Various Artists – Discos en 3/Cuartos

Swiss-born, London-based singer/songwriter Kings Elliot continues to impress with the release of new single ‘Dancing Alone’. The follow up to last year’s ‘I’m Getting Tired Of Me’ showcases the rising artist’s melodious yet affecting songwriting and cements Kings Elliot as one to watch. Listen as those heartfelt vocals traipse across the piano-led instrumentation to conveying the hardships of keeping a relationship afloat whilst struggling with mental health.

Seventeen year-old Scottish songwriter and producer Dillon van Rensburg aka dvr shares delightful new single ’16 (demo)’. Lifted from his brilliant new EP titled ‘u can call me dillon’, the gorgeous single was performed on Dillon’s school piano and was recorded in a single take on Dillon’s phone when he was 16. Accompanying the track, is an equally arresting music video directed by Aliyah Otchere which too, was recorded in a single take. Check out ’16 (demo)’ and keep an eye out for ‘u can call me dillon’ which is also out today.

New York-based rapper Marlon Craft teases his forthcoming new album ‘How We Intended’ with the release of ‘At The Door’. Accompanied by a visual directed by Jacob Carlson and Marlon Craft himself, the track boasts a jazz-inflected, laid back beat penned by Arbus Beats for Craft to lay down his reflective words with a sharp, invigorating flow. Check out ‘At The Door’ here and be sure to give ‘How We Intended’ a spin when it drops next month.

Pakistan-based producer Talal Qureshi and singer/songwriter Hasan Raheem team up for striking, genre-bending new single ‘PAISA’. Released alongside a playful music video created by Arham Ikram and RohanYV, the vibrant track boasts a spirited trap-inspired beat which lays the foundation for Raheem’s slick multi-lingual delivery. Check out the ‘PAISA’ here, it’s a bop from start to finish.

French outfit L’Impératrice get their groove on with the release of new single ‘Peur des filles’ which is lifted from their forthcoming sophomore album titled ‘TAKO TSUBO’. Serving as the follow up to 2019’s ‘Matahari’ and latest single ‘Anomalie bleu’, ‘Peur des filles’ is accompanied by a stellar (and gory) visual directed by Aube Perrie which wonderfully mirrors the track’s dreamy and funk-filled atmospherics. Swoon to the single here and keep an eye out for ‘TAKO TSUBO’ which is set to drop March 26th.

L.A. based indie-folk artist Mal unveils ‘In Free Fall’, her gorgeous debut EP which is inspired by the likes of Georgia O’Keeffe and Leslie Feist. Released alongside an online VR visual exhibition, the seven-track project showcases Mal’s poetic storytelling over incredibly atmospheric and immersive soundscapes on highlights like ‘Night’, ‘Bluebird’ and closer ‘By The Ocean’. Immerse yourself in Mal’s wondrous sounds and stream ‘In Free Fall’ here.

New York City based artist ernest rareberrg shares the stunning visual to latest single ‘Secondary Handstand’ which is directed by Noah Weisfogel. The accompanying clip wonderfully mirrors the track’s moody and nostalgic aesthetic as rareberrg is pictured maintaining direct eye contact throughout, creating an eerie yet intimate atmosphere. With one of the most unique sounds around, rareberrg is undoubtedly an artist to keep an eye on this year – for now though, check out ‘Secondary Handstand’ here.

Toronto-based Persian-Dutch singer and songwriter KIANA kicks off the new year with the release of lush new single ‘September’. Serving as the follow up to last year’s ‘Lesson’ and ‘off of this’, the delectable cut boasts a slick beat penned by Arham and sukh as KIANA’s soothing tones wash over to create a sense of peace and tranquility. Check out the feel good song here, it’s a stunner!

Norwegian artist, producer and creative Lokoy teams up with Nils Bech on striking new single ‘relay’ which is lifted from his forthcoming debut album titled ‘badminton’. Driven by a lively beat which blends together African-inspired percussion as well as sampled Icelandic church choirs, ‘relay’ is a vivid pop cut that’s finessed by those light and airy vocals. Check out ‘relay’ here and keep an eye out for ‘badminton’ which is out January 22nd.

Consider yourself introduced to Chinese-Indian singer/songwriter insha who shines on her gorgeous debut single ‘she’s watching’ which dropped towards the end of last year. A slow burning slice of bedroom pop, ‘she’s watching’ sees  insha’s sweet and soothing tones glide across the relaxing piano melodies before the instrumentation blossoms into subtle electronics for the track’s climax. Enjoy the single here and keep an eye out for more from this promising artist this year.

Angola-born, Portugal-based artist Rony Fuego expresses his gratitude on his vibrant new single ‘Graças a Deus’. Released at the end of last year, ‘Graças a Deus’ (which loosely translates to “Thanks God”) boasts an energetic soundscape penned by Charlie Beats who lays down a bouncy beat to serve as the perfect backdrop for Fuego to lay down his scintillating vocals. Dive into the celebratory track here and keep an eye out for more from the rising artist this year.

Los Angeles-based musician/performance artist ZAH follows up their stunning debut album ‘LILITH’ with arresting new single ‘pain and purity’. Accompanied by an equally intoxicating self-directed and edit music video, the song features an haunting, trap-inspired beat sprinkled with synths courtesy of Le Makeup along with ZAH’s falsetto sweeping across with a whispered, transcendent flow. Check out ‘pain and purity’ here, it’s a stunner from start to finish.

Consider yourself introduced to Liverpool based duo POLICE CAR COLLECTIVE who dazzle on their 2021 debut offering ‘ALLTHETIME’. Made up of songwriter/vocalist Tyler Plazio and bassist Simon Quigley, POLICE CARE COLLECTIVE create a grungy yet dreamy atmosphere over the track’s seven-minute plus lifespan as gritty guitars and a simple beat are topped off by those endearing tones. Check out ‘ALLTHETIME’ here and keep an eye out for more from the promising pair.

L.A.-born, London-based singer/songwriter Celeste shares ‘Love Is Back’, a sparkling new cut from her forthcoming debut album ‘Not Your Muse’. Released on December 31st, the gorgeous single encompasses an enriching and uplifting atmosphere with its twinkling soundscape serving as the perfect backdrop for the COLORS alumna to lay down her golden tones. Check out ‘Love Is Back’ here and keep an eye out for ‘Not Your Muse’ which is out February 26th and also features previous single ‘A Little Love’.

Singer, songwriter and producer Rahm Silverglade aka RⱯHM ⚉ kicks off the new year with magical new offering ‘semiautomatical’. Serving as the follow to up last year’s ‘Tree In A Sidewalk’ and ‘the thunder peal of spackle on drywall’, ‘semiautomatical’ sees the altopalo member craft an otherworldly soundscape pairing eerie synths and subtle electronics with reflective words about the state of human connection and reality. Check out the spellbinding cut here and keep an eye out for RⱯHM ⚉’s forthcoming debut album which is out later this year.

DC based rapper NAPPYNAPPA rounds out his incredibly busy year with the visual accompaniment of superb single ‘GIVETH AND TAKETH AT WHAT COST’. Having already dropped a number of stellar projects in the form of ‘HUH’, ‘One Year’, ‘Truth Won’t Save Us Now’ and ‘Never Ends’, the rising artist shared ‘IFEELJUSTLYKTHEIRART’ in November which features the highlight track. Soundtracked by an unconventional instrumental to back up NAPPYNAPPA’s relentless lyricism, the visual for ‘GIVETH AND TAKETH AT WHAT COST’, which is directed by Aleksander Lee, is just as impressive – see for yourself here.

Canadian duo Daniel Daley and Paul “Nineteen85” Jefferies tease their new dvsn album ‘Amusing Her Feelings’ with festive new single ‘Blessings’. Serving as the follow up and accompaniment to this year’s ‘A Muse In Her Feeling’ record, the single encompasses an uplifting and spiritual aesthetic with gorgeous piano led melodies and a soothing beat carrying Daley’s impeccably silky tones with ease. Dive into ‘Blessings’ here and keep an eye out for ‘Amusing Her Feelings’ which is set to drop early next year.

Dominican/Mexican-American singer Ambar Lucid rounds off the year with the release of serene, beautiful new single ‘Lolita’. The New Jersey-based artist’s single follows this past autumn’s ‘Head Down’ and serves as the latest offering since her album ‘Garden of Lucid’ dropped this Spring. Accompanied by a gorgeous visual shot at sunset and directed by TheVideoBoy, ‘Lolita’ is a stunning ode to Ambar’s mother as she delivers her affecting words in both English and Spanish. Check out ‘Lolita’ here and keep an eye out for more from Ambar Lucid in 2021.

Rising Dutch producer Sim Fane shares vibrant, double-single ‘closure’ which includes a collaboration with Rotterdam-based artist Elijah Waters who treated us to a stunning A COLORS SHOW earlier this year. On ‘—˚✦ ඔබ + මම ♬ !!! ❀˚’, Waters’ endearing tones sweep across the serene, dreamy soundscape whilst the titular, instrumental number sees Fane’s sonic wizardry take shape courtesy of spirited electronic spells. Check out both of the singles here.

London-based vocalist / rapper Yayoyanoh drops ‘Pariah’, an astounding six-track genre-bending experience executive produced by Woesum. A swirling vortex of sounds that coalesce to create a smooth and eclectic aesthetic, ‘Pariah’ is taken to new heights with Yayoyanoh’s easygoing verses and breezy delivery. From opener ‘Re-Entry’ to closer ‘Mindfucc’, Yayoyanoh has crafted something truly special with producers Gud, Denmark and Severin Glance – press play and see for yourself here.