Camilla Wells is dreaming in technicolour, Nasmore gets lost in thought, Ottorn deliver a message 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, kick off the New Year with these new sounds:
Camilla Wells | Lullaby
HOME BASE: Italy.
GENRE: Alt-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Camilla Wells is back to face her fears — and to explore the darkest and the most tormented sides of the human soul — with her third single Lullaby. “Fears can kill you every day. They are silent partners; many-headed monsters. They’re wars that generate war,” explains the singer. “In Lullaby I face them head on, one by one. Because music is a therapy and Lullaby is my scream: It’s a storm of sounds to tell myself they’re just fears and I can get rid of them.” Lullaby, a scratchy and visceral track shaped on an alternative rock sound inspired by the ’90s, wa written by Wells and Vincenzo Del Corno, who took part in the production aspect entrusted to Marco Barusso. The video, directed by Lù Magarò and Gabriele Zanoncelli, and featuring an all-female cast, condenses the meaning of the song in a kind of horror story full of symbolism. Camilla runs in terror, blindfolded and accompanied by Valentina, her bolder alter ego. The two young women desperately try to escape from zombie girls who represent their darkest fears.”
Nasmore | Mind In A Maze
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Folk-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “It was early in 2021 when Nasmore chose to turn his wildest dreams into his daily reality — permanently. Like a great many artists, he grew up attached to his stereo and instruments surrounding him, fully immersed within music of all kinds. With an exploratory and adventurous spirit, a tremendous natural skillset, and the courage to experiment with anything & everything new to him, he developed an authentic taste for diversity that he instantly infused into his own unique process. Throughout a truly groundbreaking year, he released a series of singles that took his songs around the globe online. His latest track is a bold odyssey that leads straight into the center of the mind’s eye, fearlessly diving into the thoughts, feelings, and emotions that build us up and break us down. Mind in a Maze embraces the confusion we experience and turns it into cathartic art reminding us of Dan Brown’s novels.”
Ottorn | The Moral
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Folk-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Ottorn is an epic and baroque folk trio led by two musicians with a metal background and a medieval lutenist. Ottorn chose to compose and record their debut album Little Red Riding Hood in an old mansion in France. In this dark and unusual venue, the trio carried out numerous sound and alchemy experiments, going so far as to replace the traditional snare drum with a cauldron and the cymbals with real sword blows. This first album is a gothic and flamboyant adaptation of the traditional European legend of Little Red Riding Hood.”
Pr!s.K | Society 21
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Alt-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Pr!s.K grew up with a desire to make her own music. After many gigs in the south of France with different cover bands, she decided to use this difficult crisis to write her first album. Her songs are about the eternal battle between life and death, with always a touch of optimism, going from softness to strength, supported by the influence of classical and rock music. Her first album Slide Into The Storm was released in April.”
Xylar | Chance
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Xylar is an independent artist from the south of France. His latest video Chance was produced by Houmi and Heysirski, and shot by Tubeoprod.”
Speech NTSA | Chak Jou
HOME BASE: Martinique.
GENRE: Dancehall.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Speech NTSA, whose real name is Emmanuel Dintimille, is a dancehall reggae artist, beat maker and producer. His latest single Chak Jou provides a calm opening to the new year and showacases the colour of his upcoing EP 4 Reality.”
Davide Fasiello | Into Slumber
HOME BASE: Italy.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Davide Fasiello began studying saxophone at the age of 12 and then moved to the piano in 2016. A lover of classical, minimalist and pop music, he tries to incorporate the peculiar characteristics of those genres into his compositions to create meditative and engaging sounds. Into Slumber aims to describe sensations that develop in our mind as we go from light to heavy sleep. It seeks to create an intimate and engaging atmosphere to fully embrace the sensory sphere of the listener while recreating an experience of an everyday character and making it unique.”
Hannyta | Wildflower
HOME BASE: Scotland.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “17-year-old Hannyta from Scotland has released a Top 5 iTunes South Africa banger! This is the singer-songwriter’s first original single.”
Maéso | Un An De Plus
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Maéso is a music lover and verbose songwriter who has things to say, stories to tell. In this new opus, the musician reveals the palette of his universe with a musical postcard of his peregrinations and songs with southern accents. “Un An De Plus, track taken from the album Le Tic Tac, is a phrase that I found,” he says. “It’s a personal song, but I notice it speaks to everyone for different reasons.”
Sarah Lake | You Don’t Have To
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Americana.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Sarah Lake is a singer-songwriter who was born in Canada and grew up in North Carolina. She was on American Idol under her maiden name Sarah Mather and made it to the finals. Although she continues to write in all music formats, her sound has crossed over to an Americana folk feel. You Don’t Have To is an empowering song with an infectious hook in the style of Lumineers and Allison Krauss. Sarah wrote the song with Jillian Steele, producer Ernie Lake and James Shelley.”
Lomnouvo | Pour Quelques Adieux
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop-Rock.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Lomnouvo is a pop-rock singer-songwriter and poet. He says: “I hope this new song will seduce you.”
Sillycio | Sorry
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: World Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Sillycio is an artist and producer of modern Cape Verdean songs and French varieties.”
Station 44 | Overwhelming Love
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Station 44 is a French musical duo led by Anouk Degrande and Simon Penard-Philipe. This project is built on 10 years of friendship and collaboration. Willing to dive into their diverse influences, Station 44 stand at the crossroads of music, inspired by bands such as Fat Freddy’s Drop. They rely on powerful melodies and intoxicating production, underlining their dual personalities. Bleu, their second EP, draws inspirations from artists such as New Order, Kraftwerk, Robyn and Faux Real. Overwhelming Love depicts a point of no return in a relationship. The song reflects the energy and passion we put into all of our productions.”
Aèra | The Green Mark (Il Timbro Verde)
HOME BASE: Italy.
GENRE: Hard Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “We have some new rock songs for you. Rock is transgression. Rock is contestation. Are you brave?”
Giant Head Collective | Without Me
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Folk-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Giant Head Collective came about when Mark Breingan was producing music for local artists from Glasgow. During the downtime, jamming would start on his original ideas, and all of a sudden, musicians would start laying down tracks and ideas became songs — good songs at that. The music is firmly grounded in the classic southern-rock genre, blending elements of Mark’s Celtic guitar style.”
Jovanel | Télétravail
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Synth-Funk.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I am pleased to present to you my new single. it has a topical theme that I explore in a completely offbeat way with this videogram.”
Sylvia G | I’m Free
HOME BASE: Switzerland.
GENRE: Dance-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I’m Free is upbeat and fun sends good vibes to boost your mood. The song was also recorded in French as Je Suis Libre.”
Lynn Kate | Party Boy
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Soul / R&B.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I come from Normandie. I’m 31 years old. I started to write songs 15 years ago. I can’t live without music. I’d love to sing and write for others.”
YTL | Répondeur
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rap.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “YTL (aka The Big Cat) is an artist based in Nice. Moving from style to style, his lyrics are the reflection of a musical mix loved by all audiences. “Répondeur (Answering Machine) was written and recorded between Belgium and France during a winter, and symbolizes all the ruptures that occur at the same time as the cold and the shorter days,” he says. “Réponder talks about a complicated romantic relationship due to the narrator’s unstable state of mind.”
J. Adams | Always Me + Focus
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Singer-songwriter and producer J. Adams works out of a home studio in Prattville, Ala. Throughout the years, J. Adams has focused on perfecting his craft and has been known to have a keen ear for melodies and beats. In 2020 he released two EPs, Behind Closed Doors and Mood AF. He is heavily influenced by southern trap music in his production, and genres such as jazz and neo-soul in his chord structure. He likes to refer to himself as a genre-less artist, due to his multiple approaches to making music.”
https://youtu.be/XXOeN0tE2kw
Da’Vinci | The Heart
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: R&B.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I am a producer/beatmaker in Brooklyn, New York. This beat is a fusion of funk, Afrobeat, R&B and EDM.”
Lardy Miss Clardy | It’s On Tonight
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: R&B.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Wendy Clardy (aka Lardy Miss Clardy) was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio and lives in California. She is an educator and advocate as well as a singer-songwriter. It has not been an easy journey for Wendy to discover she is a born star with innate abilities. “I might be a late bloomer, but better to be late than to not show up at all,” she says. “All it takes is a little determination, and faith in the Creator and in yourself, and no matter what it looks like, don’t let fear stop you, believe anyway. Let your light shine. Someone, will see you and give you an opportunity to be heard … it happened to me, it can happen for you. It’s On Tonight is about the war for love.”
Fabio Silvestrini | Singing Noises
HOME BASE: Italy.
GENRE: Hard Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Already released my new album!”
John Lemmon | Strong And Pretty
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Pop-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The John Lemmon project was born last year as the pandemic made us think about our future. The only tangible answer I found to my questions was that we need to enjoy life a little more, and run after our dreams and our passions before it is too late. The EP Here & Now contains Strong and Pretty), which is inspired both by heartbreak and the good around us.”
Ed Roman | Happiness
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Indie-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Ed Roman is a chart-topping singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His videos have won awards in prestigious film festivals around the globe. His eclectic style makes him accessible to fans of many different genres of music.”
Belle Ting | Claude Debussy, Sonata for Violin and Piano in G Minor L.140, III — Finale: Très Animé
HOME BASE: Taiwan / Canada.
GENRE: Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Taiwanese-Canadian violinist Belle Ting is quickly building an international career, regularly collaborating with orchestras around the world. Impressions is her debut album. Experiencing the culture and performing in France and Belgium sparked a love for interpreting the repertoire of its composers, particularly compositions of the Romantic and Impressionistic periods, around which the album is centered.”
https://youtu.be/aukH_Q5M4LQ
Wolves of Verdi | Get Ready To Bleed
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Metal.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Wolves of Verdi are a band from Reno. Our music brings you a combination of progressive, metal, and hard rock. Get Ready To Bleed is the first track of the album The Awakening. It is probably the most aggressive track of the album. The Awakening was mixed by Brazilian producer Adair Daufembach and the album art was created by Carlos Fides.”
Bob Gemmell | Saint Of Everything
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Americana.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Saint of Everything is a meditation on the times we’re living through, featuring mandolin, guitars, lap steel and fiddle. Given the topic one might expect a mournful song, but this tune bounces along, throwing garlands of flowers and sprinkling fairy dust, with a message of measured weariness but certainly of hope. This song might percolate with anyone of any age who likes acoustic music with a little spark. Any fan of Wilco, Lord Huron or Steve Earle should feel right at home. We’re all a little beaten up by this period of human existence. We may feel a desire to exhale, face lifted to the sky, and appreciate a cool breeze and the moment as it passes. If so, this is the song for you.”
Soul.I.Am | S.I.A.W.A.Y. (4)
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I’m a guy from Montreal. I’m 27 years old. I’ve been doing music for three years now and writing poems for 16. At 21, one of my friends told me that I could not just be a ghost writer. So I studied the game for two years before releasing my first song in 2018. The support was so big I just had to keep on going and here we are today!”
Malvill | Que Faudra-T-Il Y Voir?
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “An LP is in preparation, setting the stage for public returns. I have the desire to continue to progress while following my line!”
OGA | Makoko
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Afrobeat.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “OGA started in 2017 at the New Afrika Shrine in Lagos, where Quentin and Leo did their first show together. Both had come to Nigeria to discover new types of music and ended up meeting some of the best musicians of the country, among them former Fela bandmember Rilwan Fagbemi, who introduced them to Afrobeat. Coming back to Paris, the objective was clear: Spread the burning fever of Afro grooves to all clubs. After three years of boiling shows in Paris, they released their first EP Ikeja in November. Our song Makoko relates the story of an inhabitant of the floating slum in the heart of Lagos. The 300,000 souls living there are called invisibles since they officialy don’t exist: In Makoko, streets have no name, houses have no number and they are not run by the local administration but by their own local king.”
GVO | C’Est Finis
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The 26-year-old artist named GVO shares the truth of his own life and the world around him.”
https://youtu.be/gk1kJyJ0NsY
CircleKSK | NIghtmare
HOME BASE: Japan.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Circle KSK uses a production method in which members other than the composer are changed for each song. The members collaborate with people from all over the world such as U.S.A., India, Greece and Canada. One day, I may be able to work with you.”
Parker Sorensen | Tell Me Pretty Lies
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Pop-Punk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I’m a 19 year artist and mixing engineer from Salt Lake City. I like making music for all different moods and emotions. I enjoy making people feel things when listening to my music. I just want to improve every day and continue to grow. This is my latest song, and I believe it is my best so far. It has low-profile verses that build up to an upbeat, powerful chorus. The song is very easy to sing along to.”
Davide Anniballi | Simplicity
HOME BASE: Italy.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This is an instrumental song and I composed it with the idea of a simple but, at the same time, effective structure. I would like this piece to convey a sense of lightness and peace.”
Michel Lemieux | Cybernetique
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Blues-Rock.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I am an author, composer, performer and guitarist. Cybernétique is part of a set of six songs in French. The music for these pieces is tinged with blues. Cybernetics is a warning message on the excesses of the commercial order (commodification of the human being, transhumanism, etc.).”
Ghost Pepper Intergalactic | Mm Hmm
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Southern Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I am a neuroscientist, songwriter, musician, producer based in the Shoals, AL. I consider every note to be a gift from the heavens. Almost none of my music fits into an established genre, so I created a new category for myself: Intergalactic music. It is a blend of the past and future, with electronic and experimental sounds and production methods freely mixed with classic sounds and styles. Mm Hmm starts off with a rocking intro, but it’s really a soul/blues/funk song with a synth bass. It’s all positive vibes.”
Sh4wn | Corona Light
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The electro-pop of Sh4wn and the lyrics by Guillaume Laroche form music that directly catches the ear. Listeners looking for explosive music will be served as well as those looking for researched and polished lyrics. A closed retreat in Abitibi Témiscamingue inspired this song about a trip to the hot south and a case of Corona light.”
Madora | The Moment
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Madora are a young duo of French DJs and producers from Rennes. They mix hardstyle, indus and acid techno into thunderous, hypnotiic sounds from the ’90s. The Moment is about appreciating the moment. It wants to show that, no matter what the situation is, you have to keep enjoying. We used a long break with a lot of tension, impact and a vocal to support the message we want to share.”
Amazonica | Eye (Youth Mix)
HOME BASE: U.K. / U.S.
GENRE: Alt-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Amazonica is a one-of-a-kind female DJ, producer and singer-songwriter in London and L.A. Following a chaotic rock career as Dirty Harry, she has taken her fierce frenzy into the DJ world. Shaking off a history wrought in industry betrayals and contractual constraints, her pioneering sound combines ’90s hip-hop, goth, grunge, metal and emo-rap.”
https://soundcloud.com/theamazonica/01-eye-youth-mix-jdmstr1644/s-JucQPRxuFaw?in=theamazonica/sets/the-trouble-with-harry-album-remastered/s-GyhasjoaSoI&si=19bcf451f5504c43a336e0297123df0f&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Luis Schubert | Cadillac
HOME BASE: Germany.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I did it all by my self in my home studio.”
Mitchel Logan | Want Me Like I Want You
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: R&B.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I am an independent artist that produces, writes, sings, mixes, and masters. I was an entomologist, but within the past year decided that music is what I need to be doing. I have been singing and writing songs for over a decade but didn’t start producing and turning it into a career until 2019. This track is a dreamy R&B song about coming to terms with love and being on the verge of confession. The song is layered with electric guitar, vocals, and dreamy synths over a lofi hip/hop-influenced drum beat that makes your head bob.”
Phil Di Noia | The Promised Land
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Folk-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Phil Di Noia is a singer-songwriter who sings in English, French and Italian.”
Allan Corby | Love Is A Merry-Go-Round
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Folk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Allan Corby fell in love with the guitar at the early age of 13 and learned to play folk songs. He began writing his own songs and in 1972, got a record deal and produced pop/disco tracks, and was an opening act for The Doobie Brothers and ZZ Top. After getting married and starting a family, Allan took a 40-year break from the industry. Now in his early 70s, Allan is writing with fire and passion. Love Is A Merry-Go-Round is his newest release, a song of love found and love lost.”
Aaron Everything | Dial Tone (Acoustic)
HOME BASE: Ireland
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I’m Aaron Everything, an Irish artist who has been releasing tracks for four years. My music at its core is about legacy; this is what I leave behind to this world. This is the reason I am releasing my second acoustic EP From the Mud, which my song Dial Tone is featured in. I made the originals of these tracks when I was younger and I believed I could breathe new life into them while paying homage to the originals.”
BSK | Prettiest Girl
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This song is about a sugar daddy who attracts a very attractive woman that he knows doesn’t love him, but he likes how people view him with her even though his friends warn him that’s she’s not good.”
Mark Welles | Waiting, Watching Over You
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Folk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Mark Welles is a lifelong musician, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter who got sidetracked from his musical ambitions by a demanding corporate career. With the onset of a global pandemic and the birth of his daughter, Mark took advantage of more time at home to focus on music. The result is his debut album It Started Last Fall, a rootsy modern folk album anchored by acoustic guitar. It has 11 original songs about love, setbacks and moving forward. Mark self-produced the album and played all the instruments.”
