Jocelyn & Chris mix it up, Maxime Raux is tired, Laurent Dé loses it, Roxercat gives you pearls 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, spend some quality time with these fine finds:
Jocelyn & Chris | Sugar And Spice
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: 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. Their new single Sugar and Spice features tantalizing lyrics, funky guitar and a groove that’s sweet with a red-hot kick.”
Maxime Raux | Lassé
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Maxime Raux taught himself to sing, play guitar and synth. The artist has a thirst for learning and never stops wanting to improve himself as well as to create projects in collaboration with other artists and creative people from all walks of life. Lassé is the first extract from his EP 1995. The EP is faithful to what he is: An artist and entrepreneur who draws inspiration from his experiences to write and compose.”
Laurent Dé | Perdue
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Music is above all a journey, and like any traveler, I like to know different destinations. This is what I propose to you, travel with me in a unique and dynamic sound and visual universe. Hello “Perdue” is a song inspired by a friend who was a victim of the date rape drug. It is also the 3rd act of the trilogy of the mini album to be released “Hotel de l’Étrange” After ‘TIB’ which speaks of kidnapping of ‘It Is Not Enough’ who speaks the murderer, the 3rd element of this trilogy that happens in a funny hotel is therefore the use and abuse of these drugs on young innocent victims. Wishing you liked this song. Thank you and have a good day
Roxercat | Pearls
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Roxercat are a progressive rock band in Nashville led by singer Price Jones, guitarist Stan Lassiter and bassist Bill Francis. Their six-song EP Pearls was recorded at Sound Emporium Studios with overdubs at Cat Tracks Studio, co-produced by Jones and Grammy-winning engineer and producer Clarke Schleicher. The song Pearls is a ballad with a smooth slide guitar that sets a ‘floating-on-the-lake’ mood and speaks of a desire for happiness, belief in each other, and making dreams come true. The song embodies Jones’ worldview as a simple message that no matter the current status of relationships with the people who come and go throughout your life, you can still wish them happiness. Says Price: “Life is about surrounding yourself with people that believe in you — and you in them — and always holding on to your dreams.”
[X]AËL | Jigoku 22
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Trap-Metal.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I am [X]AËLa an alien spirit stranded on your planet, human. The invasion has begun. My French-speaking trap metal is a unique novelty on Earth. Will you have the courage to listen to it? WATCH or DIE.”
LeFLOFRANCO | Danser Avec Toi
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Hip-Hop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Ottawa hip-hop sensation LeFLOFRANCO brings to the table a sound high in energy mixed with heartfelt lyrical content. Striving to push hip-hop’s sound towards new hights, he refers to his unique sound as multicolored hip-hop. The delivery may be in French, but the music transcends and is sure to move any and all audiences, young and old. Fresh from his album Divine Trajectory, LeFLOFRANCO offers Danser Avec Toi (Dancing With You) — a song that warms the soul and invites its audience to get carried away on the dance floor.”
Marcelo Rafael | Acende Meu Sorriso
HOME BASE: Brazil.
GENRE: Country-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “As a teenager, Marcelo Rafael played guitar and wrote songs. He grew up listening to Elvis Presley and John Denver in the midst of the back country; hence his passion for country music.”
n.e.r.d. life by D’Vo | Dark Matters
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “n.e.r.d. life by D’Vo is a virtual neo-soul and hip-hop artist from Houston. He has released a hip-hop series called The Codex, which will eventually extend to 11 albums. D’Vo is a different breed of artist — he remains anonymous while giving listeners a unique blending of hip-hop with down south soul, jazz and rap with modulated voices, chopped and screwed. His music catches the attention of young listeners who are intrigued by his deep faith and vocal effects. His futuristic sound has earned him four top-charting songs. Dark Matters is a song told in the first-person perspective about someone dealing with mental health and self-harm. “It’s written for someone I know, so it is personal to me,” he says. “I’m sure we all know someone struggling to be free in their mind.”
Rob Wegner | 420 Agent (Budtender) (Bashment Time Remix)
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Reggae-Pop.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “In 2014, Rob Wegner was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a crippling disease that forced him to stop teaching. To pursue his love of music, he began to focus entirely on creating original eclectic DJ-centric music. 420 Agent is a reggae remix of a medical marijuana hip-hop song about a patient who buys cannabis from a dispensary to help with pain, insomnia, depression, stiffness, and more. This topic is rarely discussed in cannabis-related songs. The rapper is Drew Vigilate. The song was mastered by Oli Morgan at legendary Abbey Road Studios in London.”
https://youtu.be/bVODkAxUKGc
Farfetched | Heights
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Farfetched is an independent artist from Jamaica. Growing up, he was exposed to reggae, dancehall, hip-hop and R&B but took a keen interest in rap. As the name suggests, he is an artist who strives to do the unthinkable and is always heedless of naysayers. Now, just 18 years old, he’s still aspiring to create something new and eccentric which will lead to his ultimate breakthrough.”
Cormac Thompson | Bright Eyes
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Cormac Thompson is a multi-talented, up-and-coming British singer. Moving away from his original classic crossover style, his beautiful voice is haunting and crystal clear, and his love for the music and the words he sings really shines through in every sentence. Bright Eyes is a re-imagining of the theme tune from the film Watership Down, originally performed by Art Garfunkel. Here we have a pure piano-vocal ballad. The song and accompanying video aim to highlight climate change and recognize the work of young people trying to combat it.”
Obi Alfred | Get It
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Obi Alfred is carrying the torch of classic R&B for a new generation. Born in New Jersey and raised in Texas, the Nigerian-American’s distinctive style pays tribute to the legends of the genre while pushing into bold, modern territory. His new single Get It oozes sensual chords backed by contemporary R&B to reveal a signature sound. With tantalizing lyrics and tracks exploring topics such as infatuation, passion, obsession, and seduction, Obi teases while grabbing hold of eardrums and hearts. Obi states, “This is a pure club dancing, fun song. I wrote this song about two years ago in Houston. It shows a darker, more seductive side.”
le.Panda | Air Molo
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Reggae-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “le.Panda, a singer, songwriter, musician and multi-instrumentalist, is the perfect hybrid between Erykah Badu, Bob Marley and DJ Khaled. Winner of the Festival International de la Chanson de Granby in 2019, le.Panda makes his mark with a multi-instrumentalist man-orchestra system based on sound loops recorded in real time — a system that sets him apart and forges a musical style tinged with soul, hip hop and reggae. A street musician in Quebec City for more than 10 years, he has used this experience to craft a unique sound.”
LohArano | Mangina
HOME BASE: Madagascar.
GENRE: Metal.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Loharano means ‘the source,’ a roar of the new generation. LohArano affirm their bubbling rock fusion and the mixed heritage behind their story. They draw as much from rock as from the ancestral ternary rhythms, then mix and fuse them endlessly to extract a new sound. The powerful trio is led by the charismatic Mahalia on lead vocals and guitar — she assumes her feminism in a country where being a rocker woman is (almost) heretical. Mika is on bass guitar — he doesn’t stay in place, he grooves with super-powerful rhythms and jazzy, funky tones. Natiana is the drummer — her flow is hectic, the tones striking. Mangina means ‘shut up!’ This powerful song was recorded during their fantastic concert at the 43rd Trans Musicales Festival in late 2021.”
Pattern Primitive | What Am I Trying To Say
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Pattern Primitive create a hypnotic and meditative soundscape, a soothing antidote comprised of lo-fi noise particles and melancholic memories floating in the air, and gentle melodic breaths caressing the back of your neck as you descend into sonic madness.”
Laid Back Moons | Throw It All Back
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “We are Laid Back Moons, a recently created rock trio from Paris. We released our first EP Retaliation earlier this month. Our main influences are brit-pop from the ’90s (Oasis), and stoner rock (Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age), for a blend which we believe is powerful and melodious at the same time.”
MoonSir | Die Alone
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “MoonSir is passionate about the pop and dance music he grew up with, but is interested in all styles of music. His first album will reflect this musical eclecticism. Die Alone is a dark pop song with a catchy vibe. The lyrics deal with depression, mental sickness and the feeling of loneliness; however, the beat is here to make people dance.”
Jade Ashtangini | Yearning
HOME BASE: Taiwan.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Jade Ashtangini is a classical pianist, composer, cellist, mantra and kirtan chanter/singer who loves music extremely. She has been classically trained since childhood. Her compositions blend modern classical, contemporary, minimalist, new age, classical crossover and ambient sounds. Her latest single Yearning is a beautiful, soft and melancholy composition on a felted piano. While you’re listening to it, if feels like everything you’ve longed for comes back to you.”
Gold Record | Work It All Out
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Gold Record is a movement created to bring people together and beget joy. Music and art are the mediums for this movement. Currently the artist is working on three unique but lofty projects: A live album produced by Nicolas Vernhes (Dirty Projectors, War On Drugs); an indie-pop LP produced by Alex Newport (Death Cab For Cutie, City and Colour); and the Extended Summer LP. Work It All Out is the most recent single from this songwriting trio.”
Down Suite | Hold On
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Folk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Hold On was recorded during a dark winter. It was a gentle voice that fell through the cracks in an overcast sky, and whispered, “Hold on, there is hope.” Down Suite believe music is a journey and an exploration, brushing away at the light and shadow spilled on the human experience.”
Patty Duffey | There
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Folk-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Performers On The Go is an organization in Boston that works with artists on new releases, provides development services and develops PR promotion campaigns. There was written by CEO Patty Duffey and features 20-year-old singer-songwriter/pop artist Amelia Earnshaw. There is about the extreme power of friendship, and how best friends can help get you through anything and everything, and are forever present through thick and thin. Their doors are always open, and during the highs and lows they somehow know how to make things better at times when it is most needed.”
Vincent Mai-Lien | En Avant Vers La Victoire
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I’m a composer. I studied classical violin and music theory at the conservatory. I compose orchestral music on Cubase with mainly VSL Library sounds. I compose songs at the same time with Ableton Live and my electric violin. My musical tastes range from Depeche Mode to David Bowie, from Rover to Apocalyptica, from Three Days Grace to Skillet, via Placebo and Dead Can Dance, without forgetting classicaland film music.”
Henry Aberson | Don’t Walk Away
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Soul-Jazz.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Henry Aberson is a drummer, producer and entrepreneur in Tulsa.”
Claudio Parrone Jr. | Where Do We Go
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Indie-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Originally from the Midwest, Claudio Parrone Jr. is a singer-songwriter in Los Angeles whose sound blends the lyrical and tonal quality of John Mayer with the soulful and nuanced vocals of John Legend. Where Do We Go is the third song to be released off of his upcoming LP Still Here. This song is about a lost love. Not lost as in gone, but lost as in hiding.”
Elliot Levine | Summer Madness
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Soul-Jazz.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Keyboardist Elliot Levine has toured with Wilson Pickett and Heatwave (Always & Forever, Boogie Nights), and has opened for Brian McKnight, Freddie Jackson, McCoy Tyner and Gerald Albright. Elliot has three internationally released CD’s which have received extensive airplay and distribution. He has headlined at the Kennedy Center. Sugar Honey Iced Tea, his sixth album, features musicians from Myrtle Beach, S.C.”
Himszlow | Upside Down
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Himszlow debuted as a DJ at the outset of the minimal techno scene in the 2000s. As a resident DJ in the best Parisian clubs, he rubbed shoulders with the biggest names of the emerging minimal scene. Two decades of experimentation have enabled him to forge his own sound — a raw and hypnotic electronic music that takes the listener off the beaten track. Since 2015, he has produced five EPs under three different names.”
Homesickness | Your Fire Must Dance Again
HOME BASE: Denmark.
GENRE: Indie-Folk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Homesickness are an indie-folk/jazz/post-rock septet framed around the tranquil and pensive artistic voice of Copenhagen singer, guitarist, lyricist and painter Malthe Junge. Your Fire Must Dance Again is the second single from their upcoming album Blood Rush, Tempest Oceans. A musical piece of naked intimacy and fearless emotional honesty, Junge describes the song as ‘a letter of apology and love … reflecting on a time of blindness caused by stubbornbess, the realisation of having choked out a beautiful light that once was.’ ”
Ryal | What I Mean To You
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Alternative synth duo Ryal are a collaboration between singer and keyboardist Jacque Ryal and producer Aaron Nevezie. Influenced by works by Bonobo, Thom Yorke, Sbtrkt, Tame Impala and Damon Albarn, Ryal make music embedded with stories and soundscapes. Inspired by the full-band setup of their previous 2022 releases, Ryal join forces again with drummer Dan Rieser (Marcy Playground, Norah Jones) and Grammy-winning bassist John Davis on What I Mean to You. The song deals with a relationship on the brink of breakup. Jacque reaches in to save it with an affirmation of safety and love. It glows with a commitment to the partnership and the effort that goes into maintaining it.”
Tettix Hexer | Supernova In Your Eyes
HOME BASE: Denmark.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Tettix Hexer is a well-known face on the Danish underground scene, known for altering live music by using biometric and environmental augments to create intensely hard-hitting shows. Behind the moniker is the eccentric sound sculptor, radio host, composer and producer Jens Leonhard Aagaard, working at the intersections of technology, digital gardening, chaos magick and beauty. What sets Tettix Hexer apart might also be his love for different devotional music — ragas, cosmic jazz and new age — and his rock background playing dreampop/shoegaze. Being a multi-instrumentalist, his compositions are never confined to his laptop.”
Chrysifloga | Creep
HOME BASE: Singapore.
GENRE: Metal.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Emerging rock / metal artist Chrysifloga drops a dark, almost psychotic interpretation of Radiohead’s Creep, washed with deep growls and piercing screams. The L.A. singer, songwriter and producer says the first demo of the song was recorded in six hours in Chrysifloga’s bedroom, put together entirely by him. “I relate with Creep so well, and this is how it sounds in my head.” The track also features 19-year-old Xander Gambini on guitars.”
Candyfromstrangers | Game Show
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Our band is Candyfromstrangers — a group of friends who enjoy creating vibey music on different subject matter.”
Fosco | Consolar
HOME BASE: Brazil.
GENRE: Hard Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Fosco are a rock trio from Brasília, composed of Carpes (vocals and guitar), Vitor (drums) and Dan (bass). They just released the EP Microverso, containing six tracks. The band’s sound draws from different sources and references, including Alexisonfire, Queens of the Stone Age, The Offspring and A Perfect Circle.”
Kali Sanna | I Never Met Nobody Like You
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: R&B / Soul.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Kali Sanna is a military vet combing old and new-school sounds.”
Michael John | No Limit
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: Electro-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I write about what matters and moves me, trying to reach others. I have never really cared about boundaries. I set my own path. Whatever the question was, music is the answer. This song is about breaching boundaries and reaching levels that were unthinkable. Break out of your box, start something amazing!”
Caxiel | Out Of Time
HOME BASE: Peru.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This is the fifth single that I’ve released. I have laid down the vocals, produced, wrote, mixed and mastered the whole track. Relying on my love for K-pop, ’80s anthems, Michael Jackson and The Weeknd’s vibes, this is probably one of my favorite creations.”
Mono Clones | Brand New Start
HOME BASE: Portugal.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Lisbon-based Bruno and his gang of clones started this project in 2020. Pushed into isolation by the lockdown, he embraced the challenge of learning every aspect of the music production process, from the blank page to the final mix, mastering and everything in between. The result of cloning himself into a multitasking machine: A set of modern rock songs released as singles since 2022. (No clones were harmed in the making of these songs). Brand New Start is a mid-tempo modern rock song with some retro flavours baked into it. The story-telling style of Mono Clones is clearly noticeable, as lyrics are always an important feature in this project.”
Brandon Child | No Problems
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Indie-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I’m just a Canadian dude trying to be a nice person and make music that hopefully people will connect with. I play a few instruments, sing from time to time, and largely don’t leave my apartment. Written, recorded, and co-produced by myself in Toronto over the pandemic, No Problems was produced and mixed by the mighty Steve Wilmot (OneRepublic, Peter Gabriel). It was then mastered by the absolutely legendary team of Greg Calbi and Steve Fallone. No Problems is actually about having many problems, but not letting it get you down. The cover art was also done by my lonesome self and features my pug Beans in a spacesuit on the moon.”
Oldest Sea | The Whales
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Folk-Metal.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Formed in 2017 by songwriter Sam Marandola, Oldest Sea began as one woman’s personal exploration of the darker side of experimental folk music. Having expanded the project to a full band, Marandola and company now find themselves passing through ethereal corridors and liminal soundscapes with increasingly heavy steps. The enlarged sonic palette finds Oldest Sea deftly merging Marandola’s haunting solo musical passages with massive walls of grit and distortion. On their debut EP Strange and Eternal, each composition seems to gently undulate its way into existence, all the while building inexorably toward a darkly atmospheric presence of immense proportions.”
Benjamin Gordon Cooper | Skin/Bone
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Avant-Garde.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “New artist Benjamin Gordon Cooper presents doomy synth-stomp single Skin/Bone, from his debut album Thunder In My Soul. This track is the LP’s boldest statement of intent and focus on the general theme of rallying against expectation and conformity.”
Aenu.Lög | What About That
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Electronica.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Aenu.Lög (Analog) is trained in the discipline of film and is a self-taught music composer, arranger, producer and vocalist. 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 Aenu.Lög sound is an immense love for storytelling and all genres of music from the 19070’s and ’80s.”
