Somehow we have managed to make our way too March, I think I sneezed February away... As much as the past few month have flown by I did realise the other day that I have stumbled across a fair few lovely new music discoveries. From new releases, up and coming artists and simply just artists that I have no had the pleasure of listening too ( till now of course). It has been a long long time since I have written a music based post, and they are probably one of my favourite things to write, mainly because I get embarrassingly excited about music. SO without further ramblings, let's get into the first artist.
Someone who (too me at least) is having a crazy start to this year is Loyle Carner, kicking it off with releasing Ottolenghi which turned into one of my all time favourite tracks, he has just kept killing it. His latest with Jorja Smith (who I will also be talking about later on) called Loose Ends has become an instant hit in my eyes. I love the way their voices and style blend together, and how his music is very soulful and full of feeling. (which is something I always look out for) His tracks always have such a good consistent tone, the kind of music you can listen too no matter what your mood is. Another killer track that he has released recently is You Don't Know, which I would 100% recommend listening too as well. He is representing UK Rap culture in a way that isn't just grime, and I love and respect him for that. His music is very humble, true and simple which makes a change from the usual aggy sound of grime. Too me that is super refreshing, and I want too hear more of it.
As I mentioned above Jorja Smith is another artist which I can't seem to stop listening too, and let's not forget she is having one hell of a 2019 so far by winning best solo female artist at the Brits. On the topic, if you haven't watched her performance, open a tab and watch it now - her voice is just incredible. Her album has been out since last year, but I have recently rediscovered my love for her, and especially for the track The One, I probably listen too it at least once a day. I love the way it's produced, from the vinyl scratch that you can here in the background, too the way it breaks down into the chorus. It's so soulful, I can't help but have a little dance too it. The way she puts a modern touch on soul in such an effortless way speaks volumes, and I am just glad she is finally getting the recognition she deserves. A couple of other tracks that I would 100% recommend if you haven't heard them before would be Lost & Found and February 3rd (although the album as a whole is a masterpiece)
On the topic of Soul, one of the modern day masters would have to be the incredible RY X, his music is like a combination of Sampha, James Blake and Ben Howard (all three are artists I adore). With the release of his new album Unfurl the song YaYaYa popped in my discover weekly, and I was hooked from the first listen. A voice full of passion and emotion, but he is also adding a more modern twist on soul music. The whole album is something you can melt away too, but some of the stand out tracks would have too be YaYaYa (as previously mentioned - clearly spotify know my tastes well), Untold and Foreign Tides. I guarantee you have probably heard his track Berlin at least once, with over 87 million listens on spotify - it really kick-started his success.
While talking about new releases there is no way that I could not mention the fact that Florence & The Machine released two new incredible tracks, Moderation and Haunted House. Two entirely different songs, but equally brilliant in their own unique way. The release come as quite a surprise as she is known to have quite a break between albums, and with High as Hope only coming out last year this came as quite a surprise, a good one though. Moderation is the main release, and is a powerful, soulful song full of impact, passion and feeling. Her way of storytelling through her lyrics is something I will always admire, and I always feel like I relate too it on a very personal level. Everyone who knows me IRL knows of my obsession with her, I mean the first tattoo I ever got was an abstract portrait of her on my arm. I think that everyone has their ARTIST, and she is mine. The B side Haunted House I actually prefer, it's super short but for some reason my soul connects with it a lot more. That may sound like absolute rubbish to some of you, but too me it makes perfect sense. It's a much slower song, and when she sings "I'm not free at all", I feel that deep deep down in my soul. Both songs are about topics which I very much relate too, and I think that's where the basis of a lot of my love for her comes from.
One more artist I want too mention that sort of falls into this category, but also fits into the next one is James Blake, I mentioned him above when talking about RY X and similarly he also dropped his new album Assume form. Multi-talented he is a producer / singer and songwriter, and collaborates with many artists, my favourite on the new album (and the first song I heard from it) is Mile High ft. Travis Scott this song has blown up and has become his most streamed song, and for good reason. It is an insanely well produced piece of music combining both their vocals with a very sensual undertone, I mean it is a very sexy song. Another few tracks that are well worth a listen are Barefoot in the Park and Tell Them - I wouldn't even know how to begin to describe this song. It perfectly demonstrates the extent of his talent, and the various moods and genres that he works within. His work, especially work that he releases himself (that isn't him producing for other artists) is really genreless, or more so he works within all different genres, but he always keeps that electronic tone within the music. Which is the perfect segway into the next topic.
If you know me, you will know that I like to consider myself queen of the chill tracks. I love it, with all my heart. Mostly within the dance genre because it is so atmospheric, and I find it the most relaxing and calming deep down too my soul. Some stand out tracks this month would have too be Four Tet - Daughter, an absolute classic in the electronic world - if you haven't listened too it I highly recommend, however I understand that the experimental style is not for everyone. Another track, which was actually the first one I added too my 2019 playlist is Disclosure - Where Angels Fear to Tread I love the vocals, and how they sound so old and retro, and the beat is just very bouncy and uplifting, nothing heavy, almost dreamlike. Almost reminds me of something you could pull out of a Disney film! On the more liquid drum & bass note, I have been utterly obsessed with the track Nymfo - Something Tells Me, I stumbled across it on one of my discover weekly playlists (which, everyone should listen too - I have found some of my now favourites from that playlist), and I have been hooked on it ever since.
Below I have embedded my 2019 spotify playist, so if you feel any what intrigued by my recommendations, or are just intrigued by what I like too listen to on the daily, give it a little listen:
