Kazaizen take you on two trips, The Flames fire off some rockabilly, Emma June sees the light — and that’s just the start of 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 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, settle in and savour the first playlist from 2021!
Kazaizen | Oranjtanman + Telephone (All Alone)
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Psychedelia.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Kazaizen is the psychedelic pop-rock creation of multi-instrumentalist Jonny Kasai from Saint Paul, Minn. Kazaizen bridge the gap between ’60s psychedelia and the contemporary styles of today, challenging and addressing the perception of pop cliches in a manner of questioning where genres begin and end. At one moment they are surreal and melancholy, melodically drifting away with reverberating electric pianos and organs; at another, fuzzed out, synth full, ethereal and dazed. It’s all music after all, anyways. Oranjtanman and Telephone (All Alone) are from their new album Cyclops Dragon Light Switch.”
The Flames | Bother Someone Else (Corona Studio Session)
HOME BASE: Germany.
GENRE: Rockabilly.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The Flames are a rock ’n’ roll / rockabilly band from Mannheim. In the very beginning, the band played as a trio cast in the style of The Reverend Horton Heat and Brian Setzer. They released their first album Slicker in 1999. In 2005, the album Strike a Light was released, and in 2009 the band released the album Caution: Heat Inside.
Since 2019, they have been recording and releasing new songs.”
Emma June | Light
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Folk.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Emma June is a bilingual multidisciplinary artist and teacher from Montreal. She finds ways to make art no matter what medium but primarily expresses herself through her music, dance, and videography. In the midst of the pandemic, with no possibilities for live performances, Emma June launches her new single Light. The song was produced by emerging producer Kento Kataoka. With electric guitar and rich layers of harmonies, it features a change in style for Emma June.”
Bidi | Dans Ma Bulle
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Rock.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Bidi was 16 when he wrote his first songs and started as a frontman in Strict-Minimum, a punk-hardcore band from Laval. Over the years Bidi has composed pieces ranging from folk to prog-rock and metal. During the summer of 2014, he decided to dedicate himself to keyboards and immediately starts writing the songs we find on his first album. In 2017, Bidi teamed up with Richard Lafleur (Clara and the Sky, Revelator) whom, on top of playing the bass and guitars tracks, recorded, arranged, and mixed his latest album. Says Bidi: “Dans Ma Bulle perfectly illustrates the musical genre-bending creative universe that lives inside of me.”
Hergé | Les Mots D’Amour
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Hergé (aka Régis Gobe) is a Swiss Army Knife. He has been in turn graphic designer, translator, business creator, sailor, host, composer, actor and singer. His latest album features twelve songs composed during confinement. They talk about the links that unite us, the meaning of existence, resilience and the struggles that still need to be waged for a better world at last. It took him a life and confinement to finally write the songs that were spinning in his head. Songs in spades, a love of beautiful lyrics. A little vintage, no doubt. The words of love, everything is in the title, a lesson to learn (or not) to talk about love.”
Gianni | Changeons Les Choses (Acoustique)
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Gianni is a 21 year old from Martinique. Long inspired by musical styles such as jazz, soul and gospel, in recent years, he has been very interested in French variety such as Charles Aznavour, Édith Piaf or even Léo Ferré. Says Gianni: “With my new song Changeons Les Choses (Let’s Change Things), I wish to share with as many people as possible a call to awareness, a message of hope and improvement for current and future generations.”
Kokujin | Oh Oh Oh
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Urban.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “An artist from another world.
Le Twan | Influence Bruitale
HOME BASE: Switzerland.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Originally from Geneva, Switzerland, Le Twan, aka Antoine Gautier, performed and recorded drums in the L.A. indie and hard rock scene. In 2003, he began producing and DJing electronic music at parties and events in the desert. Following his time in California, he relocated to Romania, London and then back to his homeland in 2011. A downtempo / chill-wave track, Influence Bruitale can be described as dreamy and cosmic. The samples of the women talking are delicate and sensual. They are referring to the enchanting and hypnotic sides of music.”
Balbec | L’Erosion Des Sentiments
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “With a renewed lineup, Parisian outfit Balbec have been evolving their sound and ambitions, moving around somewhere between indie-post-rock and math-pop. Both rich and raw, seductive but counter-intuitive, ‘identités remarquables’ explores darker sounds and deeper meanings, more detached from past influences.”
One 61 | The Only One We Are
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This is the first part of a song-story. The person singing is a Highly Evolved Being coming from very far and about to discover the unknown world of Earth … She is highly connected to everything around her and to everyone, because we are only One. That’s the purpose of this song: To help us realize this profound spiritual and scientific reality that could change our whole way of being.”
https://youtu.be/_ZmqEKpqvc0
C-Ago | My Own Enemy
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Urban.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “C-Ago is a French-Carribean urban artist driven by her faith to put her creativity into music for a greater purpose. She tries through her songs to spread positive vibes, to highlight a different point of view calling everyone to more love, joy, peace, empowerment and tolerance. Growing up in a ghetto near Paris, hip-hop and African American culture were present during her childhood. All the toxicity of 2020 triggered her to release her debut EP C-Ycle. The confinement allowed her to put words and melodies on emotional seasonality. This EP aims to allow each listener to feel less alone in what they are going through, to love themselves and to stay positive!”
Patrice Pennont | Même Soleil
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Patrice Pennont is a young French artist. Même Soleil (Same Sun) is a song that invites people to unite because it reminds us that we all share the same ground and that we are all under the same sun dancing on the same ground (musical note). No matter where we are we are united humans.”
Fidel K | L.A.
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: Rap.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Fidel K is an up-and-coming rapper from Belgium. After releasing his debut EP Passeport last year, he is back with a series of new singles, a new sound reflecting his love for trips, because for him, music is like travelling through spaces and place. L.A. is his new clip.”
Célestin | Que Votre Année Soit Bonne
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE TRANSLATED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Que Votre Année Soit Bonne (May Your Year Be Good) is the first single from my second album. Did you know that if we made the history of the universe fit into a calendar year, man would have appeared on earth on Dec. 31 at 11:56 p.m.? I use this perspective — the Carl Sagan Cosmic Calendar — to humorously remind us that we have less than a second to save the world from ourselves.”
Bobine de Cuivre | Trappcore
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rap.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Spearhead of a crazy musical current, Bobine de Cuivre injects his flow with sharp humor on explosive productions and a colorful show. He released his first album Trapp My World in 2019 and has just released his new clip for the acid-rap hit Trappcore. The track alternates between cut flow and vocoded melodies.”
Leonel | Coisa Ruim
HOME BASE: Brazil.
GENRE: Bossa Nova.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “A singer-songwriter from Bahia, Brasil, Leonel encompasses the bossa nova and samba style, and adds some new spins. This mixture, wich includes rock, jazz and pop, is used to comment on contemporary topics, relationships, feelings and sorrow. The artist has just released his first EP, all revolving around the same style, with an array of subjects. Coisa Ruim is his first single.”
Boorook | Mother Earth + Callin
HOME BASE: Australia.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Boorook is a Kirrae Whurrung, Gunditjmara Nation song man, lore man, cultural ambassador and educator. Boorook is producing his unique style and sound with attuned healing frequencies which resonate in harmony with the sounds and vibrations of the universe to create balance within the mind, body and soul and to evoke a higher consciousness. Mother Earth is about Mother Nature and all the mothers of the earth. It’s about respecting her so she will respect you. It’s about caring for her so she will take care of you. Callin resonates at 852hz to raise awareness and return to spiritual order. This frequency is being used as means for opening a person up for communication with all–embracing spirit. It enables the cell to transform itself into a system of higher energy level.”
Lucie Lynch | Yes I Can
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Folk.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Lucie Lynch is a singer-songwriter with an angelic voice and wry sense of humor. Lucie currently lives in Honolulu with her black labrador named Bouncer. Produced by Grammy-nominated Imua Garza, the song is offered to lift your spirits, and remind you of your power and beauty. What better way to leave 2020 behind and welcome in the New Year?”
Kepa Lehtinen | Nowhere
HOME BASE: Finland.
GENRE: Classical.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Kepa Lehtinen is a native of Helsinki, Finland. He has written music for many films, commercials, and TV productions. He plays the piano, synthesizers and Theremin. He released his first solo album, Playing Theremin, in 2018. “The way I use Theremin is quite unique. Together with double bass the theremin completes the piano like cello and violin does in classical piano trio.”
Diktat | Defiler
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Diktat is a recent project, born in the end of 2020. This work is a mix of blended influences (sci fi and dystopian books; epic retro-futuristic music).”
Taz Allie | Won’t Forget
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Been in various bands over the years, now going it alone for 2021, the ultimate in social distancing. Won’t Forget is a personal one.”
Pierre Richy | Dans Les Bras De La Seine
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Singer-Songwriter
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Dans Les Bras De La Seine (In The Arms Of The Seine) is from my album Haussman Æternam.”
DJ H Chimist | Castaway
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “DJ H Chimist is an underground composer from the Paris area. He has produced several albums. His latest single Castaway features American singer Hayes.”
Rubim de Toledo | Sentimentos
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Jazz.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Award-winning bassist and composer Rubim de Toledo combines the influences of his Brazilian heritage and his dedication to the jazz tradition, to create an approach to music that is refreshing and uplifting. Rubim began his professional career in Edmonton at 17, performing with Albertan Jazz legends Tommy Banks, PJ Perry and Clarence “Big” Miller. Since then, he has become a sought-after sideman and a productive bandleader. Rubim is a founding member of renowned Canadian Latin-Jazz group Bomba and has had the honour to accompany jazz artists like Mary Chapin Carpenter, Mulgrew Miller, Terrell Stafford, Wycliffe Gordan, Oliver Jones and Jason Marsalis. With his sixth and newest release, The Dig, Rubim distinguishes himself as a composer with a unique ability to explore contemporary styles while maintaining a sound that is modern yet inviting.”
End of Code | Deep Into Your Soul
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Deep House.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “End of Code is the Malibu/Monaco electro duo of Nicolas Saad and Shawn Pereira. They released their first album The Beginning in March 2020 and their music is now in global demand. A new album is on the way. Deep Into Your Soul is their new year offering.”
Tomaka | Back On My Feet
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Pop-Rock.
THE BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Tomaka is a French producer, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in London. By embracing both synthesisers and acoustic instruments, Tomaka has found his mojo. His songs’ unique palette has deep roots in pop, rock, post-punk and electronic music. His second single, Back on my Feet, is a catchy rock tune that turns a tricky experience into an energetic and upbeat song.”
https://soundcloud.com/tomakamusic/tomaka_backonmyfeet/s-6kwHtIYzC3M
