Digital Donkeys let you in on the joke, Mathieu D’Astous sees what’s in store, Chancy Squire gets back, DNige makes a choice 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 a move (and/or groove) on with the help of these artists:
Digital Donkeys | Kyoto Joke
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: Electro-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Digital Donkeys skillfully handle low themes and dancing rhythms, as if inviting us to come and party on a volcano. Benjamin (singer and rapper) and Benoît (guitarist, pianist and composer) have merged their universes into an urban electro-rock sound with rap and pop nuances. In 2020, they released their first album Soul Banger. Like the bear banger used to warn bears of the presence of men, Digital Donkeys wants to awaken sleeping souls. They say: “Kyoto Joke sums up our catchy and thoughtful concept, with multiple influences and without borders (music inspired by New Zealand bird songs, lyrics by life in Canada), dealing with contemporary issues with a twist and a sense of humour (Kyoto Joke referring to the “joke” of the Kyoto protocol, according to a climate sceptic).”
Mathieu D’Astous | Superstar
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “New Brunswick singer-songwriter Mathieu D’Astous is launching his first collection of tracks since 2014. His albums Les Méandres (2006) and Ada (2002) made him known on the national francophone scene. The artist pursues his mix of tropical and alternative pop sound, influenced by numerous trips to Latin America and Africa. Songwriting, producing, recording, programming and playing guitars, bass, percussion and keyboards, the multi-instrumentalist — who worked as bassist in the Acadian band Zero Celsius — is also known as half of the duo Wanabi Farmeur. For Superstar, he teamed up with Ginette Ahier (vocals, keyboards), Lisa Leblanc (vocals), Jean-Louis Paulin (charango, ronroco, acoustic guitar) and Ghyslain Luc Lavigne (mix) to give life to this track, blending surf-pop with Acadian terroir. Recorded with love in the fields of Cocagne, on the east coast of Canada, it is the second single from an album to be launched in spring 2023. Inspired by a visit to the grocery store, Superstar takes a humorous look at the disposable nature of the products and artists that define our lives.”
Chancy Squire | I’m Going Home
HOME BASE: Germany.
GENRE: Folk-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “In 1980, three friends founded the band in Hamburg. They played clubs in and around the city with overwhelming success. Now they have reformed after a long break. Three guys from the original lineup are now bringing the amazing songs back to life. “Life can be quite exhausting,” they say. “You’re on the lookout for the right path and constantly come to new forks in the road and crossroads. Often you doubt whether you have taken the right turn. In such moments it is good to pause and take a deep breath. Sometimes it is the right decision to go home — to family and friends — to recharge your batteries. And then, strengthened, to set out again on the search for the right path. I’m Going Home is the search for the philosopher’s stone, because life is a journey in search of harmony, wisdom, love and ultimately oneself.”
DNige | I Pick U
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Producer/songwriter. Amazing R&B love song.”
Carrellee | Morning Sun
HOME BASE: United Staes.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I will be releasing my album Scale Of Dreams on Nov. 18. While writing new songs for this record, I started posting weekly demo videos titled The Official Unofficial Synth Series, on social media amassing nearly one million streams. I draw inspiration from ’80s new wave icons Cocteau Twins and Kate Bush, as well as a wide variety of Italo disco and synthwave artists. The first single Morning Sun came to me in a dream during my divorce. In the morning I quickly transcribed it from my home studio, then later had help from producer Brett Bullion (Low, Poliça, Now, Now).”
Gaume | Flocons De Pollen (ft. Coline Rio)
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Folk.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Gaume is a brat. Half bad boy, half angel, Gaume has the naivety of childhood and the lucidity of a man who has beaten the pavement. He only does as he pleases, but his mind is well made. It irrigates his talent. A talent for writing, with titles that sound like standards, nuggets of rock and folk between whispered confidences and brandished banners. It is mature, sensitive and powerful. From flaky sweetness to hoppy riffs, from apathetic regrets to lyrical anger, Gaume captivates with an epistolary palette. His album When I Was On Earth is romantic, acerbic, self-deprecating, a little raw and falsely light.”
Pamela Scyne | Exil
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Jazz-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Pamela Scyne is an artist who has a life rich in experiences and adventures. A pianist-singer and composer, she composed classical music as a doctor before throwing herself fully into her dream as an artist. Her songs are inspired by people in all their authenticity, and range from pop rock and electro. Pamela hopes to touch people’s hearts and offer them a moment of sharing which is always very intense for her. Exil is a crossing of borders, those of the world but also that of jazz, pop and song. Scyne invites us to discover life in exile, and to follow it towards some notes of hope.”
https://youtu.be/L2VnNyQNDrw
Travis Shyn | I Would Ride For You
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Born on the streets of South Korea, I made a promise that if someone fed me, I would feed others. Today I have six adopted kids and we’re pushing every single day!”
Madeleine | Irrationnel
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Madeleine left France at 17 to live in the United States and then in Tel Aviv. In 2020, she released her first EP All That Remains Unexplained. Madeleine plays viola, ukulele, guitar and synth. Now she returns with a new EP and the single Irrationnel — a breath of fresh air full of positivity, heady lyrics and catchy music to fully live your day.”
Wayata & Astrid James | Rock With Me
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Wayata and Astrid James are two ambitious and innovative young artists who seek to mix and push the limits of funk, disco, house and soul. For their first collaboration, they deliver a single with retro and funky sounds that evoke the game of seduction and the heat of sensual desire. Rock With Me is an invitation to travel. It inspires the fiery sunsets of late summer. Timeless and punchy, this track owes its character to the soulful notes marked by the overseas origins of the singer James as well as the funky guitars, colorful synth sounds and generous bass lines of Wayata.”
Kelly Campbell & Dub Bubble | Warrior (ft. Robby Krieger)
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Reggae.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Singer-songwriter Kelly Campbell is joined by Dub Bubble — Bee Meddler (vocal, keys, percussion,) Lance Reynolds (bass), Ed Gustafson (keys), Pride Hutchison (drums) — and legendary guitarist Robby Krieger.”
Sylvie Nicephor | La Terrasse Des Audiences Du Clair De Lune (de C. Debussy)
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Classical.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Sylvie Nicephor began to be heard as a pianist in concerts and melodies with singers. Since 1997, she carried out soloist recitals in different programming in Paris and the Paris region, then moved on to Germany, Italy, Greece, in Finland, Hungary and Serbia. She is a regular guest at multiple festivals. In 2018, the centenary of the death of Debussy, she released her first piano album featuring his 24 Preludes. “I played these 24 preludes in concert in several countries (Germany, Italy, Greece, Finland, Hungary, France) from 2000 to 2018,” she says. “I have an extensive piano repertoire, from the Baroque period to the contemporary era.”
Ulrich Jannert | By The River
HOME BASE: Germany.
GENRE: Instrumental Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The vibe of this song pulls from the R&B, soul and gospel traditions; however, it cuts across genres and generations. The song is instrumental and the saxophone leads the mood; it’s the voice of the track. No words, no voice destroys the listener’s mix of associations. The music style intends to create good vibes and an atmosphere to chill, reflex and dream away. Ulrich Jannert started to dive into music composition many, many years ago in the genres of contemporary R&B / soul and indie-pop / soft rock.”
Jadanaë | Margharita
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Seduction set against a background of catchy melodies and R&B, here is the exquisite Margharita, concocted by the young French Jadanaë. We follow her in this bar and this sensual flirtation, guided by her suave voice and this resolutely modern, electronic production while remaining organic and warm, looking as well towards jazz as the new French pop.”
L.Teez | Never Thought
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Montreal Jazz-rap performer L. Teez is back with the refreshing hip-hop/jazz tune Never Thought, off his new album Studio Blue. First trained in trombone and trumpet, the Canadian artist began writing authentic, personal lyrics that he started to perform on stages of Paris, Lisbon, Vienne and more. In 2019 he confirmed his success in Quebec at the Montreal Jazz Festival. His new album Studio Blue is a calling card of the young artist. We can feel all his jazz, soul, funk influences, coupled with a devastating flow reminding the American pioneers of the genre.”
Monsieur Ola | SunSet
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Chillwave Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Olasunkanmi Ibraheem Olayanju, better known as Monsieur Ola, is a Nigerian producer, singer and songwriter who blends R&B, soul, neo-jazz, and indie-pop. After deciding to pursue music as a career in 2019, he spent four years learning and developing his chillwave soul. “SunSet is the ninth song from my EP Diemented Being, a project that speaks to self-reflection, modern-day masculinity, spirituality and healing the soul.”
Grabbz | Toonies Loonies
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Donovan “Grabbz” Campbell is a Toronto artist and songwriter who released his debut single Nasty in January. Grabbz invites listeners to discover a little of his personality, with light nuances in his lyrics. Toonies & Loonies — the nicknames for Canada’s $2 and $1 coins — is an ode to Canada. Paying homage to his home gives the track a vibe that cannot be duplicated.”
SonSon | Suicide Doors
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Suicide Doors is a song about how relationships are between members of a couple. The love someone has for a woman brings a lot of pain.”
J.J. Ann | Ce Long Silence
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “J. J. Ann (real name: Juliette Jeanne Ann Sineux) is a French singer-songwriter and musician. Hailing from Paris, Juliette is passionate about sound design and synthesizers. She composes, accompanies and sings for various bands and artists, shifting between styles from hip-hop to jazz, French variety and electronic music. These varied experiences have helped her broaden her technique and strengthened her desire to explore new sounds. She has also begun composing music for film and other artists, and has been involved in a number of audiovisual productions. Ce Long Silence is a sincere track that talks about anxiety and fear expressed in our dreams; when we can’t talk or scream, when we lose our voice. This new single blends a clever dose of machines and instruments, of dreams and reality, of melancholic vocals and pop melodies. Close your eyes and enjoy!”
Layla May | Eternal
HOME BASE: Lebanon.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Layla May — the artist formerly known as michele. — is entering an ethereal new world, and she’s taking you with her. With her distinct vocal runs and her wandering spirit, she floats through soundscapes and delicate emotions to prove that the journey and destination are sometimes too tangled to tell apart. “Eternal is a song written for me, or for the ones who are finally at peace with who they are after years of struggling to love themselves,” she says. “The message behind this song is that through music, I was able to pour out my heart and become the person I’ve always wanted to be. This song is for the dreamers, the optimists and the ones who dare to think outside of the box and want to be remembered.”
Peter Lake | Aching Earthquake
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Peter Lake is a New York City singer-songwriter who revels in anonymity. His influences include Curtis Mayfield, Motown, Billie Eilish and Rüfüs Du Sol. Therefore, it’s no surprise that he has not stuck to one genre, dabbling in rock, pop, indie, and house. Lake’s philosophy of music making is that by combining genres, the range of song creation has increased. “I like long walks on the beach, classical music, heavy metal from the 2030s, and Berlin street rap — and I only date brunettes whose first name starts with “B” and whose favorite color is also orange,” he says. “And this is too loud and too quiet and the vocal is beautiful except for when it’s bad. And the mix. Oh the mix! The mix is excellent but sometimes it’s not and needs a lot more work. That said, the snare is great but the cow bell has too much echo, maybe consider a bit more reverb and a proper engineer except when reverb is terrific and the production is superb. You are the best but sometimes I would rather you stop sending me your music, because sometimes you are just terrible. Sending good vibes but it doesn’t fit my genre however we should collaborate, DM me on Instagram. Don’t give up, unless you suck, and you suck so give up, but stay strong.”
Jupiter Flynn | The Idea Of Me
HOME BASE: Germany.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Jupiter Flynn is a young singer-songwriter born in Amsterdam. She started composing on the piano at the age of six, has lived in Tokyo, New York, Sydney and Frankfurt, and is now based in Berlin. Her compositions are of a fragile, light-footed indie-pop quality, while her husky voice and dark coming-of-age lyrics form a strong counterpart that lends her work a captivating depth. The Idea Of Me is the last single before the new album Moon is released in November. The song combines indie-folk with pop and was produced by Pola Roy, the drummer of Wir Sind Helden. Accompanied by melancholic lyrics, as well as a catchy melody and soft guitar sounds, Jupiter Flynn tells an imperfect love story.”
The Ferocious Few | Compassion
HOME BASE: Luxembourg.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Americana punk-rockers The Ferocious Few blend high-paced rock ’n’ roll, folk lyrics, a punk edge and a rockabilly sensibility. Think Johnny Cash meets Nirvana. They pull decades of the human experience directly into their sound and show, having performed national tours opening for artists such as Lynyrd Skynrd, Moby, Shooter Jennings, Billy Idol, The Led Zeppelin Experience with Jason Bonham, and a surplus of noteworthy acts. Their rousing guitar riffs and drum kicks have caught the attention of larger stages and festivals such as Coachella, SXSW, Lightning In A Bottle, Burning Man, Noise Pop, and most recently the Reeperbahn Festival. Frontman Francisco Fernandez says the lyrics behind their latest single are an “open call for Compassion, to understand why we fail to empathize and love, no matter the circumstances. As musicians and culture creators, we are in a constant fight for attention, our data to be collected and analyzed to create better products and manipulate emotions. Compassion is a call to transform these tools into ways to help each other, not just profit. To come back home to ourselves to our purpose, not just stop at the facade of what is being sold to us.’
Kandice Cherelle | Broken
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Transitioning from her roots in gospel to R&B, singer-songwriter, and pianist Kandice Cherelle uses hurt, disappointment and shame to inspire her music, turning lemons into lemonade. She has opened up for gospel sensations Luther Barnes, Le’Andria Johnson and Alexis Spight. Kandice is passionate about touching her generation and generations to come with her music. Her mission is to inspire, entertain and help people heal through music to be the best person they can be. Kandice is finishing her EP The Makeover, which is a mixture of R&B, hip-hop, and urban AC. “I am dedicating my single Broken to domestic violence victims and survivors,” she says. “It talks about taking time to heal from the trauma of life so you can be the best person you can be. Domestic violence is a cause that I take very seriously, but brokenness can hail from any situation. I truly believe that healing is possible, especially through music. We’ve all been broken or felt defeated at some point. This song talks about putting health and self-care first.”
Naya Rockers | Illusions (ft. Kiddus I)
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Reggae.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The Naya Rockers are a backing band, anchored by drummer Nathan Sabanayagam and bassist Nate Edgar. Whether in the studio or on stage, they bring the highest level of musicianship. Naya Rockers have spent two decades touring and recording with the foundation of reggae including Skatalites, Stephen Marley, John Brown’s Body, Barrington Levy, Bushman, Big Youth, Junior Reid and more, along with new artists including Kenyatta Hill, Asadenaki Livingston, Blakkamoore, Addis Pablo, Iba Mhar, Hector Lewis and Jah’Mila Smith. Our new album Naya Sound System is a roots production with nine reggae-dub tracks featuring prestigious singers. Featuring Kiddus I, Illusions is a chill reggae song that talks about the uncertainty of not carving out a path for yourself in life.”
Safe Travel | Ours
HOME BASE: Ivory Coast.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I am Safe Travel from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. I am a male singer, songwriter and composer. I just finished my first EP and I’d love to share it with you all. I really love telling stories, exploring sounds and creating a world that can live on its own. This EP talks about the relationship between the waters: fresh vs. salt. Some say these are the first barriers of separation and transition. These two fronts that flirt with each other but will never cross. So for them to coexist, one or both has to give in. This album really empathizes on philosophy, existentialism and a bit of constructionism.”
DJ Algae | Oxygen (ft. Mared)
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I have been involved in the underground dance music scene for years, running events and DJing in Manchester and Lisbon, and being part of the Waking Life crew. My music is inspired by nature and humanity, and reflects my movements through our planet. I’m listening to the sound that comes from the world. This track is an invitation to breathe and have patience. It’s the title track to my EP Oxygen, and sits halfway in the story, which evolves from fear, disbelief and anxiety, to hope, progress, growth and acceptance. The song evolves into an ethereal explosion, giving the listener a euphoric experience and uplifting them while at the same time relaxing the mind and spirit. It’s a collaboration with Mared, a Welsh singer-songwriter with a magical voice.”
Ambre L. | Amours Clandestines (Demo)
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Ambre L. — sex therapist, columnist and radio host — tries her hand at singing in Amours Clandestines (Clandestine Love). This is the first song on her EP, a work of sensuality and eroticism, an ode to fantasies and femininity.”
