Bomba Black gives you the royal treatment, N’Faly Kouyaté invites you to drink deep, Killing In Apathy shine a light, Ketsmy has got it goin’ on 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, enjoy these tracks from the north, south, east and west:
Bomba Black | Born In Africa (Kings & Queens)
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: World Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Bomba Black is an African singer and songwriter who was born in Togo and lives in France. During her childhood, Bomba Black lived in Minneapolis with her parents before coming back to France at age 12. Bomba Black is now focused on a great purpose: How to impact African musical culture and the hope of African youth.”
N’Faly Kouyaté | Free Water (ft. Tiken Jah Fakoly)
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: World.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Long story short: N’Faly Kouyaté is a legend of African music. He has led Afro Celt Sound System since 1996, earning two Grammy nominations among other awards. And his collaborations with artists such as Peter Gabriel, William Kentridge, Phil Manzanera and others — taking influence from Aretha Franklin, Harry Belafonte and more — have led him to follow his own path in African music and become the forerunner of a new style: Afrotonix, a mixture of electronic music with traditional instruments. In this track he joins forces with another icon, Tiken Jan Fakoly, to deliver a political and universal message for World Water Day.”
Killing In Apathy | Across The Flashlight Beam
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Metal.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “We are Killing In Apathy, a metal band based out of Austin, TX. We try to bring something unique to the metal scene. Incorporating elements of metalcore, deathcore, and hardcore with some progressive flair, we’re aiming to give metal fans something they have never quite heard before.”
Ketsmy | Sak Gen La Pt. 1
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Rap.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Ketsmy is an upcoming songwriter, composer, musician and singer from Montreal. His songs have powerful themes, adressing social and racial issues inflicted on the BIPOC community. His message is delivered with a soulful voice, layered on drum beats and dance rhythms, taking a trip between, R&B, hip-hop, blues-rock and Afrobeat. He kicks off spring with a bang in his new song Sak Gen La Pt.1 (What’s Going On). In this affirmative work, Ketsmy invites the audience to share a moment of collective assertion and fulfillment. He affirms with emotion and assurance his multiple identities and his pride in being black, Haitian, a Quebecer and Montrealer. The song is a criticism of governments that deny the existence of systemic racism.”
Ra2z | Désert Blanc
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Hip-Hop Soul.
THE TRANSLATE & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Désert Blanc (White Desert) is taken from Ra2z’s EP of the same name. Over Rhodes chords accompanied by violin, Ra2z expresses the feeling of abandonment that one feels when a loved one dies. It is with great sensitivity that he asks his mother why she left him in this white desert. The video captures a live performance to deliver a level of sincerity.”
Nikol Bóková | Perseids
HOME BASE: Czechia.
GENRE: Classical / Jazz.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Nikol Bókóva has pursued a solo career as a classical pianist whose unique music effortlessly travels between genres, clearly fascinated by the possibilities they have to offer. “I am not thinking of genre when composing,” she explains. “I have the fourth album on the way (just recorded, with its release planned for May). Perseids are part of the Prometheus album, which I created in memoriam of my dear father who unexpectedly passed away in 2020. There are many things connected to that music: Stories, emotions, memories. Perseids were one of the last topics we have talked about.”
Durcel Haze | Maze
HOME BASE: Austria.
GENRE: Alt-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “A German, a Hungarian and two Austrians walk into a bar …” If you’re waiting for the punch line, be patient: This is not the start a joke, but the beginning of a band: Durcel Haze, four experienced musicians, who have proven their abilities in earlier projects such as Esperanto, Manspirit and Astral Dog. With their new project, the indie alt-rockers travel to experimental fields, mixing garage rock, progressive riffing, massive basslines and groovy drums with unique vocals telling fictional stories on diverse topics. With this combination, Durcel Haze smash the rock zeitgeist, distinguishing themselves from traditional genres like heavy metal or German rock. Their second single Maze follows up the wild, powerful sound of their predecessor with the same energy. Durcel Haze always make space for magic to happen.”
Pierre Welsh & The Oaks | La Geste, La Grâce
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Explore, search. Go on a journey far away. Return with pockets full of fragments of reality transformed into sharp songs. Pierre Welsh has done this all his life. The man is enigmatic, discreet, but he traces a straight course like the mast of a boat. The expedition of the moment is Oaks: It’s a rock band — powerful, sovereign, but more so an artistic collective where everyone creates intuitively during live sessions of great freedom. Oaks have already produced two studio albums and a live EP.”
Fabien Boeuf | Comme L’Animal
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Folk-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “It has been seven years since I released anything — time to see my children grow up. One day, a sentence arrived — “I won’t leave you anything” — and here I am again for a ride. Here is the first clip from the album Comme L’Animal. And yes, Boeuf is my real name. How am I an animal? I attempt to answer in 3:13.”
Nico J Wouters | Ride To The Night
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: Funk-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “My new song Ride To The Night has received good feedback and has a great vibe.”
Mac Summer | Transformation
HOME BASE: New Zealand.
GENRE: EDM.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Mac Summer has been cultivating his unique brand of adrenaline-fueled dance music for over two decades. From his early days as a reggae producer in his native Auckland to his current incarnation as a drum-and-bass innovator, his sound has always been defined by high-energy rhythms, mesmerizing atmospheres and unforgettable hooks. With his most recent tracks, Mac has received significant acclaim, both from prominent critics and an ever-growing international audience. “I wanted to create this new single as an adrenaline-fueled track that grabs your attention immediately and never lets up,” he says. “I envisioned a male/female duet that blends heart-pounding rhythms with simple yet profound lyrics, creating an aura of mystery and dread that would appeal to any fans of EDM, rock and beyond.”
Aya-C | Drôle D’Époque
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Dancehall.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “A singer-songwriter who possesses a soft voice tinged with soul that offers benevolence on reggae, dancehall, R&B rhythms. Aya-C takes us into their world by talking about our news, our violent society, love and tolerance. “This piece deals with current events, violence against women and the family in general; mothers, fathers, children, grandparents. At a time when we are so-called evolved beings, in the era of social networks, this abuse continues and makes us helpless.”
Clarissa Bruns | Esse Samba
HOME BASE: Brazil.
GENRE: Samba.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I’m Clarissa Bruns, a Brazilian singer and composer. Esse Samba talks about love. It has a contagious swing and an arrangement that mixes the classic instruments of samba, guitar riffs and electronic programming, in addition to a remarkable voice, which seems to tell us a secret. Esse Samba will make you dance and dream in the hall, in the living room, on the street, in the square. Anywhere.”
Brandon Ruperthouse | Té Faite Pour Moé
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Country.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “This is the first song I have written. I hope you enjoy this first attempt.”
B.P.R.Lines | Apparence Louse
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Rap.
THE TRANSLATED & EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I like to share my vision of life to help those who come after me. I would like to make it clear to the young that being an outlaw is not a valid choice, and that nothing is lost when your efforts are in the right place.”
The Official Christian Rapper, Mr. Raj | Black Ops
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I am a born-again Christian. Sin, OCD, ADHD, depression, pain, anger, sadness, salvation, happiness, love and joy are just some of the topics I present in songs. I will not say much about this song, but let you be the judge of it. Without further ado, I give you Black Ops.”
Slick Da Sniper | Da Bully
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Rap.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “My music is based on my life growing up in Brooklyn’s M.G.V. Projects, where any day can be your last. I consider my flow real hip-hop. I’m a lyricist, not a rapper. My name Slick Da Sniper comes from the philosophy of ‘one shot, one kill:’ Go in the studio, put the beat on, and body it. It’s a done deal! Here I deliver a catchy flow with tremendous wordplay over a dark trap-like beat.”
Tradition Man Wolo | The Lady In Red
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Reggae.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “The is a lovers’ rock reggae song. This cover of The Lady In Red is from my album Reggae Man.”
Fight the Sun | Friends Are Enemies
HOME BASE: Australia.
GENRE: Metal.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Formed from the ashes of a million bands lost to the sands of time, Fight the Sun released their debut EP in 2018, with great anticipation for what was to come. Then it all came to a grinding halt, thanks to a series of personal tragedies, disasters and other calamities. Fast forward to 2021 and Holes and Corners Studios in Melbourne, helmed by producer Jon Grace. The result: Friends Are Enemies, their second single since November 2021. The song charts the rocky waters of growth and change, and how someone you thought you knew has evolved (or perhaps de-evolved) into someone very different.”
Las Bambas | Setting Sun
HOME BASE: Peru.
GENRE: Indie Pop-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Las Bambas (fka Los Ridículos) are a Peruvian-French duo whose music reflects the experiences and influences of two individuals who spend their time creating and sharing a life outside the music realm. With lyrics in English, Spanish and French, their vocal harmonies glide over a mix of psychedelic pop-funk and neo-soul with occasional forays into post-rock. The project is fostered by Auckland’s music scene, where the duo played together as members of the pop/folk band Secret Cousins. After relocating to Lima in 2018, they continued to focus on their original songs. Sound engineer, music producer and musicologist Irazema (bass,vocals) and Silvio (guitar, keys, vocals) define their sound by experimenting with ’60s soul vocal harmonies, funky and atmospheric guitars, and a punchy bass-drum rhythm section.”
Jonathan Grow | Le Vol
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Jonathan Grow is an American pianist and composer who lives in Franklin, Tenn. He is passionate about telling stories through music, using orchestral and piano-based composition in modern classical and neo-classical forms. He also composes for media, TV and film. A neo-classical composition reminiscent of the romantic period, Le Vol is a story of sudden loss, grief, and acceptance. Told in three short movements, it begins with faster phrases of piano and moves to orchestral restatements of the theme in the second movement. The piece finishes with both a lightness and enduring melancholy in a final movement that is told by harp, gentle woodwinds, and legato movements of strings. Cinematic at times, the story is threaded together throughout by piano and variations on the theme.”
Nixon Tate | Mother’s Milk
HOME BASE: United Kingdom.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Nixon Tate, the musical alias of poet and singer-songwriter Nick Taylor, delivers soulful and unashamedly regional vocals on a bed of organically crafted and infinitely layered instrumentation. His wistful and captivating sound has seen this Staffordshire music veteran carve out his own niche as if it were a fine art form, whittling down hazy soundscapes, alluring harmonies and driving bass lines for heart-wrenching results. Tate is refreshingly familiar yet difficult to pin down, with an original fusion of singer-songwriter sensibilities, alternative rock and delectable pop. His words come across as if they have been passed down from generation to generation. Yet as the layers are peeled back, it’s difficult to believe that this is one man’s solo craft, laced with metaphors and beautifully candid. Mother’s Milk is an unsettling story of hope, togetherness and camaraderie in a time of need — a call to stand together and face adversity head-on. The not-so-obvious love song begins with a sustained piano stab and bracing drums, building to an almost orchestral climax with brass, strings and layered vocals that carry home the underlying message of hope in Nick’s haunting vocal.”
Emeye | Da Da (Hi There!)
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: House.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Constantly in evolution, experimenting, eclectic and avant-garded, Emeye is the link between the real and the virtual world. Their origin is private, they have no religion nor sexuality, they’re politically correct. They move in the present, they live in the future, they forget the past. Emeye is him, her, them. The Earth is Emeye, the stars are Emeye. Am I Emeye? “It’s the carefreeness of a child living in a world full of duties,” Emeye says of Da Da (Hi There!). “It’s youth and innocence translated in music.” Da Da (Hi There!) is a catchy tech house track, showing Emeye’s capability of layering sounds to create a banger for clubbing. Like an acute conductor, Emeye combines thumping kick drum, plucked bass, rolling percussion and a kid’s vocal. The voice was sampled in Paris during the pandemic: “I was running errands and I approached a busy supermarket with a long queue to get in. I was there trying to get something for myself when I heard a melody from the other aisle. It was a kid with a bright smile singing in his stroller; it was the most beautiful thing in that frenetic place. I asked his mum if I could record his voice; I simply sampled it … and that became a song.”
Sïan Able | It Wasn’t Your Fault
HOME BASE: Belgium.
GENRE: Soul-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Belgian songwriter, singer and pianist Sïan Able has been leading her unique and singular solo project since 2016. She has been working for two years on her first album, which will finally see the light of day in the fall. Songs in English and French rub shoulders brilliantly, offering a prominent place to the piano and vocal harmonies. The resolute pop-soul style of some tracks blends perfectly with the neo-soul productions. Setting the tone of her upcoming album, It Wasn’t Your Fault is about overcoming trauma and inspiring men and women to become the fierce humans they are meant to be. Hoping to have an impact on women empowerment, it reminds you that you are here to create something powerful: All it takes is to focus on your future. The piano solo is overwhelmed with emotions, and the rhythms and sound design help you find the motivation to transform the struggles of life.”
CircleKSK | Hyperinflation
HOME BASE: Japan.
GENRE: Electro-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I make songs by changing the members for each song. The previous song was melodic metal, but this time I made music that fused electro music and rock. I asked Melisa Jimenez for vocals. I made it with the desire to create a song that can overcome the dark world as brightly as possible.”
Jalouse | Nature Morte
HOME BASE: Canada.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “A musician in the shadows, Jalouse took his first steps towards the light after the death of his band Rock Forest. His fate then shifted when T-Spoon called on him to co-found Bad Dylan. Around the same time, he became the musical director of Pierre Kwenders’ Vié Mogo PKchu, which took him around the world and awoke in him the urge to become his true self. Jalouse will finally reveal himself to the world with Compostelle, an independent debut EP. Initially known for his instrumental works, Jalouse becomes both an author and a singer on Compostelle. His electronic music is inspired by the synthwave, lo-fi, hip hop and dream pop movements. He uses the codes of today’s music to create his own sound. Lyrically, he evokes his strange experiences, his dark side, his fears and his doubts.”
Toxiq | Dans La Bouche
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Synth-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “A French electro duo, Toxiq features long-time friends Claire Deligny (the chick from cheeky pop band Matchboxx) and Yul (a percussive and subtle producer). Their music echoes all the years they spent dancing, eating, and crying together. This collaboration was born under the strain of distance — physical and temporal. Their first EP Dans La Bouche will be released soon. It has 20 minutes of French song with a lot of bass — six tracks, including a title in English and an instrumental track (which differs from the version with lyrics).”
Shrugging Orcas | Henri Rousseau
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: indie-Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Henri Rousseau is the debut single from Shrugging Orcas, a new artist in the San Francisco Bay Area. Playful and catchy, the upbeat indie-pop song is inspired by the independent, working-class hero and godfather of modern art, Henri Rousseau. Buoyed by a toe-tapping modern beat, an electric guitar gradually builds along the way as horns and arpeggiating synths ascend to adorn the soaring chorus and playfully reminisce about post-impressionist paintings.”
Emma Friedeck | Quick Feet Wide Arms (Radio Edit)
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Ambient.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I am a composer and producer in Brooklyn. Quick Feet Wide Arms is the main piece and the single edit from my first body of work. I wanted to focus on the power of arrangement in a unique and beautiful way. It started with the piano, then eventually moved into an experimental phase of arranging string plucks, with a vibraphone separating the piece into two parts. I recorded the piano and most plucks with a cassette tape recorder that lends a warm hiss, moving in and out in the background and giving an alternative component to the piece. My goal in this particular project was to guide the listeners through a peaceful experience; steady and knowing, and is what I intend to focus on in future projects as well.”
Paula Präktig | Ghost Song
HOME BASE: Finland.
GENRE: Neo-Classical.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “I am a pianist and composer from Finland. My new solo piano single Ghost Song is a beautifully simple tune with some interesting novelty sounds — electronic molding of the accoustic piano tone! My goals are artistic, not narcissistic: Broadening the piano-music literature, creating experimantal new sounds with accoustic piano and electronic FX, and using live FX in pianist performance.”
Fabien Lecomte | Tout Ce Temps
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Folk.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Fabien Lecomte conceives his songs as pieces of life’s puzzle. Each new single is a new piece — touching, nostalgic and sincere. An independent songwriter, Fabien released his fifth single in collaboration with the author Emmanuel Marin. This is a piece whose lyrics emphasize the time lost waiting for a loved one.”
Henry Lemoin | The Great Awaits
HOME BASE: Norway.
GENRE: Prog.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “”From the depths of the ocean to the heights of the cosmos, Henry Lemoin’s debut single takes its listeners on a captivating prog-metal journey through space and time. The Great Awaits provides a glistening snapshot into his epic, emotive, and multilayered sound, and serves as a teaser of the release of his forthcoming debut album. With Henry on guitars, bass, and keyboards, as well as mixing and mastering duties, The Great Awaits also features session musicians Naman Sachdev (drums) and Manuel Trabucco (saxophone). Originally curated as an ambient guitar piece, this debut single evolved into much more, with seven minutes of spellbinding riffs, creative drumwork and soaring lead solos reflecting a story of personal growth and achievement.”
Graffiti Welfare | Charlie Brown
HOME BASE: United States.
GENRE: Indie-Rock.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “My name is George Lattimore. I live in Denver and I love recording and mixing electronic psych-pop. Charlie Brown is a proud reflection of the cosmos spinning behind sad eyes, chased by the reassurance that, “even Charlie Brown can’t always be down, he just needs a spark.”
Pierre de Frebourg | Michelle Plus Ma Belle + SaccageParis
HOME BASE: France.
GENRE: Pop.
THE EDITED BIO & PRESS RELEASE: “Born in Metz, pianist Pierre de Frebourg loves film music and admires Lalo Schifrin, François de Roubaix and Michel Legrand. Michelle Plus Ma Belle is marked by the emotions aroused by the need to forget and the liveliness of the memories following a sentimental breakup . Big Charles is an instrumental inspired by the difficulties of getting around in Paris. It became super stressful, and I needed to let off steam and transmit this energy through music. Big Charles gave me a wink, I couldn’t resist the temptation to quote it.”
