Wildsofa make you quake, Dandy Guts land on S, Jam Khalil triumphs, TexMex Shaman serves cosmic desserts 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 200 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 your fill of these tasty treats:
Wildsofa | Quake
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Brutal pop band. French Riviera. Esoteric. The peace of the Golden Bison upon you.”
Dandy Guts | On S’ (Electro-Funk)
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “André is a poet, an independent artist nourished by various musical currents. During his artistic and musical journey he has been known by several names — Capital X, Cosmos, Villa, PistolEros, André Bereta — and released albums titled Cosmos, Planet Love, No Tune City and We Love You. Now, André presents his new titles under the pseudonym Dandy Guts. On S’ (Electro Funk) is a song that borrows minimalist codes to describe a current way of life where Anglo-Saxon culture is predominant on a global level. This song underlines the extent to which our actions and activities stem from a major technological evolution originating in America.”
Jam Khalil | Triomphe
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Rap.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Jamil Assoum, aka Jam Khalil, is a 23-year-old rapper from Montreal. He started writing at the age of 14, and is slowly gut surely building a solid catalog, determined to have a significant impact on the Montreal scene and the Quebec culture. “Triomphe is the first single from my album Au Coeur du Royaume,” he says “These are my first big-budget productions. I think the song and the clip show that my vision is different from that of other artists — at least locally. There is an appearance by Shreez, a well-known and respected rapper in Montreal, in the clip. I find that all of this represents my city and my province well.”
TexMex Shaman | Cosmic Desserts
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Indie Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “TexMex Shaman, a project of musician Stephen Watkins, was founded in 2018. TexMex Shaman offers a genre-defying sound that combines funk beats, intense guitar, smooth bass, and captivating samples into tracks that are at once familiar and novel. “This is a unique track that strives to invoke positive blissful emotions in the listener,” Watkins says. “I’ve dubbed the vocal style ‘ambient scat’ because it’s a softer emotive style and has the ‘Dooby dooby doo’ style of singing like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald or Louis Armstrong. Not really rock or pop, it kinda fits somewhere between a fantasy soundtrack and an organic storytelling through music experience.”
Frero 11OGN | Elysium (ft. Do Funk, Who Is Freestyle)
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “An artist and producer of Haitian descent who grew up in France, Frero has publicized and popularized rap in France with his group La Mixture and the famous magical buzz of the song Le Dos au Mur. His writing is quite intricate, with the use of strong imagery and multifaceted knowledge, translating the fears, dreams and feelings of indigenous youth of his generation. His lyrics are often impregnated with ‘augmented reality,’ a cinematographic style that sometimes frightens us so much it can be premonitory. On a musical level, his futuristic textures are mixed with the groove and musicality of jazz, soul and funk.”
Woody Hood | If I Stay High + Let’s Get It + Juice
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: Woody Hood lets his music do the talking.
4ever lost | Suffocating
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Angels and demons take different shapes in each and everyone’s life. We often imagine them as little creatures sitting on our shoulders, but they can also manifest themselves through different relationships we have or little voices in our heads. 4ever lost is the synthesis of all this. The band included founder Six, guitarist and bassist Hero, keyboard player Oni and drummer/percussionist Abi. Mixing alt-R&B and pop, their music is cradled by poetic and deep lyrics and intoxicating productions — all enlightened by a bright palette to represent the diversity of emotion. Through their songs, the young artists carry the messages of those who no longer have the voice or the power to turn their feelings into words. 4ever lost is us. 4ever lost can be you. 4ever lost is the whole world. Suffocating” is a mix of emotions, reality and illusions, dreams and nightmares. Largely influenced by XXXTentacion’s acoustic period and by The Weeknd, the track is catchy, while keeping the mysterious universe characteristic of the band.”
Artmin | La Nuit Sera Calme
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Thanks to a skipper father, Artmin spent part of his childhood in the Caribbean. When he makes music, he tries to get closer to all his madeleines de Proust, the colors and atmospheres which shaped his dreams very young. In this first track of his new project, Artmin stops time for a rare moment, both intimate and universal, between rap, song and indie.”
Koenix | Let’s Dadada
HOME BASE: Switzerland.
GENRE: Folk-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Koenix, the internationally known medieval folk-rock band from Switzerland, are finally back. After four studio albums and the best-of album Dekade 1, the musicians — Jonas Martin Schneider (vocals, bagpipes), Michael Hugi (bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy), Marco Piccapietra (bouzouki, sitar) and Philipp Eichenberger (drums) — return with new material. Over the next few months they are going to release three singles as well as an album. The single Let’s Dadada shows the immense variety of the upcoming album by impressing stylistically in a different way than the previous releases did. This ska-punk-influenced song is a joyful invitation to forget your sadness for a while and live for the moment in dance. Why are you resisting? Leave the past behind, come to life today. Let’s dance!”
Thaïs | Vieux-Port
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Pop.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “A Montreal singer-songwriter and performer, Thaïs explores the sounds of French-speaking pop music, soaring and sparkling. With her soft and controlled voice, she sings of melancholy, loneliness and love disorders. Her influences are diverse, ranging from Emily Haines, to Malajube and Serge Gainsbourg. Vieux-Port is the second single from the EP Tout Est Parfait: Acte Un, scheduled for release on May 6. The song invites us to dance as much as to think. For this track, Thaïs collaborated with Coeur de Pirate for the writing and with Renaud Bastien for the production.”
Popol Jack | De Pâques Et De Rap
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Here is a title that has the simple vocation of not having a vocation. Lightness, letting go and relaxation. A bit parodic, this Easter rap is also educational.”
Laura Gagne | L’Amour Me Va
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Montreal singer-songwriter Laura Gagné shares music for your soul, creating a dreamworld of her own. With her smoky vocals, she delivers an indie-pop experience tainted with soul influences, relating her uplifting and empowering anthems of freedom, love and self-reflection. L’Amour Me Va is the first single from the singer-songwriter’s new album. With this track, Laura reveals a new facet of her project, a pop-soul universe with soaring electro influences. In her sublime hushed voice, she gives us a hymn to modern love that enchants and liberates: “Love suits me.” Airy melodies and catchy choruses inhabit a grand soundscape in the company of natural sounds. A delicate dance between words, images and melodic waves. Laura thus paints a simple and sincere picture: You cannot control a force of nature, but you can tame it.”
DeCarteret | Trip Me
HOME BASE: Ireland.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Trip Me is taken from Irish neo-soul / pop artist DeCarteret’s forthcoming debut EP Cumming and Crying On The Bathroom Floor, due at the end of June.”
John Wolfhooker | Inferno
HOME BASE: Czechia.
GENRE: Metal.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “John Wolfhooker are a four-piece band from Prague who serve an alt-rock salad peppered with progressive breakdowns and pop melodies. They have self-released three albums and 30 videos, mostly produced by drummer Adrian Janecek. Their 2019 album 313 got nominated for Ceny Andel awards. The band released the new EP 626 in March and are working on their next album now.”
BMX Escape | Broken Hearts (ft. Justin J. Moore)
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “BMX Escape’s retro-electro sound is steeped in references to vintage elements of ’80s pop culture. The memory of this emblematic decade shines through in each of his compositions. Being passionate about film music since his childhood, he strives to keep a cinematic thread for each title, as a driving force and a source of inspiration. This permanent creative exercise led him to develop his first album around a complete narrative base. Evolving in an imaginary TV series, the action takes place in 1985, with a young scientist named Jody at the heart of the story. Broken Hearts is a synth-pop track with a classic verse/bridge/chorus structure and a strong ’80s vibe. Canada’s Justin J. Moore wrote catchy lyrics and recorded a pretty cool vocal performance.”
Journey Steppa | Battle
HOME BASE: Jamaica.
GENRE: Reggae.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Live up the one life … Why die? Don’t please death. Music is what Jah love … One love, teachings of the rasta man.”
https://youtu.be/tCWlZuejPBo
Saverio Amore | Hanami
HOME BASE: Italy.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I am a pianist and composer from Italy. Hanami is my first digitally released composition. Hanami, Japanese for “flower viewing,” is a struggling piano song, with melancholic and intense romance atmospheres. The oriental influences take the listeners to the Sakura ritual in Japan and the relaxing vibes of the cherry blossom season.”
Caleb Taylor | 3 Year Song
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I’ve created a new genre called nü-soul, a modern intersection between R&B, hip-hop, alt-rock, gospel and pop. Since the beginning of black music in America, dating back to slave times, intersectionality has been present in genres. During the ’20s this was evident between jazz, gospel and blues, with the later being the father of modern music. When neo-soul was created in the ’90s, it was no different, with acts such as Musiq Soulchild, D’angelo and Jill Scott infusing genres like hip-hop & gospel with R&B. Since then a lot has changed — we’ve got cooler Autotune, better reverbs, and the landscape of hip-hop has completely changed. But some things never change.”
Jean-Yves Allaire | Friendship
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Smooth Jazz.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I live in Sherbrooke, Que. I have been a pianist since the ’80s and a composer for 20 years for advertising projects and songs on the Montreal market.”
Cephas | Dancing Alone
HOME BASE: Nigeria.
GENRE: Hip-Hop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I am a hip-hop/ rap artist, singer and songwriter.”
Jean-Pascal Boffo | Where The Gold Is Dug (ft. Florent Simon)
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Folk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Jean-Pascal Boffo is a French musician, guitarist and composer. He has been a sound engineer since 1990, producing, engineering, mixing and mastering more than 300 records. He has also played in progressive rock bands such as Larsen, Mandragore, Troll (in studio with Magma‘s choir and brass section in 1981). He has released 11 albums since 1986. Where The Gold Is Dug is the third track from the collaboration between Boffo and singer-songwriter Florent Simon. In the line of their first two tracks, The Ether and Colour Blind, this new song offers the listener an intimate setting to cradle emotions, and be carried away.”
Isaackito | Gitana (ft. Joze Jaramago)
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: World.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “After a world tour and four albums with the group Malka Family, Isaac and Dany’o, trombonist and bass player, released their first album with the group Madioko and gave birth to the Madioko Mobile Studio. Isaackito took the mobile studio on the road to Chiclana de la Frontera to meet Joze Jaramago (singer and guitarist). Gitana is their first single.”
MJ | Missy Flow
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “MJ grew up on the sounds of old-school singers such as Luther Vandross and hard-hitting Southern rap that ranged from OutKast to Cash Money. She is developing her own vibe in the Houston music scene. “Missy Flow is a unique and odd track off of my EP The Way Things Were,” she says. “The beat was produced by Do’Henry and the lyrics were created by yours truly. I was heavily inspired in both sound and visuals by Missy Elliot, hence the title. For the music video, I wanted it to be more lighthearted and fun than my previous works. Switch it up some and show that I can create a smooth banger.”
Ama Dee | Out Of My Safe Zone
HOME BASE: Italy.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Ama Dee, a young singer-songwriter, is the kind of artist you can hardly fit into a box. She is a multifaceted singer, songwriter and performer whose complex personality is showcased in her sound, resulting in a blend of genres from soul to funk and urban to indie. “As the title suggests, the song is about what getting out of my comfort zone always feels like to me,” she explains. “How it’s never easy but that, as you keep pushing past your limits, your safe zone begins to expand and you gradually start getting comfortable in situations that once made you feel anxious, unsafe. Getting out of my safe zone also becomes a means to get to know yourself better, your strengths and your weaknesses, whatever makes you who you are.”
Theade | Broken Peace
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “As a producer and composer, Theade has developed his own unique brand of emotional neo-classical music for film. He started his musical career in 2000 as a DJ, before taking his music in a variety of new directions, fusing classical with the beats he was previously DJing. Theade notes: “The result is that each set is composed rather like a symphony, mixing between tracks is often unnoticed, resulting in an unending seamless mix from start to finish.” This forward-thinking style of Djing has allowed Theade to develop a unique and grounded position at the intersection of the DJ and film score scenes. The musical style will delight anyone that is interested in ambient breaks, post-classical, and piano music. The theme in Theade’s music is about often missed moments in life, from themes in sadness or joy.”
Pulse Park | Sine Wave
HOME BASE: Germany / Canada.
GENRE: Alt-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Pulse Park met some time ago on an Arctic expedition in Nunavut, and started learning their instruments during the long polar nights. These were ukuleles that they traded dry fruits for with the Inuit. After the successful introduction of a breeding program for bowhead whales, the band decided to go back to Germany. But unfortunately, before this could happen, huskies escaped with their belongings, so the guys had to get by by playing street music in Canada, singing about the cold, the dark, cod-liver oil and not forgetting the white Arctic hares. “Our musical influences are very wide, but our sound is closest to Dinosaur Jr., Lemonheads and Cloud Nothings.”
Bubba Brothers | Make House Not War
HOME BASE: Portugal.
GENRE: EDM.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Techno and house DJs Eliseo Correia and Justino Santos are Bubba Brothers, friends from Portugal who have become a regular and popular presence in clubs and festivals. They have produced multiple dance-floor hits, making their careers grow at a strong and fast pace. While euphoric, Make House Not War is informed by our wildly uncertain and tumultuous time. “Music has always been a form of peaceful statement and freedom of expression,” the duo explain. “Our message is clear in this track: More House. No War.”
Lijo | I Want Out
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Art-pop songstress Lijo continues her journey of new material with her darkest track so far. I Want Out is a stark contrast to the minimalistic previous release Spell; it’s a feverish, rhythm-driven song revolving around the theme of anxiety. I Want Out is a powerful song about feeling powerless. It’s a captivating trip from gnarling synths to dreamy pianos. It’s unexpected and daring, showing off Lijo’s eccentricity and genre-bending vision once again. In previous releases, Lijo has already shown literate songwriting and an inventive approach to melody, as well as an observing eye fixed on the world around her. In Lijo’s eyes, everything seems like a show: On a small scale, we all are the main characters of our own little stages, and on a bigger one we act like we are the main character in this world. Lijo addresses this and its consequences, but then decorates it with a sense of lightheartedness and danceability, innovative melodies and feverish sounds. Because as she puts it, all we can and should do is add beauty to a world that needs it.”
Tony Cage | Dancehall, Tropical House
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Dance-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “ I come to share this production with you. I combined elements (instrument, drums) of several demos to which I bought the rights.”
Aprile | Plan B
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Aprile unveils his second single Plan B. It deals with the difficulty of the music industry with a certain irony. This pop single, with the air of French neo-variety, opens the doors to his first album From Heaven.”
Clide | Must Be Nice
HOME BASE: Germany.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Clide has come a long a way, musically and personally. At 16 years old he started fiddling with a computer, a microphone and a piano, and hasn’t stopped since. Lo-fi pop is a big source of inspiration. While he also loves writing and singing piano ballads, he’s an aficionado of pop, likes fresh sounds that build bridges between the genres of pop, urban and R&B. You’d probably find his vinyl on shelves somewhere between Post Malone, Alexander23 and James Arthur. 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 identity, the search for truth, dreams and interpersonal relationships. Clide continues exploring a vivid and modern approach to his consistently honest and reliable lyrics with Must Be Nice. “Must Be Nice is about leaving,” Clide says. “Leaving the person you love ’cause you know you can’t be together. The song and the whole soundscape are capturing the emotion and thoughts in that moment.”
Clarissa Diokno | Wake Up Call
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Clarissa Diokno is an independent artist in Kitchener who blends her smooth yet raw, soulful vocal style with pop production. “What would you do to get that love back?” she asks. “I wrote this song about it. Wake Up Call is a bittersweet, guitar-driven pop song about the realization of wanting to be together with a former love. The song has two moods: The verses are sad and reflective, and express the storyteller’s feelings post-breakup, while the chorus is more uplifting and hopeful about the relationship if they were to get back together.”
Natural Twenty | Ebb & Flow
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Jazz-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Natural Twenty are a group of Filipino-Canadians in Calgary. They have dedicated their passion and talents into their rendition of funk, jazz, soul, and R&B. With influences like Jimi Hendrix, Frank Ocean, Anderson .Paak, Hiatus Kaiyote, Snarky Puppy and Steely Dan, they have been compared to Phony Ppl, Daft Punk and John Legend. Ebb & Flow is a short, sweet, and insanely catchy song. It follows the fleeting feeling of new, unrequited attraction and admiration. Ebb & Flow shows their pop sensibility while flexing their songcrafting with jazz and soul elements.”
Claudio | Et Si On Refaisait Le Monde
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop-Pock.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Fabien Lorh, a young singer and composer, presents this song to you. Thanks for listening.”
Circle KSK | Nightmare
HOME BASE: Japan.
GENRE: Pop-Punk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Circle KSK use 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. The vocalist this time is Mokoko Tachibana, a talented artist and model.”
