Black Lab share a moment, stph. see the world, Static evaporates, Shardowboxers hit the road and more in today’s submissions from Groover, a platform that connects artists with critics like me for a small fee. You can find my latest Tinnitist Groover playlist on Spotify, at the bottom of this page and at the lower right of every page on this site. If you want to be in an upcoming playlist, click on the widget at right (just below the playlist) or go HERE.
Black Lab | In A Moment
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Electronic Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Black Lab started in San Francisco before moving to L.A., making major label records for Geffen and Epic, putting out national charting singles, and featuring on blockbuster movie soundtracks like Spider-Man, Can’t Hardly Wait, and Blade: Trinity. After leaving Epic, the band’s core distilled into singer/songwriter Paul Durham and producer/composer Andy Ellis — who work together across the country. “I moved to Montana and the space out here affected me,” says Durham. “As we threw the tracks back and forth online, they took on a bigger scope.” “I like working alone,” says Ellis, “and also I like collaborating. Sending tracks back and forth with Paul is the best of both worlds.” The duo established a strong indie presence with blacklabworld.com and entered a more experimental phase releasing a wide variety of music including six albums, an unplugged record, a live acoustic DVD collection, a set of electronica instrumentals, and now the latest alt-electro single In A Moment. “We’ve come a long way” says Ellis. “In a Moment is our most cinematic track to date.” “Songs aren’t enough anymore,” says Durham. “We want to make movies out of sound.”
stph. | Salut Tout Le Monde
HOME BASE: Belgium
GENRE: Electronic Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Pronounced steph. Within this name-logo hides an atypical duo of indie-pop made in Brussels. Here, modern textures (borrowed from rap) and pop reminiscences of ’80s (Etienne Daho, Rita Mitsouko) intersect and mate. Behind their sometimes frank, often bored smiles, Aurore and JS play down the existential questions that inhabit them. In song, the industrial areas affected by their childhood become wonder, and the exploration of the social codes of those around them, an outlet. On stage, the pair occupies the space by sending sub and punchlines on guitar riffs psyche with humor and poetry. Aurore’s flute emphasizes simple and strong visuals.”
Static | Evaporate
HOME BASE: Australia.
GENRE: Electronic.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Static is an upcoming artist with roots in the punk and DIY scene. After spending over a decade playing in punk and grunge bands, Joseph Ling has now turned to producing nostalgic bedroom pop, inspired by ’80s coldwave and post-punk. Static is a singular vision with everything from the recording, mixing, album art, photography, and music video being created by Joseph. Evaporate is a brooding and atmospheric song with a melancholy undercurrent; though ultimately it is a song about hope. Static is the warm hug from an old friend you didn’t realise you missed.”
The Shadowboxers | Highway Roses
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: From their start as a backing band for the Indigo Girls to most recently working and touring alongside mentor Justin Timberlake, the trio of Scott Tyler, Matt Lipkins and Adam Hoffman have continuously captivated audiences across the globe with their distinctive flair. Bridging the gap between classic, harmony-driven melodies and contemporary pop-R&B rhythms, TSB now take the reins as songwriters and producers. A pivotal point in a long series of serendipitous moments for the group, TSB have finally seIled into their own, their new music representative of the trio’s newfound clarity. “This song was the result of an incredibly fun and experimental day working with Jamie Lidell in Nashville. The main pieces fell together so quickly, most of this is played live and this song is all about staying in the groove. The image of highway roses felt very potent to us — these last-minute, fruitless attempts to keep things afloat — when you’re so comfortable in a relationship that you fail to see there’s not much holding it together.”
Asta Hiroki | You & Me
HOME BASE: Brighton.
GENRE: Electronic.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Asta Hiroki is an electronica/experimental hip hop producer and visual artist based in Brighton, UK. Having honed his craft working as a composer & audio specialist in the world of contemporary dance, video games and moving image installations his works are typically nuanced, textural and deep beats with an ethereal quality usually found in film soundtracks. Drawing from jazz, electronica, post-Dilla hip hop, lo-fi and glitch music he builds layered compositions in his own brand of intelligent and modern, soulful electronica. Flitting between downtempo hip hop, ambient moments and glitchy compound-time signature beats it’s a widespan sound yet always constructed with the same attention to detail and jazz sensibilities.
The independent label Jalapeno Records noticed this unique blend of skills and immediately signed Asta’s debut Balance EP of four original tracks including two featuring the hugely talented Australian songstress Kathrin deBoer (Belleruche, Max Cooper, Quantic). He is currently in the midst of writing his debut album for release in 2020 and has several one off tracks and remixes also planned for the year. His new single You & Me is a dreamy and hazy bass-led mix of drunken boom bap drums and ethereal sound design. Think Knxwledge meets Portishead, it’s chilled, haunting and a little bit wavy.”
Ian Violaine | Stop Whispering
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This piece is representative of the musical universe of Ian, the sounds and the atmospheres that he particularly likes. Combining deep harmonies and acoustic tensions, this EP of great precision has already caused a stir among some specialists in the genre.”
Dodo Nelson | Diadème
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “A Dijon artist AND former member of Jo Jolisper. Slightly barred lo-fi synth music. Diadème is indie / synthpop piece in a Lo-FI-esque production!”
The Namless | Anytime
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Urban.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “TheNamless’ new track is called Anytime. It was released on June 1. We hope you will enjoy it.”
Jsundz | Zayann
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Jazz.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Karukera is an EP with Creole Jazz/French Antilles influences (Mazurka, Biguine, Creole waltz, Quadrille…). This opus is an opportunity for me to present warm sounds on traditional rhythmic references from the French West Indies (Guadeloupe, Martinique). A client with an eye for the great names of traditional Caribbean music and a return to the roots.”
Wiese | Never Let Me Go
HOME BASE: Norway.
GENRE: Electro-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Wiese (Trygve Wiese) is a Norwegian DJ, producer and writer with millions of Spotify plays. He grew up in the same block as Kygo and Alan Walker in Bergen, and hence, shares the same inspiration for his music. Wiese has been signed to Warner Music but recently decided to go by his own label. Spotify placed Never Let Me Go straight into their three largest editorial lists in Norway, with a total of 500,000 followers. Super-catchy electro-pop with great summer vibes!”
