G STAR is a new album from Gio, a Los Angeles based artist who’s originally from Kansas City. The album blends elements of hip hop, pop and R&B, with various tracks taking on characteristics of one style more than the other. The songs are primarily vocal and harmony driven, as Gio doubles as both a rapper and singer. The album is very top 40 friendly. It actually sounds like the kind of contemporary pop you’d hear playing in clothing stores. Gio is a capable performer, but what I find really impressive about G STAR is the selection of beats. The backing music is colorful and genuinely top tier. Nearly every song has a light and grooving intro that just sparkles. This debut album is well produced and has some genuine potential to make waves.

For more info:

https://www.instagram.com/_giovannifranklin_
https://soundcloud.com/dg_nation

https://soundcloud.com/dg_nation/sets/g-star

12 Weeks of Summer is a new EP from artist Chad Rico. Due to his being a certified scientist, Rico is frequently referred to as “the rapping math professor.” That is a fairly uncommon day job for a musician. Combining four full singles 12 Weeks of Summer packs a lot of punch into it’s lean runtime. The opening track, Legend In The Coup is a minimalist jam that provides a chill intro as Rico offers lifestyle commentary while cruising around, pulling up into various scenes. The beat is very hypnotic. Charge It To The Game utilizes conversational delivery and layered vocals. Notably, there is also an OJ Simpson reference, (which is actually something that’s relatively topical since OJ has been in the news for recently joining Twitter.) Don’t Trust You is probably my favorite track ont he album, with it’s Lo-Fi, analog style intro. It has a very old school feel and deals more personal subject matter. Pure Highbury is more of a fun and easy going song. Again he makes good use of layering, creatively positioning narration about his experience with a female in the background. All in all, this is a slick and compact EP, which displays a knack for creative production techniques and presentation.

For more info:

http://www.chadrico.com/
https://www.instagram.com/internationalchadrico/

Lakeland Plaza is a new song and music video from artist, TheKunig. It’s a romantic pop jam (although the song itself deals with a failing relationship.) The female vocals are surprisingly top tier for such a relatively unknown song. The singer is really good, pasionately belting out lyrics with a soft crystal clarity. Lakeland Plaza is an emotional song that isn’t afraid to delve into the depths of melancholy and longing. The emotional sincerity expressed is a refreshing change from what is often a genre filled with arrogance and plasticity. The synth beat is quite surreal and has an 80s dance feel to it. This song is really a much higher quality endeavor than its meager level of exposure would suggest. Let’s hope that changes as word gets out. Even is this particular genre isn’t really targeting guys like me, I can still recognize that this is a major label caliber recording.

For more info:

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

We Outchea is a new single from hip hop artist, Lyricast. It has a fresh and funky, southern style beat, at times even sounding almost like 90s industrial music. The track makes good use of vocal layering and lively conversational delivery. The rhyme pacing alternates between fast, action packed and mellow, drawl intervals. The song builds suspense and concentrates its lyrical intensity in the final third of the song. We Outchea could be characterized as a party jam or somethine more serious, depending on how much attention the listener pays to the content, but it also has a certain deep, trippy quality to it. This is one of the more uniquely styled rap songs I’ve heard in recent memory. It has a more experimental and avant garde sound than most indie rap songs.

For more info:

https://twitter.com/h2rplyricast
https://www.facebook.com/h2rplyricast
https://www.pushpowerpromo.com/lyricast

How Do You Know It’s Love (ft Brianna) is a new single from Fission. It’s a bright, upbeat track with an elaborately melodic EDM beat. The complexity of the music and the way it shifts and alternates makes this song lively from start to finish. The lovely female vocals are softly passionate and emotionally expressive. How Do You Know It’s Love successfully balances sentimental lyrics with a high energy beat to create an action packed dance track. It’s really a pretty song that recaptures a bit of innocence in a bottle.

For more info:

The Deep End is a new single from Northern California based artist, Obe In Space. It’s a hip hop jam, but the ethereal backing music and lightly processed vocals make this work just as well as an electronic dance track. It’s just very chill and melodic. The beat itself is minimalist low-key, but it’s enveloped by chimey and magical synths that create the ambiance. In fact, it has vaporwave style cover art. Had the song been released as an instumental, it could have easily fallen into that genre.

The delivery is interesting as the artist doesn’t simply bust rhymes. In addition he uses his vocals as kind of instrument. The result is a very unique and distinct sound which can help establish a memorable artistic brand. The Deep End is well titled because the song has a hypnotic, peaceful underwater atmosphere to it. It really is very relaxing to listen to. Take a dive into this track and hear for yourself.

For more info:

I Am EmmanPelumi is a new album from hip hop artist Emman-Pelumi. Clocking in at over 1 hour, this album is long. It must have taken quite a while to compleye and Emman didn’t cut any corners or sacrifice for quality. The record opens strong with the upbeat, fresh and full track, All Day. Many of the songs feature sparkling, 80s style synth beats. I must say this artist has a certain talent for choosing really great backing music. The ethereal dance beats definitely enhance the experience. My favorite tracks on on here are Acercate Pt.1 and Pt.2. which boast some stellar female guest vocals. As an album I Am EmmanPelumi has everything: a plethora of guest artists, synthwave instrumental tracks, hip hop pop. Even with this much variety to spice things up, the sound remains cohesive and consistent. Nothing seems out of place. This release is definitely worth the price of admission.

For more info:

iTunes: https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-am-emmanpelumi/1467818311
Smart URL: http://smarturl.it/c2cqmb
Website: https://emmanpelumimusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emmanpelumimusic/

The Mask is a new single from Oakland based singer/songwriter, Tess Posner. This is no ordinary indie track. The vocals were recorded at the iconic Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco, and Tess also worked with CA Grammy-nominated songwriter/producer Sal Oliveri. The Mask has a warm, analog-like sound with record crackle and tape hiss for avant garde effect. The music is darkly electrifying. The Mask is a synthpop jam which explores the struggle to find authenticity and inspires listeners to confront the fears and demons which function as obstacles to outwardly displaying our true selves. Tess’s voice is delightflully haunting. Her tone conveys an emotional depth we don’t often seen in this genre of music. This song is an example of how pop music can break out of the constraints of superficiality when it wants to.

For more info:

Website: www.tessposnermusic.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/tessposnermusic

https://soundcloud.com/tessposnermusic/the-mask/s-P59I3

WE is a new single from Stig Gustu Larsen, an artist from Norway most recently known for being a contestant in season 5 of the show, The Voice Norway. However, his career spans back much further than that, having released a plethora of albums and singles dating back over a decade. So, it pretty much goes without saying that this guy can sing. They don’t let people on those shows that can’t.

Stig displays his vocal prowess in WE, as his passionate and dynamic delivery drives the song. What’s notable about this track though are the tropical vibes. The music has a very late 80s/early 90s feel to it, bringing to mind The Beach Boys’ Kokomo as well as soundtracks to films like Captain Ron and Weekend at Bernie’s. The tone and lyrics are very uplifting. This is a summertime song for sure. Ultimately though it’s a song about fulfillment in finding one’s “home,” in finally reaching the destination where they are in their element, whether it be a physical location or an emotional state of inner peace (perhaps both.) In any case, this is a professional single that’s sure to resonate with adult contemporary audiences internationally.

For more info:

Website: www.gustu.no

Facebook: www.facebook.com/stiggustularsen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JabvqeTM9Qg

Dark Mode 2: Suffocate is an album from hip hop artist “Tripple D” from Norway. Tripple D got into making music at the age of 10 and became prominent locally around the time he turned 15 years old. The album is massive, containing nearly 20 full tracks. The beats feature a lot of killer synth variations, though some incorporate a piano sound. The songs are very well produced, professional studio quality. While the backing beats are generally mellow and chill, the lyrics are often explicit and of the aggressive variety (as the title suggests.) Tripple D maintains his intensity throughout and has a charismatic vocal presence, but the awesome music and blended guest vocals help soften things up a bit to make these songs accessible as party jams as well.
My favorite track on the album is Atmosphere (Bloodline.) It opens with an intriguing sample and is brimming with dark and melodic ambiance throughout. Musically it’s just beautiful. As a whole this album contains a lot of variety and is rich with content. It is simply an epic endeavor. You’ll definitely get your money’s worth.

For more info:

https://www.facebook.com/OffisiellTrippleD