Lydia Persaud launches our ears into Spring with her enchanting new single “Let Me Show You.” Recorded in Toronto with producer Robbie Grunwald (Donovan Woods, Jill Barber), Persaud shares an album which is comprised of 11 songs that run the gamut from romance, to social activism, to anger.
“The songs shift from being based in love and heartbreak to her personal encounters with race, and gender issues,” shares Lydia of the release. “With Let Me Show You,” Lydia draws inspiration from her musical heroes, such as Donny Hathaway, Bill Withers and Carole King, while touching on vital issues that deeply affect her. Her music melds genres while Lydia’s clear message shines through on the power of her unforgettable voice.
Have a listen to the genre-melding song online, and become head over heals for the album: https://lnk.to/letmeshowyou
UrbanFu$e is a group of artists that are looking to change the game of the music world. Far beyond your typical group, the collection made up of over 10 different artists across the world, is a collaborative effort that carries a strong message throughout.
One of their most notable new songs and videos that has been capturing our attention is “Splurge,” which right off the bat shows the inner essence and vibrancy of the group.
UrbanFu$e is clearly putting themselves on the map as a group to watch out for, and as they gear up to release their new EP and a few bonus singles this Spring, we eagerly await what they will show us next.
With an extensive background in Jazz, Country, and Blues, J.K. Matthews is drawn to the inner workings of the songwriting process. Writing consistently since the age of 11, Matthews looks to pay homage to the greats that came before him and aims to hone the craft in each one of his works. His new single “Young” weaves an intricate plot with a hint of thoughtful Country lyricism and a captivating melody.
With a fierce passion for songwriting and live performance, J.K. Matthews is looking to burst into the music scene with his new perspective on Alternative music. With an extensive background in Jazz, Country, and Blues, Matthews is drawn to the inner workings of the songwriting process. Songwriting has become Matthews’ domain for self-expression, creativity, and musical development. Writing consistently since the age of 11, Matthews looks to pay homage to the greats that came before him and aims to hone the craft in each one of his works. He is influenced by and often likened to artists such as City and Colour, John Mayer, and Chris Stapleton.
Rén with the Mane is back and we’re loving it! Dropping her hot new single today “Fool For You,” the sultry artist brings in the Spring with a heavy dose of pop-tastic love. Quickly becoming a favorite of fans and critics alike, Rén with the Mane has been tearing up the music scene for the past couple of years…and we are loving it. “Fool For You,” is a bold direction for the artist who has made her mark in the world of Indie Electro- Pop, as her track takes a new direction; more of a Folk nature. Her strong vocals conveys her message as it surrounds itself by stunning instrumentation.
Rén says “Everything in today’s society is rushed. Beautiful photos are glanced at and then immediately swiped to see what next. Songs should be enjoyed from beginning to end. Our parents listened to albums from beginning to end. You need to create a relationship in order to fall in love. And the same goes for music.” Take a deep breath, close your eyes, listen, envision, interpret Fool For You.
Clara Casey’s video for her single “Physical” is our latest obsession. The electro-pop artist complements her vintage, 80s-esque sound and sensual lyrical content with scenes from her hometown, New York City. The video’s color palette is entrancing and truly captures the dynamics of a longing for more from a passionate physical connection. We had the chance to catch up with Clara to talk about the making of the video.
Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically?
I wrote ‘Physical’ after realizing a relationship I was in would never move beyond just sex. The song is a reflection on our first date, how the night wound up, my hopes for what could have been, and the realization that those hopes would never become a reality. I wanted him to see the things about me that make me who I am, but, to put in bluntly, he only wanted to see me naked.
I’m the type of person who needs to fully process everything about a relationship before I can move past it, and writing ‘Physical’ helped me do that. There are so many feelings that get mixed up in relationships: joy, pain, sadness, regret, rejection, relief…the list goes on. I had to feel all of those feelings again to write this song, and ultimately that left me with a feeling of independence. And that’s the feeling that I really wanted to highlight in the music video.
My hopes for ‘Physical’ is that it inspires young women to be strong, independent, unashamed of their sexuality, and unafraid to walk away from someone who doesn’t give them what they want and deserve.
What was the inspiration behind this video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?
The song itself has obvious sexual undertones and I wanted to touch on them without being too overt. I also wanted to use New York as a backdrop. I grew up in the Bronx and identify so strongly with the city that it felt natural for my first video. In hindsight I should have plotted out more of a storyline, but I’m really happy with the final product. It was a bit of a happy accident, but I love the feeling of independence that runs through the video. I’m singing about a sexual relationship, but there’s really nothing sexual about the visuals. It’s just me being a strong, independent woman moving on from a failed relationship.
I think we ended up capturing the process of moving on in that I’m just walking around the city processing my emotions. It’s a reflection of life. When you’re going through a breakup, or the end of any relationship, life doesn’t stop. You have to keep moving through it while moving through your emotions.
In terms of the visuals I knew I wanted something moody. I also wanted the images to be sort of choppy to compliment the rhythm of the song, and I think my director, Solo Koo, really achieved that. Because there was no official “storyline” the locations were very important. I did some research and scouted out the most beautiful and interesting spots in New York and Brooklyn, and off we went.
What was the process of making this video?
It was really DIY. I drove us around and my best friend worked as our production assistant. Without him we really wouldn’t have been able to shoot. Parking in New York is insane so it was a lot of him waiting in the car, Solo and I jumping out to shoot, jumping back in, shooting while I drove to the next location, and repeating the process for three days. It was such hard work, but I loved every minute of it.
The last scene we shot was the one in Times Square and it ended up being the one that sticks out most in my memory. I was singing along to the music coming from a Bluetooth speaker in my pocket. I had to block everything out, which included another music video being shot 20 feet away from me, people stopping to stare and sometimes comment, and everything else that goes on in Times Square. (It was also like 30 degrees and windy.) It all felt so real. I was actually living out my dreams and making a music video for a song I had created completely on my own. And there was something about being in Times Square that magnified the feeling of accomplishment.
One aspect that made the process particularly hard was that we started shooting five days after my nephew was born. He was so sick that on the first day of shooting I wasn’t sure if he was going to survive. I’ll never forget the feeling after reading a text from my mom telling me that he made it through surgery. We had just wrapped up the first day of shooting, so it was a combination of intense relief and overwhelming joy.(He’s doing great now, by the way.)
There are definitely things that I would do differently knowing what I know now, but the only way to learn is to do. And I certainly learned a lot from making this video.
Lyrics:
I walk by, you don’t notice, then I’m gone I breathe in deeply as I let go of what I want I used to hope that we could be something deeper Than the night we met when we were Caught up in the physical, conversation deep until it stopped With a look you gave to me you pulled my heartstrings And then you made me want to do things Anything you wanted to I was game and so were you So I didn’t think it through I just, I just Got caught up in the physical, caught up in the physical Caught up in the physical, caught up for a bit, but now I’m gone There’s some things I don’t show you because I know You don’t see past the skin on me, but I won’t Let it rip me up no more, was torn to pieces That you chose to only see things That you really wanted to, first I know you saw, but then you stopped Made yourself believe that I was just another Typa girl who you shouldn’t bother Looking deeper to my soul
NJ electronic-rock duo, MGSP, aspire to be a powerful force in the evolution of music for future generations. Their latest single, “Signs”, proves Gregg Sgar and Matt Pelosi are bound to be trailblazers.
“Signs” showcases the duo’s clever ability to blend the sounds of rock, pop, EDM, industrial, and hip-hop into a unique, pop-centric package. The track begins with soft vocals and light ambient synths that highlight the raw emotion in the lyrics.
The build in the second half of the song is the highlight of the entire track, as the powerful, rock-inspired drums surface. The energy of the entire arrangement intensifies with the addition of more synth layers and vigorous vocals, emphasizing the vulnerability in expressing their sorrow.
MGSP absolutely killed it with “Signs” and we’re looking forward to their next release!
Modern Mystery 