Sam Corbett, founding member of JUNO Award-winning and platinum-selling band The Sheepdogs, presents NUTANA which finds Corbett singing lead and playing drums, percussion, and keyboards on a dazzling and highly nuanced set of songs certain to appeal to both Sheepdogs fans and discerning rock lovers.
The first single is jangly, simmering, serpentine “You Belong” which explores the notion of what Corbett calls “imposter syndrome” as a wailing sax elevates the chorus. “I think a lot of successful people wonder, ‘Do I deserve this?’ For me, there always seems to be so many amazing musicians out there,” Corbett allows. “But the song reinforces the idea that I do belong here, and that I do have something to say.”
NUTANA’s towering debut solo album will be released on April 7th, featuring 10 original songs (plus two captivating covers) Corbett wrote while stepping away from the band to undergo cancer treatment, one month before his first daughter was born. NUTANA features contributions from Jim Bowskill (Blue Rodeo), Chris Mason (The Deep Dark Woods), Clayton Linthicum (Kacy and Clayton), Shamus Currie (The Sheepdogs, Bros) and former Sheepdogs guitarist Leot Hanson.
As a prolific content creator, you may be familiar with DATSUNN from his Twitch streams, his captivating Instagram beat making videos, or his collaborations with major brands like Native Instruments, Roland, and many more. But no matter how you arrive, Datsunn’s entrancing blend of classic hip-hop, soul, and R&B will entice you to stick around. Citing influences that run the gamut from J Dilla to Lewis Taylor, DATSUNN has perfected an ultra-smooth brand of engrossing eclecticism that is as fresh as it is familiar.
His new song, “End of the Day,” inspires a sense of peace and calm. It was created as part of a YouTube series he was working on, called Behind The Pads, where he picked a random sample and made a new piece of music based on it. This particular sample came from Toronto producer, The Kount.
The lyrics came to Datsunn easily as he was thinking about what he values in this world and wanted to share it with his audience: “All these things we need, like money, fame and greed. Do they mean anything? At the end of the day.”
“The world, especially on social media revolves around the things we have or don’t have, and we’re always made to feel like we need more,” says DATSUNN. “I came to the realization that I really don’t need any of it. Does it all mean anything to us at the end of the day?”
Last December, the abrupt emergence of a mysterious music collective piqued heavy curiosity within the global music industry. As the members associated with this new alliance continued to grow in global recognition, the rise of this stacked ensemble is bound to make huge sensations in the music industry in 2023 with D.N.A Music Alliance, created by the multi-talented musician and global superstar Lay Zhang (LAY). Members in this stacked lineup include Danko, GALI, Victor Ma, Shan Yichun, Wang Ziyi and Vinida, all of whom are hugely popular and talented musicians based in China. Just recently, the seven members of the D.N.A Music Alliance created two group Cyphers, each with a distinct style, to showcase the group’s versatility and talent within the music industry.
The production team consist of global hitmakers such as GRAMMY® award-winning heavyweight producers such as Murda Beatz, who has worked on more than 20 Billboard No. 1 albums, as well as BoogzDaBeast, who has worked with Kanye West for 25 years, and FNZ, the Australian duo, providing a substantial touch of guarantee for music production. This represents the first co-release of Cyphers by multiple top musicians in China, as well as an unprecedented collaboration on a global music project among top-notch producers from 4 countries.
D.N.A Cypher I
D.N.A Music Alliance’s “The Cypher” consists of two parts, the first of which adopts an R&B style for a soothing love song featuring Lay Zhang, Shan Yichun, Wang Ziyi and GALI. With Lay Zhang’s signature singing style setting the tone for the work, GALI injects raw emotions with his stellar rap verses that perfectly compliment the overall vibes of the music. Shan Yichun highlights the quality of a super international singer with her solid prowess, and Wang Ziyi adds unique layers to the piece, heightening its complex sound with exceptional tone shifts.
LIN, an artist who has yet to make his debut under LAY’s Chromosome Entertainment banner, also contributed to the Cypher with his highly recognizable, deep husky voice. While skillfully conveying emotions in Cypher I, the four singers have also successfully created a stunning sense of image that sufficiently illustrates the theme of “love” in this work. Through the combined, concerted efforts of three top-notch producers, the sophisticated post-production more than sufficiently demonstrates the unrivaled competencies of famous producers like BoogzDaBeast and FNZ – both who worked with unparalleled artists such as Kanye West in the past.
D.N.A Cypher II
Juxtaposed against the soothing R&B style in Cypher I, Cypher II carries with it a more authentic hip-hop style, this time a joint creation by Lay Zhang, Danko, Victor Ma and Vinida. Unlike the more lyrical tones spotlighted in Cypher I, part 2 offers an antithetical opportunity to allow these four members to showcase their stunning rapping skills. In terms of production, the work is a manifestation of the strong personal style of Murda Beatz. As a producer ranked on the top of platinum records, the award-winning hitmaker has customized the work that lives up to the highest international standards for the singers. Matouqin, a traditional Chinese string instrument, is flawlessly integrated into the arrangement, another M-Pop concept that LAY has strongly advocated for as a producer.
Building on the rock-solid foundation by Murda Beatz, Lay Zhang, Danko, Victor Ma and Vinida demonstrate their individual musical characteristics to interpret a story about love from an entirely new perspective. The two Cypher pieces by these seven alliance members tell a cohesive narrative through a plethora of different aesthetics and attitudes, all tied together via this theme of “love”.
Murda Beatz is rated by Billboard as the most influential hip-hop producer, topping the list of producers on Billboard Rap. He has produced more than 40 Platinum records. His musical catalog has been played over 1.1 billion times across major streaming media. During his career, he has worked with hip-hop heavyweights Drake, Travis Scott, Migos, Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, Polo G and Lil Baby. The world-renowned producer, BoogzDaBeast, hails from Kanye West founded independent label, G.O.O.D. MUSIC. Forming a close relationship with Kanye West during his youth, BoogzDaBeast collaborated in Kanye West’s monumental album “Donda”, including the eponymous title track “Donda” as well as “Come To Life”. FNZ, another renowned production team, has worked closely with countless artists such as Kanye West, A$AP Rocky, Wiz Khalifa, Chris Brown and MGK. Drake’s “Rich Flex”, which gained explosive success at the beginning of the year is just one of the many other tracks co-produced by the duo and BoogzDaBeast.
With their vigorous efforts to invite top-notch overseas musicians and production teams, D.N.A Music Alliance is committed to building a second-to-none communicative platform for original music, welcoming and encouraging talented Chinese musicians to create high-quality work ready for the global stage, introducing and pushing Chinese music to the world. With such a commitment in mind, the team will continue to work with other high-profile international musicians. Lay Zhang and his label will launch an album later this year. Make sure to follow along, since this is just the beginning as the label continues to grow and develop into an unprecedented musical feast, consisting of more world-renowned music producers, more artists, and, most importantly, exceptional music.
GRAMMY-nominated dance music icon Audien, popularly known for songs like the Billboard Top 40 hit “Something Better” with Lady Antebellum and his GRAMMY-nominated remix of Bastille’s “Pompeii,” has announced that he will be bringing his ‘Progressive House Never Died’ concert experience to the Big Apple! The show will be held at Brooklyn’s Avant Gardner on Friday, April 21 and will feature support performances from his talented friends and collaborators Frank Walker, Hook N Sling, Mike Williams, Codeko, and Danny Quest. Pre-sale went live March 9th and sold over 500 tickets in the first 30 seconds. Tickets will officially be on sale Friday, March 10 at 1:00 PM EST!
Last year, Audien brought the ‘Progressive House Never Died’ tour across North America and sold out every show in all major cities, but one city was missing and his East Coast fans took notice. Responding to fans requests, he’s decided to bring the show to New York City for “one of the biggest shows I’ve ever played, and definitely my biggest show in the city;” with plans to bring along some of his friends.
The announcement comes on the heels of his first song release of 2023, the uplifting progressive house anthem “Antidote” featuring Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter-producer JT Roach. The positive grooves of this progressive house record “speaks of being a source of peace in a world of chaos and toxicity” according to JT Roach. The collaboration between Audien, Codeko and JT Roach brings encouraging lyrics and an uplifting beat that is sure to lift listeners spirits and deter any negative energy. JT Roach’s unique voice fills the room with joy and thirst for life as he swings on the captivated melody.
Known for his production prowess and uplifting melodies, Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter Audien has established himself as an icon in the dance community. A staple in the progressive house genre, he garnered the support of industry veterans such as Tiësto, Above &Beyond and Armin van Buuren through an extensive discography that includes collaborations with the likes of ARTY, MAX and Echosmith, and official remixes of songs by Coldplay, Halsey, Nile Rodgers, Jess Glynne and Calvin Harris.
Following three releases in 2022 as part of his Progressive House Never Died movement, concertgoers can look forward to seeing him perform this year at Beyond Wonderland, Miami Music Week, Sunset Music Festival, and more. In addition to music festivals, you can catch him at his residency at Resorts World Las Vegas
The American-Asian DJ Elephanteand electro pop singer HALIENEblend their ever-evolving sonic styles in their new single“Hollow,” available now on all streaming platforms. Elephante’s mystical melody wraps around the angelic voice that HALIENE expresses from the hollows of her heart, delivering a vulnerable yet healing track for those broken hearts who still hold a lust for love.
Listen in here:
The new single “Hollow”depicts the emotions of being so close to someone but never being in the same place. It’s where EDM meets a heavenly vocal and evocative melody meets vulnerable lyrics. Any level of divergence between Elephante and HALIENE themselves embraces the contrasts in love and creates a unique creative synergy.
Quote from Elephante: Hollow is such a haunting and poignant song – the first time I heard the demo I got chills and was immediately inspired to dive in. I knew I wanted to make a big melodic bass thing, but with my guitar and a lot of organic sounds to fit around HALIENE’s incredible voice and performance. It threads that needle for me where I can imagine going nuts to it at a festival, but also crying – the perfect balance.
Quote from HALIENE: I wrote Hollow about the process of allowing yourself to be vulnerable with another person. In this often terrifying process, we question if it’s truly safe to allow someone in so deeply…. Fighting the fear that maybe it’s better to remain as a facade of stone, never revealing a single crack beneath. The funny thing is, you can’t keep up the masquerade any longer, so the crumbling is inevitable, and yet incredibly beautiful. The chorus begs the questions, “if I show you all my flaws and vulnerabilities, would you find them beautiful? Would your own weaknesses fill in the cracks? Would you accept me as I am?” Working with Tim (Elephante) on this one was a dream come true and such an honor. His first instinct on the track was really unique and special, and musically brought the lyrics to life instantly. Every time we passed the project back and forth, I found new things I loved in his production! I’m so excited to put Hollow out into the world together.
Coming off the heels of his 88risingdebut [NIKI, Rich Brian, Joji] with his hotly-anticipated sophomore album, Heavy Glow, Elephante is continuing his personal, sonic, and performance evolution into 2023. The producer ventured on a 20-market ‘Heavy Glow Tour’ last year, which showcased his guitar skills with stunning, dynamic visuals and effects. The trend-setting, multifaceted talent is set to rock the country’s biggest cities with his new music and jaw dropping performances, including some of the most popular electronic music festivals in North America; with Beyond Wonderland coming at the end of March. The Grand Boston in Boston, Heatwave in Chicago, Escapade in Ottawa, and the iconic Moonrise Festival in Baltimore are also on his calendar in the coming months, and with his innovative beats and unmatched energy, Elephante is expected to deliver electrifying sets that will leave fans mesmerized.
CHIC CHOC’s “Freedom” is a pulsating techno and dance single reminiscent of Massive Attack and Calvin Harris with a hint of softer pop elements similar to Dua Lipa.
The song is about women’s rights around the world, which also brings attention to the recent Iran protests that have sparked in the aftermath of the killing-in-custody of the 22 year old Mahsa Amini. “This event sparked one of the largest women lead movements in history and our song is in support of this,” shares the trio. “We believe that even if one woman does not have freedom, our freedom is incomplete. We hope to be able to inspire social change using our music as a medium.”
“Freedom“ is an anthem for bringing on change, written with the intention to bring light to the constant battle for women’s rights. Each of the cities they sing about have particular instances associated with them where women were treated unjustly.
CHIC CHOC is an electronic music collaboration between long time music veterans Connie Yin, Neda Zahraie, and Christina Crossin, actualized in 2019. The trio composes using drum machines, synthesizers, guitars, voice and a variety of sound filters and pedals. Listeners should expect a danceable groove, informed lyrics and an unexpected yet supremely elegant shift in feel and attitude from song to song.
Modern Mystery 
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