140. Organic and real, this is what indie hip hop is supposed to be all about. Reflective rapping about everyday struggles like paying rent and the daily grind of life, the vibe hits close to home. Against a jazzy and melodic piano-driven beat, the vocal delivery is natural and magnetic, with voices that seem intrinsically wired for spoken-word and stream of consciousness style hip hop.

The ambiance is mellow yet engaging, with the intensity amping up about halfway through the song as things kick into high gear. Overall, the sound has a classic feel, embodying all the characteristics of the low-key, artful hip hop you remember and love. JKurd and 2140 put the focus on strong fundamentals rather than flashy hype, resulting in a song that’s both impressive and accessible. I’d also recommend checking out some of JKurd’s visual artwork on Instagram, which is aesthetically distinctive and thought provoking.

For more info:

https://soundcloud.com/jkurd
https://soundcloud.com/2140music
https://www.instagram.com/jkurd08/

Tin x Curry – Holly Jolly Litmas, Vol. 2

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Holly Jolly Litmas, Vol. 2 is a new album from Detroit-based, teen producer duo, Tin x Curry. A sequel to last year’s release (Holly Jolly Litmas), this is Christmas music like you’ve never heard it before. It’s wild, original and creative, while still capturing the holiday “magic” and ambiance of the season. Blending cozy narration, analog recording artifacts, samples and high quality music, Holly Jolly Litmas, Vol. 2 comes across as surprisingly ambitious and the finished product is simply epic. It’s worth noting that the opening track, 10 x La Vida is a re-imagined version of of the Coldplay classic, Viva La Vida. My personal favorite jam on this album is Love In the Snow, which features some stellar, futuristic synths and sonic warmth.

The production quality is impressive, much better than one would expect for an “indie” release or novelty recording. These guys should honestly consider releasing this album on vinyl. There are a few sleeper hits on here that have the potential to become 21st century Christmas classics. Tin x Curry are still quite young, so I imagine they will be cranking out many more high level jams over the coming decades.

For more info:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Fa6hgzxLDDtq_13ck38yQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yk5fipDAFw

Kinky Jake – Eyes Wide Shut

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Eyes Wide Shut is a new single from artist, Kinky Jake. His bio claims he was “raised in a junk yard by 3 little mice; Zink, Tosh and Lil Uzi Vert,” and this background clearly manifests itself in the song’s resourceful and gritty vibe. Not to be confused with the Stanley Kubrick classic, Eyes Wide Shut is a multi-genre track that blends elements of alternative, rock’n’roll, Americana, and spoken word to create an organic and passionate sound.

Backed by full-bodied and flavorful guitars, Jake’s lyrical delivery is charismatic and expressive. He has just the right type of honest and straightforward voice for this style of music, as he belts out the lyrics with raw sincerity. Catchy phrases like “I’ve been searching for a star, this seems very far” form a narrative that presents as a kind of “anti-hero’s journey.” Eyes Wide Shut would make a great jam to listen to on a cross country road trip. It’s difficult to make accurate comparisons in a case like this, but the tone and pacing reminds me a bit of Modest Mouse. This is honestly very good music. Kinky Jake is a talented songwriter and should try to score a showcase at SXSW, where his style would be well received. This track has all the ingredients of being an indie hit.

For more info:

https://linktr.ee/KinkyJake

Envy the Glitch – Glum Tom

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Glum Tom is a new album from San Francisco-based indie-progressive-deathcore duo, Envy the Glitch. With band member names like Lazer and Blazer Adams, you can’t really go wrong. The backstory for this release is almost as interesting as the album itself, so I recommend reading it. As the title suggests though, Glum Tom is ultimately a concept album about a man named Tom who feels glum. It was recorded at Cabin 435 in Littlejohn Island, Maine by Ric Cir & Johnny LeFlaire

The opening track, Respect My Thots is anything but melancholy though. Featuring high intensity guitars and invigorating melodies, it’s a solid entry and demonstrates that these musicians have some real skills. Other songs like Compute My Flute (my personal favorite) have more of a groovy, retro-futuristic quality. The best of these is probably LEFT BRAIN, Right Brain, UP BRAIN, Your Brain, which is an impressive piece of hypnotic psychedelia. All of the songs have an enjoyable yet atmospheric eeriness about them that will pull you out of your comfort zone a bit. The album closes out with My Drones Are In Your Zones a robust and assertive meditation that contains probably the heaviest guitar tones. People who can appreciate deathcore that’s a little more on the avant garde side will find this release thoroughly satisfying. Glum Tom is genuinely creative, and its experimental liberties are enhanced by technical competence on all fronts.

For more info:

https://envytheglitch.bandcamp.com/album/glum-tom

JASESHIP – Guinness Rhythm

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Guinness Rhythm is a new single from JASESHIP, an artist form Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England in the UK. He characterizes his creative endeavors as essentially “making lofi house music in an attic.” The recording quality on this track is probably better than what one would expect for lofi, as the sound is smooth, ambient and bursting with sonic clarity. The pacing oscillates between reflectively mellow and moderately intense, with a beat that’s both hypnotic and invigorating. I would classify it as deep house. It’s fairly straightforward, although it contains some welcomingly exotic elements in the mix. At its most climactic points, Guinness Rhythm is engaging and will sweep you up in its exhilarating field of energy. I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys EDM that’s a little on the sophisticated and avant garde side. Of course, if you’re just in the mood to dance, it will work for that too.

For more info:

Santa Sallet – Fuck With Me

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Fuck With Me is a new single from iconic hip hop artist, Santa Sallet. Santa delivers the goods under the tree once more, laying things down eloquently with this nuanced and courteous jam. While his trademarked, lyrical witticisms are more than enough to carry the song on their own, they’re backed by his genuinely skillful delivery and uniquely charismatic style. He has a knack for cleverly and unpredictably infusing pop culture references into his songs. One can’t help but appreciate provocative lines like “catching all these freaks like a Pokemon trainer, when you see me stranger danger.”

Of course, everything is neatly packaged with a business-like professionalism. A prolific and no-nonsense performer, Santa Sallet continues to crank out contemporary classic after classic. With Fuck With Me, he once again finds the hip hop sweet spot, striking the delicate balance between seriousness and fun.

For more info:

https://song.link/75dRKTPD9JHwd
https://www.santasallet.com/

Fish In a Birdcage – Waterfall

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Waterfall is a new album from Fish in a Birdcage (the musical project of Dustan Townsend). First off, I simply cannot stress enough how good this is. Stylewise, it’s like if you blended indie pop/folk with something more classical. It almost reminds me of the kind of music you’d hear in a classic animated musical or an Olympic figure skating championship.

The songs are primarily vocal driven, and Dustan Townsend is a phenomenal singer. You won’t find a bunch of autotune or smoke and mirrors on this release. Brimming with sensitivity and humble charisma, this guy’s voice is one that could breeze through even the most intimidating theatrical audition. The best way I could describe it is that he sounds like a more refined Jack White. He also plays the mandocello or cello on these recordings, which partially accounts for the album’s classical ambiance. It’s also worth noting that talented artists like Kristina Helene, Thomas Kinzel and Moritz Behm contribute stellar vocals as well as some violin to these recordings.

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It’s hard to believe that Townsend wrote Waterfall while living in a 33 foot bus he refers to as “Stanly the Adventure Bus,” as the album sounds so professional and flawless that one might be forgiven to assume it was made with a one million dollar budget in a platinum plated recording studio. The songs themselves are indeed magical and exciting, exploring themes that are reflective and delicate. The vibe is brimming with imagination and a child-like sense of wonder, while at the same time demonstrating mature musical prowess. While most of the tracks organically ethereal, fantasy quality, songs like Rule #21 Momento Mori have more of an exotic, rhythmic character. I highly recommend checking out the stop motion animation video (embedded below) for one of the the artist’s previous jams, Rule #4 – Fish in a Birdcage, which perfect encapsulates the spirit of the music and is quite frankly a masterpiece.

For more info:

https://www.fishinabirdcage.com/

Don Gritty – Waste No Time

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Waste No Time is a new single from hip hop artist, Don Gritty. He cites 2 Pac, Jay-Z, and DMX as being among is primary influences. True to form, the song gets right into the action. Don Gritty maintains a hard hitting yet down to Earth style as he confronts his fears and personal pain, ultimately promoting a positive message of perseverance. There are elements of romance in the lyrics as well. He shows how music and the creative process can be therapeutic. Musically the song has a fresh beat with a robust bass. Don Gritty does’t try to get too flashy, but his lyrical delivery is on point, and the content feels meaningful. This is a decent jam that cuts a little deeper emotionally than most contemporary hip hop.

For more info:

Joseph Nevels – In My Soul

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In My Soul is a new single from Los Angeles-based artist, Joseph Nevels. Sincere and heartfelt, the song subtly reflects on the US political scene, in what has been a rather tumultuous year. A law school graduate, Joseph Nevels demonstrates he can sing quite well. His vocals drive the action, combining strong technical skills with pure passion and are expressed with fine sensitivity. The recording quality is excellent, as we are able to appreciate every emotional nuance and sonic detail in the mix. In My Soul is a topical and socially conscious song that is musically enjoyable and performed at a high level.

For more info: