Fiona Ross has a full schedule, Sisterhood Project do it for themselves, Dekker finds a better way, Pierre-André ponders the end 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, spend some quality time with today’s contributions:
Fiona Ross | Busy…Always Busy
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Jazz.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Award-winning vocalist, pianist, composer and producer Fiona Ross has become known for creating her own contemporary sound using fast-paced Latin jazz, vintage club styles and a little neo-soul along with heart-wrenching ballads. She came to the world’s attention as “The artist that gave Ed Sheeran his first push,” but has very quickly established herself as an artist in her own right and has received incredible reviews across the globe for all of her four albums. Fiona has achieved many accolades for her most recent album, including Best Jazz Song from the World Songwriting Awards for her song For My Dad, an Outstanding Achievement prize from the Global Music Awards and International Female Songwriter of the Year from the International Singer Songwriters Association.”
Sisterhood Project | Human
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Sisterhood Project is the story of two women, two artists who tell about their feminist awakening through their music. After solo careers, Marie and Doo met on the writing of their first album Sisterhood, crafting portraits and stories of women as diverse as the musical styles explored (trip-hop, rap, rock). They are currently promoting their second album Brotherhood while working on a third full-length. They have also set up a music production company for film, video games and advertising, along with a feminist arts festival: The Burning Womxn.”
Dekker | A Better Way
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Folk.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Known as the American half of the Anglo-American indie-folk duo Rue Royale, Brookln Dekker is also a solo artist under the surname Dekker. He has been the principle songwriter for the band over the years but is now writing from a more personal perspective. His debut album Slow Reveal: Chapter One was released on Nov. 20.”
Pierre-André | La Grande Exit
HOME BASE: Exit.
GENRE: R&B.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Pierre-André, born in 1960, is a French author, composer and musician. In the ’80s, he played with Les Avions, who hit the Top 20 with the track Nuit Sauvage. After working as an entrepreneur, he realizes he missed music and returned to writing and composing. In 2019, he recorded his first album. His music is influenced by ’80s groups like Dexy’s, Kid Creole, ABC, Magazine and The The. “Bon Scott one said, ‘Hell In’t a bad place to be.’ I say, ‘The later the better.’ This is my rhythm ‘n’ blues version of Faust.”
Marie Minet | Attendre L’Été
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: World.
THE TRANSLATED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Marie Minet creates a synthesis of genres as sublime as it is innovative by telling — in a raw but poetic way — life stories that echo her generation. Her first single Attendre L’Été (Waiting for Summer) navigates between slam, world music and subtle references to the classic compositions of her grandfather Edward Grieg. It revives childhood memories and brings together generations while questioning the innocence of this period and the disillusionment of adulthood, while taking an instrumental journey to the translucent waters of Cape Verde.”
Bambino | 365
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rap.
THE TRANSLATED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Bambino unveils his first project Enfant Difficile. Bambino has remained the kid he was at 11 years old: Same Afro, same madness, same mocking humor. And like any toddler and dreamer, he seeks only one thing: The freedom to do what he wants and to be what he is. A true Maradona of pop, Bambino is a gifted child, addicted to his tracksuit, in love with frenzied parties and beautiful women, but also a melancholy person whom the wounds and sorrows of the past continue to haunt. On his first project, Bambino alternates sweet songs, rapped phases, intoxicating melodies, and choruses to crack the clubs.”
Hergé Chante | Il Y A Des Gens
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE TRANSLATED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This song was written, arranged and recorded during confinement. It’s not rock, it’s not blues, it’s not metal, but my mom says it’s good anyway.”
Onk Lou | Cranes
HOME BASE: Austria.
GENRE: Blues-Rock.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Onk Lou’s second album Quarterlife makes one thing clear: That guy is incredibly talented. Like Casper gifted with the vocal range of Justin Timberlake and the guitar skills of Andy McKee.
Cranes assures you, he is not doing things halfway. That song keeps marching as if there was no tomorrow and soaks you into the album. From that moment on you’re on a wild, poppy trip that keeps you excited and holds on to you like bubblegum. At times soulful, then dreamy, all of a sudden dancey and rock ’n’ roll … His songs get stuck in your ears, conquer your mind and leave you with just one feeling: Repeat!”
Dolche | Universal Gloria
HOME BASE: Italy.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Dolche is the new project of Italian/French singer-songwriter Christine Herin, whose musical career boasts five albums and more than 500 concerts around Europe. Multi-instrumental and multicultural, Dolche’s music is a dreamy and powerful voyage inside her very personal and unique universe. Her music has often been compared to the works of Feist, Peter Gabriel, Bjork, Joni Mitchell and Aznavour. “I believe this is the perfect gospel for Christmas 2020. The song is a call to unconditional love, to faith in people and to go beyond one’s self to embrace universal peace. It reflects all the important themes so dear to me, that brought thousands of people in the streets this year shouting for human rights and for a better world.”
25th Street Band | Maybe By Christmas
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Jazz.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The 25th Street Band is a global crossover jazz recording project, based in London,featuring guest artists from around the world. This lineup has worked with Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, George Michael, Elton John, Sergio Mendez, Ronnie Scott, Herb Alpert, Chick Corea, Robben Ford, Chaka Khan and many more. Vocalist Joel Kibble is a member of Take 6, the world’s premier jazz/gospel a cappella band. Maybe By Christmas is a song of hope for troubled times.”
Bidi | Le Gecko
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Rock.
THE TRANSLATED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “My name is Bidi. I am a singer-songwriter. Le Gecko is the first single from my first album Dans Ma Bubble, which will be released Dec. 2. It has five alt-rock pieces. The prog-rock heritage is present in each of the songs, thanks to multiple keyboards, soaring melodies, heavy guitars and some psychedelia and a remarkable attention to detail. The lyrics are rich, poetic and intimate, addressing among others the themes of love rejection and internal conflicts — and voiced by a choir of 10 singers.”
Eagle Sky | Rampage
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rap.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Eagle Sky is a French artist who likes to mix universes to create new and hybrid products. As part of his music, Eagle Sky raps and sings in French and English. The essence of Eagle Sky’s music is authenticity: He takes inspiration from what he has lived, seen and felt. Eagle Sky wants to be an artist who inspires and motivates his fans to reach for their goals and never give up. In Cloud, Eagle Sky tells us about the trials and difficulties that anyone pursuing his dreams may face. But above all, through this music, Eagle Sky shows his detachment and spiritual elevation, set on his little cloud, far from criticism, betrayal and pretense.”
Panties And Chocolate | My Unicorn, She’s Gone
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “My heart was broken, I made a song about it and I’d like everyone to know 🙂 I have release one personal song (with a video) per month since this summer, with a full EP coming in January.”
Draumr | Sage Green Eyes
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “In a career filled with collaborations across musical genres, Draumr stands out as the solo project of the French musician Gabriel Cheurfa. His sound has a very distinct quality of ethereal dream-pop and glo-fi, settling in an atmosphere at the crossroads between Air, Beach House and Paul McCartney. Meaning “dream” in ancient Norse, Draumr is born of the dialogue between imagination and reality, and deals with the sensitivity of those whose affinities lie beyond society’s addiction to sensationalism, far from the deafening battle for our attention. Sage Green Eyes is a sensual voyage into the fascination of a recurring dream in which an obsession grows as a seductive figure, awakening the dreamer’s soul every time she appears.”
Hillhar | Come As You Are
HOME BASE: Israel.
GENRE: Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Hillhar is an electro-pop trio that began in 2016 and recently release their debut album Earthly Divine. Come As You Are, Hillhar’s latest, follows the band’s exploration of identity and self-acceptance, adding a burst of optimism with bright sounds and an upbeat tempo. The sunny single draws its influences from acts such as The Corrs, U2 and Natalie Imbruglia, utilized in the band’s signature electro-pop sound. The single is accompanied by a music video shot in the band’s own garden during lockdown.”
X-ing Stars | I Won’t Take The Weapons
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Neo-classical meets electronic music as two ambitious pianists come together to touch the stars. Mam has explored classical, minimalism, post-modern and rock, while Piotr has exploring jazz, pop, rock and funk. It is around electro, a common influence, that they unite their hearts in order to rise to the best version of themselves. Intergalactic, organic, acoustic, digital, while remaining authentic, the exceptional duo offers new codes: an acoustic piano with its velocity and harmonics mingles with the power of electro beats, gleaming analog sounds and arrangements that transport to other dimensions. Two musicians at the crossroads of the stars, hence the name X-ing Stars, pronounced Crossing Stars.”
2bfrank | Vows 2 U
HOME BASE: United Staes.
GENRE: R&B.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “2bfrank examines the emotionally brash alter-ego of a questionably reformed fuckboy-turnt-fiancé through a journey navigating the twists and turns of monogamy, overconsumption, and a world turned upside down. “My fiancé and I postponed our wedding early this year due to the pandemic. Everything going on sort of created a situation for me where I had the time and inspiration to lock myself in my home studio for six months to hone a sound and write, record, and mix some songs which I titled the Instagram Husband EP. Vows 2 U is a reflection of my journey to leave my partying ways in Hollywood behind and become a loyal husband. As the song says “A-E-I-OWE-YOU-Those are my Vows 2 U.”
Malika | La Receta
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Soul/R&B.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Malika was born and raised in Rabat, Morocco. Singing has always been her secret garden. In 2019, she auditioned for The Voice in Belgium. After the show, she released her first single. Her second single is La Receta (The Recipe), where she puts to music one of her greatest values: equality. She addresses the Macho “persona” who advocates male supremacy, sharing all the ingredients for her recipe for love in a song that allows her to pour her own drop of water into the Ocean of the fight for gender equality.”
Chloé Leclerc | Notre Histoire
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Singer-songwriter.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Originally from Brossard, Chloé Leclerc is a young singer-songwriter with unique sensitivity and undeniable talent. She has always been singing, but now she is also a host and comedian.”
HEwas | WHOLEthing (ft. Afroman)
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “HEwas grew up near Boston. His unique voice caught the attention of 98 Degrees, who began working with him in 2019. Working with artist and producer Blazar (Jerad Finck) led to the opportunity to collaborate with Grammy-nominated artist Afroman. Their single WHOLEthing is about trying to turn a casual hookup into a full-blown relationship. “When we started talking to Afroman, who I completely idolized growing up, I was overwhelmed, a bit nervous, but excited. We wanted the right song for him, so we went through our catalog of songs we had written together and re-listened. The light and airy tonality of WHOLEthing felt like a perfect fit. The hook-up-culture subject matter, paired with Afroman’s deep signature tones, were the perfect complement for one another.”
Noaxx | Whole Lotta (ft. Rondo Smith & Elegant)
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Urban.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Noaxx is a 15-year-old beatmaker who grew up between Paris and Miami. He has already collaborated with great names of music. For the first single under his own name, he appealed to artist Rondo Smiff from Miami and Elegant, the well-known Jamaican artist dancehall artist.”
Becca Tremmel | I Can’t Hate You
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Country-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This is my very first single. This song is so special and personal to me. I wrote it by myself about a very intense relationship in my life and I also co-produced it.”
AKA AKA | Yesterdays (ft. Redward Martin)
HOME BASE: Germany.
GENRE: EDM.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The best proof of love is trust — that counts in life as well as the creative arts. Whether in your own talents or in fate: Trust paves the way to happiness. Berlin electronic duo AKA AKA are the best example that trust in your own personal work is also spelled with elements of courage, faith and strength of purpose. “Our new song with singer Redward Martin from Chicago is a happy dance-pop song about how your past makes the person which you are today.”
Mériadec Gouriou Trio | Hystéro
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Jazz.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “After many years on stage, I am now releasing a new album that is more intimate and at the same time orchestrated. These are personal compositions, where Rudy Blas (Magma guitar player) and Ronan L’Houmeau (bugle, trumpet) mingle with the sound of my diatonic accordion.”
Parlour Magic | Copa Club
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Parlour Magic is a vintage synth-pop project from N.Y.C. producer, media artist, and composer Luc Bokor-Smith. Parlour Magic’s debut album The Fluid Neon Origami Trick will be released on Dec. 4. It was recorded in Las Vegas, Nevada in early 2020 — prior to the end of the world as we knew it — and mixed by Fab DuPont at Flux Studios in New York. The Fluid Neon Origami Trick was recorded using almost exclusively analog synthesizers, including the fabled Yamaha CS-80, Oberheim OB-XA, Roland Juno-60, and the Eminent Solina String Ensemble, among countless others.”
Visiteur | Homework
HOME BASE: Sweden.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Visiteur have arrived to observe human behaviour and remind you that everyone is a visitor on Earth for a brief period of time. According to singer Sir Boyfriend, all humans are on holiday — and Visiteur is working to deliver the perfect soundtrack. ”Homework is a pop anthem championing youth and independence. The kids portrayed are very much aware of their blissful ignorance and they’d like to enjoy it for a while longer. Can you opt out of society, they ask themselves. Can they grow up to change its focus from stick to carrot? Will they be allowed to make a few more mistakes along the way?”
Rambler The Band | Savages
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rock.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I would like to introduce you my first self produced EP Savages. Hope you like it.”
Tundra Music Collective | Modified (ft. KNLO & Chimwemwe Miller)
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Afrobeat.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Inspired by Red Hot + Riot, a great tribute album to Fela that was put together by soul/rap/afro heavy hitters of this world, Tundra are a collective project led by Ritchie. We think you’ll dig it.”
