Orso Black head for the stars, Skyler Wind has it bad, Rose Madeleine takes flight, Ficmaro gets metaphysical — and they’re just a few of today’s diverse submissions from Groover, a platform that connects artists with critics like me for a small fee. You can (and should) subscribe to my newly expended Tinnitist Top 150 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, take a spin through these cuts:
Orso Black | Stellar Dunes: The Animated Movie
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Prog-Hop.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Orso Black is a Montreal prog-hop duo — Ketsmy’s hip-hop and R&B influences mixed with Don Paco’s undying love for prog-rock. During the first wave of confinement, Orso Black set up an innovative project, taking the form of a hip-hop space opera. The multidisciplinary project is visually highlighted by director Phil1pe in an animated short film. Despite the distance, the Stellar Dunes project has relied on collaboration and teamwork by bringing together more than 40 artists from different disciplines, in all stages of its realization.”
Skyler Wind | Worst Thing
HOME BASE: Switzerland
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Skyler Wind (aka Claudia Wind) is a 23-year-old Swiss-Canadian singer-songwriter. Worst Thing is a modern love story. Almost. It’s as painfully relatable of a song as it gets. The track excels in reflecting the international zeitgeist of 2021 pop music, both in its content and execution. The song touches upon a growing restlessness, the vulnerable truth and reaching a point of no return by no longer holding back. It’s about being true to yourself, knowing that the consequences might hurt, and expecting the worst, while always hoping for the best. Ultimately, it’s about learning that no one defines your worth but you. In today’s world, these watershed conversations are likely to happen online or over text message. After all, what’s the worst thing that could happen?”
Rose Madeleine | L’Albatros
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Dance-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Rose Madeleine is the original soundtrack of a imaginary movie. The 12 tracks tell the love story of Rose and Leon. A meeting at a club, the beach and the hot summer nights give the rythm to their story. It’s an easy and good vibe projet which take us on a summer trip between dancing songs and ballades.”
Ficmaro | Metaphysical
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Ficmaro is Montreal producer/DJ Roberto Esposito. His music influences are house, techno, and italo-disco. “This is really only the beginning with Ficmaro,” he says. “I know what stories I want to tell. I know where I want to be. There is something spiritual in my music, maybe even philosophical. I hope people hear that. There will be more singles/releases in the coming weeks; with an official EP/vinyl sometime in 2021.”
https://youtu.be/lcyAlVwYqyg
Graham Soley | Cobalt Dew + Rosie Wild
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Folk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Here’s the title cut from the album Cobalt Dew, along with my favourite track from the record.”
Innocenzo Genna | Moonlight
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: Contemporary Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Innocenzo Genna, called also Inno, has always lived music in multiple dimensions: as a musician, firstly performer and entertainer, and then composer, but also as a technology scholar. His interest in music is not only artistic and emotional, but also professional, because for years Inno has been working in the Internet and technology sector as a lawyer and policy expert. The piano compositions of Innocenzo Genna fall within the categories of minimalism and modern classic, with frequent combinations into blues and jazz. He is similarly conservative as a composer, for his music drawing heavily on harmonic and melodic practices found in 18th and 19th-century European compositions.
Moonlight is a nocturnal composition, reflecting a time of insonnia and melancholy.”
Reyn | La Veille
HOME BASE: Netherlands.
GENRE: Contemporary Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Reyn is a multidisciplinary Dutch artist. He has recorded more than a dozen movie soundtracks and theme tunes for TV series. Over the last few years, he orchestrated for infamous Dutch orchestras and won numerous prizes at the Edisons, the Dutch music awards. In addition to his classical experience with orchestras, Reyn is a producer and musical director who has made his mark on the French Pop scene, having worked on albums and tours for artists such as Vanessa Paradis, Benjamin Biolay, Stephan Eicher or Alex Beaupain. Reyn creates most of his musical projects within the sanctuary of a 15th century Dutch church converted into a studio. This is also where he self-recorded all the tracks from his first solo album. For this album, Reyn showcased the extent of his virtuoso classical piano skills to create a project that combines elements of classicism and modernity, purity and emotion, tradition and avant-garde. As a multi-talented creative mind, he delivers every track with an accompanying video that he directs himself, opening the window onto a soothing and velvet world.”
https://youtu.be/NTMGMn3EyVw
FuryXFury | Limitless
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “FuryXFury wants to spread an important message and you are the best vector to get the word out to a large number of people. Limitless is an outlet for this young artist who decided to totally let himself go on this track that he particularly likes. With this track, he wishes to spread the following message: Be limitless; do not impose limiting thoughts from oneself or someone else when you want to achieve an objective. According to the adage “God helps those who help themselves,” give it all and the light will surely be at the end of the tunnel and the success at the end of this undertaken journey.”
Ylda | Queendom
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Hip-Hop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I’m a new independent artist. I’m still in my studies and singing is my hobby. I live in Paris but was born in Cameroon. I’m 20. I know that my French accent is noticeable and I’m working on it.”
https://youtu.be/0npvc35YnNY
Oh My Pivi | Mala
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Oh MyPivi is a multidisciplinary artist from Grenoble. This jack-of-all-trades seems to be a creator, a limitless party boy in perpetual renewal. His objective is to make his surprising, lively, offbeat and lunar side shine through. His very first musical project is an EP entitled Mary. Encouraging celebration and letting go, Male is inspired by a dancing, crazy and unbridled universe. Everything takes place in the world of trap, ego-trip and without the help of AutoTune.”
Grosse Isle | The Hawthorn Hedge / Jackson’s Jig
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Folk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The traditional music trio Grosse Isle masterfully bring together the Quebec repertoire and the Irish repertoire. This is an absolutely magical fusion thanks in particular to the real-life union of Sophie Lavoie (from Lac-St-Jean) and Fiachra O’Regan (from Ireland). The legendary André Marchand (La Bottine Souriante, Les Charbonniers de l’Enfer) is the third member of this talented trio. Le Bonhomme Sept Heures / The Bonesetter is the trio’s first outing as Grosse Isle. The new album is remarkable for its uniquely varied instrumentation: Uilleann pipes and whistle from Ireland, banjo, violin, piano and guitar. Says O’Regan: “Each piece is a world in its own right. We travel from Quebec to Ireland, the rhythm moves from soft to more festive. People will not recognize typical traditional Quebecois music, but discover music with a thousand facets to it.”
Los Padres & Cazes | Missing (ft. Naja)
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: EDM.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This is our newest release Missing, featuring Naja. A 2021 slap-house rework of a classic.”
To The Moon Music | For Your Love I Wait (ft. Khaye)
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I’m a Belgian producer. I compose my music and I ask different artist to sing on my music after the mixing and mastering.”
Gianna Alessi | From Within
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “New York City’s Gianna Alessi delivers R&B-laden pop with electronic influence. Born and raised by classical musicians, her journey began when her grandmother — a former lyric soprano at the Metropolitan Opera — gave nine-year-old Gianna her first voice lesson. Studying at the Berklee School of Music, Gianna took a songwriting course on a whim and was instantly hooked. From Within is her latest offering. Trading her bustling city life for the suburbs of her hometown, the track was written during a shadowy stretch of quarantine. The singer-songwriter reached deep inside to take back her spirit. Produced by Joey Auch, the sultry electro-pop anthem meditates on what it takes to find yourself amidst darkness.”
DJ Absurd | Animal Mode w/ Doni Rampage
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Grime.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Animal Mode, the second release from DJ Absurd in 2021, sees the Paris producer, DJ, radio host and label owner jump back from his heavily reggae/dub-influenced Dubstep to one of his sonic favourite terrains: Grime. He links up with South London mic man Doni Rampage on this frenzied track.”
