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Speranza is a new single from Italian singer-songwriter, Don Pasquale Ferone. A Catholic priest in the province and suburbs of Naples, Don Pasquale Ferone makes Christian-inspired music. This latest track, Speranza, features elegant guitar rhythms with sonically pleasing tones. The ambiance is rich, energized and spiritually uplifting, as the music maintains a consistently engaging pace. The vocals are dynamic, and Don demonstrates himself to be quite a capable singer without any production tricks or gimmicks. This isn’t all that surprising. I’ve noticed that many church singers and musicians are able to give fantastic performances with nothing more than a microphone. Speranza is a very professional release. The song is meticulously crafted and skillfully executed. While this is a Christian-themed release, the music is enjoyable and could be appreciated by anyone.

For more info:

https://ffm.to/d1ydwy4
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Tz4UbfJ9hlD4u1Wv0qMJG?si=1ICas4pkSNyhp5-BYsbw1Q

Wasted is a new single from New Orleans-based alternative hip hop artist, Rockstar Marcus. It’s an eclectic “afterparty” jam that blends elements of rock, hip hop, trip hop and a host of other genres. The ambiance is mellow and almost hypnotic, with a beat that’s still vibrant enough to keep a dance floor alive. The backing music has a groovy, almost neo-psychedelic quality. If it weren’t for the robust beat and hip hop components, one could easily imagine this as a straightforward alternative rock/emo pop song.

Despite the title, Wasted isn’t merely about being inebriated (though that aspect is there). It’s actually more of a romantic track, that’s expressing something deeper about the euphoric reward of being in love and sharing a bond. Rockstar Marcus’ vocal delivery is casual, cerebral and quietly expressive. The video for this track is rather avant garde, like a short film. The visuals are unconventional for this style of music, contributing to the psychedelic and hazy atmosphere. It’s quite an eye-catching vid. Ultimately, Wasted is more than it initially appears to be, and Rockstar Marcus demonstrates some promising artistic sensibilities.

For more info:

https://smarturl.it/wastedsingle

Love Me, Love Me Not! is a new EP from artist, Kii. This R&B/Crossover release blends elements of pop and hip hop with classic R&B. The sound is colorful and bright and will immediately fill you with positive vibes. Musically, the songs stir up feelings of nostalgia for innocent times and youthful anticipation. The beats have that healthy and vibrant springtime bounce and Kii’s passionate vocals are brimming with sweet sincerity. In addition to being a good singer technically, she has a voice that’s naturally pleasant and captivating. The mix also makes excellent use of backup vocal layering, which fills out the sound nicely and adds harmonic richness.

On tracks liked Whipped she demonstrates an ability to rap with impressive speed and timing. This is actually probably my favorite track on the album. With it’s retro-futuristic synth backing, vocal intensity and action oriented ambiance, it’s a very cutting edge song. All in all Love Me, Love Me Not! is a concise, compact EP that delivers an emotional impact. Kii also has a single titled, Me & Bey. It’s a romantic jam that with a light and tropical feel, backed by a beat that just sparkles. You can check out the music video for it below.

For more info:

https://www.facebook.com/shestheki
https://www.instagram.com/shesthekii/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh5rUshUb9A

https://soundcloud.com/shestheki/sets/love-me-love-me-not

BA LEE DAT (feat. Barry Black) is a new single from hip hop artist, Kiron. Backed by a theatrical and high intensity musical track, this jam is action packed from beginning to end. The beat is thick and rich with fresh bass. Really, the mix has a nice full sound, with great sonic clarity and audio frequencies that stay within the goldilocks zone. The music sets a high bar for power and energy for these rappers to meet, but Kiron and Barry Black both have commanding voices that manage to be up for the challenge. Their charismatic vocal delivery even manages to increase the overall power level of the song. While the pacing of the song is fairly modest, the vocal timing is on point, and the flow is consistent. There’s actually great synergy between these two artists, whose vocal presences and styles complement each other’s well. There’s no awkwardness or obvious talent imbalances. If I didn’t know any better I would assume these two have been performing together for many years. The conversational back and forth dynamic between them just works.

The lyrics themselves are catchy and have mainstream pop sensibilities. The repetition really drives the title phrase into the listener’s brain. I could easily see BA LEE DAT becoming one of those viral hits that comes out of nowhere, especially since the recording sounds so professional. The production quality is better than what you hear on 99% of indie (and even most major label) hip hop songs. What really animates the song though are the lively performances. These guys don’t just go through the motions of “spouting rhymes.” Every lyric is delivered with a spark of delightful enthusiasm. This release is overflowing with personality. Kiron and Barry Black have created something here that’s worthy of your attention.

For more info:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/kiron1/ba-lee-dat-feat-barry-black
https://www.instagram.com/kiron.music/
https://www.facebook.com/official.kironmusic/

No Rainy Days (Jiffthegeneral Garage Mix) is a UK garage remix of the single released in the summer by artist, Shana. The original song itself was already quite beautiful, but this version is definitely spiced up a bit and primed for the dance floor. Featuring a fresh, groovy beat and a tight flow, this jam moves at a brisk and energized pace. By incorporating the classic UK garage sound (which blends elements of house, R&B, jungle and dance-pop) this track is truly transformed into something distinctive. Unlike with many remixes, the changes here aren’t merely superficial. They’re creative, elaborate and brimming with action. This remix is downright exciting. Shana’s vocal talents remain front and center (she’s a very good singer), but are enhanced and given a new twist in this imaginative and vibrant structure. The remix is a solid dance track, but I highly recommend listeners check out both versions of the song for the complete experience.

For more info:

https://fanlink.to/NoRainyDays-JiffthegeneralMix

Take A Ride (Feat St3ph) is a new single from rising French artist, TENNIN. It’s actually a new version of her recently released track of the same name. This time she combines forces with UK rapper, ST3PH to create a sound that blends alternative pop, R&B, trip hop and hip hop. Featuring an exotic beat and dynamic song structure, this jam well choreographed and invigorating. TENNIN’s an excellent vocalist, and her voice is charismatic and emotionally expressive. Refreshingly, the recording has great clarity, allowing the listener to appreciate the intricate details and sensitivity in her delivery, which would probably been lost to over-processing in most contemporary hip hop/R&B songs. Also, her voice is stylishly unique and recognizable with its subtle accent. She reminds me a bit of the popular 80s and 90s R&B vocalists I grew up watching on Mtv and VH1, who were all incredibly talented.

For his part, rapper St3ph’s natural flow and exquisite timing add a critical dimension to the track. Everything balances neatly and juxtaposes well in this collaboration. None of the puzzle pieces seem out of of place. The action is quick, and there’s never a dull moment. We Take A Ride is definitely a chart-worthy song. It’s only a matter of time. TENNIN is also working on a new EP, which is tentatively slated to be released in early 2021.

For more info:

http://www.worldoftennin.com/
https://www.instagram.com/tenninmusic/

Truth Grenade is a recent single from UK-based hip hop artist, Xwisdom. He’s released 3 albums already, and a 4th is currently in the works. True to its title, Truth Grenade hits hard and fast, clocking in with a runtime of just over a minute. Blended with a crisp and prominent beat, the backing music is colorful and melodic, featuring an earthy, video game overworld-like ambiance. Xwisdom has a conversational, stream-of-consciousness style delivery that flows evenly.

His voice takes on a cheeky and pleasantly nonchalant tone as he casually relates common sense facts and expresses positive sentiments. The sound is much more “musical” than most hip hop, partially due to the vibrant melodies in the music itself but also as a result of Xwisdom’s delivery, which has a naturally poetic quality. The artist comes off as unassuming and sincere, almost innocent. There is something instantly likable about his personality. He has a fairly well established youtube channel, with vids on a wide variety of subjects (not just music related.) It’s worth checking out. Keep your eyes peeled for his upcoming album, Harmony. XWisdom’s a prolific artist, so if you blink, you might miss it.

For more info:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL-dYXWZd_BIbifjABFZ3OQ

Pasttime(s) is a new single from artist, Kaleidanoyse (the name for the musical project of Aureus Nova Solis). The artist has a unique series called Remnants, where he revisits tracks from his most recent album to create a remix/b-side. He does this in the final quarter of each year. In the case of Pasttime(s), it is a “remnant” release relating to the album, Kaleidanoyse V.

The song blends elements of jazz, dance, classical, ambient and new age to form an abstract and avant garde sound. The ambiance is meditative and hypnotic in a way that’s creative and original. I honestly haven’t heard anything quite like this. “Kaleidanoyse” really is an appropriate moniker, as the music really does resemble a kind of kaleidoscopic collage. There’s a slightly mystical and futuristic quality, reminiscent of retro science fiction. However, this aspect combines with an organic and nature-oriented vibe. There’s even a jazzy, quiet urban nightlife component thrown into the mix as well. From a musical perspective, it’s all very melodic and well put together. The sound can be both relaxing and provocative, depending on what the listener chooses to get out of the experience. Pasttime(s) is top notch mood music. It’s artistically comprehensive without coming off as pretentious. I’d recommend this to anyone who wants to enjoy music on a deeper, spiritual level.

For more info:

https://ampl.ink/yPYZQ

STAY! is a new single from artist, William Wood. This high energy pop/rock song has already managed to get played on BBC radio, and its easy to see why. The production quality is top notch, mainstream friendly and on the level that’s on par with what one would expect from high budget, major label releases. William Wood goes about as far as you could go with an indie jam.

The beat is tight, and there’s some decent bass. Rockin’ guitars give the sound a nice, assertive kick and help to differentiate the vibe from something like EDM. This is one of those fast paced pop tracks with euphoric action coming from all directions. The mix is full and bright and provides perfect party atmosphere. William Wood is a capable singer, but just as importantly, his performance is brimming with enthusiasm, affable personality and casual charisma. Lyrically, this is a romantic song featuring a passionate appeal to rekindle passions with a former crush/partner. The presentation though is fun, and upbeat. There’s nothing dreary here. Ultimately, the specific subject matter of the song won’t matter much to the people on the dance floor, who will be too busy going wild and singing along. STAY! is a solid release that knows exactly the kind of song it wants to be and succeeds in getting there.

For more info:

https://musics.link/williamwoodstay1

Giving It 54% is the debut cassette album from Springfield Missouri-based band, Wölframandhartiger. The artists describe themselves as “two professional thumb wrestlers.” I don’t know much about the sport, but the manual dexterity involved should at least theoretically translate to some interesting music. In addition to digital format, Giving It 54% available as a limited run cassette (which firmly establishes the release’s indie cred).

With song titles like Mothman Prophecies and Castor Troy(named after Nicholas Cage’s iconic character from the 90’s film, Face/Off), you just can’t go wrong. The album is filled with these kinds of clever pop culture references, which are incorporated rather artfully. Containing 14 fun-filled tracks, there’s quite a bit of material on this release, too much to cover in this space. Musically, the songs blend elements from a wide variety of genres. They include synthwave, rock (various flavors), alternative, country, spoken word poetry, etc. My favorite track on the album is Representative, a peppy and melodic indie pop gem. The song features a voiceover portrayal of a disgruntled customer speaking with a customer service representative over the phone.

The presentation in Giving It 54% is creative and entertaining. While the artists obviously like to have fun and don’t take themselves too seriously, the humor works in this album because the music is actually enjoyable and the skill level is there. I’d recommend this to anyone who likes quirky and offbeat music. Those who pick up on the random references will appreciate it more, but there’s something for everyone. Giving It 54% is performance art in compact cassette form.

For more info:

https://wolframandhartiger.bandcamp.com/album/giving-it-54