PASSING THE BALL is a new single from 4N Boyz, a hip hop duo founded by artists 4NJig and 4NHammy from in Chicago, IL. 4NJig was originally born in India, while his counterpart 4NHammy is of Pakistani ancestry (but was born and raised in the US).

Featuring a trippy synth driven backbeat that’s surreal and punchy, this latest jam makes solid use of its compact, two-minute runtime. Seriously, the backing music is exotic and has an ethereal, cosmic vibe. There are a couple of strategic breaks in the track utilized to great effect, as part of the buildup to the catchy refrain/title. The vocal delivery style is lively and intense, with enough energetic charisma to keep the action high. The artists also prove themselves to be capable poets, with lyrics that are clever, imaginative and often humorous. This song really contains some choice lines, but I’ll leave it to the listener to see if they can locate them. All in all, this is a tight little party track that delivers the flavor.

For more info:

https://song.link/i/1536159986

With a runtime of nearly 60 minutes, Northern Lights is a collection of lofi beats from artist, Saigos Music. A blend of carefully curated tracks as well as 3 original works, this compilation cultivates a warm, analog appeal. Complete with subtle tape hiss and ambient noise, the songs correlate beautifully with the remote cabin setting and cozy, living room visuals in the accompanying video. The atmospheric elements of the music are such that it almost feels like we’re sitting right there and can hear the delicate crackling of the fireplace in the background. Most of these jams would probably classified as “chillwave” or some adjacent microgenre, but the vibe here is a little bit more organic and avant garde that what would traditionally fit neatly within a slick and futuristic framework. There are traces of jazz, psychedelia, and even “hypno” detectable.

The songs are richly distinctive and contain variety, while still remaining sonically consistent with the overall aesthetic. Nothing seems out of place. There are over 20 relaxing tracks contained in this collection, ranging from mellow to contemplative and surreal, and all the pieces of the playlist fit snugly. I would highly recommend this playlist to anyone who wants to meditate and reach a higher state of consciousness, or even if you’re just looking to wind down your evening with something superior to an ASMR vid. Ultimately, Northern Lights harnesses the cutting edge synth components and retro-futuristic beauty of vapor/synthwave yet ultimately presents with a more intimate and nature-inspired sound.

For more info:

https://www.instagram.com/saigosmusic/
https://twitter.com/SaigosMusic_yt

Dance With Me is a new album from the prolific Hesperia, California-based artist, Morgan Gavin. A true “full album,” this release contains 16 hearty tracks. Synergistically, the songs combine to form a broader narrative, which tells a story about a man who falls for a woman in a nightclub setting. Beginning with his first infatuated glimpses of his new romantic interest, Dance With Me basically gives a play by play of his various attempts to get her to dance with him. Spoiler: He is ultimately successful. Though there have been countless albums with similar themes, I guarantee you’ve never heard one like this before.

It’s difficult to even classify Gavin’s delivery style here, because he’s just such a versatile performer. The best way to describe it in the context of this release is that he presents as a kind of late night disc jockey, blending voice-over monologues with Tom Jones-style romantic singing, resulting in a vocal style that is both genuinely appealing and truly one-of-a-kind. It’s worth noting though that Gavin identifies as several different characters throughout the album, each offering its own distinct flavor and eccentricity. The musical backdrop has a loungy and mellow vibe. It’s like high octane elevator music you can dance to. One of the most powerful tracks is Dance Till She Love which incorporates some sweet synth sounds and invigorates with its quasi-disco energy. Another memorable jam is the haunting Supreme Natural, which channels the ghostly narration of legends like Bobby Pickett and Vincent Price. The snazzy Give You Rainbows has elements of hip hop and R&B and dazzles with a virile, fresh beat.

The storyline creates that classically charming, awkward, yet sincere character we often find ourselves wanting to root for. However, Morgan Gavin transcends the cliches of the genre through his wild and unpredictable presentation. Suffice to say, the creativity employed in this album is off the charts. While most songs on here deal sequentially with the events of the story, certain tracks which represent the dreams of our protagonists are interspersed, adding an imaginative, ethereal component to the machinery. Though I have focused mainly on style, I think it’s important to mention that Morgan Gavin’s actually a fairly good singer, and his performance is compelling on multiple levels. Dance With Me demonstrates what is possible when an imaginative artist has enough technical skill to make his creative vision an sonically enjoyable listen.

For more info:

Polaris is a new single from Puerto Rican singer/rapper, Enyel C. It’s a Lo-Fi trap track with a bright and tropical vibe. Enyel C has an excellent flow. His delivery is casual, yet he has a natural gift for timing. The lyrics are mostly in Spanish and roll beautifully from start to finish. Featuring a sweet summertime melody that goes down like lemonade, Polaris offers a highly enjoyable listening experience.

Thematically, the song deals with someone taking a journey through Puerto Rico, while relaying a story about a relationship with a person who became consumed with material possessions. Enyel C classified the song as a pseudo-romantic track. Released under the La Buena Fortuna Music label, Polaris is available on all major streaming platforms. It’s really a pleasure to listen to.

For more info:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzucKvMTEcL-MpgKhzWniTg
https://www.instagram.com/enyelc_
https://twitter.com/enyelc_

Fallin’ is a new single from South Carolina-born artist, Shaud (featuring Sean Eversen). The song combines elements of pop and R&B with a touch of hip hop flavor to create a sound that’s both mainstream friendly and sophisticated. The performances are superb, featuring rich harmonies and professional vocals. Seriously, the singing on this track is clean and very high caliber, without a ton of unnecessary processing or “enhancing” effects to get in the way. There’s a lot of emotion packed into the lyrical delivery. You can feel the deep passion and sensitivity in every word.

Despite being vocally driven, the structure and choreography is impressively elaborate. When it kicks into high gear, this jam comes at you like a geometric equation. Something must also be said for the synth-driven backing beat. It’s fairly minimalist at times but also retro-futuristic and gives the song a certain cutting edge vibe that distinguishes it from more traditional R&B. Fallin’ is a supremely romantic song that’s musically flawless and probably deserves to be nominated for an award of some kind.

For more info:

http://www.instagram.com/shaud_we_trust
http://www.instagram.com/seaneversen

THE JOKER is a new single from Los Angeles-based musician and actor, KINDNESS (real name August G Russell). The highly anticipated song apparently features hip hop legend, Lil Wayne. There will also be two upcoming videos for this track. One will be animated, and the other a live action vid. Accompanied by an EP, this song has the potential to reach a global audience. Rumor has it that THE JOKER was even submitted for a GRAMMY award, but was not completed/released in time to qualify for consideration.

While KINDNESS may have come from a traditional singing, dancing and acting background, his hip hop songs are surprisingly creative and avant garde, peppered with unique sound samples and an exotic ambiance. His delivery style is artistic and thought provoking, often resembling elaborate performance art or film (perhaps owing to his acting and theatrical experience.) Among his influences, he cites Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Will Smith, Tupac, to name a few. His songs contain a strong narrative component, like short plays. What’s exciting about this THE JOKER is that it will blend KINDNESS’ artful song structure with Lil Wayne’s pop sensibilities and hip hop prowess, offering audiences a glimpse into the best of both worlds.

For more info:

https://augustgregorymusic.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/augustrussellofficial

Son of the Devil is a new single from Mobile, Alabama-born hip hop artist, Popa Tate. This prolific rapper has released an astounding 5 albums in just the last 10 months. Recognizing the importance of learning a trade in today’s world, he also attends school for welding.

The production on this latest track is surprisingly high quality for an indie hip hop jam, featuring a good clean mix that brings out the best sonic frequencies. It’s very professional and instantly commands respect. The backing music consists of lightly dramatic piano/synths and a vigorous beat in the foreground. Structurally complex and musically melodic, it’s a fairly advanced backdrop that Popa Tate has to work with. His delivery is quick-witted and solid. He maintains superb timing even with a fast paced style that comes off as fresh, real and unrehearsed. There’s a genuine passion and charisma in his tone. Perhaps that’s because Popa Tate isn’t just role playing. He’s a rapper that has lived through real experiences, and this is detectable in his vocal performance. Within the track’s 3 minute runtime, he manages to cover an impressive range of emotions, from rage to reflection to sentimentality and beyond. Really though this is just a dynamic and spirited hip hop jam. Great for pool parties and club action or just late night city drives with friends.

For more info:

That Melody is a music video from artist, singer/songwriter and actual physician, Doc Jazz. The song is actually a re-release of a song from Doc’s 2008 album, inSURGency. I would not have guessed this on my own, since That Melody is every bit as professional and high quality as the artist’s more recent musical output.

Though the track presents as a mellow and soothingly groovy, “Yacht Rock” style jam, this is actually a powerful song about how music can raise your spirits and free you from despair. The timing of this re-release couldn’t be better. In this rather tumultuous and turbulent year, Doc Jazz shows us how taking a break from the dreary news and listening to some music can help bring you that sense of “inner peace.” As the title implies, the right melody can do wonders for your soul and well being.

This inspirational anthem for humanity is bolstered by the fact that there are a plethora of artists credited with contributing to the song (listed below). In addition to the stellar and uplifting vocal harmonies, That Melody features an array of highly impressive instrumentals. These are professional musicians in action, but there’s nothing mechanical about this song. The performances are brimming with positive energy and feel good vibes. That Melody is like a ray of sunshine, guaranteed to brighten your mood. Doc Jazz has done it again.

For more info:

http://www.twitter.com/docjazzmusic
http://www.facebook.com/docjazz
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0I1vJzlcvka4aI9hAmcWGu?si=zJmAmSWaSACUY644HaiRow
https://www.youtube.com/user/EQualizer1948

Credits:

Doc Jazz: lead vocal, backing vocals, composition, lyrics, arrangement, mixing/engineering
Mella Barnes: backing vocals
Hans Sligter: guitar and backing vocals
Eddie Conard: percussion and backing vocals
Joel Ison: piano and Rhodes
Joost Zoeteman: bass guitar
Wim de Vries: drums

Sunshine is a new single from Chinedu, a Nigeria-born artist who grew up in Chicago and is now based in Los Angeles. This latest song is from his album, Apotheosis. Musically, the track flows at a modest pace, while maintaining a robust beat in the background. It’s a blend of pop and R&B that has a more personal feel than more typical mainstream songs. Symphonic synths and backing vocals create a dramatic, theatrical ambiance. Chinedu’s lyrical delivery is heartfelt and sincere, as he demonstrates a strong “stage presence” in the mix. The song itself deals with a sunshine metaphor as its theme. It involves finding meaning in one’s life and experiencing a kind of rebirth and renewed sense of spirit, after living through a difficult or unfulfilling time. It’s one of those intriguing songs that gets you thinking about the subject matter and really piques your curiosity. I recommend listening to the entire album for the full effect and to gain a broader appreciation for Chinedu’s work. You won’t be disappointed.

For more info:

http://www.instagram.com/itschinedu