This week’s New Music Friday is packed with incredible new music. From Sarah Klang’s ethereal vocals to Alvin Lee Meldau’s soulful melodies and Rubberband Girl’s infectious energy, there’s something for everyone. Let’s get this party started!
RUBBERBAND GIRL – PROFITEROLE VISION
After just three singles in the shape of ‘South Suburban Weekend’, ‘Star In A Reasonably Priced Car’ and ‘Nothing But A Smile’, the Rubberband Girl project has generated a wealth of enthusiasm. In a visionary blend of modern bedroom pop, timeless soul and throwback trip-hop, the band – led by Caitlyn Scarlett – has carved out a niche with a perky live sound and suburban girl-next-door lyricism. Now Rubberband Girl show that the strength of their singles translates into an engaging full-length set with today’s release of their new music debut album ‘Profiterole Vision’. Listen HERE.
Each single so far has captured a different angle to the Rubberband Girl sound, but has been united by quirky, conversational lyricism and a buoyant spirit to match the summer months. First the rare indie-pop / acid jazz hybrid of ‘South Suburban Weekend’ felt like a next generation hybrid of Lily Allen and A Tribe Called Quest before ‘Star In A Reasonably Priced Car’ found the missing link between classic ‘90s radio pop and contemporary alt sounds. And then the disco-tinged ‘Nothing But A Smile’ captured the sophistication of Jessie Ware with the youthful exuberance of an artist making their first mark on the world.
SARAH KLANG – LAST FOREVER
Having just played a sold-out headline date in London at LaFayette, Sweden’s Sarah Klang and acclaimed artist Fruit Bats now come together on “Last Forever.” A gentle combination of bluegrass fingerpicking guitar combined with headier pop melodies while Klang and Fruit Bats trade lead vocals on verses creates a country-tinged pop song and one of the few love songs on her upcoming album, details forthcoming. Listen to “Last Forever” HERE.
Sarah shares, “This collaboration was an eye-opener to me because it immediately opened two creative worlds: suddenly there were two perspectives and that is very new for me to have. To get to work with someone I admire so much was a dream come true, and I felt like it made me a stronger writer too.”
Klang has always had a talent for autobiographical songwriting, like on her acclaimed debut Love in The Milky Way (2018), which won Best Album at the Swedish Grammis awards. It continued on Creamy Blue (2019), her second album that earned another nomination for ‘Best Album’ and ‘Best Alternative Pop’ at the Grammy awards, and another nod for ‘European Album Of The Year’ at the IMPALA Awards.
ALBIN LEE MELDAU -JOSEPHINE
An arena-headlining, multi-Platinum Top 10 artist across the Nordic countries, Albin Lee Meldau is edging towards reaching a similar level in the UK with a host of A and B-listed singles at Radio 2. This month sees him hit two landmark moments that will elevate his rise – today’s new music release is a new version of his homeland hit ‘Josephine’ featuring Americana songwriter extraordinaire Lissie, and his new album ‘Discomforts’ which follows on September 27th. Listen HERE.
Bringing beautifully melancholic folk-pop to his singer-songwriter style, ‘Josephine’ is a compelling example of how Albin excels at navigating the sorrow and poignancy of lovelorn emotions. The song takes us from infatuation to love to loss, with Lissie’s mesmerising harmonies intensifying the power of Albin’s lyrics. They say it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, but the ‘Josephine’ story seems to have left a wound that just won’t heal.
‘Josephine’ is the first English-language duet version of one of Albin’s biggest hits to date. The original went viral on TikTok,which catapulted it to Top 10, multi-Platinum status in both Sweden and Norway with 80 million+ streams to date.
JAKE ISAAC – FOOLS FOR LOVE
As he moves towards the October 25th release of his new music album ‘BENJAMIN’, Jake Isaac’s recent singles have been about the important things in life: family, love, identity, heritage and support. With those songs landing significant acclaim, including Radio 2 playlists for ‘GOOD MAN’ and ‘BLACK OR WHITE’ as well as a cover feature from Echoes, Jake now unveils the new single ‘FOOLS FOR LOVE’. Listen HERE.
In keeping with the inquisitive, insightful direction of the ‘BENJAMIN’ album, ‘FOOLS FOR LOVE’ examines love from an unorthodox perspective: that of a couple united by love but who strive to work tirelessly in face of its challenges to maintain it. And can anything define love more precisely than keeping going at times when it would be easier to just give up? The song is equally timeless, soul played with passion and feeling, with an old school, live band feeling that allows its emotions to spill out.
Jake says, “Sometimes love has a way of being the thing that brings life, but can also be the thing that causes one to lose part of oneself. This song is my experience of that journey.”
CAMILLA GEORGE AND BLUE LAB BEATS – ABASI ISANG
Award-winning Saxophonist, composer, bandleader and innovator Camilla George makes a return as she joins forces with the mighty Blue Lab Beats, who have created an inspired deep Afro-house remix of Camilla’s track ‘Abasi Isang’, out now on Eternal Source Of Light/!K7 Music. Listen HERE.
Blue Lab Beats, aka NKOK and David Mrakpor, have served up some masterful production and additional keys on ‘Abasi Isang’ (Blue Lab Beats Remix) to create an infectious, joyous banger of jazz meets deep Afro-house. The remix also features a heady mix of super fresh instrumental parts, including a zinging virtuousic alto sax solo from Camilla George herself and an energised trumpet solo from Sheila Maurice-Gray.
At just over 6 minutes long, the track is going to be a deep cut for DJs and listeners alike. The original track was the first single taken from Camilla’s critically acclaimed third album ‘Ibio Ibio’, that was released last September.
JAMIE MILLER – LONG WAY HOME
International pop music sensation Jamie Miller has announced the release of his eagerly-awaited debut album, Long Way Home, set to drop on October 18th. This highly-anticipated record promises to captivate fans with Miller’s trademark emotional ballads and soul-stirring melodies, now blended with fresh, upbeat rhythms. The album features a total of 14 tracks, including the title single Long Way Home, which dropped today and showcases Miller’s evolving sound. With a blend of introspective lyrics and vibrant new tempos, Long Way Home is set to be a defining moment in Miller’s career. Pre-add/Pre-save HERE
Long Way Home follows on the heels of Miller’s smash hit, Nothing To Miss, and gives fans an inside look into the next chapter of his story. The all-new track is an upbeat celebration of joy and fulfillment that comes from being with someone who makes every moment feel precious; about loving someone so deeply that you want to take the long way home, savoring every minute spent with them.
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