Julie Lagarrigue does the tango, Mona sounds the alarm, Ooberfuse banish the darkness — and there’s plenty more where they came from in today’s super-sized lineup of 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 let’s kick off today’s event:
Julie Lagarrigue | Le Tango des Squelettes
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Gypsy Jazz.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Julie Lagarrigue returns with a new undulating and lively album, vibrant with a poetry close to the mystical. Welcome to La Mue du Serpent Blanc. Metamorphosis is indeed always implicitly in question here. “It is with mischief that I share this clip, made in July 2021,” she says. “Like the upcoming record, I wanted this cheerful, uninhibited, decadent rumba. A banquet, lots of dishes, candlesticks, beautiful tablecloths, wine, glasses. Le Tango des Squelettes, an excerpt from La Mue du Serpent Blan, is an invitation to accompany them on the dance floor.”
Mona | L’Alarme
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Mona is a French singer-songwriter who loves songs about women. L’Alarme is the new single from Mona’s album Out of Time. Mona’s music transports us out of the world, out of time. In the video, the camera twirls around in a half-tone universe, imbued with lyricism, elegance and femininity. The unreal colors lead us into a dreamlike story between dream and reality, sequence shots and subliminal images. The wandering, sometimes sylvan sometimes aquatic, preserves the mystery of this delicately poetic title which evokes the reminiscences of a lost love.”
Ooberfuse | Vanish The Night
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Ooberfuse are a songwriting band composed of Hal St John and Cherrie Anderson. Well-crafted songs delivered through powerful, emotional and heartfelt vocals combined with east-meets-west electronic music are Ooberfuse’s trademarks. The empowering dance anthem Vanish The Night is co-produced by Grammy winner Kevin Killen (Shakira, U2) and features legendary guitarist Gerry Leonard (David Bowie) and Korean musicologist nuMori. On the track, the duo state: “What do we see when the lights go out? The stars? The strobes of a club? We want to see what happens when the light comes back on.”
Manon Vuoko | Comme En Décembre + Friendzoner
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “It is through a web series that is currently a hit on TikTok that Manon Vuoko presents her journey and musical project. Comme En Décembre and Friendzoner come from a first EP expected later in 2022.”
John Cologon | Internal Light + What Happened To The Magic? + Time To Face Up To The Void
HOME BASE: Australia.
GENRE: Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “John’s music shows the influence of his time playing in bands during the ’70s, at which time he was motivated by bands like Supertramp, The Beatles, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull and Led Zeppelin. These early influences have been modified by the music he has been exposed to over the intervening years, resulting in a unique combination of hard rock, progressive metal, progressive rock, and a sprinkling of other flavours. His album Onwards and Inwards explores the search for meaning and journeys through psychological pitfalls in the process of human growth. Internal Light is a rock song exploring the search for meaning that many of us take. What Happened To The Magic looks at the loss of the magic of childhood as we get caught up in the world of work and technology. It is a track that starts out acoustic and builds up to rock, returning to the acoustic feel at the end. Time To Face Up To The Void begins the album’s journey by exploring the sense of emptiness we at times feel and the role of fear in maintaining it.”
C-Chill | Calcul
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Montreal artist C-Chill showcases his first EP Trashtalk, created during confinement. The Haitian-born rapper is an emerging artist who finely combines rap, ballad and song styles in his very freestyle new EP. His music is influenced by French and Haitian Quebec culture. It addresses current and sometimes taboo subjects. Two years after the release of his mixtape Pussybility, this artist with a dirty pen returns with a new project on which he has been working since the last confinement. Calcul evokes the moment when someone decides to embark on the pursuit of his ideal rather than waiting for it to show up in front of him.”
Røad Rvnner | Love
HOME BASE: Italy.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Røad Rvnner is an Italian producer and guitarist. The track is taken from my debut EP Origins, which talks about the arrival of a new civilization centuries after the extinction of the humans. When I was thinking about the story, I was wondering what this new civilization would think about this scary, beautiful and mysterious feeling. First thing you need to do is open your mind and let yourself go. Every instrument and section represents a texture of love — you can hear fast drums, which indicates how frenetical this thing is, you can hear the synth, so colourful and beautiful, and also some strong chords of strings which represent also the pain inside it.”
J. Adams | Paris
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Singer-songwriter and producer J. Adams hails from historic Selma, Ala. His musical abilities in production, singing, songwriting, and engineering are all self-taught from videos, practical application, forums and trial and error. Throughout the years, J. Adams has focused on perfecting his craft and has a keen ear for melodies and beat selection. 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/oxMzGKMGx-E
Llena | Temptations
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “An artist from Montréal, Llena is a 21-year-old singer-songwriter. Born in El Salvador, Llena describes her sound as an unbarred space and says she’s always open to try mixing new melodies and create something different. Her soft, raspy and melancholic tones will transport you in her space that she describes as a late-night ride. Temptations is an experimental trap/R&B song that talks about two people wanting each other, knowing they are no good for one another. The song is meant to teleport you into this paradise or idea of what it would be if only these two people could be together.”
https://youtu.be/EOeUDcuCy7U
Ghislaine Dote | Faux Reveurs
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Classical-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Faux Reveurs is a multilingual, artsy pop song with an African feel and a bit of classical influence in the composition. An uplifting song with a lot of soul, it offers a unique take on a spiritual theme: God’s love.”
Ketsmy | Kenbe Tèt Ou
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Kenbe Tèt Ou is Ketsmy’s second single, taken from his upcoming release Melanin News. Addressing themes such as social injustice and racism against people of color, as well as police violence. Melanin News was produced in several locations and studios. Sailing between French, Creole and English, his poignant lyrics are supported by catchy, danceable rhythms that navigate between R&B, hip-hop and blues-rock.”
Mirabelle Fobi | Zigiyaga
HOME BASE: Cameroon.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Originally from Cameroon, Mirabelle Fobi was raised singing in a cappella groups, and was influenced by ’60s and ’70s soul music. Zigiyaga, means ‘live now.’ Give now, love now, be free now!”
Liam Odeon | Matador
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I mainly write for other artists, producers and editors in search of French songs. My single has lyrics that denounce domestic violence, verbal and psychological aggression.”
Flem | Diamant Brut
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: World.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Flem has always navigated between different musical currents. In 2009 he met Vieux Farka Touré, son of the legendary Ali Farka Touré. Their first opus Passeport was a mix of world music, hip-hop and electro rhythms. Now, Vieux and Flem embark on a new, more militant and conscious project: Nomades. Mandinka songs, poetically committed texts and Tuareg melodies make up the album, produced between Bamako and Paris. Inspired by artists such as Oxmo Puccino and Abd Al Malik, Flem reaffirms his sonic signature: The union committed rap lyrics and traditional West African sounds.”
Vinco Zierowan | I’m So High
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I’m So High features a trippy, cloudy 3D video clip, It’s been a process to edit and make a very spacey visual universe for this lo-fi vibe with cloudy lyricism.”
Peter Spacey x Skygaze Feat. Xidus Pain | The Blend
HOME BASE: Israel.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The second single from Space Gazing EP, The Blend is a collaboration between Tel Aviv artist-producer/DJ Peter Spacey & Barcelona beatmaker/producer Skygaze. This track features vocalist/rap artist Xidus Pain. It combines influences of hip-hop, electronica and spacey beats, atmospheric soundscapes, organic sounds and live instruments with groove. The artists first joined forces after gained individual achievements on BBC Radio, Boiler Room, DMC Championship and working with Public Enemy.”
Héra Ménard | Nuits Sans Sommeil
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Indie-Folk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “A singer-songwriter from Quebec, Héra Ménard just released her second album Fleurs. Created with musicians that played with Sarah McLachlan and Patrick Watson, the opus is a glowing blend of new-folk, indie-country and pop.”
Nycole August | Honesty
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “My style ranges from contemporary R&B, soul, neo-soul and pop to EDM, dubstep, blues and even reggae. I like to keep my options open. I play guitar and some piano. I write my own songs, record and arrange them. My vocal style changes from song to song. My influences include Mariah Carey, Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Bob Marley, Prince, Amy Winehouse, Toni Braxton, The Supremes, Indie.Arie, Michael and Janet Jackson. Honesty serves up painstakingly honest confessions of the pain felt after a bad breakup. I took a more jovial approach with the mood of the music and sprinkled some attitude, soul, aggression and nonchalant feeling with my lyrics and vocals. Thank you for taking the time to listen to a broken soul sing her rage.”
Wooden Cabin | Piece Of You
HOME BASE: Austria.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Every music freak loves listening to something they haven’t heard before. We tried to write an album and produce songs for everybody. There is a line through all the songs, but in fact, every song was produced with a different sub-genre in mind.”
Duo Fortin-Poirier | Fantasy For 2 Pianos In A Minor
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Very active on the North American scene, in 2008 Duo Fortin-Poirier released the album Vingt Doigts Et Un Piano (2013) and Mémoires (2017). Their new release is a nuanced and fair interpretation of the work of Alexander Scriabin.”
Vndale | Pessimist
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Heavy Metal.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Vndale are a rock/metal band from Paris. They released their first EP The Electric Night in 2020.”
Chancy Squire | You Are The One
HOME BASE: Germany.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “First formed in 1980, Chancy Squire recently reunited after a long break. Three guys from the original lineup are now bringing the amazing songs back to life. Modern arrangements with a playful ease are the sound of the musician’s hearts. Chancy Squire are now Valentine’s Day everything it needs to make the special day of the year unforgettable. With You Are The One, they show what people in love feel and what longtime lovers appreciate — to have the right partner at their side! Featuring the vocals of Christine Wegner in a duet with Klaus Rieger, the song envisions a world in which love dominates and hope leads the way.”
Don Valentino | Carcasse (ft. O’Dena)
HOME BASE: Switzerland.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “A founding member of L’Honorable Societe, Don Valentino has started a new musical career as a beatmaker and producer. He is back with his new album called Confession of a Hitman, featuring international hitmen like Stranga The Great, Vega X, O’Dena and Psix.”
Dabrowski | Poker
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rap.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Dabrowski is back with a new project ready for release. He explores boom-bap, trap, drill and more on his mixtape Pearson, out Feb. 18. Dabrowski invites you to join with on his journey — his joys, his suspicions, his sorrows.”
Dave Kensington | Mon Corona Radio Remix
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: Dance-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Dave Kensington lives between Brussels and Paris, and draws much inspiration from current events. Sensitive to isolation in our society, he remains very attached to the universality of music. From the confinement we just experienced, he created the single Mon Corona. “People no longer communicate,” he says, “or only through social media. There is no more verbal communication. In Paris, it is even more visible. Everyone is glued to their laptop. No one pays any attention to the beauty of the city, no longer looks at its monuments.”
Ramounam | Qui Vous Donne Le Droit
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Freedom to think, speak and choose.”
Jharwils | Trauma
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Reggae.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Very committed and want to share it.”
MeUs | Jamais Assez Pour Toi
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “MeUs is a solo project launched two years ago by a 29-year-old French artist on the day he tired of waiting for others to make music. He produces, writes and interprets songs that can be described as atmospheric and melancholy. Imagine yourself in the water, in the middle of the night, in the middle of the ocean admiring the starry sky, you will then have a small idea of what his music sounds like The sea and space are themes that come up regularly in his lyrics. MeUs would end this bio with the word astronaut.”
