Darblay goes big on The Donald, Baby Fuzz slays with a nod to Jim Carroll, Katie Glasgow turns over her Tarot cards, Steronoon step out with some Joe Jackson 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 gems. And crank up that Baby Fuzz.
Darblay | Big Duck
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop-Rock.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “After 15 years as a successful international photographer and 20 years designing wooden houses, Jerome Darblay has now thrown himself body and soul into music. He had learned to play the guitar without any particular aim in mind until he decided to improve his skills at 53. Over the past year, he uncovered a hidden talent for writing and playing his own songs: he wrote two albums in four months, and together with his band is now wholly committed to recording and performing. Darblay is a pop-folk singer-songwriter: Most of his inspiration comes from nature — as well as Love, of course! He has always searched for and worked with aesthetics and beauty. Harmony is therefore an imperative, along with the glory of landscapes, the power of the sea, and the wilderness of mountains. “Music is the most artistic aspect of my life, mostly because it combines deep introspection with powerful inspiration: the result is profound personal expression which can also be shared in emotional communion! It is the strongest vector of emotion I have ever experienced!” Darblay believes that “music can break barriers and it is not only a gift to the receiver, but also the giver … The song is a satire on oversized ego men who among other things believe that money can buy anything and that power over people is an unmissable goal in life.”
Baby Fuzz | We’re All Gonna Die!!!
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Pop-Punk.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Baby Fuzz, the alter ego of musical polymath Sterling Fox, is arguably one of the most interesting new acts in music. Baby Fuzz unapologetically jumps all over the genre map, with songs ranging from folk ballads to punk anthems and everything in between. As diverse as the music is, the lyrics are a singular and hyper self aware narrative with strong political and social undertones. His album Welcome To The Future is sure to be Baby Fuzz’s full-blown alien invasion. It’s a wild concept album amazingly relevant to a dystopian America currently in the throes of a pandemic. The bulk of the album was made in quarantine in Los Angeles, and to be sure, it’s an absolutely expansive yet claustrophobic opus of bedroom glam rock. All proceeds from We’re All Gonna Die!!! are going to Doctors Without Borders.”
Katie Glasgow | Tarot Cards
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Indie Folk-Rock.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Katie Glasgow released Midtown in September 2019, marking her entry into the Brooklyn indie folk-rock scene. During several years of focus on classical music, studying opera performance at NYU, Glasgow began to write songs almost obsessively as a means to turn deep introspection into something tangible. In Saint, Glasgow’s latest EP, her classical background intentionally informs her writing and performance. She takes inspiration from the way classical vocal music gives poetry a new, densely emotional life and channels that discipline into her own text and melodies. Saint is a raw expression of traumas and healing, of walking away, and of self-confrontation. Saint is both a tipping and a starting point: a culmination of old experiences that needed to be turned to song, and a step into a sense of self as an artist that is brand new.”
DMC Homie | Jeune et Frais
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: Rap.
THE TRANSLATED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I am a rapper of German origin who came to settle in Liège since his childhood and here, with great pride I can announce my first EP which is called Fvckingsmile. This is the start of a sequel that will follow this project, so this is only the beginning of the long road.”
Imaina | Piel Canela
HOME BASE: Belgium / Bolivia.
GENRE: Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Imaina ( Belgium – Bolivia ) is a singer-songwriter, performer, artistic director, creative and bruja. Her music, which can be described as Melancholic Electro-Pop, channels the sounds and the energies of Sevdaliza, Dillon, Lana Del Rey and Oscar and the Wolf. Known for her sultry voice and unapologetic attitude, she aims to share her hearted and honest performances and her multicultural background as she writes and sings in different languages (English and Spanish mainly with hints of French and Quechua). Imaina is currently working on her debut EP I’m Yours. Her newest single Piel Canela is a call for lost lovers and tender memories. “Piel Canela is a romantic sad summer song that tackles the illusion of love and the marks it can leave on a person.”
Stereonoon | Steppin’ Out
HOME BASE: Italy.
GENRE: Jazz-Funk.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Stereonoon is a modular collective. Stereonoon is a relentless quest for sound. Stereonoon is a tale about letting your mind wander around a lockdown until you find a way to break the silence. Stereonoon begins with Anna Polinari, undiscovered voice of Verona, and Max Tozzi, brains and brawn of the band cinemavolta. We are Stereonoon, a collective of musicians based in Northern Italy. Our songs are driven by Neo-Soul, R&B and Nu-Jazz vibes.”
Steve Cousins | Start Again
HOME BASE: Australia.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I have been fortunate enough to experience a lot of change through my life. Growing up in Namibia, Dubai and Australia to a career in paramedics, sport and now music has shown me many things. But one thing that has stood out and remained constant is the power of connection between those around you. Ive seen acts of kindness and love translate any situation or culture. So no matter the circumstance or the amount of change we face, we will always be able to start again.”
Tyson Swindell | Binary Stars
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Tyson Swindell is a collision of classical training and punk ethos. This fusion forms who he is as a musician today: Aa creative, highly-driven audio producer capable of any genre of sound. “Binary Stars is the premiere single off my forthcoming six-song EP L’Aventure. The EP is a collection of Lo-Fi, Minimal, Indie tunes which I wrote in Brooklyn and Paris. It is an homage to the woman I love, as well as a love letter to simpler times. Everything was captured with a vintage four-track cassette; the release, when completed, will be accompanied by a pocket-sized book of poems I wrote during this time which is where the lyrics are derived from in the songs.”
Fransoafran | Survivors
HOME BASE: Australia.
GENRE: Contemporary Classical.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I’m a French-born, Australian modern-classical and electric violinist, composer, music producer and original performer. My music aims at shining the light on organic instruments, in particular strings, by supporting them with modern sounds and arrangements. I wrote this music in February 2020 after the Australian bushfires tragedy, putting the song on hold for a while when the pandemic started. I finally decided to record it and release it, as the track took a wider meaning for me as the year unravelled. I hope this music can also find a place as a soundtrack in the future, ideally to support animal rescue.”
Eyesha | Dámelo ft. Slimcase
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Dámelo is the very first single from the artist (DJ/singer/songwriter/producer/dancer) formerly known as Soph-eye Richard, to be released with her new name; Eyesha, in collaboration with Slimcase from Nigeria. A rhythmic and playful song, with international flavors and a genre that crosses between Afro and Latin vibes. On this song, you can hear Eyesha sing in the three languages she speaks fluently — French, English and Spanish — as well as Slimcase, who’s performing in English and Yoruba, which makes Dámelo a very unique song that represents the power of coming together and the infinite possibilities of bridging cultures with music. Eyesha promises a series of multiple upcoming releases in the next few months, which will be just as eclectic as the personality and musical history of the career of this multitalented artist. To be continued!”
Sterpi | The Fire, The Storm & The Rain
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Folk-Rock.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I am a freelance artist from the East of France. I have produced six solo albums since 2008 and a dozen recordings in groups or for other artists. I present a track from my new EP Number 6. Guitar, piano and voice are the instruments I play onstage, but I record all the other instruments myself in my studio. This is an instrumental track called The Fire, The Storm & The Rain which turns out to be one of my fans’ favorite tracks on this new EP.”
Clide | Fallin
HOME BASE: Germany.
GENRE: Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “At 16 years old, Clide started off fiddling around with a computer, a microphone and a piano, and didn’t stop since. Indeed, lo-fi pop is a big source of inspiration for Clide While he also loves writing and singing piano ballads, he’s an outspoken aficionado of pop music, likes modern & fresh sounds that build bridges between the genres of international pop, urban and R&B. Fallin is his third single. The self-written song is another example of Clide’s unique songwriting and is filled with emotion, processing his heartbreak. Being cut off and not able to see the person he fell in love with anymore, makes the young artist pour is heart out into the song, while his honest and personal writing grabs the listeners attention from the first line.”
Achim | Décembre
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rap.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The last track from Achim’s EP [G], Décembre is melodious and sad, revealing in part the state of mind of the artist. Accompanied by a clip directed by Alexandre Lhote, this piece is a touching track which demonstrates the talent of this multi-faceted artist. Once again, Achim offers a production in a bittersweet style all of his own. With a touch of black humor, the artist from the La Castellane district in Marseille brilliantly combines content and form.”
