Kady Diarra keeps it all in the family (in more ways than one), Félix blasts off, Fidel K takes flight, Van Tastik goes for broke, M.Soul lifts the vale 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, dig into today’s excellent crop of offerings:
Kady Diarra | Mi Ouezo Mouna
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: World Music.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Originate from Burkina Faso, Kady Diarra trained herself very young to music and dance through oral tradition transmitted by her parents who were griots. In 1998, she started her solo career after numerous experiences as a singer, dancer and choreographer in several companies. After more than 600 concerts in Europe, Canada and Africa and two albums out in 2004 and 2009, Diarra has returned with new compositions, supported by her nephews Moussa Koïta (bass guitar, percussions), Mamoudou Diarra (balafon, n’goni, percussions), Samba Diarra (recorder, percussions) and Thierry Servien (guitar). African musics are often urbanised and lose some groove and emotions, but Diarra remains rooted in musical tradition which she learned growing up, and is inspired by melodies sung by her grandmother and mother during celebrations. The result: A voice and a music full of energy and generosity, in the image of Burkina Faso, welcoming and crossroads of multiples musical influences. Mi Ouezo Mouna is the first single from the next album, to be released on March 5. The video was shot in Burkina Faso last February. Flute, n’goni, guitar and powerful vocals resonate in a song that deals with family problems and the judgment of relatives.”
Félix | Coffee Rocket (ft. Sazrah)
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Félix is a French author, composer, performer and actor born in Paris on July 1985. After dedicating his teenage years to developing and refining his rap skills, Félix left France at the age of 22 to settle in Beijing. His seven years there were filled with unique experiences that deeply enriched his life and his music. Eventually, he shed the double life of a rapper by night and international salesman by day and fully devoted himself to that music. Discover Coffee Rocket, his new interstellar single featuring the incredible singer Sazrah. Directed by Mick Chew, a Sino-Malaysian cartoonist, Coffee Rocket is the result of an extraordinary work of several thousand hand drawings. Not to mention a song that will bring Michael Jackson back to life!”
Fidel K | Cockpit
HOME BASE: Italy.
GENRE: Rap.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Fidel K is an up-and-coming rapper from Swiss and Belgium. After releasing his debut EP Passeport last year, he is back with a series of singles and a new sound reflecting his love for trips — because for him, music is like travelling through spaces and places.”
La Pire Espèce | Pirate
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rappers.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The most villainous team of rappers from the South of France present a project which brings together the entire LPE Gang, for the very first time. Its eight artistically active members belong to different schools of rap, from old-fashioned beats to dark trap and caliente ballads. Each member brings different skills to achieve the goals of the collective. We do everything on our own, from music production to music videos and distribution, in order to deliver the best version of the team. Jhaune Lemon, Dicko, Platon, Ibra, Syd, Igrek, The Hood and Maevol, like an eight-headed Cerberus, open the gates of Hell to you in 2020.”
Erik Strauss | Behind And Over
HOME BASE: Italy.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Erik Strauss is a music and visual artist from Venice, Italy. Growing up with jazz and funk music from his family’s vinyl records, he later went digging into house and underground beats. After releasing a series of independent trip-hop and downtempo tunes, he became part of french label Nuit Blanche and collaborates with artists around the world. “This is my new track Behind and Over. It’s got trip-hop roots but, at the same time, it’s a smooth and seductive slice of downtempo electronica. I have made my own video in a train because it’s a track that can fit a meditative journey.”
The Foundation of Freedom | A Washing Machine of Dreams
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Prog.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Being diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome means that I view things differently. My vision behind the album Deep Music for a Shallow World, is to allow the listener to view the world in a more holistic and spiritual way, without prejudice and to take a fresh look at the current world we live in, with open eyes. In other words, to wake up from blissful ignorance, be active, contribute and make a difference. I am also halfway through my followup album which has a working title of Swimming Against the Trend. Everything you hear is done by me; I write, perform and produce all my music. I call my genre “experience music” where I hope to take the listener on a sonic journey which is different from usual mainstream offerings. This particular track highlights the need to be a creative individual who thinks for him/herself and not to follow the herd.”
Kepa Lehtinen | Fall
HOME BASE: Finland.
GENRE: Classical.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Kepa Lehtinen is a native of Helsinki, Finland. He began to study music as a child and has since written music for many films, commercials, and TV productions. He plays the piano, synthesizers, theremin. He released his first solo album, Playing Theremin, in 2018. In 2019 he released Helsinki, and this year released It Is OK To Be Sad And Dark. Fall combines instrumentation that is unusual; the harmonies are modern, with a melody that is nonetheless easily approachable and beautiful. Autumn colours can be heard from a soundscape created with the Theremin, accompanied by piano and contrabass. Due to the fact that the sound of the Theremin is influenced by the slightest vibration or breathing of the body, it provides a truly natural sound although it is an analog synthesizer. “The Theremin’s role has changed in my music. It is now an underlying organic element that makes my sound both retro and contemporary at the same time. I honestly do not know anybody using the theremin like I do.”
Van Tastik | Ain’t No Man With Money
HOME BASE: Netherlands.
GENRE: Blues.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Descended from noblemen, paupers, tradesmen and sailors — many of them shrouded in mystery — the Reverend Van Tastik’s music tells the tale of this darkness and turmoil, the highs and lows of a bohemian life packed into his suitcase, his guitar and his voice. Born Chris Fallen into a nomadic family with a dark past, he clung to his art and learned multiple instruments from his first pots ’n’ pans drum kit to a violin at age three. Through all his projects from church bands to post-hardcore projects, he found his belonging in music through experiment and introspection. Choosing a suitcase for a bass drum and his trusty resophonic guitar, Van hit the road in 2017, busking and playing bars, clocking up in excess of 100 shows a year all over Europe. Van has been winning over fans since he started this bohemian touring life. For his newest venture the reverend brings you a series of singles leading up to his debut album Army of 1. The leading single is Ain’t No Man With Money.”
M.Soul | Miss Charlotte Vale
HOME BASE: France / Canada.
GENRE: Folk-Rock.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “M.Soul, born Marcel Soulodre, is a musician and singer-songwriter born in Saint-Boniface, Canada, his father of French origin and mother of English and American extraction. Nurtured since childhood on the traditional music played by his parents, it was on his grandmother’s piano that he began playing music at six. In his teens, he received his first guitar but it wasn’t until the age of 21, after a near-fatal car accident, that M.Soul began to seriously play music and also to learn the French language of his father. In 2009, after several visits to France, M.Soul decided to settle in Strasbourg. Starting a new career on the other side of the Atlantic is no easy matter, but M.Soul quickly found himself talented musicians to perform and participate in festivals throughout Europe. M.Soul returns often to his northern native land, happy to visit friends, fans and family and to tour with his ever faithful Canadian musical team.”
Misaïdu | Tiger Lily
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “A fraternal duo created by Thomas and Nicolas Beau, Misaidu stands out with its hybrid music. Through Tiger Lily — featured on U.BABA Vol.1 — and a first EP titled Half Light, we discover a generous and powerful sound, with multiple influences, sonorities and textures. This is no accident. Both brothers have soaked up many genres ranging from hip hop to metal, house, jazz and IDM. That variety sculpts the landscape of their music. The duo mix sampling, analog and digital synthesis, drum machines and acoustic instruments to create colorful and bewitching electronic music.”
Watermelon Boy | Boss It Up (with Bryan The Mensay & The Color Duchess)
HOME BASE: Australia.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Rocketing out of the space tropics then charging up on three continents before laserbeaming into your earholes, the cosmic collaboration Boss It Up is state of the art. Watermelon Boy continues his 2020 hot streak by teaming up with Accra’s rising star Bryan The Mensah and super-smooth Philadelphian The Color Duchess. These two artists add their unique and highly stylised voices to Watermelon Boy’s bass heavy, percussion juggling beats.”
Le Day | Tout Contrôler
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Soul/R&B.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Le Day is a singer, lyricist, beatmaker and more. “My name is Dayan. I’m from London. Welcome to my world. I hope that you will go through all your emotions by listening my music because that’s what I do.”
At Bay | Tickle The Gods
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop-Rock.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “We are a Parisian duo with an EP ready for release in the fall. All five tracks will be accompanied by their acoustic versions and by videos to be released in the months following the release.”
