Tooloud hit with a miss, Josie Bello perseveres, Stellaire keeps it sweet and crazy, Willows have the look — and we’re still not done with 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, keep it going with these superb submissions:
Tooloud | Miss You (ft. Kenny Joyce)
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “French musician-producer Tooloud (aka Cyrille Fonteneau) is armed with a solid background in mixing electronic music. He has produced many soundtracks for TV, commericials, short films and shows. Miss You is a tribute to the The Rolling Stones, the band that reinvented rock, influenced our lifestyles and spanned the ages. At a time when Charlie Watts has gone to play on another plane, Tooloud pay tribute to them with this cover of an eternal title engraved in our memories. It’s a mixture of electronics and rhythmic rock, sublimated by the very particular voice of Kenny Joyce. Miss you, Charlie.”
Josie Bello | Resilience
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Folk-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Josie Bello is an Americana artist from New York. Her songs combine strong vocals and meaningful lyrics with a hybrid folk, rock, country and blues musicality. Resilience, the title track from her current album, provides a mantra for all the resilient women who have experienced gender and racial discrimination in family, social, religious and workplace settings. Women balance resistance and resilience in order to survive the daily inequities placed upon them. Strong lead vocals and percussive rhythms drive this track.”
Stellaire | Douceur En Folle
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Synth-pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Stellaire are a new French duo based in Montreal. They are on an ambient electropop journey, originating from the former atmospheric rock band Embrasse-Moi L’Hiver. Reminiscent of Beth Gibbons (Portishead) and compared to Jorane and Klô Pelgag, Stellaire’s dramatic and captivating voice wraps you up within a delicate soundtrack, as you find yourself drifting towards other suns.”
Willows | On Se Ressemble
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Métis singer-songwriter Willows follows up her critically acclaimed EP The Hills with her new single On Se Ressemble. Born and raised on Treaty 1 territory and now residing in Montreal, Geneviève Toupin is an active part of the city’s music scene, a founding member of the electro-pop group Chances, a singer in Danse Lhasa Danse as more.”
Mhdiall | La Vie
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Hip-Hop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Originally from Mali and living in France since he was 18, Mhdiall is a happy young 40-something who, after a life of hard work, reconnected with his first cultural loves and now presents his creations to the general public. Here is the album version of his single La Vie. His concept album about around Black music and its different styles will soon be available.”
Ivan Britz | Quimera
HOME BASE: Brazil.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Ivan Britz has takes his reflection back to the semantics of his childhood. A cosmopolitan citizen raised in urban England and Brazil, he brings forth every resource of songwriting he finds within him. He contemplates melodies and harmonies with a multicultural approach, seeing the song as the fundamental cornerstone. Quimera is chill, melodic and poetically attuned to the erosion of love in our crazy times. It is part of an extended compositional and conceptual project called Proto Typical Human, arriving April 22.”
Wolf & Clover | An Rógaire Dubh
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Celtic-Folk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Wolf & Clover are a Celtic roots / alt-folk band from Columbus, Georgia. This is a reimagined version of a traditional Irish-language song. Only the vocal melody and the words remain; the rest is our arrangement, harmony, instrumentation, etc. It leans heavily on the Fender Rhodes and Wurlitzer keyboards (not synths).”
Joe Kenney | If It Lasts (ft. Elle Gyandoh & Murphy Bug)
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Award-winning songwriter, recording artist, and pianist Joe Kenney releases If It Lasts, a collaboration with lyricist/vocalist Elle Gyandoh and Los Angeles recording artist Murphy Bug. The soulful and chill song features a vocal duet accompanied by the piano and Rhodes of Kenney, the guitar stylings of Mt. Joy’s Sam Cooper, and the stellar rhythm section of bassist Carter Fox and drummer Adam Sisko. The melodies in If It Lasts are moving and memorable, and the chorus draws on Kenney’s classical piano upbringing in quoting and re-harmonizing a passage from a Beethoven sonata in a way that is simple and beautifully relatable to the listener.”
XIXI | 8409 Hamlin St. (ft. DJ Alizay)
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Hip-Hop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Jamar Adams, better known as XIXI (Eleven Eleven), is a music producer from Landover, Maryland. His music career began at age eight, playing drums with the go-go band The Yunga Bucks. He is known for eclectic mix of rap, trap, and soul music. This is track 3 from XIXI’s instrumental concept album and first solo release. It’s rap and boom-bap, and features DJ Alizay on the scratches of NWA’s Dope Man and KRS One’s Sound of Da Police. It goes hard.”
Dalton John | Know Me (ft. The Venice)
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “When it comes to self-expression, music is Dalton John‘s favorite field. After releasing his first EP Ready To Go about a breakup, he travels in search of new colors, new sounds. And for those, he went back to the source, absorbing energies from the culture he is from, Africa. His new tracks wear new clothes, for the purpose of making people dance. His goal is
to extend Afro sounds to a personal conception of pop encompassing U.K. house and French touch. It’s the music of a young black man of Congolese origin, born in Paris in the early ’90s. His upcoming EP is a tribute to his own history.”
https://soundcloud.com/thegumclub/dalton-john-know-me/s-HkjZfe2JXLK?si=0735fb3a74c24b198f19f2819ce683cd&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Philly D | Badman Party
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This song is energetic U.K. drill with a reggae infusion. It’s a song that fits into many running and gym playlists, with meaningful lyrics.”
Lazy Hunter | Influencer
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Prog-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “We play indie rock with a progressive / experimental edge somewhere between Mars Volta and The Killers. We like odd time signatures and unusual lyrical themes. This song explores the vacuous nature of influencer culture over a wonky 6/4 groove. It’s the first single from our mini-album Fast Track to the Peach Blossom Spring.”
Naya Rockers | Guiding Star
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Reggae.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “We are an independent reggae music collective based out of Boston.”
Yaële | Love And Light
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Yaële is an independent French artist with an international dimension due to her English songs. Her soul and R&B influences have largely contributed to the creation of Love & Light. She wrote the lyrics and created all the vocal parts (lead and backgrounds). She collaborated with Charles Montup of Positive Prod. for the beat. Yaële is spiritual and an energetic healer. The goal of her upcoming EP is to open human minds and consciences, love and life with rythms that have always moved her and that are a huge part of who she is. Love & Light is the first single of this project.”
Chris Ward | Colder
HOME BASE: Ireland.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I’m a 22-year-old singer-songwriter from Limerick City, Ireland. I saved up for a couple of years busking on the streets to afford to record my EP in a professional studio. This song is the second single from it. Colder was written when I was in a very dark place. It unapologetically describes the slow degradation of a once-loving relationship; the stupid little arguments, the eye rolls and an unshakable feeling that person beside you isn’t the person you fell in love with. The heavily distorted guitars, deep bassline and soaring passionate vocals perfectly encapsulate the feelings of loss and give the listener insight into a difficult situation.”
Test Card Girl | Fly
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Test Card Girl is a solo project by Manchester indie singer-songwriter Catherine Burgis. She released her first single in 2020 and is currently working on her debut EP Fly with producer Seadna McPhail. Test Card Girl’s music ranges from lo-fi bedroom pop to simple indie-folk, influenced in equal parts by the standard-issue musical taste of a ’90s Manchester teenager, an obsession with the MIDI sounds of childhood keyboards and finger-picking folk songs of old. Fly was written during the long hot days of lockdown; the song is about feeling trapped inside, whilst jealously watching a fly explore the four corners of the room and then fly off through the window to freedom. Sonically, it is a result of hearing Kraftwerk’s Autobahn playing in the background while half-watching a programme about colliery bands in British mining towns. It’s a rallying cry to stand up and walk to nowhere.”
The Official Christian Rapper, Mr. Raj | Vineyard Memoir
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I call myself The Official Christian Rapper and I write and record originals directly to my Savior and my emotions. My songs aren’t specifically made for Christians but for people from all over the globe. Here is Vineyard Memoir. In a short punch, this song is complicated, filled with emotional twists and turns, and some controversial subjects. ‘Branch without the vine, water turned to wine,’ is a hook that I hope each and every single listener will have played in their mind. Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.”
Stilla | Om
HOME BASE: Sweden.
GENRE: Hip-Hop Jazz.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Stilla is a Swedish author and artist, singing, rapping and writing about love, sex, lust, dating, relationships, gender, Tinder and loneliness. Believe it or not, she was born 1964, has a PhD in Sociology, danced hip-hop in the final of Sweden’s got Talent on her 50th birthday and has three bronze medals from the European Championships in Classic Powerlifting / Benchpress.”
Culleton | Broken Mirror
HOME BASE: Ireland.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Hugely exciting Irish alt-pop artist Culleton’s early tracks are creating lots of buzz. Her new single Broken Mirror showcases her unique and distinctive style of vocals and rap. This, coupled with the fact that she just turned 16 and creaties her tracks at home on GarageBand, is exciting a lot of people about her potential.”
Haga187 | Fantastic Mr. Fish
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This is my debut as a solo artist. A bassist by training, I am also a curious person who likes to experiment and develop my inspirations.”
South of France | Observatory
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “From his hometown of Denver, Colorado, South of France frontman Jeff Cormack has been building his own brand of dreamy vacation rock since dropping his first single in 2015, with songs featured in Bojack Horseman and Shameless. His band South of France are back with their new dreamy and shoe-gazey love tune Observatory. It is the second preview of their upcoming album My Spirit Animal My Baggage, and features a sugary array of contemporary drone tones with a soaring mini Moog synth line, plenty of brash guitars, dreamy vocals and a solid dance-y groove. “I just wanted to create a very straight-forward, dreamy love song. Something that’s more of a loud fuzzy feeling with Observatory than it is anything else”, says Jeff. It’s easy to see why South of France have been gaining buzz opening for Portugal. The Man, Flaming Lips and Michigander.”
Peggy James | Indoor Cat
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Americana.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Peggy James was born in Milwaukee but spent her formative years in the Southwest. This desert Americana flavour influences her songs, allowing her style to be both unique and eclectic. Her lyrics are honest and direct, shooting straight from the heart. Her voice, clear and sweet, can get tough with the best of them. She has five albums to her credit. From pop-rock to ballads to Americana, Peggy’s storytelling, melodies and lyrics create captivating journeys.”
Esteban | Camping
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I started bass when I was 15. Today I compose on guitar. I present, as summer 2022 approaches, this happy title for a party. It brings us closer to aperitifs with friends and family, sun and sea, beach and shells. It smells of hot sand, relaxation and good times after the pandemic. Smile.”
The Independent Sound | I Feel Like I’m Missing
HOME BASE: Canada / United States.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I Feel Like I’m Missing is a song that will get stuck in your head (and you’ll never want it to leave). It’s the soundtrack to summer and the bittersweet experience of finding yourself in the big city.”
Orbital Gloom | Floating Lies
HOME BASE: Germany.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Orbital Gloom from Berlin were founded in 2019 as an electronic music project by Kosmo (synthesizer) and Can (vocals). Their warm and melodic dance tracks are rooted between electro, IDM and deep house. Floating Lies is their fourth single. With it, they continue trying to find new and subtly different creative ways of presenting thoughts and music. As with previous songs, the track is carefully structured, setting an atmosphere before the vocals come in. There are elements of trance, minimal techno and electro-pop in the loops and riffs that play around the vocal, then find their way to the middle of the dance floor for a great hands-in-the-air moment. When we hear “I’m starting to feel, I’m starting to heal” at the end of the track, the overall aesthetic of the band’s work bursts through in waves: It is not only a piece of music — there is a story behind it as well.”
Crystalator | Sludge
HOME BASE: New Zealand.
GENRE: Alt-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Crystalator are a New Zealand rock band influenced by a heavy dose of ’90s rock, modern metal and everything between. The sound is a balance of hard-hitting drums, fuzzy grunge-tinged bass and delay-laden guitars rounded out by dynamic vocals. This culminates in a powerful, unique blend of sound that is big and original. Crystalator is the product of years of learning, growth and finding a distinctive, creative voice. Sludge is their raucous debut single.”
Blitz Union | Get Up
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. “Rules are important, but many of these regulations also prevent us from thinking freely and trusting our instincts and our gut feelings. If we want to have a clear, non-judgemental view on this world, we have to go through the pain of learning how to free ourselves of the things that hamper our mental potential. It’s about freeing ourselves from a certain ‘social corset’ and instead using our inner strength to go our own way. So get up!”
Bubba Brothers | Amandla (Tutu)
HOME BASE: Portugal.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Our new track Amandla is an homage to freedom and peace hero Desmond Tutu. A joyful tribute as that’s what life is all about. Let’s dance.”
Diarmuid J Kennedy | Maud’s Melody
HOME BASE: Ireland.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Irish piano composer Diarmuid J Kennedy’s song Maud’s Melody is a piano solo. “I had the original melody and thought it would be a nice tribute for my youngest daughter,” she says. “But her older sister Medb, said it needs more drama which would be more fitting for her sister Maud, so I added drama at end.”
Grace O’Shea | Blinked
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Grace O’Shea is a singer-songwriter from New England who now calls Nashville home. Grace first picked up a guitar when she was 14, and was performing in popular Boston venues by 16. By 18, she had relocated to Music City in pursuit of the next song. Drawing from vintage folk, country, and Americana influences that include Brandi Carlile, Lori McKenna, Kacey Musgraves, Joni Mitchell and Taylor Swift, O’Shea’s music evokes themes both timeless and classic, blended with fresh, contemporary sounds and arrangements. Blinked tells a story of an unrequited first love that sneaks up on you, and the exciting but scary feeling of coming to terms with that. With its cryptic imagery, ascendant vocal lines, ethereal strings, and lyrics cloaked in a light shade of melancholy blue, the song captures a feeling of love not quite gained, but perhaps not quite lost, leaving listeners to decide for themselves. It involves quite the sonic journey, starting acoustic and eventually going full band, including a strings section.”