Here are out top ten international picks for new releases out now.
1. Italy’s The Lancasters release new single “Scallywag”
This three-piece rock band has the ability to combine old and new, tradition and innovation in a blend that ranges between the best 1970s British rock and more recent expressions of volume-driven rock’n’roll sounds.
This is the field in which The Lancasters play their game, and they do it damn well. They have just released a brand new single called “Scallywag”, along with a crazy, ironic and exuberant video created by Stefano Vanoni.
Following up their 2019 debut self titled full length and the most recent singles “Midget” and “CCTV”, The Lancasters show once more that they learned the lessons from classic bands such as CCR, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and The Kinks, but they are not afraid to reinterpret the genre according to their views.
“Scallywag” destroys superstitions, ridicules “clairvoyants” and laughs of the absurdities that too often still appear on TV and other media.
2. Melanie Durrant releases latest track ‘Listen’
Award-winning R&B artist, Melanie Durrant, has officially released her latest single, “Listen.”
Produced by Statik Selektah (worked alongside Nas and Wiz Khalifa), “Listen” is embodied with emotion and perfectly encompasses a 90’s hip-hop and R&B sound. Since 2013, Durrant has received three JUNO Award nominations. In 2013, “Made For Love” was nominated for Reggae Single of the Year, in 2014 her second single “Gone” was nominated for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year, and in 2015 Durrant picked up another nod in the R&B/Soul category with her single “Four Seasons.” She was also nominated for Soul/R&B Artist or Group of the Year at the 2015 SiriusXM Indie Awards.
Durrant’s last album, Anticipation, has garnered over 3.7 million Spotify streams worldwide. It peaked at #5 on the Canadian iTunes R&B chart, landed a #1 spot on campus radio, and saw a Top 20 spot on The National !earshot chart. Her single “Goodbye” was selected for a major ad campaign and was broadcasted in 27 countries. The Toronto-native has headlined multiple festival appearances including the Montreal Jazzfest, Toronto Beaches Jazzfest, and has shared the stage alongside Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Jill Scott, Fantasia, Alessia Cara, Cissy Houston, Sean Paul, Common, and many other top acts.
3. Candy shares new single ‘Challenger Deep’
Melbourne’s Candy today announces his new album, A Pull To Heal, will be out April 30. To celebrate, he shares the opening cut, “Challenger Deep” about the exploration to the depths of relationships.
On this new album, Candy roams from the deepest part of the ocean (‘Challenger Deep’) to the 1997 Thredbo landslide (‘Avalanche of Pain’), from panic attacks (‘Affirmation Fixation’) to environmental science books (‘Silent Spring’), from dystopian ideals of the future (‘Clean’) to the imminent understanding that death awaits us all (‘Reaper’) – A Pull To Heal covers a multitude of themes and ideas. It sees him move away from drum machines and jangle guitars to a more rock approach with some whammy bar action to boot.
Produced & mastered by Candy, this album is the first album to be mixed by someone else, Matthew Neighbour (Sky Ferreira, Matt Corby), which adds a slickness and shine ready to be heard by sad teenagers across the world (he hopes!).
4. Afgan releases new single ‘If I Don’t Have Your Love’
Several years in the making, Indonesian superstar Afgan at long last unveils his highly anticipated international debut album Wallflower, alongside the stylish video for “if i don’t have your love” – out via EMPIRE.
Wallflower’s third single “if i don’t have your love” is sure to continue the major buzz formed by the futuristic soul in “say i’m sorry” and the slow-burning “M.I.A”, both of which saw acclaim from top tastemakers such as CLASH, NOTION, WONDERLAND and NME as well as key support across numerous of Spotify’s renowned New Music Friday playlists. “M.I.A” in particular racked up thirty-one editorial playlist features across DSPs while making a huge impact on global radio, with spins across the US, Australia and Europe alongside support from DJ Ace and Nadia Jae on BBC 1Extra in the UK in addition to an interview with Apple Music’s The Chart Show.
“if i don’t have your love” hears Afgan make vulnerable declarations of love across a skillful blend of atmospheric pianos, a funky bass rhythm and a pumping beat. As with all of Afgan’s music, the star’s fluid, honeyed voice and idyllic harmonizing takes center stage to instill emotional depth in every word he sings.
5. Lil Eazzyy releases ‘Hunnid or Better’
Chicago rapper Lil Eazzyy recruits labelmate Bizzy Banks for the debut single “Hunnid or Better” off his major label debut mixtape Rookie of the Year. The single comes alongside an official video, available to stream HERE. Rookie of the Year will drop April 30th and is available for pre-order HERE.
Currently in the running for XXL’s Freshman Class, Lil Eazzyy dropped his critically-acclaimed initial offering Underrated at the tail-end of 2020, which features the massive breakthrough hit “Onna Come Up.” It lit the fuse for the project by reaching 1 million streams per week in September 2020 and continues to trend upward on the Spotify US Top 200 while amassing over 65 million streams to date. The track was featured in video montages by top Fortnite players such as Chronic Hazard, Cultures, Yusa, Keeny, Fakeify, and more. Underrated also features the pensive yet poetic victory lap “Finally Rich” alongside powerful tracks like “Feeling Different,” “Activated” and more. Each track is accompanied by an official video, available to stream via YouTube. The Chicago rapper covered prominent playlists such as Spotify’s Rap Caviar and Most Necessary, Tidal’s Viral Hype and New Midwest, Amazon’s Breakthrough Hip Hop. Spotify’s premier playlist Rap Caviar named him one of the top ten artists to watch in 2020.
6. Abir, Wafia and Beam release ‘Searching’
Moroccan American artist ABIR teams up with fellow Arab powerhouse Wafia and GRAMMY Award-winning BEAM for a new spin on “Searching.” The single is available to stream now HERE and dropped alongside an official video. Fresh off BEAM’s recent collaboration on Justin Bieber’s Justice, the artist-producer spins the track with his iconic and unforgettable hip-hop production while Wafia, known for her breakout track with Louis The Child “Better Not,” lends her airy and alluring vocals to ABIR’s yearning track. “Searching” was originally released on ABIR’s 2020 sophomore EP HEAT, which has over 4.1 million global streams to date and was created in partnership with 2x GRAMMY Award-nominee producer Mick Schultz.
“The concept behind the lyrics is about understanding life is a journey through how we fall, rise, and learn through it all. A never-ending venture to find peace and harmony,” notes ABIR. “I was introduced to BEAM when I was working on my last project HEAT. We wrote the last record on the project together called “Last Lap” and always talked about doing something together. He is such a beast and I was excited to have him jump on. Same with Wafia. Seeing another Arab woman in Pop music gives me the butterflies. Her voice is like silk and I love the texture of all of our voices on “Searching.””
7. Charlotte Cardin releases ‘Sad Girl’
Globally-acclaimed singer/songwriter Charlotte Cardin has unveiled “Sad Girl,” the latest track off her highly anticipated debut full-length album Phoenix (arriving April 23rd via Atlantic Records). Arriving alongside a mesmerizing video directed by Norman Wong (Drake, Halsey), “Sad Girl” follows stand-out singles “Passive Aggressive,” “Daddy” & “Meaningless” – all of which marked the first music in nearly two years from the Montreal-based artist.
“’Sad Girl’ is a revenge tale about a girl who has an infinite amount of tears and draws her power through sadness,” explains Cardin. “She therefore seeks sorrow in order to grow and eliminate her enemies (AKA all her exes).”
To celebrate the release of Phoenix, Cardin has also announced “The Phoenix Experience” livestream performance available on April 29th (North + South America) and April 30th (France + Europe) via Moment House. The first ever performance of her debut album will feature exclusive merchandise, while viewers are propelled into an immersive experience exploring cinematic themes that retrace the artist’s journey. For more information, please visit momenthouse.com/
8. Prince Taee releases new track ‘Braces’
TML/Art@War/Atlantic Records Prince Taee taps labelmate YBN Nahmir for “BRACES,” the initial offering from his forthcoming debut project. Dropped alongside an official video, Prince Taee’s fresh flow and smooth style is further augmented by YBN Nahmir’s unbreakable lyricism to present an irresistible, inventive, and intoxicating track. “BRACES” quickly followed Taee’s “BeatBox Remix,” where he recruited Moviemode for the high-energy visual.
