Nikhil – Love is a Liar

Emerging British-Tamil artist SLUMKADET (aka Michael Roshan Jr.) shares an homage to Tamil and Indian Cinema with atmospheric new single ‘Blurry Iris’ (produced by Jalus). Having already impressed with the silky moments of ‘Tell Me’ earlier this year, SLUMKADET keeps the momentum going with ‘Blurry Iris’ which opens with one of the most beautiful and cinematic intros you’ll hear this year. Check out the slow-burning single, which wonderfully blends together smooth R&B nuances with Tamil-inspired vocals and is accompanied by a Tamil/Bollywood-inspired visual, here.

Leipzig-based French/Moroccan/American-producer Adam Abdelkader Belhaj-Lenox aka Zouj unveils glitchy new single ‘j0_0j’ (pronounced joooj). Accompanied by an equally bonkers and intriguing music video created by Franz Impler which sees the song’s titular character explore a twisted, alternate reality, ‘j0_0j’ is undoubtedly one of those rare gems that keeps you on your toes from start to finish. Dive into the other-worldly atmospherics of ‘j0_0j’ to the right and keep an eye out for more from Zouj.

Barcelona-based singer/songwriter Uma shares captivating new single ‘Nebula’ from her upcoming EP ‘Moth & The Dove’. Serving as the follow up to previous cuts ‘Black Bees’ and Bring Me The Mountain’, ‘Nebula’ brings together elements of bossa nova and celestial synths as Uma’s gentle and smooth tones wash over to create an absolutely blissful and otherworldly atmosphere. Dive into ‘Nebula’ here and keep and eye out for ‘Moth & The Dove’ which is out April 9th.

Stockholm, Sweden-based soul singer Nápoles follows up last year’s ‘Slowin It’ EP with brilliant new slow jam ‘Know My Place’ produced by Wahib. Encompassing a classic R&B soundscape that boasts a seductive beat, ‘Know My Place’ finds the perfect sweet spot between nostalgic and refreshing as Nápoles graceful tones sweep across the instrumentation like butter. Dive into ‘Know My Place’ here, it’s a stunner from start to finish.

Brooklyn based artist Joshua Karpeh aka Cautious Clay serves up an absolute beauty of a single in the form of ‘Roots’. Serving as the singer, songwriter and producer’s first release of the year, ‘Roots’ is a wholesome and heartwarming single about “having an established history with someone and coming to the often difficult realization that things ultimately won’t last”. With the twinkling atmospherics of ‘Roots’, Cautious Clay sets the tone perfectly for what’s to come – press play and enjoy the single here.

Swedish artist and producer Shadi G teams up with American artist Elijah Boothe on mesmerising new single ‘Mitoone’. Serving as her first offering that’s almost entirely sung in Persian, the enchanting number sees Shadi G’s woozy and captivating vocals blend with Elijah Boothe’s silken tones with ease over a rich, intoxicating beat-driven soundscape. Dive into the atmospheric nuances of ‘MItoone’ to the right.

Having already impressed with ‘HIGHROAD’ and ‘BEADS’ earlier this year, rising New York-based artist emawk is back with delightful new single ‘ACOUSCOUS’. Soundtracked by emawk’s signature production (by Zach Ezzy) that sees lush guitars meet subtle electronic flourishes courtesy of Zach Ezzy, the glorious number is topped off by the singer’s impeccably smooth vocals that are harmonized to perfection. Enjoy ‘ACOUSCOUS’, a song about learning to “process feeling misunderstood/misjudged”, along with its Coming of Age-directed music video here.

Emerging Swedish singer and producer Sam Ezeh’ delivers the smoothest of vibes on brilliant new EP ‘Night At Ezeh’s’. Featuring previously released singles ‘CRISIS’, ‘Bonsai Love’ and ‘Suspension’, the seven-track project is rounded off with two lush closing numbers in the form of ‘Fly/Gravity’ and ‘Makes My Night’. A wonderful debut offering, ‘Night At Ezeh’s’ is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the year so far.

South London-based rapper KAM-BU unleashes powerful video for new single ‘Black on Black’ produced by Pablo Pullen, HYLNU & Tom Henry. The explosive bass-heavy beat is taken to new heights with KAM-BU’s sharp and dynamic delivery, marking the track as one of the most important and poignant offerings of the year so far. Check out the single, which is about “empowerment, equality and reflection” and it’s incredible music video here.

Having impressed us with ‘DUMBO’ last year, Toronto-based supergroup No Tourists return with another fiery track in the form of ‘Like Lava’. Accompanied by a DIY clip filmed and directed by Kafayé, ‘Like Lava’ offers a heavy 808 beat  interspersed with breezy synths courtesy of Abdullah and universes, whilst vocalists Kafayé, Keynes Woods, Lan’do, and Deelo Avery lay down their unique verses. Check out ‘Like Lava’ here and stay tuned for more from the rising group.

LA-based artist Colby Lafayette shares powerful new cut ‘BEST GUY’, a hypnotising standalone in the lead up to his forthcoming EP. Serving as the follow up to last year’s magnificent ‘SO BAD’ EP, ‘BEST GUY’ is another gritty alt-rock banger that boasts grungy guitars and a sharp beat for Lafayette to lay down his magnetic vocals. Check out ‘BEST GUY’ , which explores “the complex intersection between vice and women” in the artist’s life here and keep an eye out for his upcoming new EP which is set to drop later this year.

Rising London based singer, songwriter and producer Khazali shares exhilarating new single and video ‘NYC to CDG’. Serving as the follow up to last year’s ‘You’ll Be The One’, ‘NYC to CDG’ sees the artist’s soft, soothing tones glide across the electronic instrumentation with ease as he sings about “a character trying to escape his small town for famous landmarks”. Check out the track and the self-directed lyric video to the right and keep an eye out for Khazali’s forthcoming debut EP ‘Going Home Vol.1’ which is out soon.

Minneapolis-based interdisciplinary artist Dizzy Fae blends the worlds of R&B with stellar electronics on sparkling new single ‘360 Baby’. With production courtesy of Stelios who lays down a killer beat to serve as the perfect backdrop for Fae’s glitchy and sensual tones to wash over, ‘360 Baby’ is a song about “visualizing what you want and then going out and getting it”. Check out the blistering single here, it’s a bop from start to finish.

West London artist and COLORS performer Lava La Rue showcases their incredibly versatile and vibrant new EP ‘Butter-Fly’. The striking five-track project, which features guest appearances from Deb Never and Karma Kid, sees the NiNE8 founder continue to impress with their exceptionally distinct flow and dynamic pen over equally diverse and exciting soundscapes. Stream ‘Butter-Fly’ in full to the right, and be sure to check out Lava La Rue’s brilliant A COLORS SHOW from 2018 here.

Consider yourself introduced to US-based duo Louis Pastel and Felix aka Paris Texas who impress with their explosive debut single ‘HEAVY METAL’. Arriving with a superb music video that perfectly reflects the track’s grungy atmospherics, the track sees the duo’s dynamic verses and unique flows over emphatic guitars and a killer beat. With a debut mixtape on the way, ‘HEAVY METAL’ wonderfully sets the tone for what’s to come from Paris Texas.

South Korean collective Balming Tiger release vibrant and refreshing double A-side singles ‘JUST FUN!’ and ‘LOOP?’. Comprising Omega Sapien, sogumm, wnjn, Mudd the Student, Unsinkable, and San Yawn, the group continue to impress on these two new cuts, showcasing their playful yet hard hitting soundscapes (courtesy of Unsinkable & wnjn) and witty delivery. Check out the lackadaisical atmospherics of ‘JUST FUN!’ (which arrives with a stellar music video) and the powerful headbanger that is ‘LOOP?’ here.

Barbados based Alt-R&B artist Lagoon Wavey’s latest offering ‘Sunflower’ will quite frankly blow you away. From the get go, the piano-laden single draws you in as Wavey’s breathtaking vocals pierce the minimal soundscape with an effortless but powerful grace. Accompanied by an equally mesmerising and captivating visual, ‘Sunflower’ is undoubtedly one of the highlights of this year. See for yourself to the right, it’s an absolute stunner!

Dublin-based producer/musician Sal Dulu teams up with U.S. rapper Fly Anakin on latest single ‘Zumo’ which is lifted from his forthcoming album ‘Xompulse’. Fresh off the back of off the back of recent singles ‘Gir;”, ‘B’ and ‘Alien Boy 96’, this new offering sees the Irish artist lay down a bed of sweeping electronics for Fly Anakin to bring his spirited verses to life. Check out ‘Zumo’ here and keep an eye out for ‘Xompulse’ which is out this Friday on February 19th.

Paris, France-based artist Yen Yen (aka Théo Schittulli) drops a dazzling number in the form of ‘WRUNG’, which follows up last year’s ‘ADKOL’ and ‘FLASHBACK’. Accompanied by a music video directed by Anthelme Dubois, ‘WRUNG’ is a sweeping romantic cut that features Schittulli’s lovelorn vocals over a groove-inflected, synth-laden soundscape. Swoon over the single here and keep an eye out for Yen Yen’s forthcoming EP ‘GOODBYE’ which is out on March 31st via Cracki Records.

Melbourne-based artist Rodé serves up a sensational slice of Alternative R&B in the form of ‘Are You Thinking Of Me?’. Soundtracked by warped electronic beats that create an entirely immersive and captivating atmosphere, it’s Rodé’s beguiling vocals that steal the show here as she utters “Where you are, where you be, are you thinking of me?”. The perfect Valentine’s track, the song is “about the early stages of attraction where you start to catch feelings for someone” – check it out here.