Me4u makes a home movie, Biche de Ville feels bashful, Valix shares his dreams, X.U.L is going it alone — and they’re not the only ones looking for a connection 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, introduce yourself to these friendly artists:
me4u | tiny lil movie
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Soul / R&B.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Motown meets 808s & Heartbreak in a song about asking for nudes in modern times. Entirely self-produced and written this past winter, a mixtape from me4u features an eclectic range of styles — from Disney-like strings to upbeat ’80s synths and Abbaesque harmonies to tender folk balladry. Despite the unexpected combination, a mixtape from me4u is sonically cohesive and bound together by me4u’s distinct lyrical perspective on modern romance. On the bluesy lead single tiny lil movie (featuring guitar from indie rocker Boy Brooks) me4u croons, “textin’ ain’t the same / I need to hear your voice / I need to see your face / so just f*ckin call me,” alluding to the isolation and sexual frustration many experienced over the past year. In the accompanying video directed and edited by me4u, imagery of flamingos, space, ladybugs, and destruction reproduce the chaos of his creative breakthrough.”
Biche de Ville | Girls Make Me Shy
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “He graduated from the Royal Conservatory of Brussels in 2006. In search of meaning, happiness and something to pay his rent, he has been an actor, comedian, hip-hop and philosophy teacher (during the week), lingerie model (on weekends), techno MC, director of the feature film Veux Moi. His childhood dream was to be a poet, listed in the dictionary just before Rimbaud, and his ambition was to fight inequality, inspired by Martin Luther King. He has been a singer in several bands. His life never ceases to inspire his art, a need to exult, to transcend the experience, to make it beautiful to do good, especially to oneself and to others. He is tired of injunctions and judgments, determined to shake up established models. He devotes his time and soul to bringing meaning, truth and beauty to the current musical landscape.”
Valix | Beautiful Dreamer
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: EDM.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Valix is an independent music producer & DJ on the rise. While he only started his professional music career in 2020, he’s already released a significant number of single tracks which have gained a noticeable amount of exposure. Beautiful Dreamer is a very smooth deep house / melodic techno track. It uses a jazz vocalist to create euphoric vocals which give it a mellow trance vibe.”
X.U.L | When She Left
HOME BASE: Slovenia.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Gašper Selko is a trumpeter of a younger generation. He is a member of several bands and collaborates with many artists and groups. Everything he listens to, creates and plays is a reflection of himself — the power of metal, the perfection of classical music, the freedom of jazz and the diversity of folk and ethnic music. As X.U.L he uses music as a language. In his own way he is combining contemporary classic with elements of minimalism and experimental electronic music and trying to explore new ways of interaction between music and listeners. When She Left is the first single taken from the upcoming album A Guide for Lost Travellers.”
LOF | Sunrise
HOME BASE: Ukraine.
GENRE: Indie-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “We are LOF. We play some kind of modern alternative indie rock — pick whatever you like the most. We are from Ukraine, first formed a band in 2010 called Leap of Faith (that’s why LOF). Ten years later we’re back to music again. Having a new vision and genre, we aim to create some nice music with a bit of melancholy. Mostly we are inspired by London Grammar, The xx, Foals, Nothing But Thieves, The Neighbourhood, Radiohead, Daughter, Balthazar. Sunrise plays with the mood and emotions, balancing light and dark atmosphere, jumping from a chill pleasant vibe to some anxiety and drama on chorus.”
Latewaves | Enough Is Enough
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Pop-Punk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “We’re a rock band from Asbury Park, N.J. This track is an honest description of how we’re all a bit lost and should practise what we preach. It’s set over big guitars and an anthemic chorus reminiscent of Jimmy Eat World, Basement, and some have even told us Foo Fighters. It’s the second single off of our new full-length. We’ve toured around the country and have started booking dates since the world is opening back up.”
Bless Her EviL | Ectoplasm
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “In the making for the past few years… and all yours to harvest! Whether you’re into metal, hardcore, alternative or just about any type of progressive music that kicks ass like ass needs be kicked, mark these words: This is for You.”
https://youtu.be/2mqmoBbTT7o
Sylvie Delgard | Hymne A La Vie
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “My artistic adventure began as a singer-songwriter in March 2020. I produced my first EP Confidences Nocturnes, thanks to the talent of a musical composer/arranger, Benjamin Falque. The lyrics and melodies of my songs convey messages of humanism, love and hope. Some lyrics are inspired by experiences of my personal life. My songs also convey universal, humanistic messages of reflection, of awareness of the fragility of man and of life. As an author, composer, performer, I continue on this path of creativity by composing new songs.”
Bon | uThando
HOME BASE: South Africa.
GENRE: Afro-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Based out of Tembisa, South Africa, Bon is destined to revitalize the international scene with her vibrant crossover sound & radiantly soulful vocals. The atmospheric vibes of her EP’s title track Uthando showcases her shimmering aura, sparkling and shining in every syllable she sings. Bon has held nothing back in making a debut record that displays the pure strengths of her versatility. As beautiful as she is bold, Bon’s empowered confidence, charismatic charm, and spellbinding voice are surrounded by mesmerizing musicianship, stunningly professional production, and material that speaks volumes.”
Earthman Jack | Under That Tree
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Ambient.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Earthman Jack is a sound project by Seb D.T. that attempts to bring the forest bath experience to life through music. It is his passion for shinrin-yoku and his desire to reconnect people with nature that motivates him. He lives in a small village on the side of the Appalachians. Earthman Jack is a composer and mixer for an international documentary producer. He plays many instruments and does it all from his studio, Acarya Vision.”
Dynamite | Mamacita
HOME BASE: Saint-Vincent And The Grenadines.
GENRE: Reggaeton.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Joel Tyril, better known as Dynamite, has worked with amazing artists such as Mattafix, RDX, Kevin Little, The Wixard, Bad Royal, Static and more. Mamacita, Dynamite’s new single, is inspired by sounds like Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Sech, and Mora.”
Bethany Sin | Blackout Feeling
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Guitarist and singer-songwriter Christian Starkey formed Bethany Sin at the start of lockdown 2020 with Debbie Wildish on drums. Their songs are born of fools, heroes and unfortunately deaths. Influenced by Neil Young, Nirvana, Kings of Leon, Jeff Buckley and Soundgarden, it’s beautiful music with a brutal tone — mixing catchy choruses with beautiful melodies and a punk ethic.”
Takumi Motokawa | Cerulean
HOME BASE: Berlin.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Takumi Motokawa is a Berlin musician who was born in Japan and grew up in New Zealand. His musical style encompasses a diverse spectrum of genres, traditions, and innovation from classical to electronic. Since moving to Berlin in 2015, he has been working with Shackleton and performed together with him at many festivals around Europe. In 2020, his release with Jepe, Translations, achieved over 1 million plays. His upcoming EP Forethoughts is party of a trilogy, and Cerulean is the first track. He says: “It was somehow my journal during the last year and a half in the current situation we are all in at the moment.”
StvMcQueen | My Movie
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Orch-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This is a personal composition in the spirit of film. I love instrumentals with philharmonic versions.”
