Animal is a recent release from UK based singer-songwriter/rock band, Samh. It was released in March, just before the pandemic began to engulf everything. This stunted the song’s momentum a bit, but now this indie gem is finally starting to get the attention and recognition it deserves. The simplest way to describe Animal is that it blends folk with psychedelia. The sound reminds me of the 60’s group, The Pretty Things, in the way that it builds and transitions from a sentimental, minimalist style to high energy psychedelic rock. It does this in a very artistically effective way. If you were to just hear the first couple minutes of this jam, you’d have no idea how hard the second half rocks, but when as the song progresses, it will make sense. In true psychedelic fashion, this track clocks in at nearly 7 minutes long. Impressively, Samh maintains the performance level and intensity throughout, even within what is a fairly complex songwriting structure. The vocals and ambiance have a very organic and “Earthy” quality. There’s an appreciation for nature, humility and the unknown.

There is also a second song on this release, titled Ballsack (Just Like Me and You They Don’t Know What They’re Doing) which actually defies traditional categorization. It contains experimental elements of alternative, lounge, psychedelic and maybe even a touch of soul. It almost sounds like a vintage live record. Broadly speaking, this is great stuff. This is honestly what indie is supposed to be all about.

For more info:

https://samh.bandcamp.com/album/animal
https://www.facebook.com/samh.song/

the brainchild of Darkflow Music, Gotham Poetry Podcast (300820) features over 2 fun-filled hours of high intensity techno. The ambiance is delightfully dystopian and mecho-futuristic, as Darkflow Music harnesses bleakness and transforms it into a high octane dance fuel. This track is a real pulsepounder. It’s the perfect background music for a lengthy late night drive across state lines. Gotham Poetry Podcast (300820) contains a lot of musical variety while maintaining a thematically consistent tone throughout. In a slight twist, it takes subtly bright turn toward the end with a touch of colorful musicality. I highly recommend curious readers take some time to revel in this well-constructed (and highly satisfying) atmospheric wasteland.

For more info:

https://soundcloud.com/gotham_poetry
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQcJKLT1ygB3JycvvhyZVqA
https://www.instagram.com/gotham_poetry/

https://soundcloud.com/gotham_poetry/gotham-poetry-podcast-300820

Fear is a new single from singer/songwriter, Trey Connor, and appears on his recently released album, Horizons. Originally from the Detroit/Flint MI area, Trey is now based in Austin. Fear has already racked up over 18,000 plays on Spotify. The song has a very bright and polished feel. It easily qualifies as a contemporary pop gem. Trey’s vocal and guitar performances on the track are both stellar and establish him as a serious songwriter. The tone oscillates between quietly sentimental and outright euphoric throughout the song. While guitars provide much of the musical backbone, the drums pay a robust role, and layered vocals make the track full and colorful. This is a very crowded genre, where it can be difficult to stand out. Fear is definitely a top tier production, and people will take notice of Trey Connor’s ability.

For more info:

http://treyconnor.com/
https://www.instagram.com/treyconnormusic/
https://www.facebook.com/TreyConnorMusic/

ONE FAMM MUSIC GROUP is run by Theo “Mr. Network” Hall III & Dennis “DT” Turner. The FAMM in the name stands for “One Family Always Makes Money” and the group represents all musical genres. Founded in 1999, OMFG operated until 2005, took a hiatus and then reestablished itself in 2013. A look at their youtube channel shows that OMFG is clearly on a solid path. Featuring major label quality videos from artists like Dray Love and King Hanz, this is an outfit that’s striving for greatness.

According to Mr. Metwork, the foundations of OMFG are “humility, sincerity, passion, and perseverance,” values which are much needed in the music industry. OMFG aims to promote talented artists who “have fallen through the cracks” and may not have the resources to get enough exposure on their own. OMFG has an impressive roster of up and coming artists, and over the years their performers have opened for many of music’s biggest names (from a wide variety of genres). Be on the lookout for this company and expect a few of the artists from their talent pool to have breakout success in the coming years.

For more info:

https://www.onefammmusicgroup.com/
http://www.facebook.com/onefammmusicgroup
https://www.instagram.com/onefammmusicgroup

Hauntingly Hypnotic is a new single from artist, Roxana Labatt. Roxana was working as a wall street lawyer when a medical scare led to her to reevaluate her priorities and pursue her artistic dreams. She describes her songs as being “lyrically driven,” but the musical side is equally impressive. Backed by a beautifully delicate piano melody, Hauntingly Hypnotic has an intensely personal quality.

Roxana’s voice is therapeutic and genuinely expressive. While this track is technically within the realm contemporary indie pop, it’s more closely related to the classic singer/songwriter style of 1970s artists like Karen Carpenter and Linda Ronstadt. Roxana’s style is intimate and touchingly sentimental. In addition to being sincere, her vocal tone is recognizably distinctive and quite memorable. Hauntingly Hypnotic is a thought-provoking, romantic tearjerker that will tug at your heartstrings. Roxana Labatt’s music will affect you.

For more info:

https://www.facebook.com/roxanalabatt
https://www.instagram.com/roxanalabatt/
https://twitter.com/roxanalabatt

The One That Got Away is the debut solo single from London-based (but originally from Northern Ireland) rock guitarist, Joe Hodgson. It takes a particularly strong player to be able to pull off an instrumental guitar track that can stand on its own, and with this release, Hodgson has achieved just that. Delicate, detailed melodies and warm tones create a sentimental, emotionally expressive atmosphere. The song was written in the aftermath of a difficult break-up and contains reflections of romantic longing and remorse. These sentiments are conveyed exclusively through dynamic guitar playing and a bold back beat.

Though the subject matter might lead one to think a song like this would be somber or depressing, The One That Got Away is actually brimming with passion and the guitar action is genuinely robust. There are some moments when Hodgson really gets on a roll, and the actually rocks pretty hard, cultivating a healthily tumultuous balance of emotions. It reminds me a lot of the versatility of artists like Eric Clapton. Joe Hodgson is obviously a very experienced musician, and this whole endeavor bears the mark of diligent professionalism. Operating at a high mental and technical level, this is a man who knows how to obtain great guitar tone and knows hot to use it to communicate ideas effectively. Joe Hodgson’s upcoming full length album, Apparitions, is slated for release on November 20, 2020. The 15-track instrumental album will expand on the themes explored in this single. I definitely recommend checking it out.

For more info:

http://joehodgsonmusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/joehodgsonmusic/

Locked In a Kiss is a new single from DRE., a singer/songwriter, multi-faceted performer and producer based in Grand Rapids, MI. If you’re looking for that authentic 80s aesthetic, this is where it’s at. Even just the beat for this jam will make you want to crank up the boom box, put on your best pair of jelly shoes and dance ’til you drop. Blending elements of pop, funk, soul and R&B with a voice that could stand alone as its own instrument, the song is exhilarating. The vocals manage to hit some stratospherically high notes that left me in awe. The ambiance is energetic, charming and exciting, like a romantic afternoon of mall madness.

The release actually contains a second track, Let’s Paint the Town. This one has a funky, disco vibe as the artist gets you amped up for the nightlife. Really the beats on both of these tracks are just fantastic. People don’t appreciate the amount of skill it takes to accurately recreate this kind of time tunneling atmosphere. DRE. has captured lightning in a bottle with these gems.

For more info:

Twenty Twenty is a new single from Palestinian (but based in UAE) jazz artist, Doc Jazz. Released on the heels of his contemporary classic album, Love In the Time of Corona, this latest track cleverly juxtaposes the year “Twenty Twenty” with a medically inspired metaphor centered around “20/20 vision.” It’s a great example of how an artist can incorporate their personal experience and knowledge (Doc Jazz is actually a real-life surgeon) into the creative process.

One thing I like about this song is how bright and vibrant the tone is, even when the lyrical narrative deals with subjects like deception and betrayal. The beat has a smooth, electro-bounce to it. This is definitely jazz for the 21st century connoisseur. It has a very retro-futuristic and approachable quality and will appeal even to people who might not normally have a strong affinity for jazz. You can really shake it to this track, which at times ventures dangerously close to EDM/disco territory. Doc Jazz is technically very proficient, with a meticulous attention to musical detail (as one might expect from a surgeon), but the emotional component to the song is just as strong. The vocals are brimming with afflicted passion and sincere sentiment. Doc’s delivery is soulfully dynamic, and his voice is just naturally very expressive.

The production quality is professional, with a sound clarity that would more than satisfy the average stereophile. More great stuff here from Doc Jazz, who is proving himself to be a rather prolific songwriter. Also credit to Hugo Lee from Australia for contributing a solid saxophone performance, which definitely enhances the song. Be sure to check out the highly creative lyric video for Twenty Twenty, that features an exquisite dance routine from Lily (China).

For more info:

Website: http://www.docjazz.com
Mp3 downloads: http://www.soundclick.com/docjazz

Deep End is a new single from artist, JPOPD1. It’s slated to be officially available on youtube and all major streaming platforms on September 10. Contentwise, Deep End explores the relentless need to satisfy one’s desires, regardless of the circumstances. It deals with infatuation and the lustful pursuit of someone who isn’t interested (or simply has gone away). As you can see, JPOPD1 dives a little deeper than most pop artists and is willing to tap into feelings of vulnerability rather than merely present some carefully crafted marketing image. While the pacing of his songs is moderate, the beats are crisp and the delivery is emotionally expressive. One of his recent tracks, Taste Your Lips similarly features themes related to romantic longing and loneliness. Be sure and follow JPOPD1 on Instagram if you’d like to keep up with his latest releases.

For more info:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/jpopd1/taste-your-lips
https://www.instagram.com/jpopd1/?hl=en

No Vision is a new single from Eat Greedy G. It’s a collaborative effort with artist, BTE Tavii. The track features a minimalist, synth-driven beat and dreamy reverb on the vocals. It’s honestly refreshing how mellow and ethereal this jam is. The artists don’t bombard your senses with noise and attitude. Everything is very fluid and the delivery has a delightful “stream of consciousness” quality. Sonically speaking, it’s just very pleasing to the ear. With a focus on substance and realism, this is a true underground hip hop song. The dual vocals create a conversational dynamic, with the voices echoing and trailing into one another. It all culminates in an alchemic musical blend that just works. No Vision definitely resonated with me right from the intro.

For more info:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxCMGOvl7kcsmgJmgb3Qg3w/