NeLí says she’s sorry, Manzo wants it all, Itzama dreams on, Mighty Vinc calls out the liars and more 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, sit back, push play and kick it with these artists:
NeLí | Forgive Me, Son
HOME BASE: Brazil.
GENRE: Soul / R&B.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “In the midst of sad news and complete chaos, a small gesture of unexpected love can make us see that good is still sovereign and that there is still time. Forgive Me, Son an original track from NeLí, a Brazilian singer-songwriter, and producer from São Paulo, was finally released in September after a long eight-year wait. The track, a deep pop ballad that gathers a deep piano, contemporary beat, and powerful vocals, is defined by the author as a homage to her son. Although the author began to write the song in despair as she saw many conflicts in Venezuela rising up and how Brazil, her home country had so many social and political as a reminder for everyone that love — whether it is self-love or the love for another person — is the only true means of transformation, almost like a superpower that we all carry.”
Manzo | Tout Pour le Tout
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: Rap.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Of Belgian-Congolese origin, Manzo has been a rapper since 2018. A singer and guitarist before becoming a rapper, his pop-rock influences are felt through his music. Mastering sound and pen, Manzo navigates between rap ballads and sharp punchlines. His first EP Trublion, the culmination of long months of work and several years of writing, represents both an immersion in the different layers of his musical universe and the start of a much larger and more ambitious project.”
Itzama | Rêve Encore
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Itzama is the story of two childhood friends (Major Minor, multi-platinum producer & Jones Blank, performer and multi-instrumentalist). Halfway between dream and reality, Itzama embarks on a utopian, uninhibited ride. Rêve Encore is the first single from their upcoming EP. It can be heard just as well in bluesy moments after work as in weight training. It takes us to a parallel world where we let ourselves be carried away by an unreal voice that ricochets in the ears.”
https://youtu.be/Fjx-1LV9dJw
MightyVinc | Political Lie
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Reggae.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “MightyVinc is a French reggae artist from Strasbourg who sings in Jamaican patois. His musical style is not lacking in passion. He juggles between reggae, ragga, and dancehall, sharing a message of love for peace and unity with as many people as possible. His latest album is Outta Confusion.”
Draumr | Another Heart
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “In a career filled with collaborations across musical genres, Draumr stands out as the solo project of French musician Gabriel Cheurfa. His sound has a very distinct quality of ethereal dream pop and glo-fi, settling in an atmosphere at the crossroads between Air, Beach House and Paul McCartney. Meaning “dream” in ancient Norse, Draumr is born of the dialogue between imagination and reality. Drawn-Out Daydream, Draumr’s new album, is an unusual, intimate and authentic journey. This album grounds us in the present and creates a delicate and dreamlike state. Through its soft synthetic layers, its ethereal choirs and its warm rhythms, the artist rouses our spirits and suspends time. Another Heart is an upbeat synthpop track with a vibe straight from the ’80s.”
Giovanni Rotondo | Proxima B – The Nigh
HOME BASE: Italy.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Giovanni Rotondo has extensive experience working on feature films, TV series and documentaries. His music has been recently featured on the Netflix show Dark Desire (Oscuro Deseo). His music spans from orchestral to electronic with a fresh new focus on new objectivity, neoclassicism and minimalism. “This piece is the beginning of an upcoming anthology that will bring the audience to the edge of the universe,” he says. “While writing this piece, I imagined what one would feel when approaching a planet outside of our solar system for the first time.”
Frolin | Breathing
HOME BASE: Norway.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I live in the South-western part of Norway, just outside of the town Haugesund, surrounded by beautiful scenery like the sea, fjords, small islands, forests and mountains. This scenery is an inspiration for my music, and it is my hope that you can feel this when you listen! I have always been looking for inner peace, to benefit both physical and emotional health and well-being. This inner search has led to my desire to be a part of the solution for others who also desire tranquility through music, meditation and mindfulness. My fourth single is a collaboration with the Norwegian guitar player Torbjørn Økland. It is a neoclassical piece for classical guitar with some ambient elements.”
Akso Heart | Trust Me
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: R&B.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “My artist persona was created in Japan as I was inspired by the eccentric and mesmerising musical scene. I was inspired to develop a plan to embark on my own musical journey and looked towards my self and my heritage. The name coming from the word Aks meaning image/reflection, with heart being symbolic of emotions and understanding. This is my third single inspired by the R&B/pop music that I used to listen to growing up.”
Onur | OGKYK (Ölüm Gelene Kadar Yüzüm Kanadı)
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: World- Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Onur is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter and producer. Hailing from London, Onur pushes the envelope in the worlds of British R&B and alternative Turkish Pop. He plays with broken beats, soulful chords and guitar fuzz, organically turning late night jams into a truthful depiction of his dreams and reality. Combining yesterday’s dusty drums and Turkish 9to8 beats with tomorrow’s sounds and samples, the artist proposes separate inklings of himself, perfectly balancing all of his influences in his songs. Ölüm Gelene Kadar Yüzüm Kanadı translates to ‘My face bled till death came upon me’. This melancholic song which has the elements of Turkish folk music is a cry for the hardships that everyone faces in life.”
Lost Martian | You Can’t Come Back
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Alt-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The steadfast and melodic Toronto alt-rock band Lost Martian break onto the scene with their single You Can’t Come Back. The track opens with stark bare-bones acoustic guitar followed by the harmonic lamentations of the band’s frontwoman Thea McKay, pulling you into the distorted ’90s-infused angst the group has come to be known for. “Most of these songs are about exes of mine, and they were all tumultuous relationships for one reason or another. In this specific context, that’s what I was going through and that’s what I wanted to write,” says McKay. “It doesn’t mean I have to stay there, it’s just what was happening at the time.” The name Lost Martian refers to Thea’s tendency to feel like a silent observer of the world around her and her own internal perspective, a sensation that resonates throughout the entirety of You Can’t Come Back. It is just the first of a collection of singles Lost Martian has planned to re-release from their EP, Otherwordly.”
Kahfa | Artifice
HOME BASE: Switzerland.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Kahfa took shape in Switzerland in the summer of 2020. Active in a punk rock band, Claudio (drums) and Théo (guitar and vocals) set off in search of new sounds. Wishing to break away from labels, the two friends set to work to explore other musical universes. Wildly rock, sometimes stoner, sometimes punk, even industrial or hip-hop, their first album Sauvage has just been released.”
Tony Crizzy | They Know
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Tony Crizzy is a recording artist, producer and audio engineer born and raised in Philadelphia. As a major student of the Art of Rap, Tony remains true to his hip-hop roots by delivering high levels of lyricism with every production. Tony has a unique approach to creating music. He incorporates hard-hitting hip-hop drums alongside melodies or musical chords that will trigger an authentic emotional response. “The thought behind this track is to bring awareness to the listener regarding the social struggle in the U.S.A.,” he says. “The drums are meant to be hard-hitting and funky alongside the bass and electric guitar to make the listener want to vibe or groove out. While the melody provides a strong hopeful vibe that lift’s the listener’s spirit with piano chords that trigger emotion and feeling.”
Les Grands Hurleurs | Fille Au Bal / Les Frères Punchés
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Folk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Les Grands Hurleurs have won the hearts of Quebec and international audiences thanks to their modernized and accessible traditional music. The quartet wish to return to their roots with a sound closer to acoustic instruments, using careful and thoughtful arrangements while remaining organic. With the integration of folk, classical and bluegrass influences as well as the collaboration in the writing of the author David Goudreault, the group know how to surprise and touch people once again with this enriched tradition! Violins, mandolin, guitar, double bass, feet and rich vocal harmonies come together to explore a multitude of emotions.”
Niño Bueno | ICFWTS
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Niño Bueno is an artist from Gardena, Calif. a small town in the South Bay pocket of L.A. Niño Bueno utilizes influences from a range of genres and primarily creates alternative hip-hop and rap.”
Dan Howls | Bad Blood
HOME BASE: Australia.
GENRE: Blues-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Dan Howls made his live debut just five years ago at a local music festival. He performed there solo with nothing more than an electric guitar and a foot to stomp, impressing enough to take away the event’s Emerging Artist Award. The prize included studio time which resulted in his first EP. Dan is known for his characteristic vocals — loud and honest — backed by a razor-sharp rhythm section and gleaming guitars. Drawing heavy influences from beloved artists like Tom Waits and The Black Keys, his music lends itself to a wild time. Bad Blood is the third and final single from his highly anticipated second album. The single is about the power one person can have over another, and how far one has to go when realizing the destructive nature of a relationship (be it family, friendship or love). Howls explains: “After years of traveling and touring, I’ve come to realize that some people don’t always have good intentions. Having received an English upbringing where politeness reigns, I used to get stepped on a bit, and had to learn to be stronger and say no to manipulative people. This track is a bit of a dark way of celebrating overcoming that need to please everyone, especially when people aren’t the most benevolent, and giving the beautiful people more time in our lives.”
Lucide Galant | Coeur Blessé
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: World.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Lucide Galant is originally from Congo. With a few albums to his credit — and after a few years of silence — Galant, always in search of perfection, returns with a new album in sight. In the meantime, he offers music lovers a cosmopolitan single as only he knows how.”
Wuhan Wuhan | Otto Mani
HOME BASE: Italy.
GENRE: Rap.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The Wuhan Wuhan people were born in a damp market in the Dolomites, as a result of an inconvenient gathering of proletarian minds, disillusioned and hostile to the system, prone to subversion and insubordination, but too polite to translate their revolutionary paturnias into concrete actions of urban warfare. As an alternative, the fight moves to the sound front, the anger is vented with words sharper than a scythe and with a more pounding funk than a mallet. Thus, once again, we will not have the Revolution, but perhaps the desire for a choice, an option, a possibility will feed a little.”
Karim Naas | M.I.A.
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: EDM.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Passion, authenticity and generosity are what Karim Naas channels through his music. With his unique style — Naas mixes the urban and pop music genres — the young producer has already attracted an international audience. In January, Naas broke into the international dance music scene with the infectious and euphoric Threw A Party ft. KTK. This year, he has already released Work From Home, Just Friends ft. Niall O’connor and What You Know Bout Love.”
Drew Schueler & Johnny Chay | Constellation
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “New pop artist Drew Schueler is a master at creating unique yet familiar songs full of vibrant vocals and melodies, electro-pop synth textures, electric guitar and programmed beats. His music is similar to Lauv, Jon Bellion and LANY. Drew cut his teeth in Cincinnati and Nashville, fronting and producing alternative pop bands but is now breaking into the pop mold. He not only wrote his entire debut EP New Perspective, but also played all the instruments, produced and mixed the entire project himself. “I have always been fascinated by all aspects of creating music,” Drew said. “As with any kind of art, every tiny detail matters and I love knowing everything that goes into my music.” Constellation was sort of written in the stars. But in a much more real sense, it was written by two strangers who met online. In search of a vocalist, L.A.-based DJ / artist, Johnny Chay sent the initial production to Schueler, whoc was immediately inspired by the emotion and depth of the instrumental and quickly started the writing process. “I literally tracked the last vocal sections for the song while on vacation in Hawaii,” said Schueler. “The craziest part of it all was right after I finished tracking, I went on a stargazing excursion and got to see Saturn’s rings and a handful of actual constellations through a professional telescope. Talk about crazy timing.”
Llawgne | Oh Juliana
HOME BASE: Sweden.
GENRE: Power Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Mathias Engwall is a record producer, mixer and mastering engineer in Gothenburg. He has done remixes for artists such as Loney Dear and recently collaborated with David Ahlen. Llawgne (pronounced ‘Luv-nyay’) has been gathering praise with impressive dream-pop singles over the last few years. The powerful Oh Juliana brings forward masterfully chiming distorted guitars reminsicent of ’90s grunge and shoegaze in an ode to Juliana Hatfield.”
