Kady Diarra gets her groove on, Pistols At Dawn bring the rock, Jude Aston shines up the proceedings — and there’s plenty more where they came from 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 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, enjoy these fine finds from here, there and everywhere:
Kady Diarra | Mousso
HOME BASE: Burkina Faso.
GENRE: Afropop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “As African musics are urbanised and often lose some groove and emotions, Kady Diarra remainds rooted in the musical tradition she learned growing up; she uses traditional instruments like balafon and n’goni, and is inspired by melodies sung by her grandmother and mother during celebrations in Burkina Faso. Kady Diarra and her musicians create a fusion of West African traditional music, with a sense of celebration. Diarra wil release her third album Burkina Hakili on April 2. Mousso, her new single, celebrates African women with a groove in the pure Bambara tradition.”
Pistols At Dawn | Voices
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Post-Grunge.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Atlanta’s Pistols At Dawn are a rock band formed in 2015, featuring drummer Adam Jaffe, guitarist Devin White, guitarist Tommy Richardson, bassist Billy Sullivan and frontman (and Rockstar Supernova finalist) Chris Pierson. “Voices is a song about trying to quiet the voices in one’s head and the voices around us,” they explain. “We live in a world where everyone has a voice and it can be hard to find the real truth. It’s about focusing on self-reflection and drawing a line in the sand to weed out all the nonsense. The video for the song is all about intimacy — it’s meant to bring the listener up close so they can see and feel our emotion and expression as we expel the voices through our playing. Connection is everything to us, and we want our listeners to see and feel what we feel. Raw emotion and passion — that’s how we connect.”
Jude Aston | Ecoute (Shine)
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Jude Aston is a pop-rock project imbued with poetry, somewhere between indie-rock inspirations and French songs. 2020 marked the start of a new three-part album. Ecoute (Shine) is the third single from Zenith, the second EP in the triology. With its low-fi sounds and retro video, Ecoute talks about the passing of time and the sweetness of life. A little positive energy to start spring.”
Daniele Nick | Ma è Vero
HOME BASE: Italy.
GENRE: Electro-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Daniele Naticchioni (Daniele Nick) began his studying music at the age 9, studying mainly drums and guitar. During his training, he had the opportunity to record studio records as a bandmember and a session player. The experience led to his solo project — so far he has issued 29 singles of various genres, despite having an expressly rock soul. Introspection and the social are the basis of his texts. He loves to call himself a crazy artist because of his recklessness — he embraces the madness of creation.”
Audrée Alexandrine | Mon Lit
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Jazz-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Audree Alexandrine is a singer, musician, songwriter and actress from Quebec. Her musical style is definitely pop and melodic, a bit vintage at times, with hints or soul and a strong bond with the French chanson tradition. She composes in both French and English, and piano is her favorite instrument when it comes to creation. She likes to compose hooky choruses, to include sections that takes on unsuspected musical directions and to showcase less common instruments such as cello and marimba. Her warm and powerful voice will not fail to move you.”
Fransoafran | Waiting For You
HOME BASE: Australia.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I’m a French-born Australian modern-classical and electric violinist, composer, music producer and performer. My music aims at shining the light on organic instruments, in particular strings, by supporting them with modern sounds and arrangements. Waiting For You is inspired by slow cuban / rumba percussions and guitar riff. I let myself be carried away while improvising the violin for this song, bringing up nostalgic feelings but with a chill vibe.”
Emmanuel Della Torre | Où Vont-Ils Nos Accords?
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Folk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Subtle trapper of the soul, Emmanuel Della Torre brings us from his inner traces of treasures: furs of the sweetest memories, fleeces of the worst moments. He says: “Here are the first words of this new track still taken from my last album Le Folk, l’Or et l’Horizon: “This is a song on hold / A song for the weekend / When a nun is not the lover / When the chronicle is Martian … ”
Miki Bangs | Supernova
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Miki Bangs is a singer, lyricist and producer who grew up in France and Canada. He has released Republica and J’aime Ce Que Tu Deviens, two albums from his own band named Bengale in 2016 and 2017 and a first solo EP ‘Polyamour in 2019.”
Arkets | Runaway Train
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Arkets are led by singer, pianist and composer Romain Frati since 2011. The quartet’s first album Projectile came out in 2016. While they play alternative rock, they don’t hesitate to add touches of electro, jazz, progressive and anything else to serve the music. Runaway Train is a track from the incoming album Dark Light.”
https://youtu.be/YW0qSWVczBE
Laurence DaNova | Rest Easy
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “In 2018, Ottawa’s Laurence DaNova released the self-produced EP Nine Hundred with his band Vista Del Mar. In 2019 he began working with producers to craft his unique sound — experimental pop, neo-soul and alternative rock — on top of his diverse influences including Bjork, D’Angelo, Nas, Sade, Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, Mariah Carey, and Terrence Trent D’Arby. Laurence’s goal is to make music with an international sound that captures the essence of people and places, through emotive vocals and lyrics that convey struggle and triumph. He is currently focused on recording and producing new material for an album, and is planning a documentary-style music video (to be shot in Hanoi) for his upcoming single. He says: “This song was inspired by lots of letdowns I encountered in the last year, and being so close to your greatest desires yet so far. The lyrics are framed as what it’s like to be in a long-distance relationship and wanting nothing more than to be reunited with your soulmate.”
Yan Fiorello | Bolero Luce
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Neo-Classical Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Yan Fiorello is a French musician, composer and multi-intrumentalist. His personal and unclassifiable style is a fusion of multiple musical genres: Jazz, rock, blues, classical, funk, electro, prog. Bolero Luce is a a meeting between neo-classical and electronic music; a mixture of acoustic (viola violin, pianos …) with electronic instruments and different sound treatments to make it “organic.”
Peter Lake | Bonfire Eyes
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Peter Lake is a New York City singer-songwriter who revels in anonymity. His musical influences include Curtis Mayfield, Motown, Billie Eilish and Rüfüs Du Sol. Therefore, it’s no surprise that he has not stuck to one genre, dabbling in rock, pop, indie, and house. Lake’s philosophy of music is that by combining genres, the range of song creation has increased. A song that successfully incorporates and connects the positive aspects of different musical styles has the potential to be more universally appealing than any song in history. “There is a woman I was with. I loved her dearly. She has a beautiful soul and she has beautiful eyes. But she keeps hurting me. She burns me in so many ways and has caused me much pain. I wish I had never known her. But now that I know her, I can’t be without her. But it burns me and it hurts inside. One night it felt as though I was on fire, and that’s when I wrote this song.”
Raquel Kiaraa | Dear Jesus
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Pop-Gospel.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Raquel Kiaraa is a modern-day chanteuse who defies genre with musical dexterity. “At 32 I learned how to sing and play the piano so I could transform my poetry into music, the same age as my muse/role model Leonard Cohen when he began making music,” she shares. Love, loss, hopelessness, and redemption weave seamlessly throughout her deceptively simple yet soulful lyrics. Raquel’s latest release Dear Jesus can only promise more of the same. The poetry alone undoubtedly delivers, weaving a tapestry of belief in the ultimate goodness of human companionship. Dear Jesus is a song for everyone, the soul searcher, sinner, seeker, and all who have experienced the dark night of the soul — Raquel projects on an emotional level rarely found in the pop music scene.”
Aron Leska | Je M’en Vais
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I started making music to copy Diane Warren. Every song I loved was hers, whatever the style of music (Ace of Base, Mariah Carey, Aerosmith, Toni Braxton). I learned music theory quite easily because it has a lot of similarity with mathematics, my first passion. With my first paycheque, I bought all a computer, a sound card, a microphone and a synthesizer! Now, I have written about 60 songs. This is the second song I finalized in the studio. The atmosphere is quite sad but the lyrics lend themselves to it.”
Karma | La Chose Hors du Temps
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I was drummer in a band. A year ago, I began a solo project. I compose, write and record in my apartment. La Chose Hors du Temps is a rather dark, floating piece of ambiance. A mix of rock and pop.”
Rachel Saint | The Beast
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Not really a song for early in the morning. 😀 The song is high energy and kinetic, good for the gym, video games, or anything in between!”
https://soundcloud.com/rachelsaint02/the-beast/s-YZCAvOBH7Z0
Minawasay | I’m Not Waving, I’m Drowning
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “My songs are edible; they’re full of vitamins and minerals; they lower your cholesterol; loaded with Omega-3’s; improve memory and stamina; clear up your complexion; restore hair loss; alleviate discolored fingernails; whiten your teeth; improve your self-esteem, and are sure to increase your bowling score!”
Anthony Roussel | F.L.E.
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “After releasing two critically acclaimed pop-rock albums and having enjoyed several radio hits in Quebec, Anthony Roussel is preparing his most personal album project, entitled Des Guitares et Des Robots, scheduled for April. F.L.E. has pop-rock accents reminiscent of U2’s musical flights as much as the electro hack of the early 2000s. Says Roussel: “Sometimes we are overcome by a feeling of well-being. A short moment … too short. We try ad nauseam to reproduce this thrill, this fleeting happiness. This is it; this is the story of this quest, this is the search for this joy. “
Hippø & The Jacket | Gun Love
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Hippø & The Jacket is a French DJ and producer of electronic music. He will rock you. His music is disruptive, fun and spontaneous. He is unpredictable and his extravagant personality encompasses a brain keen on all kinds of music. He has put all his energy into music for 10 years now. Known for his white jacket with black and red stripes that he wears at each show, he has created a universe embodying all his DNA. His tracks are listened to, appreciated and repeated.”
