Jocelyn & Chris double-team you, Bota comes back for more, Nipazen wonders where you went, Dynast wants you to open up 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, feast your eyes and ears on these fine finds:
Jocelyn & Chris | Black And Blue + So Far To Fly
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Volume: Loud. Hair: Long. Apologies: None. Think rock is dead? Meet Jocelyn & Chris. Two analog souls hell-bent on inciting a new rock revival. The siblings, both recent graduates of Harvard, have balanced college with performances coast to coast and recording seven records featuring special guests including Cory Wong (Vulfpeck), G. Love, Byron Isaacs (Lumineers), and Gov’t Mule’s Danny Louis. Black and Blue has smoky vocals, sultry guitar and attention-grabbing rifts present a song that’s laced with heartbreak and love. So Far To Fly feaures emotional vocals, driving acoustic guitar and uplifting lyrics tell a story about finding yourself and holding on to hope.”
Bota | Encore
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “In this touching piano piece that gradually evolves into a well-produced pop ballad with a retro touch, Bota shows us yet another new facet of his musical eclecticism.”
Nipazen | T’Es Ou?
HOME BASE: Switzerland.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Discover the Nipazen universe — inspirational and emotional orchestral music, relaxing instrumental pop and progressive vibes. Get ready to relax and start dreaming. T’Es Ou? is a disco / dance number with a joyful and offbeat clip that humorously reminds us that despite all our current means, managing to communicate, get along and respond to each other is not always so easy!”
Dynast | Tell Me
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Dancehall.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Dynast has been singing since his childhood, rocked by gospel, dancehall, and rap. He grew up in Caribbean, then moved to Paris during his teenage years, where began as a dancehall singer. He quickly grow up and found himself signed to a label where he achieved several great experiences. Then he decided to step back for few years to compose and write for other artists. Today he returns to the front of the stage with an awesome project.”
Sêminvo Xlixè | Une Minute De Slam
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: Slam Poetry.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Sêminvo Xlixè is a songwriter and award-winning slam poet from Benin. His latest single Une Minute De Slam (A Minute Of Slam) was recorded live in the studio in Brussels, set against Afro sounds inspired by his Dahomean culture. His album I came, I saw, I… arrives Sept. 16.”
https://youtu.be/sgwGOTiq5B0
Laszlo Jones | Invincible
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Kick ass rock track.”
Andrew Ezzet | Love Me Too
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This song is summer vibes: Chill, vulnerable, raw, and passionate. It’s about being open to unexpected/accidental love and the joys and challenges that come with it. It’s the kind of song you listen to when you want to relax and feel something at the same time.”
Eliandra Rocha | Uma Casa Pra Nos Dois
HOME BASE: Brazil.
GENRE: Folk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Eliandra Rocha was born in São Paulo but lives in Italy. Music kept her company her whole life. As a composer, she considers it important to write lyrics that have the capacity of reflecting on important issues such as empathy, gratitude and the need to believe and work in order to make dreams come true. Her style is rhythmic, her voice warm and embracing. She follows the vision of life in which rules and common sense walk hand in hand without the need for judgment. Eliandra composed music in partnership with the Brazilian concert pianist and composer Marcelo Cesena. She wants her music to help people to find their inner peace and feel at home in their own heart. Eliandra loves literature, flowers, flagrant candles and is a decoration enthusiast.”
Caleb Cascio | Roller Coaster
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Just in time for summer amusements, Caleb Cascio’s contemporary new pop single Roller Coaster, will have you ready to spin your way through the carnival of love. It is an uplifting summer anthem with instantly identifiable hooks. Through the bright melodic tone of his voice, the energetic rhythm section that locks the listener in, alongside the layering of beautiful guitars and grooving bass, Caleb has crafted a song based on the ups and downs of young love.”
Zac Z | Ony
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Dragon Fly is Zac Z’s fifth album. It overflows with music: dystopian soundscapes, hard-hitting blues guitar mashed with drum and bass in, chilled-out electronic vibes and up-tempo electronica. This range of material is underpinned by a vast array of different instruments and production techniques. The style is eclectic, electric and energetic. Zac Z is a multi-instrumentalist and producer.”
Domenico Presti | À Ces Rendez Vous Bien A Vous
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Poetry has been my field of expression since I was a little boy. I released a collection of poems titled A Bouquet of Poetry. My natural evolution brings me on the path of songwriter. I released my first album Tout Ce Que in November 2021.”
youf0 | Fortune Cookie
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: Reggaeton.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I present to you a piece of my project. I try to do my best and level up on each tracks. I don’t use any melody loops or voice samples — just hard work. Fortune cookie is a kind of fusion between reggaeton and future bass. But I could be wrong.”
Hanna Kekäläinen | Surrender Experiment
HOME BASE: Finland.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Hanna Kekäläinen has been a piano teacher for over 15 years, and started composing in 2018. Her biggest musical influences are Michael Nyman, Philip Glass, Yann Tiersen, preludes by Bach and soundscapes of Debussy. “One day a friend of mine asked if I had ever tried to improvise or compose music myself,” she recalls. “I hadn’t even thought about it, but I decided to try what would happen if I just put my hands on the piano keyboards and let go. And wow what happened! That improvisation session changed my life.” The story behind Surrender Experiment: “I got an inspiration to do a little improvisation session and started playing something without any intention. I always record the sessions since I don’t usually remember afterwards what I played at all. Luckily I did that this time as well since something amazing happened: This song came through to me, note by note, as if it was a finished piece and as if I had practised it for a long time! I didn’t realize what had came through before I listened to the recording.”
Hustle Holic Wuu | Ain’t No Telling
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I’m Hustle Holic Wudda (Wuu for short). I was born in Dallas and have been writing raps since he was eight. My uncle and cousins have been the most influential people in my life and part of the reason I became an artist. I’m a man first, father second and Gangxxx all together. In a lifestyle so fast-paced, you have to sit back and take in the moments. You never know what awaits around the next corner or under the next rock.”
MX Lonely | TV Suicide
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Post-Punk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “TV Suicide is the second single from MX Lonely’s forthcoming record Cadonia, out Sept. 12. It blends shoegaze and post-punk in a raw fury that finds the band bashing through Pixiesesque riffs over three minutes of blissed-out noise.”
Roy Fiver | Keep Going On
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “My EP Rebirth is out and is a solo album I made all on my own. i really want to be a pro in music.”
Aenu.Lög | Get To Love
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Aenu.Lög (“Analog“), is trained in the discipline of film and a self-taught music composer, arranger, producer and vocalist. As a filmmaker, the music produced by Aenu.Lög can be characterized by cinematic soundscapes and evocative stories told through lyrics and melodies. At the heart of the sound is an immense love for storytelling and all genres of music from the 1970s and ’80s. Get To Love is a reflective, sentimental and dreamy ’80s-style ballad that asks the question: Will love prevail?”
Higgs Field | Leader In The Eye
HOME BASE: Australia.
GENRE: Alt-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Higgs Field are an alt-rock/metal band from Mount Gambier in South Australia. Leader In The Eye is a song about the survival of culture throughout history. With deep percussion, heavy riffs and psychedelic melodies, we take you on a journey through our sound.”
Matte | Power
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This track features a highly diverse reggae artist by the name of C Block Muzic. The theme is very much about overcoming obstacles in life and stepping back into our divine nature. Power is specifically targeted toward the goal of uplifting, empowering and motivating the listener to go within and draw out their own personal power.”
The Isle Of CC | Little Black Dress
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The Isle of CC is a director for Wordplay Magazine and MK Fringe Festival, former radio presenter for 1BTN, and been featured on BBC Introducing Live. At its core, Little Black Dress is about the fantasy of a relationship, but not truly being in one. “I’ve written the lead and backing vocals in such a way that the song ebbs and flows between fantasy and reality,” he says. “The experiences that led to Little Black Dress taught me growth not only as an artist, but as a human being. I felt that Little Black Dress should be the single to lead the Void EP as it represents the middle of my journey, not quite being happy alone, but also not sure I wanted to be with anyone else. It seems to be the stage that people don’t often sing about, it’s either ‘I’m so lonely’ or ‘Fuck everyone, I’m fine’… I hope that it will resonate with listeners in that middle ground.”
Mari Marí | Ride Or Die
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Mari Marí releases this new single, knowing the connections of whatever you desire to whatever you need can be skewed.”
Meadowhip | Am I Broken
HOME BASE: Australia.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Meadowhip (“Meadow-whip”) is the solo project of Wollongong musician-poet-calamity queen Cara Walkam. Influenced by artists like Solange, Tame Impala, Erykah Badu and Frank Ocean, Meadowhip fuses introspective and irreverent lyrics with pop melodies and elements of woozy alt-R&B, soul and jazz. Meadowhip was born during Cara’s recovery from a major hemorrhagic stroke in 2019. It is an exploration of self and society from Cara’s perspective. As she puts it, “I’m here to discuss the big three: Capitalism, patriarchy, and myself.” Moody, provocative and wry, her new single Am I Broken is a quippy reflection on what it’s like to be “the problematic one” in any intimate relationship. It grooves seductively with hypnotic bass lines, audacious keys, and lo-fi/hip hop inspired beats. Powered by alt-pop and R&B hooks and emotive vocals, the track is supported by layers of luscious, airy harmonies and punctuated with hints of shimmering guitar and 1940s-inspired trumpet by Sydney’s Tommy Gun.”
Kay | Majestic
HOME BASE: India.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Kanishka Lohar (aka Kay) is a Mumbai musician who started her journey early in 2021 with her first single, With You. The 25 year old believes in the magic of artistic expression and immerses herself in its liberation. “Music can make you dance with emotions you thought you had to put to the grave. I’ve never felt more connected with myself than when I’m writing a song, pouring my heart out onto paper,” says Kay. Her expression stems from R&B, soul and melancholic pop. Majestic is an exploration of the jungle that is your heart. Awoken from slumber to find yourself to be someone else, a beast that wants to sever all ties and break free. It’s an amalgamation of electronic dance music and soulful sounds of the forest. This song was born from a place of experiencing freedom and being strong enough to change the course of your life, but in style nonetheless. Thus we strive to embrace you in a Majestic world.”
Sofia Evangelina | Get Outta My Head
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “With Sofia Evangelina’s exceptional vocal performances at its forefront, Get Outta My Head fuses contemporary R&B with catchy pop hooks. Sofia Evangelina has a way of touching people’s very hearts and souls with her compelling songwriting and phenomenal five-octave vocal range. Despite being 19, Sofia excudes maturity in her performances and creative approach.”
The Mammoths | Bloodshot
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Blues-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This is the first single following our debut record released one year ago. We have honed our sound by touring for six months out of the year since 2017 (excluding Covid).”
Teku Syndrom | Help Me Grow
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Pop-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Teku Syndrom are a new rock act from Edmundston, N.B.. They combine carefully delivered vocals, crunchy guitars, straightforward bass and punching drums. Teku Syndrom bring their life stories alive with a sound reminiscent of ’80s and ’90s rock acts such as Heart and Aerosmith. Help Me Grow, their first self-produced demo, is an uplifting and inspirational song written for the guitarist’s daughter as she blossomed through her life-awakening gender transition. The lyrics are her dad trying to put her feelings into words as the family embraced her new beginning.”
Bea Box | Your Joy
HOME BASE: Germany.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Bea Box is a singer, songwriter and music producer. She studied traditional percussion with various grandmasters such as Paul Picard, Giovanni Hidalgo and Harouna Dembélé, and was vocally trained by Catherine Bastarache, Vivienne Deane and Shara Nova. She used stays in Cuba, India and the U.S. to train in diverse rhythmic cultures. Her mastery of percussion, coupled with her unique voice and her handling of electronics, make her music captivating. “Your Joy is the first single of my upcoming album Lotus,” she says. “This song explores the beauty and depth of our joy. This release is very dear to me as the song is very personal, and hides some loving memories. The groove is based on a Cuban percussion rhythm called Guaguancó, and is meant to make you move.”
Vincent Bugozi | Angelina
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: World-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Vincent Bugozi is an African world-pop artist in London who creates positive music and energetic performances. He aims to combine different cultures, connect people through music, and help spread positivity and unity. A key goal is to aid cultural integration, unity and understanding. His sound combines afrobeats, reggae, Afro-Cuban and pop. Angelina is the third single of his upcoming EP African SEBA! It’s sexy, catchy and definitely belongs in a beach club this summer. Angelina blends the heat and the energy of a summer song with the softness of a dance. Carried by a smooth voice and an explosive personality, Bugozi is becoming an established figure of the afropop movement in the U.K.”
Moox | Don’t Need You
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Montreal artist Moox returns with the big house energy of Don’t Need You. Oscillating somewhere between chunky and lush, Don’t Need You doesn’t really need the hard sell. But if it did, it could best be described as throwing elbows during a bumpin’ house sesh whilst parasailing. Think of a beach-towel house groove with high-waisted bikini shorts and a 2-tone snapback. Big time, ready to rock.”
