Kiara Jones lights it up, Maël Isaac crosses cultures, Reno McCarthy watches the sunset, Rodeo FM share the truth — and they’re not the only ones spreading the word 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, do yourself a favour and sample the superb sounds below:
Kiara Jones | All The Lights
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: R&B.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Kiara Jones stands out for her originality and artistic acuteness. She released her first EP Black Garden in November 2020. An author, composer, performer and musician, her music reaches an increasingly large audience which extends beyond the borders of France, reaching everywhere from Belgium to Australia, via Brazil and the United States. With All The Lights, Jones invites us into her urban electro-pop “alternative R&B” universe. The futuristic visual of the clip reflects the avant-garde vision of the artist. Theh energetic track confirms the signature of a songwriter capable of renewing herself and offering relevant modernity.”
https://youtu.be/2s0AeITXHps
Maël Isaac | Fanny’s Fanny
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: World Fusion.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I’m a French harpist, singer, composer and producer. I love making fusion music with no rules! I think all is possible in music; you just have to be free! That’s what I’m trying to be! My song begins with the realization that attraction, whether reciprocal or not, is often limited to a sexualization of the physical, without taking into account the human being and the costumes imposed by society. The Vietnamese dan tranh accompanies with warmth and pleasure of this intimate title tinged with a sweet sensuality.”
Reno McCarthy | Sundown
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Indie-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “With the youthful sparkle of his 2019 debut album Counterglow, Montreal alt-pop artist Reno McCarthy gained recognition for his strong songwriting and debonair quality as well as his band’s groove-heavy shows. McCarthy returns with Sundown, an introspective yet uplifting alternative pop song with folk-rock undertones. Textured and moody, with lyrics touching on infatuation and obsession, the track subtly sways before culminating in an emotional and heartfelt cry. Sundown is the second single off his upcoming album Run Up River, which will be out in October.”
Rodeo FM | The Truth
HOME BASE: Germany.
GENRE: Roots.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The Truth is out, courtesy of Rodeo FM. It’s the Berlin-based Americana band’s third single off their upcoming EP All The Things You Asked For. A thorough search for meaning, the track was recorded just after pulling out of Nazareth, playing steel guitar engagements from one end to the other and all points in between.”
Audie B | Jealous (Diakar Remix)
HOME BASE: Australia / France.
GENRE: EDM-Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I am an Australian/French female pop/rap artist with electro beats. I’m putting forward this single as the vibes track of the summer — perfect for clubs, parties and any occasion, worldwide.”
Kuma Zeke | Oav C
HOME BASE: Switzerland.
GENRE: Rap.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “A young Swiss artist full of ambition presents a new single that will make you feel his pen talent — both provoking and denouncing.”
Abbie Quinn | Scream For Me
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I am a solo artist. I am also the guest solo nose-flautist for the Terlawk Philharmonic Orchestra. I write, arrange, sing, play all the instruments (except some loops), and produce all my songs. I also pick up the pizzas, sweep the floors and ever since he went missing, I help Neo’s landlady carry out her garbage. I am not self-taught. I have been taught by every song I have ever heard. The good. The bad. And YES, even the ugly! Lightning is indeed frightening! I play guitar, bass, keyboards, drums and percussion (with varying degrees of success). I also play nose-flute, checkers, and a bad game of goodmitten! Wait, I mean a good game of badminton. I have written and performed my own music since I was 14 (with varying degrees of success). Also, one time, I stayed up past midnight. I produce my music on archaic equipment (with wildly varying degrees of success). I suppose I could produce it on modern equipment; but then I wouldn’t be able to use the word “archaic” when describing it. This song is a story. The band is introduced. They start playing. The two main characters have a comic exchange. End: Pandemonium! Finale: The two have a quick word before flying off into the night.”
Anantakara | The Citrine Valley (Ashta #2)
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: Neo-Classical Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Anantakara is a Sanskrit adjective meaning to make infinite. It is also the alter ego of Belgian multi-instrumentalist Philippe Wauman. He likes to describe himself as sound calligrapher, making delicate blends of ambient, electronica, downtempo, ethnic, neo classical and jazz. “I see myself as a passer of intensities,” he says. “I somehow trace a path that goes from sound to being, in the quest for a meeting point between opposing tensions: a mysterious point that regenerates and fulfils.” He and French artist Frédéric Gerchambeau created a sound journey for the album Ashta, which means eight in Sanskrit, the sacred language of India. Fittingly, the album is composed of eight valleys to be crossed, each associated with fine stone.”
Cydney McQuillan-Grace | Waves
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Cydney McQuillan-Grace is a Brooklyn singer-songwriter whose music combines pop and indie sounds with soulful vocals. She is influenced by Jessie Ware, Little Dragon, Robyn and Adele. Cydney is originally from Connecticut, where she began her love affair with music. Fueled by a love for the arts, she has attended The Educational Center for the Arts, Emerson College and Berklee School of Music.”
Myztah Gonzo | Cypher
HOME BASE: Costa Rica.
GENRE: Reggae-Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Carlos Artavia is a Costa Rican singer-songwriter born in San José. He writes songs with meaning based in social reality, working in the genres of reggae, rap and dancehall.”
Zedicus | At Sea
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Reggae.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Zedicus is an Ethiopian-born reggae and world music artist who currently resides in Washington, D.C.”
Boorock | Pain Away
HOME BASE: Australia.
GENRE: Reggae.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This is the opening track from my new album Inner Guidance. I recorded Pain Away just after my nephew committed suicide. It is a song that should resonate with everyone, as everybody has felt some type of pain — from the pyhsical pain of injury to the emotional pain of depression or mental illness. The sums it up: “So much trouble in this world today / What am I to do, what am I to say… What am I to do to take this pain away.” It’s about living in this crazy old world and trying to find balance.”
Loris Tils | Chic Invaders (Radio Edit)
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: Funk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Loris Tils is a bassist with an unstoppable groove based in ’70s and ’80s funk with pop and rock overtones. But he has never hesitated to reinvent himself in order to follow his muse. At the moment, Loris is working on a solo project which will undoubtedly surprise you. It is difficult to calibrate or box this eclectic musician from La Louvière in Belgium.”
Alfa Simmonds | Pirate (Freestyle)
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Independent Brooklyn hip-hop artist Alfa Simmonds experiments with the aggressive New York drill sound to bring awareness of how the average day feels in parts of the city most of us wouldn’t go. He delivers an intensely hypnotic soundtrack of timeless catchy melodic sounds and action-packed ad-libs. He was inspired to create music after overhearing his older family members Tony Collins and MawLilz freestyling. He has collaborate with Tahj Ace, Mg Bready, Griot, Bapo and and performed in New York City, Miami, Philadelphia, Washington, and Austin.”
Young Blud | DS (Drill Shit)
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Produced by frequent collaborator JerryFml, DS pushes me and Slimm At to try an entirely new genre. We had so much fun creating this project and all the energy we brought into it was genuine.”
