The Chris George Project share their bucket list, Noface deals with haters, Drew Schueler intoduces his best friend and more in the rest of 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, get acquainted with these outstanding artists:
The Chris George Project | The Bucket List
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Pop-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “We’re a ’60s rock-influenced band from Montreal. Our goal is to spread hope and positivity through our memorable and catchy music! Come smile with us. The Bucket List is a captivating sonic journey that lets you into the curious mind of a colourful individual. With enough excitement to take on the world, he lists all of the wonderful things he’d like to do in his young adult life. This song offers a range of emotions that can only be described once listened to, but are all familiar because we know what it’s like to be a human being. Charged with catchy melodies crunchy guitars and dreamy synths, this song is meant to put a bounce in your step!”
Noface | Haters
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “French-Senegalese composer, writer and rapper Noface started writing and rapping in the 9’0s. After a single in the 2000s and an album with his former group in 2008, he locked himself away to work on future projects. His unique flow and creativity will appeal to fans of 2pac, Eminem, Big L and Logic. He says: “I am preparing a Senegalese rap album. My goal is to internationalize the songs, which is why I include English in the chorus. The goal is to bring some accessibility to African rap.”
Drew Schueler | Best Friend
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. His mix of electro-pop synth textures, electric guitar and programmed beats is similar to Lauv, Jon Bellion and LANY. Drew cut his teeth in Cincinnati and Nashville. He not only wrote his entire debut EP New Perspective, but also played all the instruments, produced and mixed the 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.” With Best Friend, Schueler delivers an upbeat vibe for people who want to feel young summer love all year long. The story-driven verse naturally builds to accentuate the massive wall of sound and emotion in the chorus. Best Friend blends colorful synths with clean guitars and layered vocals to create an innovative yet familiar feeling.”
Sidewalk Swingers | Haji Lane Parade
HOME BASE: Singapore.
GENRE: Jazz.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “ Singapore’s Sidewalk Swingers play traditional New Orleans music with a modern arrangement, blending contemporary jazz, funk and R&B leading. This song has been heavily influenced by the jazz standard Bourbon Street Parade. Haji Lane is the actual street in Singapore where you can see live music — something like Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The song is composed with respect to New Orleans music and culture.”
Danny Starr | Losing Sight
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Indie-Folk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “London born and bred, Danny Starr has cultivated a talent for dreaming up attention-grabbing melodies and thought-provoking lyrics. He mixes the raw, heartbreaking emotion of inspirations like Amy Winehouse and Ben Howard with the fine songwriting of Passenger or Arctic Monkeys. Co-written in a matter of hours with Charlie from Weird Milk, Losing Sight is a hard-hitting track where Danny’s powerful and emotive vocals and guitars dominate, venturing outside of his comfort zone. This track is a milestone in the Londoner’s career.”
IFA | Ghosté
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Soul/R&B.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “IFA is the proof that everyone can succeed regardless of their social rank and origin. A singer with soul and R&B influences, his repertoire spans rap and pop. Through training at the Reims Conservatory of Music, IFA has a strong sensitivity for melodies and thrives in the roles of songwriter and performer. A graduate in general medicine, IFA has an atypical background. By being successful in music, as well as in the medical field, he wishes to convey a positive message to its fans: “You can be whatever you want.” With the title Ghosté, IFA tackles the delicate subject of encounters and flirting, offering a plurality of visions and possible interpretations, on an ultra-efficient sound.”
Philomena | Decide Finally
HOME BASE: Germany.
GENRE: Electro-Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I’m 21 and a singer / producer from Munich. This is my second single.”
MeUs | Doliprane
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Soul/R&B.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “MeUs is a solo project launched two years ago by a 29-year-old French artist, the day he got tired of waiting for others to make music. He produces, writes and performs songs that can be described as atmospheric and melancholic. Imagine yourself in the water, in the middle of the night, in the middle of the ocean admiring the starry sky — then you will have a small idea of what his music sounds like. Sea and space are themes that come up regularly in his texts, as well as the search for his place. He releases a new single every month. Doliprane is about a breakup, but really the feeling just after — the minute you know that you are more than alone. MeUs would like to end this bio with the word astronaut.”
Isa Somparé | Traverser Les Rivières
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Jazz-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Parisian singer, songwriter and producer Isa Somparé has influences that range from blues to Afro. The seven songs on her album reflect this. Isa favors atmospheres that are always at the service of her subject. The songs are anchored in the reality of the world.”
Kat Galie | Meltdown
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Kat Galie is an artist from the Moon. A few years ago, she left comfort behind to share her music with people, busking on the streets and playing around the globe. She blends different styles of music from indie rock and funk to ambient. By many, her music is being described as cosmic. In her writing, love and nature play here very important role. The song Meltdown opens her upcoming album with a combination of irony, sweetness and absurdity. Catchy and simple with significant layers underneath, it deals with the pandemic, staying at home and mental breakdowns, as well as the ecological and economic crisis. Inside a sweet and groovy vibe, it smuggles a real question: Should we worry or just sit back and enjoy the ride?”
https://soundcloud.com/katgalie/kat-galie-meltdown/s-MqkNpPLNlCt?si=be8712567a364b66a2eda230e4ddb1aa
Kange | Saudade
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I grew up in France and England with African parents, and from a young age I was surrounded by music. At age 8 I started playing violin, then moved on to guitar. When I attended university, I explored the world of production and rapping. My music draws inspiration from artists such as Twenty-One Pilots, Paramore and Drake. Saudade is a sad fairytale of a young girl with love absent from her life. Her life is not a blessing and in death she finds freedom.”
Peggy James | The Parade
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, making her songwriting unique and eclectic. Her lyrics are honest and direct, shooting straight from the heart. Her voice, clear and sweet, can get tough and rock with the best of them. She has five albums to her credit. In classic Peggy James style, her latest album Paint Still Wet crosses the borders of many genres with grace. From pop-rock to ballads to Americana, Peggy’s storytelling, melodies and lyrics create captivating journeys. From rootsy twang to world pop, she continues to be a pleasant surprise to even the most discriminating Americana music fan.”
Les Manivelles | GNUJ
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Indie-Folk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Born to the three corners of the globe, Les Manivelles are weaving an original framework by freeing us from generic and cultural frontiers. Their authentic versatility gives their music a gourmet flavour with colourful lyrics and nomadic melodies that invite us on a scented journey between South-American folkloric springs and classical strains on a backdrop of world music, indie pop and ballads. Their album Tiám relies on the exceptional participation of some 30 musicians, and is inspired by a wide variety of musical genres (chacarera, French song, slam, swing, reggae, etc.). The Cranks are the fusion of the artistic impulses of singer-songwriters Elise and Nano.”
Sandy Duperval | Ad Vitam + A Fleur De Peau
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Soul/R&B.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Born and raised in Montréal, Sandy Duperval started performing at abe five. She cites Whitney Houston, Robin S, Crystal Waters, Tina Turner and Martha Wash as her influences. Her unique stage presence has kept her schedule full — she has performed in Florida, Morocco, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, France, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Dubai and many more, in addition to her native Canada. Ad Vitam, which means “For life” in Latin, describes the relationship Duperval has with her art. “Everything I have experienced, both the strong moments and the more difficult ones, has always brought me back to music. We live to the beat of our heart and Ad Vitam is the music of my life.”
Femi Olamidé | Children Of God (Story Of A Kingdom)
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: World.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “A careful crafted project put together in the long quiet months of the pandemic, this is in the Bhristian genre — but I believe it will be enjoyed by most lovers of good music. It’s a unique track that I genuinely believe deserves to be heard.”
Langside | On The Other Side
HOME BASE: Australia.
GENRE: Soul/R&B.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Sydney electronic-pop artist Langside has a sound that walks the line of electronic and acoustic production, combining commanding melodies and vocal layering. Pulling inspiration from a childhood spent performing with her touring musical family, Langside’s vocals show hints of her first loves, jazz and blues. She has taken these influences — as well as the likes of Vera Blue, Maggie Rogers, Emily King and more — to create a unique sound that entices listeners to sing along. She says: “Have you ever been sad or lonely and not realised? Or tried so hard to fix something and nothing seems to work? This is the first track off my debut album If It’s All the Same to You. It’s a breakup album, written before the breakup. As it turns out, love and relationships take hard work sometimes, but they shouldn’t be as hard as this one was.”
Axnér | Got The Look
HOME BASE: Sweden.
GENRE: Disco.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Axnér is the new project from London’s Chris Davies, and Swedish singer Julia Axnér. Unveiling their unique brand of ’70s inspired grooves with a distinctive modern touch, their debut track Got The Look is a self-empowered disco celebration of getting your glow on and heading to the club for a boogie. The track is was produced and co-written by legendary drummer Ralph Rolle of Nile Rodgers & Chic, D’Angelo, Erykah Badu and many more.”
Barry Power | Round Towers
HOME BASE: Ireland.
GENRE: Folk-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Originally from the Irish midlands, Barry Power has a lifelong passion for music. Beck — particularly his 2002 work Sea Change — along with Radiohead and Jeff Buckley are major influences on his work, thanks to their emotional heft and attention to detail. The nine songs which make up his album Of Little The Instant were written over the last 10 years and focus on themes of existence, finding self confidence and the illusory nature of reality. There are also observations on everyday life. Round Towers is a song about the ephemeral nature of time. Stick around until the drums come in.”
Marion Brunelle | Hors-La-Loi
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Reggaeton.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “My new song Hors-La-Loi features the Guatemalan rapper Lun514. It’s a chill hip-hop/reggaeton track in French and Spanish. It has a very unique Montreal sound with its fusion of styles and cultures. The music was produced by multi-instrumentist David Osei-Afrifa (Dominique Fils-Aimé) and mixed by Frank Joly (Simple Plan). It’s about the dilemma between being righteous or trespassing the ‘law’ of loyalty.”
Tendavillage | Waiting For Your Love
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Soul/R&B.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This is Tendavillage’s lead single from their sophomore album A Tenda Universe. Stick around until 3:05 for some vocal ‘wow’ moments.”
Blitz Union | My Own Road
HOME BASE: Czechia
GENRE: Industrial.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Blitz Union are a furious rock band. They 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. The band stand for much more than music. The idea of creating an “union,” a community of devoted followers is omnipresent in their music. Blitz Union are about standing together in times of uncertainty, pointing out social, economic and political issues — sometimes seriously and forcefully, sometimes with irony and sarcasm, but never conventionally. There is a thin line between good advice and manipulation. Imposed on us in our childhood, those words of fear and intention later influence and even manipulate life decisions. So set yourself free with My Own Road.”
Cache Candy | Chevalier
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “It’s that flame that we all have within us — you know, the dream you have deep in your heart. The one you promised yourself to achieve when you were a child. The one that makes you vibrate every time you think about it. It could be the job of your dreams, travelling the world or meeting the love of your life. Cache Candy is the standard-bearer and the representation of this idea: ‘You are capable of achieving your dreams!’ Chevalier is the single from their new EP Romances and perfectly represents what Romances is: An aerial and nostalgic love song that is also musically refined. It’s a tribute to the first love we all had.”
Mami | Sideline
HOME BASE: Australia.
GENRE: Soul/R&B.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “R&B artist Mami has been capturing hearts and turning heads with her versatile sound and liberating, sultry tunes. “I never want to be in a place where I don’t have control over what music I put out, for fear of judgement or lack of control,” She says. “There’s so much talent here in Australia, and the women in the scene are so powerful. They’re beginning to see how much they need us, yet we carry our own like us women have and will always do.” Her latest single Sideline, produced by Chunkyluv, embraces the value of womanhood to the fullest extent yet holds relatability beyond gender/ethnicity. It expresses the emotions of strength, relief, and power in the feminine divine. It demands respect yet carries an empathetic approach as I depict an experience so many go through — the tiresome feeling of being put on the ‘sideline’, yet with the subsequent solace of self-worth. I made Sideline after a long writing day, a welcoming flow after a long creative block in lockdown. I hope people feel that essence of liberating yourself from pain when they hear this track — how I felt when I wrote it.”
Abi Mia | Can’t Stop Won’t Stop
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “London singer-songwriter Abi Mia brings her uplifting, empowering pop sound to modern music. With soaring vocals and powerhouse storytelling, her soulful voice goes beyond expression: Deeply emotional and unapologetically hopeful, Abi Mia brings her most authentic self to her music. Artistically influenced by contemporary powerhouse vocalists like Demi Lovato, Christina Aguilera, Sara Bareilles and Alicia Keys, Abi Mia finds inspiration in the joy of creation, and in her ability to freely express who she is as an artist and a person through her music. “Music is such a powerful positive force in the world,” says the rising pop singer-songwriter. “Singing and songwriting give me intense happiness, and it’s a beautiful way to connect with people … I wrote Can’t Stop Won’t Stop to empower people to continue doing what they love, to do what makes them smile and to have fun with it despite what anyone else may say! I wanted to end the year of a positive high note — literally if you listen till the end!!”
Edward Sikorski | Exit
HOME BASE: Germany.
GENRE: Ambient.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Exit is the first single from my upcoming record Basic Colours. The track and the whole record are neo-classical soundscapes which combine acoustics and electronics. It was produced mostly analogue with an approach that is pure, authentic and peaceful.”
Nomden | Parallel Universe
HOME BASE: Netherlands.
GENRE: Indie-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Diederik Nomden has been active in the Dutch indie scene for quite a while, and he’s on the verge of releasing his third solo record Parallel Universe. His music is characterized by strong melodies and rich harmonies, reminiscent of the sounds and craftmanship of the late ’60s and early ’70s. Performing as a solo artist, he manages to captivate live audiences with his straight-into-the-heart lyrics and vocal qualities. The song Parallel Universe is all about imagining the opportunities life gives you, and the consequences that come from the choices people make. The question ‘What if’ is the central theme.”
Patrick Kuriakine | Party Girls
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “With this track, I wanted to realize a big bass ’n’ drum beat with synth sounds for people who don’t listen mainly to electronic music.”
Silex | Monopoly
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Let me present my ephemeral EP project to you. It is different music with my own style. The project is poetic, the lyrics touch the heart, the refrains stay in the lead — they are melodic, incisive, even melancholy at times — engaged but not aggressive. It stands out from the norm with its multitude of genres.”
Magister | Au Bout Du Tunnel
HOME BASE: Switzerland.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Magister, whose real name is Junior Manizao, was born in Kinshasa and arrived in France at the age of four. From childhood, music was already a very large place in his life. He released his first album Icarus in 2008 and his second album Exil in 2012. At the moment, Magister is working on his next album.”
Cee | Relentless (ft. Jonathan Emile)
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Hailing from Australia, Cee relocated to Canada a decade ago. After hitting No. 6 in Canada and No. 8 in Australia with his debut solo album, Cee is back with his followup Relentless. Entirely produced by Toronto’s Myer Clarity, Relentless is Cee’s first sample-free project, with cello, violin, keys, drums, guitar, sax and more. Featuring The BLK LT$ (formerly Andreena Mill), it’s his most important body of work. The West Coast vibes on the title track provide the perfect backdrop for Cee to lay out his manifesto. The chorus features a booming cacophony of voices, while the reggae vocals add some texture and flair to this certified head nodder.”
Amen Viana | Aguégué
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: World.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Guitarist, singer, composer and arranger Amen Viana knows how to create stunning sound universes while drawing from the roots of African music. Originally from Togo, he quickly rose through the ranks of the West African music scene before crossing the Mediterranean to settle in France. His virtuosity on the guitar is reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix, his rock energy that of Living Color, and he quickly carved out a reputation in many international events, playing alongside Black-Eyed Peas, Angélique Kidjo, Tony Allen and others. His sixth album The Afrocanalyst is a new step in his career. Recorded during his travels as a musician, it corresponds to a reflection on his career and brings together guests such as Keziah Jones and Akua Naru.”
