Lui Hill screens a creature feature, Hallali springs forward, Fouki sails the high seas, Pelé and Rodrigo y Gabriela talk to the man 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, get a load of today’s top-notch lineup:
Lui Hill | Creatures
HOME BASE: Germany.
GENRE: Electro-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Lui Hill released his self-titled debut album in 2018. His richly textured, immaculately conceived electronic soul displays a rare accomplishment and mature depth. At once raw and polished, the album reflects Hill’s own experiences and subtly explores his influences — Stevie Wonder to Frank Ocean, Steve Reich to Sohn, George Clinton to jungle. Now, Hill follows up with the first single from his upcoming EP. Creatures, with a joyful beat and a hint of homage to the French sample aesthetic from the early ’00s, was written and recorded in one day during the quietest period of quarantine. Like many, Lui was figuratively confronted with his own “creatures” within during the time when most of the noise and distraction of normal life was gone. Some frightening, others gentle and encouraging — he tried to make friends and embrace all of them. With a Daft Punk or Justice vibe, Creatures offers a quirky reflection one can not only dance to, but also relate.”
Hallali | Sounds of April
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Folk.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Hallali has become, with time, a matter of people: Those we meet on the road, those who come to share their passion with us, those who give their time to help transmit what there is to transmit, without weariness. To be short, it’s a voice and a guitar, but it goes beyond aesthetic frameworks. A successful show is when everyone leaves with a smile. Whether you play rock or calypso, the important thing is that something has changed in us. “Sounds of April is just a humble tune, sung with all of my heart, a bit of self-mockery and humour, love and passion, and definitely a lot of fun at the recording studio. A very fun video too by Stop Eject, who used to tour with me as a drummer. I don’t aim at inventing anything, I don’t aim at becoming something or someone, I just wish it makes you feel good once you press play.”
Fouki | Bijou
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Hip-Hop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “On board! Captain Fouki and his Zaycrew have free rein to port and starboard and are on their way to land on Grignotines Island, where there is the treasure filled with precious jewels so coveted by the Zay sea pirates, according to the reports. So says the silent parrot.”
Pelé feat. Rodrigo y Gabriela | Acredita No Véio
HOME BASE: Mexico.
GENRE: Flamenco.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This special collaboration between football legend Pelé and Rodrigo y Gabriela began when the musical duo were invited by producer Jorge Berlanga to write a tribute song to legendary Mexican composer Armando Manzanero. Finding out that the duo are football-savvy, Jorge mentioned that he is a good friend of Pelé, and asked if they would be interested in collaborating. Very quickly, a musical exchange took place between Sao Paulo and Ixtapa. Acredita No Véio (Listen To The Old Man) is the result.”
Will Driving West | Du Soleil Plein La Tête
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Celebrating 10 years of existence, Will Driving West arrive today with Du Soleil Plein la Tête, the very first French song of its career. The catchy melodies and hopeful lyrics are meant to be a balm on the last months of confinement and a comfort for the winter now upon us. With Soleil Plein la Tête, Will Driving West try to find some light through the economic slaughter that afflicts a large part of the population (including the group itself) by seeing it as a good time to invent a new, simpler life.”
Richy | Desde Siempre
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rap.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Desde Siempre is the only song in Spanish from Richy’s brand new EP Simple Witness. In it, the singer-songwriter speaks to his world with his poetic pen and guitar in a unique atmosphere between jazz, pop and house.”
Fares | Leur Plaire
HOME BASE: Algeria.
GENRE: Rap.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Fares is an Algerian whose passion for rap began at the age of 11 in his working-class neighborhood. Some 16 years later, after graduating university degrees and succeeding in his entrepreneurial efforts and other adventures, he decided to take his pen and his mic and present an album of more than 20 titles featuring different themes from his experience. Neighborhood life, self-reflection, success and failure, love, dreams and politics are all on the menu.”
MCV | Si Tu M’Entends
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Rap.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “MCV launched his career as a hip-hop singer in 2020, driven by his dreams and ambitions, but also by its objective to tell his story and to bring emotions to life. MCV went through drug hell during his
adolescence, spending his days selling and consume in the Montreal area. After embracing sobriety, he chooses to shine with his music. Says MCV: “Si Tu M’Entends is a song that I composed while I was going through a dark period. I felt dead inside and called for help. We are in the middle of a pandemic, so there are certainly many who have dark ideas. So here is my message: If things aren’t OK, ask for help.”
https://youtu.be/15C0WXACzp0
La Bonne Heure | Tell Me
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Folk.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Folk music group La Bonne Heure are releasing their second album Free Wild Child. La Bonne Heure is the story of an original meeting between Irish singer-songwriter Brian Holmes, Romanian baroque violinist Madalina Obreja and French ukulelist Hugo Cordonnier. Originally from the Bay of Somme, all three are passionate about folk music, Irish rhythms and fingerpicking.”
Callum Pitt | Sea of Noise
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Indie-Folk.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Callum Pitt combines fingerpicked folk riffs with a stunning falsetto voice and rich harmonies. Callum’s 2017 debut You’d Better Sell It While You Can, brought with it immediate industry attention, piqued further by widespread coverage of followup releases like Least He’s Happy, Rabbits, Happiness and Away From the Rousing Parades.”
Eagle Sky | Oh Oh
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Hip-Hop/R&B
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Eagle Sky likes to mix universes to create new and hybrid products. The essence of Eagle Sky‘s music is authenticity; he solely takes inspiration from what he has lived, what seen and felt. It allows him to share real emotions and true stories people can identify with. Eagle Sky wants to inspire and motivate his fans to aim for their goals and never give up. He thinks that it’s important to conquer your own fears and weaknesses to become the best version of yourself and achieve your dreams. Oh Oh can be defined as a mix of Hip-Hop and R&B. It’s an ode to love in its purest form, without headaches and with happiness is in the foreground.”
Dova Lewis | Lie
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Indie-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Dova Lewis is an up-and-coming indie-pop singer-songwriter with eclectic roots spreading from jazz to soul to Chanson. Her first single Lie will be followed by an EP that co-produced with Darryl Swan (Macy Gray, Erykah Badu) at Clearwater Studio in Los Angeles. Think notes of XX, Florence and the Machine and Tori Amos.”
Blitz Union | Money Crazy World
HOME BASE: Czechia.
GENRE: Rock.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Blitz Union is a furious rock band that combines melodic pop with hard rock and EDM. Using a blend of heavy guitar riffs, industrial metal overtones and melodic rock vocals, Blitz Union refuses to be put into a specific genre or category. Blitz Union is about standing together in times of uncertainty. Their second single Money Crazy World sends a powerful message to the world: Money makes the world go round. But not in a good way.”
