New Music Friday is here again and here are our top picks for today.
1. Waxflower release ‘Food For Your Garden’
Rising Brisbane-based Waxflower, have just released their brand new single Food For Your Garden. The band’s personal favourite track taken from their forthcoming EP, We Might Be Alright is about change, bargaining and acceptance. Frontman Tristan has said of the song, “I think this is the song I spent the most time working on. I was a man obsessed. Sneaking out of bed in the middle of the night to record voice memos in my girlfriend’s bathroom. It’s a song about confusion, fighting against yourself and others. We’re all imperfect, hopefully people can find something to relate to.” Listen here.
Food For Your Garden follows upbeat and unifying single, Not Alone, which received amazing support across Spotify, Amazon and Apple Music.
Waxflower recently announced the release of their highly anticipated EP, We Might Be Alright. Comprising of 5 tracks, the EP explores themes such as hopefulness, finding strength within yourself and unity. These include previously released singles Again and Not Alone, brand new single Food For Your Garden, Fake Frown and title-track We Might Be Alright. We Might Be Alright is the product of frontman Tristan Higginson overcoming his crippling anxiety and panic disorder, and the personal experiences he had during this arduous journey.
Speaking of this very honest body of work, frontman Tristan Higginson has said, “This is our first cohesive release. I think it’s a perfect representation of what we’ve learned over the last year or two as well as the experiences I’ve had along the way. Hopefully people can resonate with its optimism, the world surely needs some right now.” Teaming up with long-term collaborator and producer Stevie Knight,We Might Be Alright is set for release on 16th April via Rude Records. Pre-order here.
2. Sinka release new single ‘Skies’
SINKA release new single Skies, the second track from upcoming EP ‘Take Me To The Skies’- coming out on April 16th. The Watford-based alt-rock trio – Shaun Sewell-Sears (vocals & guitar), Matt Smith (bass) and Jack Wright (drums) – released the first single ‘Messiah’ back in February which once again caught the attention of Danny Fullbrook of BBC Introducing Herts, Beds & Bucks, who said ‘Another EP to look forward to, this year is starting to look up!’ before playing the track on his show.
Having self-produced their debut EP, F.W.Y.K (released April 2020) the band has reunited with Elliott Millman, producer of their breakout single ‘Fussy’ which picked up airplay on national radio including BBC Radio 1’s Rock Show, Planet Rock, Amazing Radio and more, with Daniel P Carter likening them to Queens Of The Stone Age while BBC Introducing’s Danny Fullbrook compared them to Royal Blood.
“It’s been great to work with Elliott again – he understands us and has a way of capturing the raw power of the band, balancing it with a polished production while not losing our live energy” says front man Shaun Sewell-Sears. That live energy was on display throughout 2019 when relentless touring led to 2 sets at Camden Rocks Festival and a run of headline shows.
3. Lola Young releases ‘Ruin My Makeup’.
Unmistakeable talent LOLA YOUNG today releases her brand new single ‘Ruin My Makeup’, out on Island Records and available now via all DSPs – https://lolayoung.lnk.to/
Lola has returned with another raw and expressive track, showcasing her as a story-teller with range, emotion and prowess way beyond her years. The accompanying video displays Lola at her most captivating and soul-bearing, with a straight-to-camera performance allowing her to take centre www.
Talking about the track, Lola explains;
“‘Ruin My Makeup’ is a song I wrote about the duality of a person, well me. I was in a place at the time where I was trying to figure out whether my confidence was hindered by my vulnerability. If I cry about you, it will only ruin my makeup. It’s a sad song at heart but it has elements of strength and power. It touches on my journey through life, struggling with acceptance whether that be through religion or friends or drugs or most importantly through love.”
4. The Avalanches share ‘We Go On’
The Avalanches today share the official video for ‘We Go On’ (feat. Cola Boyy & Mick Jones) – the latest single to be lifted from their critically acclaimed third studio album ‘We Will Always Love You’ which was described as “A vibrant cosmic journey like no other, and a love letter to the unifying power of music” by NME and recently took out the prestigious 2020 Australian Music Prize.
Cola Boyy, a/k/a Matthew Urango, is a nu-disco artist from Oxnard, California and “is one of the most talented producers and writers around, as well as riotous good fun .. having him on the same record as Mick Jones made so much sense to us”. But the latter is here not so much for his Clash rebel rocker history as Big Audio Dynamite, the first time that a young Robbie Chater encountered sampling. “One or two of their songs were big pop records on Australian radio – and it was that feeling, as a kid, of ‘how did they do that? What is that? It was sampling’”
5. Sophie and The Giants release acoustic version ‘Right Now’
Hot on the heels of their recent single ‘Right Now’, Sophie and the Giants are back with an intimate, stripped back version of the song, out now on EMI Records.
While the original is a huge slice of empowering electro-pop, this new acoustic overs a more introspective angle to the track, laying bare the songs emotional core.
The band will be returning to the live arena in 2021 with an exclusive UK live date being announced on Monday and full European dates being announced very soon.
‘Right Now’ is a defiant ode to the good times we all miss and know will come again, an unbridled expression of joy and freedom designed to bring some joy into people’s lives.
“In a time where we feel lost and stuck in an endless cycle, we want to feel those real-life highs again and we want it now more than ever” Explains Sophie. “’Right Now’ is a song about the frustration we’re all feeling, about how we want to be let loose upon the world again. We hope wherever people are this will give them the feeling, if only for a moment, that anything is possible again”
6. Gyakie ft Omah Lay release Forever
Ghanaian new rave and hot music sensation, Gyakie has just released a bubbly remix to her chart-topping single “Forever” in collaboration with Naija’s next rated superstar, Omah Lay. Listen here!
Gyakie debuted on the music scene in 2019. Erstwhile, she had only been known as the daughter to Ghanaian high life music legend, Nana Acheampong who was one-half of the famous Lumba Brothers. Having borne witness to the building of a successful legacy during her formative years, she’s now put all that training into practice to become a certified superstar today.
In what might seem like a short while, Gyakie has released high-impact music including Love Is Pretty (2019), Never Like This (2019) and Sor Mi Wu feat Bisa Kdei (2020) to mention a few, all of which embody the characteristic of a deep soul. Not only does Gyakie sing so sweetly, there’s an evidence of heart and raw emotion to captivate listeners. She is combining her skill and versatility in communicating the African sound and using that to shape cultural norms – as in her breakthrough project, the SEED EP whose underlying message is happiness.
The reception for SEED EP was incredible as it was massive too. It catapulted Gyakie to continental consciousness amassing 11 million cumulative streams across DSPs till date. Also, the focus track “Forever” recorded a streak of wins; it peaked at #1 in Nigeria and Ghana on the music charts, and continued its takeover assignment across Africa on platforms like Apple Music & iTunes, Billboard, Shazam, Triller and YouTube.
With this remix featuring Omah Lay, Gyakie will continue her valiant strides while using this motherland association to further solidify her status as the next takeover star from Africa whose eyes are set beyond the Atlantic embankment.
7. Sneakbo releases new track ‘Dripping’
Brixton legend Sneakbo releases new single “Dripping”
One of the UK’s most consistent rappers, whether it be singles, mixtapes or album’s, never leaves fans waiting for music. This year he has been releasing a flow of exceptional singles such as “I Don’t Wanna Die” and “Chasing The Bag” and follows up with new release “Dripping” with DJ Target taking the radio premiere on his 1Xtra show on Thursday evening.
Produced by his long-term collaborator Lekaa Beats “Dripping”, is a straight up UK rap track that sees Sneakbo hitting the beat over a core piano led instrumental in a way that only a master of his craft can do. Still Greedy brings a different element to the track with his melodic waviness making it into a certified banger as the two artists bounce off each other’s vibes.
The video is one of a kind too as it flips between bike riders, luxury cars, street dancers and old footage of Sneakbo, showcasing his back catalogue of music videos.
The King and pioneer of Afro-tinged rap that fuses rap, afrobeats and dancehall is recognised as the first artist to create this sound by his peers, thus paving the way for a new generation of artists today and superstar Drake, who stated “Huge fan, I’m inspired by his movement”.
There is a lot more music on the way, so stay tuned as this year there will be a flurry of new material from Sneakbo.
8. Dante Klein and DJ YUKI team up on ‘Weekend Love’ feat. Laura Davie
Dutch producer Dante Klein teams up with British newcomer DJ YUKI on her debut to release feel good track, ‘Weekend Love’ featuring Laura Davie on vocals. Out today on SO Forbidden Music, the track already features DJ YUKI on the cover of Spotify playlist New Dance Revolution as well as features in New Music Friday UK, Friday Cratediggers and Hot New Dance plus Apple Music’s Breaking Dance, New In Dance and Amazon Music Fresh Dance.
Channeling the home-club vibe, ‘Weekend Love’ delivers a party anthem to liven’ up any lockdown weekend, combining powerful production with catchy vibrant vocals from House Gospel Choir’s Laura Davie.
Racking up over 400 million plays with LA collective Cheat Codes on 2016 single ‘Let Me Hold You (Turn Me On)’, Dutch producer DJ Dante Klein has successfully balanced the line between pop and club-orientated music throughout his fast elevating career. Releasing on dance heavyweight labels such as Spinnin and Armada and collaborating with peers including Sam Feldt, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, the DJ has played some of the most prestigious festivals and venues in the world including Tomorrowland, ADE and Ushuaia Ibiza.all whilst keeping a close eye on the balance between the ‘club’ and ‘pop’ sides of his musical persona.
9. Nashvillians release new track ‘Tumbling Down’
Newly formed country rock-infused band, Nashvillains, consisting of hit singer-songwriters Troy Johnson, Brett Boyett, and Scott Lindsey, has released a new song, titled “Tumbling Down.” Offering a taste of what is to come from the band’s forthcoming album, due out later this year, the new original song is now available and can be heard on streaming platforms worldwide, HERE.
Co-written by Johnson, Boyett, and Lindsey and produced by Boyett, “Tumbling Down” is the second song they wrote as a band, but their first song to be released. A notable song to each of them, “Tumbling Down,” was written when members of the band faced their own personal hardships, including one member’s battle against cancer. The new track digs into the internal struggles and the loneliness and hopelessness we face in life and the challenge to overcome those feelings.
“We wanted to write something that painted a picture of the chaos in the world and the hardships that we all endure. This song has been an autobiographical journey for many of us in the band,” commented Nashvillains band member and “Tumbling Down” co-writer Brett Boyett.
10. The Attire release new track ‘Naked’
Los Angeles-based pop duo The Attire release their newest single and video, “Naked,” via BMG.
The band teased “Naked” on their TikTok account last Friday evening, calling it “the perfect song to post on your [Instagram] story about your ex.” Over the weekend, it had already amassed over 1.5 million views and thousands of comments from excited fans highly anticipating the full song’s release.
“This pop-soul record is as sad as it is sexy,” The Attire share about the new single. “The lyrics paint the lament of unrequited love, and it discusses the pain of someone only loving you for the sex. “
“Naked” arrives on the heels of a string of dancefloor-ready singles – “Something In The Water,” “Kool Aid,” and most recently, “Push It 2 the Limit.” These releases have quietly racked up hundreds of thousands of streams and appeared on the likes of Spotify’s Fresh Finds Playlist. Stay tuned for more new music coming very soon.
