Bon take you to Carolina, The French Mademoiselles rate your shortcomings, DG Solaris and Jeremy Turplin play in the water, Frank Blueka remembers mama — and they’re not the only unforgettable artists to be found in today’s submissions from Groover, a platform that connects artists with critics like me for a small fee. You can (and should) follow me on Spotify HERE, check out my Top 150 playlist HERE, or 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, go HERE. But first, dig into this exceptionally diverse buffet of sounds:
Bon | Carolina
HOME BASE: South Africa.
GENRE: Afro-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Tembisa is home to a new rising star by the name of Bon, who has just released her debut single Carolina. The track’s house foundations find themselves elegantly rooted in Bon’s jazz-tinged, deeply soulful sound. Laced with splashes of saxophone, grooving drums, and captivating synths, the song is finely polished off by Bon’s stellar vocal performance, which finds itself effortlessly gliding between Zulu and English.”
The French Mademoiselles | Dix Sur Dix
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Classic Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The French Mademoiselles present Femmes De Paris, a concept album of 14 songs evolving in a dreamlike feminine universe. They revisit the history of the woman of Paris — her evolution, her awareness, her passions and her emotional construction towards this freedom of spirit. It is an interactive musical journey and quest that allows all women to understand how French women have created this spontaneous elegance and balance of life that allows them to maintain their professional and private lives simultaneously. Do you think that two charming French mademoiselles can have fun giving notes on the physical prowess of their mens? Listen to the new groovy and funny track Dix Sur Dix (Ten out of Ten) and you will get the answer.”
DG Solaris | Ocean / Are You Weird Enough? (ft. Jeremy Tuplin)
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “DG Solaris (Danny Green) and Jeremy Tuplin have been making and releasing albums in their own right for a number of years, only vaguely aware of each other’s existence. One night in Peru, following an intense shamanic ceremony, Danny had a vivid dream that he and Jeremy were floating high above the ocean. The next morning he contacted Jeremy to share this strange astral encounter and a new correspondence began. Inevitably the idea to write a song together emerged. A global pandemic created a new challenge to their project but sure enough, the dreamlike, psychedelic, Ocean / Are You Weird Enough? followed, a song exploring the oneness, and weirdness, of people within a collective whole.”
Frank Blueka | Holy Mama
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop-Rock.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Frank Blueka’s music is moving and influenced by modern rock, blues and Celtic. In Frank’s music, we can hear different nuances of Ryan Adams, David Gray, Ben Howard, Lewis Capaldi, John Mayer, B.B. King, Jorge Drexler, Luka Bloom, Zucchero, Ana Carolina, Jimmy LaFave, Tom Waits, Eddie Vedder and Kelly Jones of The Stereophonics.”
Kitsune 669 | Ansiedad
HOME BASE: Chile.
GENRE: Pop-Punk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I’m an indepent artist from Chile. My album Sentimental Shonen Vol.1: Bienvenido al club de los perdedores is a pop-punk / trap / hyperpop album that talks about depression, anxiety, being a hikikomori and mental disorders in general. It comes from the perspective of a normal young man and it is written as if it were a manga / anime.”
Blitz Union | Hotel India Victoria
HOME BASE: Czechia.
GENRE: Synth-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Blitz Union are a furious rock band that combine melodic pop with hard rock and EDM. Using a blend of heavy guitar riffs, industrial metal overtones and melodic vocals, Blitz Union refuse to be put into a specific genre or category. This is also because the band stand for much more than music. The idea of creating an “union,” a community of devoted followers is omnipresent. Blitz Union are about standing together in times of uncertainty, pointing out social, economic and political issues — sometimes serious and forceful, sometimes ironic and sarcastic, but surely never conventional. Hotel India Victoria (HIV) is the first single of Blitz Union’s long-awaited debut album, which will be released in late autumn this year. Hotel India Victoria is open to everyone, although a stay could well prove fatal. Frontman Mark Blitz explains: “It is our acknowledged goal to touch people with our music, to make them feel good, but also to make them think. HIV is an enormously important topic, a dangerous virus and therefore also an important song for us. It’s about attention, about a pandemic that is neglected in places and still responsible for suffering and pain in parts of our world.”
Elkeen | It’s Time To Groove
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Dance-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Elkeen are a pop duo born from the meeting between a multi-instrumentalist musician and a singer with a warm and powerful voice, both passionate about electronic pop & disco sound. The album Tender Enemy is a mixture of all these ’80s and ’90s influences; a homecoming which recalls the atmospheres of legendary bands or singers of that time (Tears for Fears, Donna Summer, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Propaganda) or — as we’ve also heard recently — The Weeknd or Dua Lipa.”
Ariel Jones | Secret
HOME BASE: Portugal.
GENRE: R&B.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Ariel Jones asserts herself as a versatile singer mainly influenced by R&B, soul and hip-hop. Recnetly she returned to her home of Lisbon to explore her artistic side, debuting on the national music scene with her single Secret. She say: “I wanted to give a sensual/mysterious vibe while telling a story about two friends that happened to become envolved but don’t want to tell no one.”
Wata | Ma Paye
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Soul / R&B.
THE TRANSLATED EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I am a young composer of Cameroonian origin, currently living in Lyon. I have been working with my beatmaker friend for a few years. Together, we create our songs from A to Z: We find a mix of Afro-Latin music, as well as what I call Trap&B. I sing what corresponds to me, what I feel and what I live or have lived. Among other things, I sing about love, pain, joy and passion.”
https://youtu.be/nC-jgQFDpT0
Thomas CVD | Thestrals
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rap.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Dark and terrifying creatures, the Thestrals are only visible to people who have felt death. Adrift in the heart of a hostile forest, Thomas CVD finds himself face to face with the Grim Reaper, who invites him to his table for a frenzied game of poker. Will he succeed in defying death? Thestrals is the first single from Thomas CVD’s new EP Dark Knight, which comes out Oct 1.”
Raka47 | Ciao Bye
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I’m a young rapper from Montreal with three songs to his credit: A “catchy” commercial, a summer song and a melancholy one. I’m working on some new sounds to come.”
https://youtu.be/I7HDxHnJU98
Portusclan El Tigre | Capuchino
HOME BASE: Italy.
GENRE: Latin Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Yasser Portuondo Daudinot, known artistically as Portusclan El Tigre, is a singer of Cuban origin, Italian by adoption. Capuchino offers a sea of laughter from Havana to Rome! The central idea of the piece is to enhance the interculturality symbolized by the so-called mixed couples. Cappuccino and chocolate, which in the imaginary of the average Italian are associated with jokes that emphasize the difference in skin color, become comic topics that have nothing to do with racial prejudice. “I wanted to joke with such a serious and unfortunately still current issue in Italy, precisely because in my opinion it is time to try to relieve tensions, obviously words can acquire a different weight and meaning, it depends on who says things, how he says them and in what context.”
K Lypso | La Fin De Nous
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Trip-hop.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I am a young independent Parisian artist (author, composer, performer and beatmaker) who is looking to develop her project! This is my new track La Fin De Nous (The End of Us), along with my first video.”
https://youtu.be/PqBmbWXqQAU
Gah | Monolito
HOME BASE: Brazil.
GENRE: Latin Jazz-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Monolito is part of my album VIA, which I released in 2020.”
Samuel Félix | Currents
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Anglo/French jazz musician Samuel Félix has toured the world with several Grammy-winning musicians. His album Départ marks his departure as a solo artist. Written and recorded during lockdown on the family piano that he has played his entire life, these recordings aim to capture the intimate relationship between a musician and their instrument. Originally composed for members of his family to play as a distraction therapy during the pandemic, Currents is a homage to the arteries of the world — our rivers.”
Kip Macklejar | Rest My Head
HOME BASE: Denmark.
GENRE: Pop-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Rest My Head is departuer from my mainly blues-rock sound — an upbeat, summery, euphoric song with a subtle yet very catchy hook. It has a big-sounding stereo mix but still sounds authentic and raw in the production.”
Hybr1ds | I Look At Me Like I Was Crazy Too
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Vocal Jazz.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Hybr1ds is Ralph Ogunbiyi, a U.K. saxophonist who has worked with Monie Love, Matt Bianco, Eurythmics, Ofrah Haza and Adeva. He says: “This song is my third release of 2021 and was co-written with the wonderful American writer Clara Bellino. The song follows a man looking back on past mistakes in his life and finally coming to accept his shortcomings and forgive himself. The song was self recorded, performed and produced at my home studio in the U.K. and is also an homage to Paul Simon’s classic hit Still Crazy After All These Years.”
Deano | Feathers
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Deano is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist in Devon. Inspired by the natural world and his life experiences, He explores the importance of family, people, all living beings and how these relationships have shaped him and his outlook on life. Deano writes, records and produces all of his own music in his home studio. He says: “Feathers was written for my beautiful mother, who has always given me and my two brother’s support, love and a place to call home. This song is simply an acknowledgement of how blessed we are to have such an inspirational role model. The men that we have become is a product of how incredibly strong and kind our mother is. This is a message to remind her of how special she is and that we will always be there for her, as she has been for us.”
Punto y Aparte | Lost On You
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Latin Pop.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “We are a group from the south of France. Our music is inspired by salsa, flamenco and pop music.”
MoCity Jones | Jabber Jaws
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Detroit rapper and producer MoCity Jones brings a unique style with a blend of ol’-skool hip-hop and nu-skool flava. Raised on everything from Motown to classical and folk, you never know what you might hear from MoCity — but let it be known it will be hip-hop. He says: “Jabber Jaws is a hype trap-hop banger. The first track off my upcoming album De-Twah, this song is an anthem for those who enjoy the fast lyrical side of hip-hop. This will be my fourth album this year.”
Moonfish | Mahi Mahi
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Electro-Jazz.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Moonfish are Maria Chiara Argirò (piano / synths / electronics) and Riccardo Chiaberta (drums / bass synth / electronics). Both are an integral part of the London jazz community, appearing and recording individually with artists such as Rosie Turton, Kinkajous, Liran Donin, Bruno Heinen, Kettle of Kites and These New Puritans. Mahi Mahi features a mesmeric melody underpinned by layers of ethereal electronics and a groovy beat. Drawing on mutual influences including Kneebody, Aaron Parks and Thom Yorke, this single is the third in a series of single releases.”
Light Grey | Disassociate
HOME BASE: Ireland.
GENRE: Pop-Punk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Galway, Ireland’s Light Grey are Ciaran Nevin (guitar / vocals) and Mikey Connolly (bass / backing vocals). Entrenched deep within the captivating domain of third-wave pop-punk, the duo draw on elements of emo and hip-hop to create an effervescent energy. They are showing off their evolution with a series of singles. Co-produced and mixed by Luke Bovil (Happydaze), these tracks mark the band’s divergence into a grittier, hip-hop-accented take on 2000s punk. The first in line, Disassociate brings with it a lyrical narrative centralized on the loss of a friend and subsequent feelings of isolation. Its trap style is driven by electronic drums and mellow guitar riffs — all crescendoing into an explosive and catchy chorus that’s sharply contrasted by the heavy lyrical themes. They say: “Disassociate centres on the theme of losing friends and looking back over the time you’ve wasted on people who truly never cared about you in the first place,” they explain regarding the song’s context. It explores the feelings of disassociation that come with the isolation and realising they were never there for you.”
https://soundcloud.com/lightgreyband/disassociate-light-grey-press-link/s-kEvTwRi0Bak
The Freight | See You Tonight
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The Freight are an upbeat fusion of rock ’n’ roll, blues-rock, soul and jam mixed with a modern rock edge. The Freight embrace every avenue of rock, from the vintage sounds that started it all to ’80s and ’90s revolutions. Hailing from Boston, their influences include a wide variety of artists including The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Cars, The Police, White Denim, The Black Keys and Gov’t Mule, to name a few. In 2020, The Freight pivoted their focus to the studio, where they have been putting in work to release music regularly this year and beyond.They say: “This song is a toe-tapping banger! It is catchy and has a huge, memorable chorus.”
Boy God | Hey Sonny!
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Jazz-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Boy God is comprised of musicians — OK, just one lone and lonely musician — forged in the sulfur pits of the same Boston musical miasma that brought the world bands like Pixies, Mission of Burma, Aerosmith, The Cars and, of course, New Kids on the Block. A veteran of too many punk and new wave bands, Boy God draws inspiration from multiple musical genres and styles — Bitches Brew-flavor Miles Davis, Velvet Underground art-rock, ‘60s psychedelia, ’70s cock rock, ‘80s new wave, ‘90s grunge and much of the digital palette of the 21st century. From Hendrix to punk, Bowie to Prince, Radiohead to Aphex Twin and Oneohtrix Point Never, Boy God strives to take the sounds of rock’s past and wrestle, reimagine, twist and contort them into new shapes and sonics for today’s and tomorrow’s most discriminating musicophiles… and their mothers, too. He says: “Hey Sonny! is my tribute to the late great free-jazz guitarist Sonny Sharrock, who taught me how to be free on the fretboard and how to paint with the guitar.”
Meerkeime | I Could Be Nothing
HOME BASE: Norway / Spain.
GENRE: Art-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Meerkeime is Bo Vibe, chordsmith and wordsmith, backed up by a global village people of instrumentalists who’ve had their hands in snooty jazz projects, electronic noise making, classic rock-posturing and much else. Influenced by the motorik drums and sonic explorations of Can, the pulsating groove of 1970s Miles Davis, the dis-harmonic sweetness of Sonic Youth, the span of GYBE!, and the visionary excess of Led Zeppelin. Art-Rock, Progressive-Indie, Modal-Rock? Hyphen-Rock. I Could Be Nothing sounds like: If Ennio Morricone conducted King Crimson with Madvillain producing. Lyrics: musings on the negative-positive axis of nothingness.”
Celestine Liu | Boba Tea
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Jazz-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Celestine Liu is a professionally trained mezzo-soprano and songwriter. She has numerous performing experiences and has won multiple awards. For her new EP Liunique, she conceived and composed all five songs in different genres.”
Yannick Robert | Message In A Bottle
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Jazz.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “A guitarist with a very unique fingerpicking technic, Yannick Robert is very active on the international jazz and fusion scene. In 2017 he recently Soul Cages Trio, an album dedicated to jazz arrangements of Sting’s compositions. He says: “All jazz musicians love beautiful songs they can re-arrange, play around, improvise… That’s what we did with an immense pleasure, with those beautiful Sting compositions (both solo and The Police).”
Lux Mundi | Pyramid Song
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Drum & Bass.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Lux Mundi are a new drum & bass band consisting of producer/songwriters Derek de Lang & Keith Larsen. Having spent the majority of their careers in local bands in the L.A. alternative rock scene, the duo joined forces in 2018, and began developing their take on the genre, combining live instruments with breaks and synthesizers. Inspired by U.K. acts like Pendulum, Chase & Status, and Roni Size & Reprazent, the duo hope to share their sonic perspective in both DJ sets and live band performances. They say: “For our debut single, we wanted to release a cover, something familiar to alternative rock fans, but in a drum & bass format. We ended up choosing Pyramid Song by Radiohead and we’re very happy with how it came out. This track also features Peredur ap Gwynedd (Pendulum, Faithless, Natalie Imbruglia) on guitar.”
K’Rion | All Night Long
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: House.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “K’Rion is a French singer based in Paris. She sings both in French and English. Her art is meant to be uplifting and positive. She spreads positivity around her as she reciprocates people’s energy with sensitivity. She says: “With this title, I would like to reach a rather dynamic audience (ie 15-35 year olds). I see this title in a rather festive atmosphere, played in nightclubs or remixed by some DJ’s. This song can also be listened to in a quieter atmosphere, but always in a lively setting.”
PIB | Did It For Love
HOME BASE: Spain.
GENRE: EDM.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “PIB is a French producer in Barcelona. Julien Muller suffers from the disorder misophonia, a rarely diagnosed but common neuropsychic disorder characterized by very unpleasant psychic states (anger, hatred, anxiety, rage, disgust) triggered by specific sounds. Since adolescence, this disorder has gradually excluded him from classic social situations, leading him to lock himself in and listeni to music to escape the noises and negative reactions that are increasingly difficult for him to manage. Almost 10 hours of musical listening per day have allowed him to develop his ear while arousing his technical curiosity. He has studied the workings of the music industry, and musical composition. He says: “Did It for Love was made during the second confinement. I wanted to escape the lockdown situation with energetic, festival music type that transport people directly in Ibiza in the middle of the summer festival. All streaming rights will go to animal-in-need charities.”
Axmaxv | Calabass
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Hip-Hop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I am a young Montréal composer from the Caribbean. Calabass is my summer 2021 single. It is an instrumental composed of ukulele chords as well as recorded Caribbean rhythms, with voices and percussion as well as 808.”
Larisa | Travellers
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Larisa is a Romanian-raised, London-based artist who aspires to create her own original alt-pop sound. With a mix of influences such as Madonna and FKA Twigs, she is willing to explore her ever-evolving personality by finding unique lyrical and melodic angles to accompany her listeners through the though times but also give them a boost of confidence. Travellers is the second song from her EP Temporary. She says: “It’s an alt-pop song that provides a view on what it means to stay focused on your journey, exposing all of our common fears and desires, with an empowering twist. I wrote it last year between lockdowns, and it is inspired by my decision to move to London for my career and the changes I went through ever since. It’s nostalgic and reflective, but I hope it also comes as a reminder of how strong we are when we have a purpose.”
https://soundcloud.com/user-153513280/2-larisa-travelers/s-ViRATgjTK1S
Dan Zimmerman | Body
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Dan Zimmerman is an independent queer singer-songwriter in Brooklyn. His music details his own coming-of-age experience as a young LGBTQ+ adult in New York City — exploring lust, loss, and loneliness in an urban dreamscape. Dan’s music captures the energy of adolescence and radical self-discovery, marrying his soaring vocals with catchy, electronic arrangements. Body is an introspective indie pop meditation on isolation and shame in modern hookup culture. Centering on Dan’s haunting voice, the song explores the dark emotional landscape of feeling lost while seeking connection on dating apps.”
