Vanzo takes a drive, PMA go to the market, Dimanche throw you for a loop, Camille Rose rides the rails — and you don’t need a ticket to get on board with the latest submissions from Groover, a platform that connects artists with critics like me for a small fee. You can (and should) visit to my 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, settle in and enjoy the trip:
Vanzo | In The City
HOME BASE: Jamaica.
GENRE: Reggae.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Vanzo (Devano McLean for civil status) takes you on a ride in his town of Spanish Town, Jamaica. In The City is the ideal song for this summer; listening to it will give you the sweet sensation of these night trips by car, windows open, as the warm breeze of the Caribbean caresses your skin. Vanzo is for everyone. He calls for unity and positive atmospheres with his modern flow. The duo French have been able to fashion a tailor-made setting with the warm voice of Vanzo, oscillating between new roots and rub-a-dub, supported by sirens worthy of the best G-funk from the West Coast.”
Parlez-Moi D’Amour (PMA) | Mes Bonnes Chansons (Le Second Choix)
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Parlez-Moi D’Amour (PMA) are a group from Auxerrois. Since 2017, they have released a vinyl EP trilogy (La Place Du Mort, La Cour Barrée and Ma Chose) and have been playing everywhere in France. They include: A singer who writes and composes, films and hosts on Radio France; a bass player who has played amplified bass tuba in other bands (Akhan Shukar, Al’de Bond); a guitarist who has played in an acoustic duo (Machinchose) and an electro-punk duo (Non-Non 1.0), performed for fashion shows, and created sound installations on the exterior of a fine arts museum. Their third video from the album Pour Tous! is Mes Bonnes Chansons (Le Second Choix), shot on a smartphone, edited and released three days later. Fans of Calozéro and Black M, or Katerine, or Mariah Carey, or Renaud, or Angèle will appreciate the final banquet. Listen to it and enjoy your meal … ”
Dimanche | Looping
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Sunday is that day of nostalgic idleness when we love to revel in a sweet laziness. So it’s only right that the French duo Dimanche lull us with dreamy melodies carried by a soft voice that sings of love as well as loneliness, with raw but always poetic lyrics fond of French chanson as well as Cloud Rap. They recently release their second EP Grenadine. Noémie Alazard and Ulysse Thevenon explore the alchemy between nostalgia and modernity that suits them so well. With Looping, Dimanche hide a gently fatalistic text behind unstoppable pop. “Every day looks the same” is not even a reference to the year 2020, but rather an almost-existential statement. Looping is based on a heady loop, which illustrates the incessant cycle of everyday life, with its habits and obsessions. Once again, the couple transmit the unbreakable bond which unites them, accompanied by funk tones and punctuated by the brilliant saxophone solo of Balthazar Naturel. Do we activate Loop mode?”
Camille Rose | Le Train M’Emmène Vers Toi
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Country.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Camille Rose sang Emilie Jolie in duet with Julien Clerc during seven concert on his tour in France between 2017 and 2019. She entered France’s The Voice Kids Season 6 in 2019 and reached the Battles stage in Amel Bent’s team. She played a country concert in December 2019 in Quebec, released her first single Robin in 2020, and just released her first EP.”
Dany Nicolas | Il Pleut Toujours
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Folk.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Alone with his guitar, Dany Nicolas presents folk poetry supported by intimate melodies. Both rich and uncluttered, his songs are all the more touching on stage. A professional guitarist for 20 years, Nicolas has carried the music of his groups Sagapool and Kleztory around the world. Today, Nicolas presents the second single from his first solo album Rockstar Municipale (out Aug. 20), Il Pleut Toujours (It Always Rains). Nicolas collaborates again with French poet Rémo Gary, who wrote the original lyrics to the song. A stop-motion music video accompanies the release of the excerpt. Animator Philippe Blain produced the clip from paintings inspired by those of Jean-Michel Basquiat. The staged characters, tall and slender, are reminiscent of the sculptures of Alberto Giacometti, a great source of inspiration for Nicolas.”
Coeur Bordélique | Il Faudra Dès Demain
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Lyricist, writing, songs, really, recently, for others, or for me, nice metaphorisms, that I slam, after, in my shower, or, that I (myself) give to sing / slam / melody … it rises from the depths of my unconscious bubbling to the surface of my consciousness … it does not hurt, for years that it lasts me … and I translate that in small sentences, first in a blog, and one (in fact two) books, and now in verses and refrains of melodies, all well coated, in the onion and tasty music of Nathan … A new melody, on the World in general, and ours in particular. In the video, the chorus (in megaphone mode) is filmed in front of the window, with bars in my bathroom, it’s an idea that came to me, like that … And the verses are illustrated with a few key words (completely subjective), via image searches on Google, which I filmed.”
Baïnem | Paradis Infernal
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Baïnem is a mysterious forest where sharp words sharpen heady synths. Behind Baïnem, Karima Agha is a composer, author and performer. A classical pianist by training, her music borrows a taste for nuance, instrumental textures, harmonic composition. Based on the possibilities offered by electronic music, drawing inspiration from the richness of classical music and the poetic heritage of French song, she develops music embroidered with fire, where the flavor of vocal harmonies intoxicates words. She has been developing the Baïnem project since 2018. Her latest single deals with the lost paradise of childhood, from which it inherits its name.”
Alejandro Narés | Fiurana
HOME BASE: Spain.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I am a pianist and composer from Barcelona. I love music and since my teen years I feel the need to compose and make music. Since then, I’ve been constantly studying, listening, sharing, searching and trying to find my own sound. I’m passionate and dedicated about it and I want to publish a lot of music on the following years. Fiurana is an energetic and vivid composition with a slightly melancholic touch. The video was recorded at Bruno Sanfilippo’s studio with a grand piano.”
Kuma Zeke | Townsville
HOME BASE: Switzerland.
GENRE: Rap.
THE TRANSLATED EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This is my new Escape City project. It represents mic rage and a more hardcore style. If you want to find out more about me, listen to it.”
Stefa | Sixteen
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: Folk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I’m a French singer-songwriter based in Brussels. My roots are as diverse as my influences: Blues, rock, Brittany, Guadeloupe, the U.K. My songs tell the stories of the people and the places I’ve encountered along the way.”
Véronique Bilodeau | Détours
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Véronique Bilodeau creates luminous songs in which the intimate is freely told. With her colorful crystalline voice, Véronique brings a breath of fresh air to Franco-Canadian pop song. She offers us a grandiose and flamboyant universe where each landscape finds its magic, where each confidence is shared in all sincerity. Always on the road between Montreal and its Bas-du-Fleuve, Véronique transports us to these moments of freedom and introspection, where stories and kilometers pass on the clock. With Détours, she drives us through an ethereal escapade. Produced by French singer-songwriter Rosie Valland, Détours relates a summer love, a road trip by night where everything becomes possible. Windows open, country roads become a magical and timeless path where even tall grass sparkles through the night. With powerful percussions and atmospheric harmonies, Détours gives us the urge to dance in front of the headlights … fearless.”
D.C. | Dead Or Alive
HOME BASE: Japan.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I put my life to this song — my soul tune!!!”
https://youtu.be/D5NwNianxvM
Hector Balisse | Fêlé
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This song appears on the new EP Revanche.”
Bachot Muna | Mbana Wema
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: Afro-Jazz.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “One of the most prominent emerging musical artists, Bachot Muna is quickly set to make a name for himself in the music industry. Mbana Wema was inspired by its meaning; to stand up and stay awake. Over a hypnotic chorus sung by a mesmeric choir-like vocal from Talike Gellé, “wake up, wake up” is chanted in a meditative state, soothing the soul with its jazz infusions. The song opens with percussive rhythms, scattered with intricate piano riffs, before Bachot’s voice chimes through, guided by the calming texture of the gentle chant layered underneath. An expressive saxophone sits between, adding a soft vibrancy to the song. Bachot was inspired to write Mbana Wema as a way to encourage young Africans to stay at home and seek out the opportunities they already have. To create a vision of their future and follow the metaphorical journey, rather than facing the dangers of crossing the Mediterranean sea to reach Europe. A song from the heart, Bachot delivers his sincerity through a fusion of smooth jazz and the influence of African nations, to create something unique that leans towards Afro-jazz.”
John Wiebe | Crazy (ft. Enkay47)
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Pop-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “John Wiebe is a Canadian musician, songwriter, producer, public speaker and singer, whose vocals is often noted as a blend of The Calling and Lifehouse. Born in Winnipeg, John’s undying passion for music began at an early age and served as an outlet to escape a harsh reality of depression and anxiety. He released his debut EP Changed during high school. Influenced by artists such as NF, Skillet, Ed Sheeran, Simple Plan, Manafest and Eminem, John’s raspy vocals and sound lyricism elicits a joyfulness that instantly bridges a lasting connection with listeners. Crazy, featuring Portland, Oregon rapper Enkay47, tells the story of an individual who has been beaten down to their last breath in an emotionally abusive relationship and is losing track of who they are as a person and questioning their reality.”
Peggy James | Joan Of Arc – 2021
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Folk-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Peggy James was born in Milwaukee, but spent her formative years in the Southwest. This desert “Americana” flavor influences all of her songs allowing her songwriting to be both unique and eclectic. Her lyrics are honest and direct, shooting straight from the heart. Her voice, clear and sweet, can get tough and rock ’n’ roll with the best of them. Peggy has four previous albums to her credit. James’ second single the year, Joan of Arc – 2021 is based on the symbolic French martyr, and begs the question: Where are you now?”
Emika | Angel Come (ft. Liela Moss)
HOME BASE: Germany.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Classically trained pianist and vocalist Emika was born in the U.K. of Czech heritage. Studying in the city of Bath, she was influenced by nearby Bristol’s trip-hop vista, and quickly became a part of the burgeoning dubstep scene, with an interest in techno culture. Having waited patiently for 10 years to find a fellow female on her wavelength, finally Emika found deep synergy with singer-songwriter Liela Moss from the U.K. indie band The Duke Spirit and producer of her own solo projects. The pair teamed up and exchanged musical ideas about angels coming to greet us in this dimension. Communicating purely over email, the two didn’t even need to speak. The track was mixed and produced by Emika in her Berlin Forest studio.”
Indigo FM | Anhedonia
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Pop-Pock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Indigo FM are a rock ’n’ roll(ish) band from the city of angels. By bringing style, unpredictability and witty songwriting back to alternative/indie rock, Indigo FM are poised to become a growing presence within their genre. Their unconventional yet catchy sound — inspired by previous giants of the alternative/indie rock scene the likes of The Strokes, Weezer, The Killers, Muse, etc. — conjures its own fresh unique set of images even as it draws from the rich nostalgia of its influences. With several successful singles already under their belt, one can already see Indigo FM’s constant visual and sonic evolution. Never content to do the same thing twice and with an exciting non-conformist streak, their sound is somehow still instantly recognizable. “Anhedonia is a song about the search for meaning amidst the chaos of modern everyday life. The vibe of the song is steeped in 2000’s indie rock a la Arctic Monkeys, Muse and Black Keys. The song evokes feelings of determination and coolness paired with occasional shimmers of restrained emotion that wants to break through.”
Flying Penguin | Unbelievable
HOME BASE: Germany.
GENRE: Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Flying Penguin deal with difficult topics using ironically joyful punk-rock sounds. Felix Schneider (songwriter, lead vocals, guitar), Timo Ambrus (guitar), Thomas Bösl (drums) and Florian Knoll (bass, backing vocals) approach the challenge to offer a new perspective and hope. They just released their album Orange. Inspired by the color of joie de vivre and creativity they create a work that represents what makes their band unique: Honest punk rock with a lot of passion, depth and energy! But there’s a different side to them as well. With their album title track Unbelievable, they show their calmer side.”
Apache Rose | Hit Me
HOME BASE: Russia.
GENRE: Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Apache Rose are up-and-coming band from Moscow, that epitomize a part of a new underground rock scene in the country: Fresh, energetic and (most importantly) English-speaking on a fluent level. Unlike local peers, they aim primarily at English speaking countries. And they have been successful with that — the band’s singles have been featured in numerous music blogs and playlists. They have already built a substantial following in the U.S., U.K. and Europe. Hit Me is a dynamically diverse track on sensitive subject matter.”
