Elliot Wren is ready to explode, Patrick William keeps it sweet, Mhdiall lives the life, Long Term Parking meet you in the middle — and there’s still plenty more to come 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, dig the second half of today’s event:
Elliot Wren | Time Bomb
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “With compelling songwriting, Elliot Wren unveils the vulnerable side of life, delving deep into anxiety, interpersonal relationships and breakdowns. Time Bomb represents Wren’s state of mind while on the verge of a meltdown. It’s the first time that Wren has shared their own intimate and personal experiences and struggles, creating a deeply cathartic and reflective experience. Wren hopes others will be able to relate to their soulful lyrics and that the song will hold personal meaning for them, as it does for the artist.”
Patrick William | Sweet Symphony
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Patrick William, real name Patrick Auger, is a singer-songwriter and guitarist. In 2021, he released his first album of original songs in different musical styles such as soft and pop-rock, reggae, Brazilian rhythms with different tones of electric guitar and piano, as well as inspired vocal harmonies. He says: “This song is one of my old compositions and the lyrics have been written a year ago. I feel that the subject is still very actual (unfortunately).”
Mhdiall | La Vie
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Originally from Mali, Mhdiall is a happy young 40-something who presents his creations to the general public. Here is the album version of his single La Vie. His concept album about Black music and its different styles will soon be available.”
Long Term Parking | The Middle Way
HOME BASE: Czechia.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Long Term Parking is an alternative music project founded in 2019 by a trio of experienced musicians. Luxury Luxury is their debut album, which fully and uncompromisingly merges their expertise and experience. LTP’s music synthesizes hip-hop, rock and alt-pop into a unique sound that draws influences from classical and folk music. Luxury Luxury was released in January. Every song on the album has its place.”
James Chelliah | Something, At Least
HOME BASE: Malaysia.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Existential indie rap. This song smells like a familiar carpet, coated in coffee stains and old sock scents; its ambience is that of the rooms we’ve been sitting in like prison cells; and it feels like telling yourself that you love change, self-development and pain for the betterment of the future. It’s about gradually, reluctantly accepting that there can be a route to peace in the acceptance of the different reality thrust upon us in the last 20 months. Or not. I cannot tell, I do not know.”
Des Boheme | Free Yourself
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Des Boheme is a Kiwi-American singer-songwriter and producer residing in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Des is Bohemianism morphed for a modern day, finding one’s own path in the pursuit of artistic, musical, and literary expressions. His musical influences range from classical symphonies to early rock ‘n’ roll, and contemporary hit songs from all genres. His melodic sound resonates across folk, adult contemporary and indie-pop. Free Yourself is a song of liberating oneself from the constant restraint and fear we impose upon ourselves when in an existing relationship and entering a new one. A haunting but powerful ballad.”
https://youtu.be/qDITBntaBK4
Jori Larres | Counterpoints
HOME BASE: Finland.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Helsinki electronic music artist Jori Larres just release his fourth album Intervals. To balance his creative digital work, Larres’ music relies heavily on analog machinery and improvisation. The cinematic soundscapes of the new album were born after Larres immersed himself in the secrets of modular synthesizers, experimental rhythms and granular synthesis. The new album is inspired by theories of the multiverse as well as the concept of speculative futures and how we interact with the future state with our thinking and ideation. The album’s minimalist delicate sound draws from the worlds of ambient and kraut music pioneers like Brian Eno and Kraftwerk, Scandinavian design, and electronic art music. “My music is based on improvisation and experimentation with both composing and sound structuring. My working method is multi-step, the basis for the songs typically start to build at the idea level even before any instrument is involved. The processing typically continues with the melody or synthesis. I record several takes, which, when piled up and arranged, form new ideas that continue to build as a whole. The end result is a layered work that includes randomness and experimentation.”
https://youtu.be/EZTapzKRG2Q
Silk Skin Lovers | Moon, 1 AM
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop-Rock.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Between frantic rhythms and soaring melodies, Silk Skin Lovers depict a nocturnal universe where the energy of drunkenness rubs shoulders with the melancholy of a late evening. Through music inhabited by the aesthetics of the New Wave, the young musicians invite the audience to join them in dancing and getting lost in their nostalgic surrealism. The single Moon, 1AM is from their first EP Bloom, released last June. The song is a lively track with a fast tempo, inciting to dance with its rhythm and riffs but opening the way to a starry contemplation of soaring melodies and other aerial choruses. It is a progressive song that, through unexpected sequences, takes the listener to a groove full of happy melancholy.”
Loreyne | Guaca 189.1
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “With her flayed voice, dark melodies and English lyrics, Loreyne’s music stands out on the French scene. From pop to electro to trap sprinkled with experimental music, Loreyne seems untameable. She has a smooth and feminine voice to sing about love, freedom and truth, and a more husky and masculine one to rap about desires, and fantasies as a woman.”
Ben Cato | Waltz Across The Stars
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Ben Cato started his journey as a professional composer in 2020, writing the score for the short film His Judgment Cometh. Since, Ben has written for wedding videos, begun collaborations, and arranged for high school percussion. A rough decade through the 20s was enough to add clarity towards letting go of certainty and letting dreams take the wheel.”
Jay Nitz | A Little Bit Of Love
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Sometimes it’s hard being black in America. When i look at the news it tends to break my heart with all the violence and killing. I put out the song A Little Bit of Love, hoping that maybe we could all come to understand each other a bit better. My goal is to reach as many people as possible with a message of love and mutual respect.”
Nasty Geographic | Grow Up + Deserve You
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Funk-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Nasty Geographic is Chicago singer, songwriter, and producer Joe Blackhurst. Nasty Geographic is the product of funk, blues, and hip-hop twisted into a new kind of pop-rock. Every Nasty Geographic album is an exploration into a different and specific musical genre. Joe takes an anti-perfectionist attitude towards songwriting in which he writes and records every album in a week. Nasty Geographic’s 10th studio album Bad Pop is one such album. Combining the driving bass of Royal Blood, the funky guitar of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and female-backed pop vocals, Bad Pop is Nasty Geographic’s most fun album to date.”
Frolin | Dusk
HOME BASE: Norway.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I live in the southwestern part of Norway, just outside the town of 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. I hope that you enjoy my soothing instrumental music.”
Plus Five Bass | The Way It Is
HOME BASE: Australia.
GENRE: EDM.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Plus Five Bass is clearly a passion project. A project that aims to do something both current and classic. Early acid house and rave tropes are expertly woven into modern tech-house. The Way It Is has a lick that’s engineered to get the serotonin gushing before a classic break leads us into a cocky house thump. Groove-driven yet colourful enough to excite special moments on the dance floor.”
Natural Twenty | Moving On
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Jazz-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Natural Twenty are a six-person band from Calgary. They are a mix of POC musicians that play R&B and soul music with a swig of jazz and funk. Moving On is a song about forward movement. Whether from trauma, turmoil, and tribulations, we can move on. This is the first single off their upcoming EP Cantrips — the first collection of songs the band recorded together. It is groovy, sultry, sexy, and cathartic. It has soulful lyrics, funky beats, and catchy melodies.”
Kheprii | Emotions
HOME BASE: Australia.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “North Brisbane rapper Kheprii has been bubbling in Australia for a hot second after a stellar of releases. 2022 is gearing up to be a huge year for him, with the release of his debut EP 555. Sonically, Kheprii is on his own lane, but fans of Juice Wrld, XXXTentacion, Iann Dior and Lil Peep could easily draw the comparison. Effortlessly gliding over melodic beats with dark yet very personal subject matters, 555 sees Kheprii tap into a dark sadboi space where he takes listeners through the journey of heartbreak and betrayal.”
https://soundcloud.com/ripkheprii/emotions/s-IxPclayrPKs?in=ripkheprii/sets/555a//s-Hb5OqjRDsJL
Ryal | Skyscraper
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “When the pandemic caused mass exodus from N.Y.C. in 2020, Ryal looked up and wrote a love song for those that had to leave. Skyscraper is inspired by late ’70s records of Blondie, Talking Heads & The Clash. “There was a point it felt like we were going to be the only people left here,” singer/songwriter Jacque Ryal says. “Friends were leaving, heading to new towns or moving back in with parents. Some exited willingly and glad to escape the insanity of N.Y.C. Others left kicking and screaming with a whole lot of tears. The latter felt they were leaving their dreams behind and being forced to throw in the towel. It was a painful thing to watch. Good friends are tough to come by in a city like N.Y.C., so they were doubly hard to lose. One friend in particular really inspired the lyrics of this song — like me, she feels the city raised her and saying goodbye was like ending the longest relationship of her life.”
Baby Bat | Second Death
HOME BASE: Australia.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “New to the music scene, the West Australian Baby Bat is coming in hot with her first single release Second Death — a collaboration with Angel Season (Josh Ang). Weaving contemporary rap with her self described ‘fairy-trap-pop’ aesthetic, her lyrics examine themes playfully and introspectively. Inspired by Pat Ballard’s Mr. Sandman, episodes of the Netflix original series Midnight Gospel and an ongoing existential crisis, Second Death offers you a connection.”
Jaxl | Save Your Soul
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Following their well-received first EP, Jaxl release their new single Save Your Soul. It’s a rock track with a funky rhythm and a strong melody in pure Jaxl style.”
My Marga | Le Chemin Inconnu
HOME BASE: Brazil.
GENRE: Pop-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Le Chemin Inconnu was born from a collaboration with Dani Carolina, a musician from São Paulo, Brazil and the singer of the group Brigitte Bossa Manouche.”
The Confederation | Razor Teeth
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Blues-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “We are a broad church bringing unique sonic tones, textures and crossing genres. The Confederation is a melting pot of musical DNA, fusing styles from the golden past, vibrant present and exciting future. This is a rock-soul fusion with a raw blues sound. We recorded all guitars and vocals live.”
Katie Kittermaster | She Should Be Here
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “With her spry pop framework, Katie Kittermaster articulates the melancholy of young adulthood with wit, warmth and clarity. She possesses an ability to express some of the more difficult, confusing aspects of human relationships in a lucid, plain-spoken way. That makes her songs, even in their most downcast moments, a study of resolve, strength and triumph. “I wrote SSBH during lockdown by myself — it was a song I’d been wanting to write for a while but hadn’t found the time whilst away on tour,” she says. “The song follows the story of a group of girls on a night out — getting ready to go, at the bar, in the bathroom, at the kebab shop and waiting at the taxi rank for a ride home. For me this song is super personal and it was definitely a cathartic experience — it perfectly captures how I’ve felt about a particular friend who I had fallen out with and missed very very much.”
Laura Ige | Light Of Love
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Reggae-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Singer-songwriter Laura Ige is from the U.K. Light Of Love is a bouncy, rocksteady-jazz throwback with smooth sax from Alvin Davis, matched with jazz-flavoured vocals. It was produced in the style of the late Amy Winehouse. Light Of Love is a love song and a prayer; with its themes of guidance, love and hope, it’s a song that we really need today.”
Hurli | Pity Parti
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Electronic Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Hurli is an artist going deep within to the scary places and bringing songs back to the surface — all written and recorded in his bedroom. “Pity Parti is a track that I poured all my anger towards depression into,” he says. “It’s actually the first whole song I ever completed and happens to be the piece of art that pulled me out of a hell-hole mind state. I released it knowing that it is a powerful piece of music that can touch the soul of anyone battling depression demons.”
Brother Boost | Swedish Horse
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Indie-Folk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Brother Boost is the music of Peter Hatch. After 20 years of bedroom recordings and half-creations, the looming milestone of 40 meant it was time to get to work. He realized at 38 that his single goal was to finally release a record- before his 40th birthday. And he wanted to go big. He reached out to heroes like Yuuki Matthews (The Shins, Crystal Skulls), and James McAlister (Sufjan Stevens, The National) to add production and drums. The resulting record, Dead Meat, is the debut album from Brother Boost. It’s a reflection on friends and family, procrastination, introversion, horseshit, facing 40, and taking stock. This song is about working at a tech company and discovering that the promised riches weren’t meant to be. It’s a delightful ride.”
Clide | Hotel Room
HOME BASE: Germany.
GENRE: Pop-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Although still pretty young, Clide knows exactly what adjectives he wants his music to be associated with: Authentic, innovative and raw. He wants to talk about things that move him and are close to his heart. Of course, love is one of those things, but so are questions around his own identity, the search for truth, dreams and interpersonal relationships. He starts the new year by releasing his uptempo emo-pop track Hotel Room, a song about catching feelings (again) for someone that hurt you before. Like falling back in love with your ex, knowing it can’t work out. Guitar-driven and with a punky flair, the song is a great soundtrack to turn up in the car, dance to, cry over your ex to — or all at the same time!”
Conomor | To Better Days
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “We are two French guys, One lives in U.S.A., the other in France. The first sings, writes lyrics, plays guitars and synths. The other lives in France and does beats, synths, arrangements and mixes.”
https://soundcloud.com/user-680369719/to-better-days/s-8Rgpz2cZhcO?in=user-680369719/sets/conomor/s-8vxoPbKie5i&si=ec1152c30241482894499cb2b58c7a32&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Car Ants Seats | Roots
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Born in Cameroon in 1993, Car Ants Seats is a multi-influenced artist. All songs are produced on GarageBand. Roots is a song about life.”
Lias | Lost
HOME BASE: Germany.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Lias takes an unsparing look into his own soul. His songs delve into the fear of failure, the pain of separation, his fight for mental health and a young man’s search for meaning as he flips his entire life upside-down to make music. He captures the emotional rawness of his inner world and juxtaposes it with a musical vastness that simultaneously manages to preserve its intimacy. His debut EP is set for release this summer. Lost is an anthemic ballad that reflects upon dealing with difficult memories of love. The song was created in a state of deep depression after breaking up with his girlfriend. The song captures the mood of an entire generation struggling with mental health issues and sorrows about their future in the pandemic era. When our inner world is taken hostage by melancholy, it feels like we’re faced with a seemingly hopeless situation: No way out. Fighting the tide that pulls us down, we get lost in the depth of our emotions as we play pretend: a smile on the outside, empty on the inside. Lost.”
Nobodyy | Solo
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Solo is my first project.”
Chris Claixt | Pharaon’s Reverie
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I would like to share my creative universe: To offer a short moment of intense disconnection through a singular sound journey in this world where every second is counted.”
