Soraia feel the heat, Aboynamedblu shows off his powers, Inky Royal follows the golden rule, Anika has a question for you 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 (and like) 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, enjoy these labours of love:
Soraia | I Seek Fire
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I Seek Fire is a song we just released from our forthcoming album Bloom (out Oct. 28). I’m ZouZou, the lyricist, and I read a lot of poetry; Rumi is one of my most influential and inspiring. The first line of the lyric “A thousand paper cuts sting down to bone” came to me as soon as I heard my co-writer’s guitar riff. Rumi says,”Set your life on fire / Seek those who fan your flames.” The song takes that theme and develops the story from a particular experience I had that lifted me to new heights, but then turned on me in the actual relationship I had entered. It is also about the desire for that enthralling darkness of tragic love we so often read about in old literature. The video concept came from our director, Sam Shapson, who adds a Mary Shelley angle to the story.”
Aboynamedblu | Super Grassy
HOME BASE: South Africa.
GENRE: Pop-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Aboynamedblu is a songwriter, singer and producer in Cape Town, South Africa. His new single Super Grassy is about days when the world suffocates you. It’s the feeling of being trapped in a snow globe and only having the sky to talk to for your sanity.”
Inky Royal | Universal Law VI
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Hip-Hop Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Universal Law VI resonates the universal message that we all agree with yet constantly be reminded of: Treat people how you want to be treated! Inky Royal colorfully brings home the importance of that virtue in this soulful hip-hop track.”
Anika | Whatcha Gunna Do
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “My track has a U.K. Garage vibe.”
Tia P. | Green Cadillac (ft. DJ Battlecat & Lady of Rage)
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Hailing from Inglewood, Tia P. is a driven, passionate, charismatic and talented artist, producer, musician, and songwriter whose lyrical prowess is unmatched. Influenced by the likes of Missy Elliott, Pharrell Williams and Lauryn Hill, Tia P.’s sound embodies the soul of the old and new. She has opened for Da Brat, Monie Love, YoYo, KRS 1, Bootsy Collins, DJ Quik and a host of others, to name a few. She recently collaborated on Running With The Angeles with Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes. Green Cadillac features the Legendary DJ Battlecat and hip-hop royalty herself, The Lady of Rage.”
Jahck | Green Natural
HOME BASE: Brazil.
GENRE: Reggae.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Green Natural is a song that has soft lyrics and pure relaxation for those who like cannabis, or just for those who like good roots reggae. Very engaging, Green Natural talks about legalization and social prejudice towards cannabis lovers, in a mocking and totally relaxed way.”
M4TR | Monkey God
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Dance-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “M4TR = Music 4 The Revolution, a retro-future music collective transmitting funky, new wave dance-rock with a rebellious flair. AJ Hutchins is M4TR’s founder and principal songwriter. The current live lineup met jamming in showcases around the D.C. area. AJ is busy writing and rehearsing new original dance-rock material for its upcoming phase/album Love Is The Revolution. Monkey God is a story about the evolution and devolution of mankind. The monkey thought he was a god and destroyed the world with greed and destruction because man is just a monkey.”
Kvy | You, Today
HOME BASE: Jamaica.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Kvy is a vocalist and songwriter from Jamaica. Her smooth R&B and reggae-influenced melodies transport an emotional and magical energy, which personifies her “magical days always” mantra. Her deep passion for music developed as a small child, heavily inspired by gospel and the artistry of Sade, Prince, and Michael Jackson. Her philosophy is that music is the one proper way to mend the broken, a philosophy adopted from the lessons learned as a harmony singer sharing stages and studios with Shaggy, Sting, Taurus Riley, Chris Martin, and Romain Virgo.”
Glenn Valles | A Troubled Mind
HOME BASE: India.
GENRE: Folk-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Glenn Valles is a songwriter from Mumbai who has the unique ability to make his listeners see with their ears and feel with their souls. His songs have been shortlisted for a huge Hollywood action film, a long-running popular reality TV show, the pilot for a brand-new TV series for a major broadcast network and a major studio film in the U.S. Glenn’s creative ability and songwriting skills have been acknowledged by experienced professionals in the international music industry.”
Les Vendangeurs Masqués | Fadosolla
HOME BASE: Switzerland.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Fadosolla is a pop-rock title accompanied by a video. It is a track from the new album Let’s Keep Dancing. The band are currently on tour in Switzerland.”
PIB | Ordinary World Remix
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “PIB is a French producer and animal lover. This is his new remix of Duran Duran’s Ordinary World, the first in a series of remixed songs from the ’70-’90s. His goal is to bring back those old dope songs for a younger audience alongside a modern dance instrumental.”
Kenzo Zurzolo | Multitude
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Inspired by Imaginary Garden, a painting by artist and close friend Lenny Mathe, the debut EP from Kenzo Zurzolo is a minimalist journey focused around the piano. The hushed tones of the instrument, the faint sounds of the internal mechanics and a few sophisticated touches of electronics draw the listener into an immersed state of serenity.”
RaShonda | Exellence
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “RaShonda is a music director, composer, pianist and artist. She released her first EP Girl Born On A Monday in 2018. Her 2020 work A Day with Mae (a composition based on the words of astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison) was commissioned by Trio Triumphatrix. She is recording her second solo project Scorpio Moon, slated for release later this year. Scorpio Moon speaks to her emotional intensity — a little more life lived, things lost and gained, and a more direct, intentional songwriting approach. Excellence is a high-spirited, meditative earworm that seeks to empower and uplift the listener as they navigate the ups and downs of life.”
Josie Bello | They Lie
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Americana.
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. It’s not easy to get at the truth. Motivated by greed — elected officials, media personalities and corporate giants manipulate susceptible segments of the population with lies, while influential alternative media outlets develop momentum for the misinformation. They Lie expresses my thoughts about this.”
Victor Breithaupt | School
HOME BASE: Brazil.
GENRE: Grunge.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Victor Breithaupt is a Brazilian rock musician and singer-songwriter. He is best known for his song Upon the Sands of Heaven, a tribute to Andy Whitfield, star of Spartacus, who sadly passed away after a long fight against non-Hodgkins lymphoma. This song was released as a tribute to Nirvana, celebrating the anniversary of their 1989 masterpiece debut Bleach.”
Taurean Meacham | Ride Or Die (La Femme Nakita Version)
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Taurean Meacham is a hip-hop and R&B artist in Honolulu. Known for his conscious rap style and experimental samples, Meacham’s driving force is, in his own words, storytelling: “Music is the No. 1 form of communication across all civilisations. It tells the story of the people. I’m just looking to tell mine.” Influenced by music legends from Prince and Nas to Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie, Meacham’s creative process is “coordinated chaos” — the one constant is that the words always come first. He has released a number of independent albums, including November (2006), Untitled (2007), Oahu Noir, JG and Blakk Radikal (2020) and Dopamine (2021). This is the alternate version of his song Ride or Die, from his last EP The Prelude. It was produced by a 17-year-old female producer from The Netherlands named Nakita.”
Ave Gart | No War
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Sometimes life’s journey takes you on a detour. In my case, it was medical school and a career as a physician. Then there was Covid and we were in quarantine. I suddenly had more time to spend at home with my wife and daughter. Time to stop and appreciate all that I was given. Time to look at the world and the problems we need to solve. Time to write music.”
Megan Massey | Go Somewhere
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I’m Megan Massey and I don’t play by anyone’s rules, not even my own. I’m a pop/R&B/funk artist and songwriter from Toronto, and I’m currently releasing a new song every week. I come from a family of musicians and performers. My mother is a dancer, my father is a drummer, my sister is in film, and my grandfather is a Grammy-nominated composer. At three years old I was singing and dancing, by nine I was acting in film and television, and by 13 I had written my first song. I have been developing and growing as a pop artist while working with my producer and musical partner Ben Lucid. Our shared obsession with funk-inspired pop/R&B has allowed us to grow as a musical team at record speeds. This weekly release project is our way of putting all of our talents and skills to the test. And we are determined to find answers to one question in particular – Are there any limits to what we can accomplish when we give it everything we’ve got? Go Somewhere is a ’70s funk-inspired pop song that could live with the likes of Silk Sonic and Dua Lipa.”
Bobby Paraknight | Baptism By Fire
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Pop-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Bobby Paraknight is a multi-talented artist from New York City. Baptism By Fire is his third single. After being critically acclaimed and praised for his exciting new sound and cinematic videos, he comes out with what is said to be his best work yet. But for all we know, this is just the start.”
Tia McGraff | With Love
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “With Love is the second single and title track from Tia McGraff’s just-released EP. The first single was well-received.”
Carole Ava | Tien Anmen
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop/
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “My goal is to evolve in the management of sounds and my voice. Tien Anmen is one of the many covers that I have interpreted thanks to an application that allows me to sing karaoke in worldwide streaming. My father taught me to sing at the age of four. He was a perfectionist. I am even more so.”
Dan Zimmerman | Spend The Night
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Electro-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Dan Zimmerman is an independent queer singer-songwriter in Brooklyn. His music details his own coming-of-age experience as a young LGBTQ+ adult in New York City — exploring lust, loss, and loneliness in an urban dreamscape. Dan’s music captures the energy of adolescence and radical self-discovery, marrying his soaring vocals with catchy, electronic arrangements. Spend The Night is a playful queer electropop love tune; the song blossoms with synth and sparkle, diving headfirst into a catchy chorus that evokes the delight of dancing with a partner.”
Ciel Blue | Vagando Pelo Cais
HOME BASE: Brazil.
GENRE: Folk-Hop.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “In the neighborhood of Capão Redondo in São Paulo, the Ciel Blue project was born, formed by the brothers Thiago and Tharcisio, who share a taste for art. Ciel Blue’s music is a kind of Brazilian neo-folk inspired by everyone from Mano Brown to Bob Dylan. Vagando Pelo Cais, is about the right to exist and be happy. While lamenting the ills of Brazil, it evokes the courage capable of changing it. The song features the production of musician Hugo Noguchi, who also contributed the bass and beats.”
Valère Géron | You Don’t Want My Heart
HOME BASE: Netherlands.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Valère Géron’s debut single You Don’t Want My Heart draws from many different artists like Amy Winehouse, The Beach Boys, Gorillaz and The Specials. Flitting between retro-soul, pop, ska and surf rock, the song makes for an interesting mix of classic and contemporary elements.”
Dillon Currie | In My Town
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Folk-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Dillon Currie is the singer, co-lyricist and formative member of Saskatoon rock band League of Wolves. He has recorded several albums, toured Canada multiple times, and shared the stage with The Glorious Sons, The Beaches, The Trews, The Tea Party and Yukon Blonde. In 2020, while isolating at home in Swift Current, he began writing his debut solo record, a collection of songs inspired by pandemic life, addressing topics including mental health, isolation, morality, accountability, and reconciliation. A sonic and stylistic departure from League of Wolves, it channels storytellers like Elliott Smith, Jeff Tweedy and Andy Shauf, resulting in a diverse collection of thought-provoking tales and introspective queries which expose the duality of the human condition. The album is due in early 2023. The first single In My Town is a dreamy utopian reverie which finds the narrator questioning their own perspective on their hometown and the values they have grown to accept as true.”
https://soundcloud.com/user-411855524-687695000/in-my-town-dillon-currie-unreleased-single/s-0XWb1Jn3uEl?si=7c79e3260b154649b58783197a9bbae2&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Split Kick | Cupid
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Split Kick formed during a chance meeting on the neon-soaked streets of Busan, South Korea in 2008. Creators Pete Neonakis (Miami) and Andrew Corbin (Toronto) quickly developed a sultry electronic sound based on their shared love of everything ’80s, soft rock and nightlife. They swiftly captured the ears of listeners in South Korea. Fast-paced and creative songwriting was their signature. Partnering with graphic artist Diego Rueda (Mexico City), Split Kick have elevated their persona to a whole new level by creating artwork that embodies the spirit of their music and catches the eyes of the public. Cupid features soulful guitars from Adrian Quesada of Black Pumas. It is an electronic soundscape for the masses, and an excellent blend of on-trend genres and originality.”
Morris Northcutt | Here’s That Rainy Day
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Jazz.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Morris Northcutt is known for his lyricism, artistry and ability to cross the boundary between classical and jazz, a result of decades of craft with both the trumpet and the cornet. From Mannheim Steamroller and The Blues Brothers Reunion Band to the Seattle Symphony Chamber Orchestra, Northcutt’s list of collaborations is endless. He is principal cornetist for the Tacoma Concert Band, a position he has held for over 25 years. His latest single release is a tribute to the great Chet Baker. Here’s That Rainy Day, once a Baker hit, epitomizes his tragic life in its lyrics: “Maybe I should have saved those leftover dreams / funny but here’s that rainy day.”
Vinyl-State | Tricking Days (Remix Noaves)
HOME BASE: Netherlands.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “My name is Joran and I use the stage name Vinyl-State. In 2020, I started writing music concepts. I am now developing them into songs. My goal is to release 100 songs, all made in my home studio. They range from soft ballads to hard rock and every style between. When enough songs are released, I’ll try to group them into appropriate albums.”
Rachel Davie Lee | Love Is In The Air
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This is a track from my new EP. It recently won an independent award and I am looking to give it some more exposure and engagement in different parts of the world, building up to making a music video for it this year! This song is in the neo-soul vein. It’s an indication of my vocal range and the style I’d like to develop in future releases.”
DeusExMaschine | Thriller
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “DeusExMaschine is a producer from Paris who gives a French touch to tech house. Thriller is the greatest funked-up song of all time. Deusexmaschine couldn’t leave it without modernizing it in a tech house style. The impact of the drop on the dancefloor is devastating!”
Estella Dawn | Steal Your Girl
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “A New Zealand-born, U.S.-based pop artist, singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist, Estella Dawn has the skills to not only have a creative vision but to guide that process through to a cohesive, fully formed song. Her songs are often about empowerment and confidence and span various genres, reflecting the artist’s skill and diverse creative output. Her music has been compared to Pink, Billie Eilish, Halsey, Sia, Pvris and other strong, independent artists. Steal Your Girl balances minimalism of melody with evolution of design, for a structure that’s smooth yet snappy, and rightfully drops in with a bang each time the hook returns.”
