Lose Control is a new single from Scottsdale-based artist, Marquette King. Originally born in Georgia, Marquette categorizes his music as “pop-hop,” a style which fuses elements of pop and hip hop. Interestingly, is well known to the public as an NFL punter, having played for the Raiders and Broncos.

This latest track is a high energy party jam, lively and vibrant from start to finish. As the title implies, the song really makes you want to let loose on the dancefloor and leave your frustrations at the front door. The beat is full and adrenaline fueled, while the vocal delivery gets the crowd pumped. The production quality is nice, too, with good clear vocals and a professional mixdown. On every level, Lose Control pushes you to shed your inhibitions and just get up and have a good time. It’s a solid pop (or pop-hop rather) song that is exactly what it advertises itself to be.

For more info:

https://www.instagram.com/marquetteking/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/MarquetteKing

Tha Ceremony is a new EP from Cincinnati-based hip hop artist, Majeur. This release is definitely on the darker side, as the somewhat “haunted” tone correlates with the artist working through difficult experiences. At times, the songs resemble late night confessions, just an individual dealing with his emotions alone amidst a shadowy, atmospheric backdrop. Is he talking to someone who is really there or merely working out what he would say if they were?

The synth-driven beats are ambient and smooth, with voices layered to enhance the dreamlike vibe. Majeur’s delivery is hypnotic and distinctive. He frequently utilizes repetition to hammer certain mantras home. If you’re going through a rough patch in life, you might find some comfort in listening to Tha Ceremony, which is a darkly energizing and low-key inspirational mini-album.

For more info:

https://www.instagram.com/whotfismajeurx/
https://music.apple.com/us/album/tha-ceremony-ep/1510483350

What’s the Point is an upcoming EP from classic rock band Brando Bogart and is slated for release on August 1st. So far I’ve only heard the title track, but it makes enough of a statement to tell me all I need to know. Blending elements of classic rock and new wave, this music strikes me as being slightly more vocally driven and emotive than some of their other songs. The singing is phenomenal actually, and this is the kind of technically oriented genre where you can’t get away with faking it. Classic rock musicians and connoisseurs can tell immediately if you know what you’re doing, because they’re well versed in fundamentals. The guitar melodies for their part demonstrate delightful complexity, and the recording quality allows the listener to appreciate every sonic detail. Guitarists spend a lot of time and money to achieve this kind of tone, and this band just makes it look easy. While the pacing is on the modest side, this jam rocks hard.

There’s enough contemporary flare here to carry the band beyond the realm of merely a “retro” or “throwback” label, too. The more I listen to it, the more I think What’s the Point whould make a great intro song to a Party of Five style televison drama (or whatever the modern Netflix equivalent of such a program would be). Be on the lookout for the full EP when it’s released. It’s gonna be legit.

For more info:

http://www.brandobogart.com

Shadows of the Past is a new album from Brando Bogart, set to be released on June 1st, 2020. An interesting thing about this group is that Brando Bogart was the name of the band they played together in as children, and they’ve somehow managed to reunite the members and give it another go as adults, which is definitely something I can relate to. Shadows of the Past is a full length LP. The musical style is fairly straightforward in that it’s classic ’70s and ’80s rock influenced and easily recognizable. Let me tell you something though, these guys do it very well. They really do capture that sound accurately, as well as embody the spirit, attitude and essence of the era. In fact, one of their songs Last Time is a cover version of the Rolling Stones’ hit, and this version actually sounds better and more refined than the original. The best way to describe it would be that it’s like if you mixed The Rolling Stones with The Cars’ sound. My favorite track on here is probably They Say We Only Do It For The Ladies, mostly due to it’s lively and vibrant guitars.

These aren’t a bunch of weekend warriors reliving their childhood fantasies after a few beers. We’re talking top-tier musicianship and instrumentation. Production quality is excellent and has the “audiophilic” ’80s stero sound. The guitar tones and vocal clarity are especially worth noting. Shadows of the Past is totally professional and fulfills its artistic mission perfectly.

For more info:

http://www.brandobogart.com
https://soundcloud.com/user-260650243/tracks

Bad is a new single from Miami-based (though originally from Akron, OH) artist, Cruz Milan. Rather than it being a song about the singer himself being cool or “bad,” the track is like the audio of a love letter to someone who treats you poorly and who you know is bad for you, yet you still love anyway. Terms like “cold” and “ice” function as metaphoric motifs throughout the song. Milan’s vocals are heartfelt and expressive, as he artfully articulates his case. Though it’s a romantic track, his delivery is smooth, and the beat is fresh enough to give the song a lively edge, even if one isn’t invested in the narrative arc. Musically, Bad blends elements of chillwave, pop and a touch of hip hop. The ambiance is mellow, with deep reverb emphasizing the lonely vibe. I really like the beat, has a tropical quality to it and features sparse and pleasantly sweet synth sounds. Bad is a good and honest song, combining cold romantic realities with budding young talent.

For more info:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xcruzmilan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/xcruzmilan
Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/album/bad-single/1508440884

Uncorrupted is a new album from hip hop artist, DJ Raw B. A seasoned veteran of the underground hip hop scene, his experience in the industry dates as far back as the early 1990s, when he served as DJ and co-host of the San Francisco-based show, Beat Sauce. Uncorrupted has an avant garde quality to it (even the watercolor style cover art manages to convey this). The album really does have that early-90s, golden age feel to it, back when DJs didn’t merely push buttons on laptops but relied on manual dexterity and physical craftsmanship when making music. Whether that ambiance is being simulated here or not, this guy has clearly spun and scratched a few records in his day. These songs have a veterans touch. The music has a “haunted,” eerie tone, the kind of thing you might find yourself skateboarding to on a fall night. The rapping itself is superb, with focused delivery and rhymes that culimate at just the right moments. Uncorrupted is a classic West Coast album with timeless appeal. More people need to know about this guy.

For more info:

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/dj-raw-b/153962472
http://www.bornillness.com/

Deep Thought is a new album from Denver-based artist, Dama. This dreamlike, often hypnotic release delivers the meditative goods. Combining elements of synthwave, hip hop and retro 1960s sound, the songs create a 21st century psychedelic experience. Sonically, the music has a zesty analog quality to it, adding to the mysterious and contemplative ambiance. Deep Thought lives up to its name, allowing the listener to really dive into those late night ponderings. While the pacing is chill, the stylish Alice in Wonderland vibes will pleasantly engage your senses. Right from the opening piano/synth driven intro (Dissociation) I thoroughly enjoyed this album. It’s a real trip.

For more info:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/dama2/deep-thought
https://www.instagram.com/dama.sound/

Send In The Hero is a new single from alternative soul artist, Shaun Mykal Walker. Featuring surprisingly rocking guitars and assertive drums, this is soul music with a fierce bite. There are synth components to the backing music as well, lending the track a hint of the ethereal. With a pacing that’s relatively mellow, the song impacts with its condensed force rather than mesmerizing us with flashy, lightning speed. The vocals are expressive and intense as Shaun can definitely maintain his ability to carry a tune even at maximum volume. The highlight of the song is the ultra powerful chorus, where the artist summons his “inner Herculean” 80’s energy. The word “epic” has become someone overused through memes, but Send In the Hero fits the classical definition.

For more info:

http://shaunmykalwalker.com/

Want You to Know is a new single from Colorado-born artist, SM (SICKMINDED). His professionally produced tracks have already racked up 130k Spotify streams in a single month, and I also have to compliment his album cover artwork, which is definitely in the upper echelon of quality as far as indie releases go. This particular jam, Want You to Know, blends elements of pop and hip hop. It makes creative usage of breaks to give the music an unconventional yet innovative structure. The synth driven beats and vocals come through crystal clear, and the sonic quality in general is just incredible. Whoever was involved in mixing and mastering this really knew what they were doing. As the title indicates, this is an emotionally expressive and romantically themed song with alternative male and female parts. The conversational dynamic is well choreographed, and the narrative is easy to follow. Want You to Know is a solid release. This guy has his own unique style nailed down.

For more info:

linktr.ee/smondatrack

So Untouchable is a new single from Los Angeles-born hip hop artist, Prime 1. My first impression is that this guy can deliver at speeds that would give Bone Thugs-N-Harmony a run for their money. Turns out he’s actually opened for them before and Too Short as well. You don’t really need to listen for long to realize Prime 1 is a seasoned professional.

Born in 1983, he grew up during a golden age of hip hop and his music reflects a kind of retro 90’s style. Not in any kind of gimmicky way, there’s just more of that attention to skill and music quality that you don’t see as often anymore. He apparently started out as a gospel rap artist for several years. Putting in that kind of substantive work in his early days probably explains why his fundamentals are so sound and he can actually sing. Prime 1 can hold his own rapping, but it’s clear from hearing his vocals that he could probably excel in almost any genre of music he wants.

So Untouchable is a romantically themed, pristine jam which manages to incoporate some groovy guitar in the backing music. The catchy “do do do” chorus is sure to get stuck in your head. This is a very talented artist, and I can see why he’s able to score shows with hip hop icons. Pretty soon, up and coming artists will be wanting to open for him.

For more info:

www.prime1music.wixsite.com/prime1
https://prime1.bandcamp.com/releases