New Music Wednesday with all the best of the new releases here for you in the mid week round up.
1. Chase Rice Surprises Fans With “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen.”
Multi-Platinum entertainer Chase Rice has surprised fans once again with today’s release of new single “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen.” featuring Florida Georgia Line, reuniting the hitmakers who previously achieved breakout success together as co-writers of FGL’s Diamond-certified hit “Cruise.”
Written by Rice together with Hunter Phelps, Cale Dodds and Corey Crowder, the song’s catchy lyrics celebrate the power of slowing down to enjoy quality time and conversation with friends, which has become more relevant this year than ever before:
“We actually wrote this song before the pandemic, which is crazy because it’s almost like God was intervening in the song just to say, ‘Hey y’all, get ready. You’re gonna have a lot of time to sit around a fire, drink some beer and hang out with me,’” notes Rice. “It’s a special song in that way because it really is a celebration of what 2020 became for us and a lot of other people — slowing down to enjoy these moments with our loved ones and having deeper, more meaningful conversations with each other.”
2. Gretta Ray releases her new single ‘Passion’
Desire. Danger. Elegance. Glamour. Passion is a disarming twist in the rapidly evolving story of artist Gretta Ray: the first rhythmically propulsive, sensually loaded taste of a new chapter for the Australian songstress.
“This is a different kind of song for me,” says the velvet-voiced singer-songwriter from Melbourne. “Conceptually it’s not narrative-driven like a lot of my other songs. Passion is essentially a love song, but people have heard romantic music from me before. I feel like this is definitely turned up a notch.”
From the first dramatically echoing piano chords, the heat of Passion is physical. An almost martial drum beats an off-kilter time signature as the song strides into new terrain with the cool self-assurance and sophisticated pop sensibility of an artist whose time has come. Listen to Passion here.
3. Total Brutal releases her new single ‘Egypt’
Total Brutal is the new indie pop solo project from Los Angeles based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Emily Moore. Moore is known as a professional touring musician, having shared the stage with the likes of Grammy award-winning band FUN, Børns, Ella Vos, X Ambassadors and many more. With the goal of spreading positivity and self-empowerment, Total Brutal has an ethos of standing up for yourself in order to be heard and seen, facing fears head on and being comfortable in your own skin.
Her latest single “Egypt” is an 80’s tinged song, reminiscent of Phoenix meets Fleetwood Mac. Oozing with soaring harmonies and warm, muted vocals, the funk-fueled track shimmers brightly, creating the ultimate dance-worthy anthem. “Egypt” narrates trying to get the feeling back of being a kid and the excitement of what the future holds. Nowadays we live in fear of the uncertainty, wanting to bury our heads and hide ourselves away.
4. CHILDE releases new single/video ‘Two Thirds’
Following on from the release of singles ‘Just Me’ and ‘Bad Ideas’ earlier this year, Childe has returned with a brand new single and video ‘Two Thirds’ via Prolifica Inc. Stream here.
‘Two Thirds’ illuminates Childe’s meditative lyricism and finesse for sensitivity through soulful, velvety electronics; laying bare his feelings towards his father.
He says about the track: “‘Two Thirds’ is a song I tried to write for ages. It’s about going into reverse. It’s quite nostalgic grief, so there’s comfort in it. I started it in my bedroom so there are a bunch of distorted vocals in there recorded on a 58. Then we recorded it in LA in January just before COVID stopped the world. We wanted the song to grow the whole way through, so by the end it’s totally massive – sirens and all.”
5. Jessica Wilde drops new single ‘Play God’
South London’s Jessica Wilde continues to grow into her skin as a beautiful young woman with a gifted voice and impressive songwriting skills. Never more so than here on ‘Play God’, which is Wilde’s next single, produced by and featuring vocals from Charlie J Perry, who has produced for the likes of Jorja Smith, Maverick Sabre and BTS and on ‘Play God’ also brings an electric chemistry and warmth which seems to ignite both vocals.
The track takes a new stylistic direction from Jessica’s last project. ‘Play God’ combines hip-hop and psychedelic soul; atmospheric sounds reminiscent of 90’s artists such as Massive Attack but with a fresh twist. The concept explores sexuality and celebrates the power of a woman’s body. Jessica and Charlie’s sensual, soulful vocals draw you in and take you on a journey which leads to an epic explosion of drum and bass.
Jessica expresses, “Play God came from that deep pulsing feeling of owning my woman power, like thunder”.
6. Texas and Wu-Tang Clan release new single ‘Hi’
Christmas comes early for Texas fans as they release new single ‘Hi’ featuring old friends Wu-Tang Clan. The accompanying video directed by Fenn O’Meally, stars upcoming British actor Kadeem Ramsay who recently featured in Top Boy and Small Axe.
‘Hi’ is an exhilarating slice of joy, reuniting Texas with Wu-Tang Clan, and offers the first glorious taste from Texas’ forthcoming album. It’s also the first new music from Wu-Tang Clan in three years.
No strangers to each other, Sharleen met up with RZA in Glasgow last year during the filming of a documentary to discuss their classic collaboration ‘Say What You Want’, which Texas first performed with Method Man at the BRITS way back in 1998. Working on a new track was mooted, Texas soon sent a version of ‘Hi’ to LA and Wu-Tang Clan sprinkled magic dust all over it.
Sharleen Spiteri flexes her soulful vocals over the Ennio Morricone style guitar and raps provided by RZA and Ghostface Killah, resulting in ‘Hi’, a song guaranteed to make you smile.
7. Esther Rose releases new single ‘Keeps Me Running’
Esther Rose, the acclaimed New Orleans-based singer, songwriter and musician, who is pleased to announce her signing to Full Time Hobby and also release her sublime new single “Keeps Me Running”. Watch the tender live video, filmed at the Marigny Theatre in New Orleans here, and stream “Keeps Me Running” everywhere else.
Coming off the heels of her critically acclaimed album You Made It This Far, “Keeps Me Running” is a propulsive tune with the energy and brightness of a crackling campfire late in the night. Both immediate and reflective, the track sees Esther works through the complicated feelings of loneliness and heartbreak, trying to break down the comforts to help her find a spiritual path forward. With a striking melody that nimbly dances around a fast-moving guitar strum, Esther etches out a cool indie-pop sensibility while still maintaining a link to her alt-country roots. Think Waxahatchee, Julia Jacklin, Margo Price. A raw and unmissable talent.
8. KAKY drops pumping new tune ‘Lundi Matin’
They are many ways for an artist to announce his signing with Sony Music and Kaky has found one of a kind: creating a Sony Music track. For Kaky though, this means paying attention to the sounds of the label’s (obviously inspiring) Parisian office, recording it, and turning it into a pop tune for the latest episode of his Youtube BTS series Kakysound.
No one usually cares about the creaking of a door, nor the noise of a wheel, however, Kaky does. This bedroom producer extraordinaire is a dreamer who pays close attention to the tiny things in life. A production technic transformed into a content concept with his visual ‘Kakysound’ series.
