LohArano bring the rock, Photøgraph unveil a double exposure, Alias introduce their lady friends, Bingo Club get separated and more in today’s submissions from Groover, a platform that connects artists with critics like me for a small fee. You can (and should) subscribe to my Tinnitist Groover Top 100 playlist HERE, or you can listen to it via the widget at the lower right of every page on this site. If you want to be in an upcoming playlist, click the link just below the widget or go HERE. But first, check out these new additions to the playlist:
LohArano | Andriambavitany
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Funk-Rock
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The combination of Mahaia’s guitar and voice, Mika’s bass, and Natiana’s drums make up LohArano. The style is a fusion of metal and traditional Malagasy music, like two rivers joining together, taking everything in their path. For the past five years, LohArano has been gaining experience, drinking from all the currents they cross to trace their path, halfway between the ancestral rhythms of Tsapiky and Salegy, and joining the big sounds of Pantera or System of a Down. LohArano is a new thought, a new message, like an incantation to drive out the negativity around you, and call for a conscience awakening. The result? Two singles that resonate the echo of tradition and the roar of a new generation.”
Photøgraph | Flashlight + Divine
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The three of us were born in the Paris suburbs, we grew up together. We used to kill time playing football or rehearsing in our parents’ dusty basement. We spent afternoons listening to vinyl records before myspace showed up. The concert venues were our main attraction on weekend evenings. Photøgraph is our latest project together; we take great care of it, as we want it to remain true and meaningful. Each song is about a moment or an emotion. It’s about love, violence, nostalgia and today’s society. We are producing pop music that we want synthetic, dynamic, positive and shiny. We consider ourselves as an electronic and rock music band in which you can hear Breakbot’s funky touch or huge synth pads just like Tame Impala’s music or Damon Albarn’s production in Gorillaz. David Bowie and Metronomy’s art also deeply influence our creations. Photøgraph is about growing independently. It’s all homemade. Our artist friends work on graphic design, photographs, the website, sound-engineering, live production and more. We think as a family and it would not feel the same if it was made differently.”
Alias | Lady Friends
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “An introverted composer, gifted musician, now recovered from his former troubles. The story of an ordinary life that shatters in ambivalence, dissonance, fuzz and changes of rhythm. Alias tells the stories of lonely cowboys — a little schizophrenic, under a nice LSD trip, but still, deeply human and endearing, sweet guys. A hybrid of psyche pop-rock, approached as short films by Alias. Lady Friends is a short story of a loner sailing his whole life but who can’t resist to go back in town sometimes to hear the noise again. The song reflects the emptiness of oceans, but the mess of cities too.”
Bingo Club | Separated
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Bingo Club blends distinctive warm voices with indie-pop elements and a singular songwriting style. Martin surrounds himself with friends of both the imaginary and real kind. Singers and musicians of all stripes come, as one, to form a club where everyone plays according to their own current state of mind, to their own aspirations and desires. Their EP Separated was recorded on the road from Europe to the Sahara desert — across the Himalayas and onto the U.S., gives life to four tracks, in Spanish, in French and in English, in solo and duet. A warm mix of soothing voices are blanketed by soft rock instrumentation. Bingo Club calls to mind and calls out the numbers of the Durutti Column, Mazzy Star, Beach House, Ariel Pink and Procol Harum. Laid-back and light, this EP is tinged with an earnest atmosphere of melancholy, where we are somewhat suspended in time — taken back to a song we’ve yet to hear.”
Emmanuel Della Torre | From My Home Sweet Home
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Subtle trapper of the soul, he brings us from his inner traces of treasures: Furs of the sweetest memories, fleeces of the worst moments … New album Le Folk, l’Or et l’Horizon coming soon! From My Home Sweet Home is about the time of the Gold Rush in America. Listen to EDT playing his slide guitar like others would ride their horses, and singing his “dusty” blues as filmed in front of the undertaker’s place! EDT’s harmonica sounds like echoes coming from deep in the canyon. While the sifters greedily dream about future conquests and richness, and pray for their mad hopes to get accomplished. While the Indian sees his land, his holy mountains and the lives of his people being slaughtered by gold fever.”
Djakarta | Any Open Door
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Indie-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Djakarta is the music project of singer-songwriters Raphaël and Tristan Stuart. The multi-instrumentalist brothers craft intimate pop songs, seamlessly blending acoustic and electronic textures inside their studio in Paris. Equally inspired by wide-open spaces and cityscapes, the duo is set to release Overseas, three years after their first EP. With dreamy musings on lives spent between two continents (they are French-born Australians) set against melancholy, sun-drenched folk pop arrangements, be ready to embark on a physical and spiritual journey. Their new single Any Open Door has an accompanying video directed by Baptiste Perrin. Produced by Stan Neff, the indie-pop song blends organic and folk instruments (including prepared piano) with electronic textures and production.”
Larissa Tormey | Black Cat
HOME BASE: Ireland.
GENRE: Jazz-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Larissa Tormey is classically trained soprano and a pianist originally from Russia, who made her name in Ireland by storming Irish country music scene three years ago. Her third country album is ready and going to to be released at the end of this year. But while in lockdown, Larissa started to think what would she personally like to release, to enjoy her music and her free time as much as possible … This made her pull out her own songs in her own personal style that she has written over the years but never recorded. This is how Larissa started her new project Larissa Goes Jazzy with Dublin producer and very talented guitarist Kevin Whyms. She is releasing a second song Black Cat. And… before you ask any questions, Larissa is joking: “I think I was a cat in my past life.”
Mystykal Kut | Reminds You
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: R&B/Soul.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I like pitched voices, ’80s music, pop and R&B … So i just wanted to mix all that together into a song 🙂 Vocals and songwriting by multi Grammy-mominated songwriter Jimmy Burney (Charlie Wilson, Demi Lovato). About me: I’m a french DJ (Red Bull 3Style France Champion) and producer. For more info and music you can visit my WEBSITE.”
Temper | Moonlight
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Temper (Luc Blanchot) is a cellist, composer, sound architect and singer. Trained at Toulouse Music Conservatory, Luc took the time to learn & observe, in order to let his project mature enough. “My classical training is very useful to me: when you go all the way, you bend the rules a bit and you also manage to take distance, this is the best school there is. I’ve always composed and done MAO (computer aided music) but about two years ago, I felt that I was finally ready.” Listening to the first songs revealed by Temper, we can only agree. The textures, climates and reliefs of these pieces provide the roadmap for a journey to a place that is both familiar and completely unknown. “My music is not dancing … but I would like people to dance to it,” smiles Luc. “I wanted to make a complex but accessible project, to bring people to a colorful place, a music other than the one we hear everywhere today.”
Babyfang | So Much
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Rock
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “On Feb 12 2019, Théo purchased his first guitar, an olive-colored Fender Stratocaster; aptly to be named Olive. On Feb 4 2020, Théo had his first rehearsal with two fellow Brooklyn based musicians: producer and percussionist, Canteen Killa, né Samuel Ogoe, Jr., and bassist and vocalist of future-soul alt-rock band Jelani Sei, Evan Lawrence. Formed five weeks before New York started ‘shelter-in-place’ due to Covid-19, Samuel, Evan and Théo were lucky enough to play two shows as a band; allowing them to workshop and record the songs that would become their first release, Olive Juice. The songs are an attempt at capturing the joyfully chaotic, blissful, lustful, intense, precious and urgent energy of new love. The title is inspired by the memory of mouthing the words “olive juice” to your crush as a kid, which would look to them like “I love you.”
https://youtu.be/OR3jlFlP6Og
Emy Taliana | Would I Lie To You
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Singer songwriter, guitarist, pianist from Paris! This is one of my new tracks.”
Major League House | Get On
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “After a long absence, Imported Recordings celebrates his return and comes back to his first love, presenting Volupté Amère, 100% House EP. Get On is a nugget that could already be described as a classic from Major League House, a melancholic track carried by a piano that takes you straight to your guts. French duo mixing new ideas and traditional colours of classic house from Chi-Town in Detroit or New York, they produce a house sound coming from the pure tradition of the genre, the best example is this track Get On, a real tribute to Garage House.”
Betleem | 86100 Gotham
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rap.
THE TRANSLATED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I present to you the title 86100 Gotham, from my album Interstellar released on May 30. This song is in honour of my childhood town, Châtellerault. Poverty, misery and unemployment predominate. A city where travelers and the Maghreb community share and coexist. My texts reflect this mixture of culture. It is true that I released my project last year without telling anyone beside my closest friends. I know that my style is particular; I write my experience with my heart and my guts. I strive to make authenticity felt through my texts.”
The Antipøp Mvmt | Love Me
HOME BASE: United States
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Ophelia X is an LGBT song writer and producer and the vision behind the artist project The Antipop Mvmt. She never thought she would be releasing her debut record Love Me in the middle of a pandemic, but here we are. Love Me is an introspective dark pop album in the same vein as Lorde or Halsey. The record features several up and coming artists such as Grae, Marley Kaye of Fade, Adara, Holander and Ophelia herself. Ophelia wrote Love Me in her bedroom (mostly on a vintage Gibson parlor guitar) and recorded it at 137 Productions in Agoura Hills, Calif. The album is co-produced by CONNR (who also happens to be her brother and best friend). “From as far back as I can remember music and especially writing music has been central to my life. Every time I see someone listening to one of my songs online it makes me smile ear to ear. I mostly write about heartbreak — mine or those around me . A producer of mine once bought me a ukulele so I could try to write some happier songs as an experiment. When I came back he said “Well … I don’t think I’ve ever heard such fucking depressing songs before.” Experiment fail. Ha! One day I’ll release them. I write music mostly to help process what’s jumbled and fucked up in my brain and to, kind of, hold my own hand through tough moments. Hopefully you’ll find some hand holding here as well.”
Windows | Send It
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Windows was founded in 2018 by Matteo Arias (Mystic Braves/Golden Animals) and Spencer Alarcon, joined later by Australian bassist Sam Wotherspoon. Windows’ sound consists of old California country, classic surf rock, and West Coast psychedelia. In February of 2019 the band released their first single The Ballad Of Whiskey Pete. Later that year, the band added Mystic Braves frontman Julian Ducatenzeiler and producer Ian Doer to the lineup. The band had intended to release their debut album in spring of 2020 but in light of Covid-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement, they decided to instead remotely write, record, and release two singles, Send It and Up All Night. The tracks were mixed and mastered at Lolipop Records by Ignacio Gonzales. In addition, the band had fellow musician, Willow J. Flores from the Spanish band The Parrots, design the matching artwork.”
Deeshorty | C’est OK
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Rap.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “French singer and rapper from Montreal. This single was recorded, mixed and mastered by Deeshorty during the Covid-19 crisis and is a hymn to encouragement. Despite the subject, the song is happy and is a feel good song . It’s a mix of Rap-R&B and Reggae perfect for summer.”
CloudNine | The Colors
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The Colors is the second single of my upcoming album CloudNine, self-written and produced. A live version is available on Youtube featuring Reggie Washington (Steve Coleman, RH Factor), David Gilmore (Wayne Shorter, Christian Mc Bride), and Ulrich “Yul” Edorh.”
Bildjan | Bowow
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Bildjan’s next unique catchy electronic pop song about a dog with superpowers sang by silly voiced female Lia Love.”
Kane Miller | Memories
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Kane Miller is a singer-songwriter based in Lakefield, Ont. His sound is intimate and organic, a combination of warm instrumentation and well crafted lyrics that quickly hook the heart of the listener. With an extensive classically trained background that began at the age of 7, Kane’s entire life has been masterfully shaped by the emotional power of music, resulting in an artistic authenticity that is impossible to replicate. He is signed with Nashville Artist Development Label, LV Music, working with Grammy Award-winning producer, Femke Weidema, to create music that is both simple and refined.”
Canopée | Bato
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “We are Canopée, a French-speaking indie rock group based in Montreal. We present a piece of our EP. It is a groovy and planing piece with acidulous textures. The text evokes the search for self and the uncertainty of the 20s. The EP was recorded at Madame Wood studio with the help of Vincent Blain for sound recording and precious advice.”
