Multi-talented singer-songwriter-actress, Emily Mei, announced her single “MANIA (Where Them Girls At)” is out today, available now on all DSPs and streaming services. Supported by an accompanying music video, this is her second foray into creating new, original music, and is just the beginning of a deep dive into highlighting her versatile musical talents as 2023 moves forward.

With summer rolling in, Emily Mei packs in the heat with “MANIA”, complete with a full bass, clear vocals, rapid fire rap verses, and an unending supply of big boss energy. In a brilliant nod to her cultural roots, the song also showcases a unique, west-meets-east sound with the inclusion of Chinese instrumentation like the guzheng and erhu, adding a layer of complexity to the entire song. This self-made star reveals to the world once again that not only can she do it all, but she doesn’t need any help, singing, “Thank you, but no thank you, I can do it better.”

Paired with this girl-boss anthem is the equally stunning and incredibly empowered, cinematic music video. The scene opens to find the singer bruised up in an alley, with a pile of bodies at her feet;  showcasing a hard-earned victory from simply being the best around. Others can try, but they just can’t beat her. Reminiscent of the grimy, iconic gangster films of old, our singer takes the spotlight as someone going off “like a maniac,” and reminds us all to “watch our backs.” Mess around and you’ll find out just what’s in store, and from the looks of it, things will definitely get a little bloody in the process. Despite it all, our protagonist has no qualms with who she is, and if anything relishes in the carnage she can impart to all those who cross her, a beautiful combination of elegance, control, and power. What makes it that much more extraordinary is that this incredibly intricate video was shot over just two days, another testament to Emily Mei’s talent as not just a singer, but an actress, co-director, and producer as well.

Emerging from the depths of his basement studio in Vaughan, Ontario, 19-year-old Aidan Skira is driven by a visceral need to get his dark and yet hopeful perspective out into the world. Growing up in a working-class suburban family, Skira’s sheltered upbringing hid him from the atrocities of the modern world. Now deep into the trials and tribulations of adolescence, he is discovering the realities of adulthood and using his music and animations to make sense of it all. 

A one man show, he has a vision all his own; self-taught, self-produced, self-animated. With an organic following of bedroom-music-heads and kids from the suburbs who relate to the heartbreak of being exposed to the truths of adult life, Skira knows he has a unique perspective to share – and is bringing his people with him.

To be in someone else’s shoes is to experience things through their perspective. New single, “In Your Shoes,” tries to figure out what the other person’s angle is in order to relate/adapt to their outlook on things. Penned during a time in Skira’s life when he kept getting taken advantage of by people who took his kindness for weakness and drained him of his energy.

AMAARA’s debut album, Child of Venus, is a bold and unforgettable introduction to Kaelen Ohm’s music. The Canadian-born singer, songwriter, and producer’s third collection of songs is reminiscent of classic-era dream-pop as well as Radiohead’s most spectral and haunting moments—and yet the resulting sound is entirely her own, teeming with detail in a way that draws listeners in and keeps them coming back. 

A reflective work that zooms in on the things we hold close and what manages to escape our grasp, Child of Venus is a record that leaves a mark on anyone who hears it, in the best way possible

“Still” swoops and bends like Treasure-era Cocteau Twins as Ohm immerses herself in what living through love really means. “It’s about looking at love as a journey,” she says while discussing the song. “At the other side of it, there can be so much reflection and beauty – and questioning where the other person is at in their process.”

Child of Venus as a whole is a document of rediscovery and transition, with Ohm coming up for air as an artist and human being truly reborn. “I wanted to share this emergence of me as a person and artist,” she reflects. I’ve been going through so much change, and this record speaks to the path that I’ve been on. I hope this music will find its place in the world and will be able to act as a companion in peoples’ lives if they connect with it.”

Sebastian Reynolds’ “Cascade”  intones a captivating voice as forbidding drones ring against throbbing rhythms, leaving listeners unsure whether to dance or to seek cover. 

Watch and listen here:

Inspired by Reynolds’ love for bands such as Liars, Public Service Broadcasting and Radiohead, “Cascade” is an electrifying taste of what’s to come from his upcoming full-length Canary— taught, dystopian drones for a civilization in collapse marked by a compositional approach influenced by composers like Susumu Yokota, Luigi Nono, Olivier Messiaen, and Karlheinz Stockhausen. 

Once again, Reynolds traverses modern classical composition and retro-futurist production, this time visiting upon the stillbirth of a child, the death of one’s parents, the nature of consciousness, the relationship between mind and body, the fragmentation of our collective mindscape, and the awakening of machine intelligence. 

References to John F. Kennedy, Carl Jung, and Robert Monroe’s influential book Journeys Out of the Body pepper Reynolds’ meditations as samples from contemporary figures Sam Harris, Lex Friedman, and Navy SEAL Jocko Willink both guide and disorient the listener. As always, Reynolds is keen on preserving a sense of meaning in the mélange of programmed and organic sounds he’s come to be known for.

Reynolds has collaborated with German classical/expressionist musician/composers Anne Müller (Erased Tapes) and Alex Stolze (Bodi Bill) in their Solo Collective project, as well as Mike Bannard at The Aviary and others. He also continues to work on commissions for Neon Dance. Recent works with the company include Puzzle Creature, Prehension Blooms, the Thai-inspired Mahajanaka Dance Drama, and Manuals for Living and Dying. He is currently working on a film commission for Oxford University. His music has been widely supported across the BBC‘s networks and beyond. He hails from Oxford, where he spent his formative years cutting his teeth in the UK cult outfits Braindead Collective and Keyboard Choir.

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Today, a new single is released under international idol Lay Zhang’s (LAY) very own music collective called the D.N.A Music Alliance, a curated collection of talented and emerging Chinese musicians that are to dominate the music industry on a global level. The new track, “Except,” is from rapper DANKO, which comes off the heels of back-to-back releases such as “21” by rapper GALI and “What She Said” by Vinida plus the group effort, “Break My Heart.” All releases are under the executive reproduction by LAY himself.

LISTEN TO “EXCEPT” HERE

WATCH LYRIC VIDEO HERE

D.N.A’s stacked line up consisting of 7 talented artists, including DANKO, GALI, Vinida and LAY himself debuted the collective with a full group project called “Cyphers.” Along with an experienced production team, with one of their producers being GRAMMY® award-winning producer Murda Beatz, this group of artists continues to expand its global reach. This next release sets the tone with a new subunit of the Alliance that is long-awaited and showcases a distinct style.

LAY’s production skills shine through in his ability to craft captivating melodies, intricate beats, and atmospheric soundscapes that elevate the overall quality and aesthetics of the song. His creative vision and attention to detail contribute to the success and sonic appeal of the track, showcasing his versatility and talent as a multi-faceted artist in the realm of music production.

With a fluid flow, GALI’s abilities are unmatchable when it comes to style, he is a chameleon when it comes to adapting to different styles of music. GALI effortlessly showcases his lyrics and clever rhymes with his songs. With impeccable control and sense of flow, the artist creates a new style of rap that captivates the listener from start to finish.

Shanghai-based, hip-hop pioneer GALI is a rising star in the Chinese hip-hop music scene. He has established himself as a rapper and one of the most watched rappers in China, having been third runner-up of the 2020 hit show, Rap of China. His thoughtful lyrics and connotative taste distinguish him from other rappers. He continued to demonstrate that he is a force to be reckoned with in the music industry with the recent release of a single titled. “Stay With ME ((因你而在)” with YIHUIK (苡慧). The well-known Chinese rapper is all set to take his fans on an electrifying journey when he brings his much-anticipated ATLANTIS tour to Melbourne’s 170 Russell on Sunday, July 23, fresh from a slot at Australia’s premier festival Splendour in the Grass.

China-based rapper, DANKO is no stranger to the public in Asia and has become a household name from his vibrant career. He debuted in 2011 with his first album, “Illusion Human Nature” and soon became part of several known groups. He’s toured the United States and has released an array of hit singles, even appearing on the hit TV show, “The Rap of China” like his predecessors that brought him to prominence. This latest release is a testament to DANKO and LAY’s undeniable chemistry as artist and producer. The track showcases the pair’s perfect blend of rhythmic beats and verses to catch melodies effortlessly executed under a classical instrumental.

LAY has been and continues to be a household name in Asia, and his career his been a whirlwind the last three years after joining forces with Steve Aoki and will.i.am for the 2020 hit cross-cultural collaborationLove You More, reaching #1 on the QQ Music China chart. He then released a string of hits with an album, two EP’s, cross-genre collaborations and solo singles overseas further propelling his international star power. The Chinese icon is one of the most beloved stars in the region with a loyal and highly engaged 51 million followers on Weibo and over 14.2 million followers on Instagram. As a solo artist, the entrepreneur’s career has skyrocketed to tremendous success, becoming the highest-ranked Mando-pop star on Billboard 200 chart and the first Chinese artist to enter the iTunes Top 60 in the U.S.; with his third solo albumNAMANANA. Outside of music, he routinely showcases his skills for acting in TV and film roles, hosted multiple top-rated reality shows in Asia and is one of the most awarded artists in China. Now, LAY is working with a multitude of established and emerging artists to help bring their star power overseas with this project close to his heart.

Acclaimed Los Angeles-based band The Americans today released their intricate new EP, Strays, pushing the boundaries of their genre.

Strays is an impressive demonstration of the band’s ability to reinvent rock & roll through the prism of early folk and blues. Patrick Ferris (vocals/guitar), Zac Sokolow (guitar), and Jake Faulkner (bass) deliver an album that lands somewhere between Bruce Springsteen and Nathaniel Rateliff.

The Americans’ last two releases, Stand True (2022) and I’ll Be Yours (2017), helped catapult the band into the spotlight. Revered producer T Bone Burnett called them “genius twenty-first century musicians that are reinventing American heritage music for this century. And it sounds even better this century.” Acclaimed music journalist Greil Marcus (Pitchfork) writes, “From the first rolling guitar notes, carrying sadness and defiance like dust, this sweeps me up: I want to know everything about where that feeling came from, and where it’s going.”

The first single, “When You Get Back,” is a heartbreak song about devotion and solitude in the face of unlikely odds. Vocalist Patrick Ferris weaves between a soulful whisper and all-out rocking choruses. He sings mournfully, “You left the life of virtue / To them that might deserve you / And drifted out to sea.” It’s an intimate, emotional opener that sets the tone for the rest of the EP.

“We write our songs inside-out,” says Patrick. “We grab hold of something minuscule and primitive—a simple turn of phrase or an unusual beat—and try to build a song around it. It’s inefficient, but when it works, it works.”

“Land of the Free,” the second track on Strays, is a powerful anthem about homelessness in Los Angeles. With a Tom Waits-crooner opening, featuring piano and upright bass, the song falls into a dreamscape of rolling rhythms and shimmering electric guitars. “O’er the land of the freeways,” sings Patrick, “and the home of the strays.”

Patrick’s resonant vocals shine again on the hard-hitting second single “Kingdom.” Layered with ripping guitar riffs from Zac and exquisite bass grooves from Jake, the song examines the power of one-way desire. Patrick snarls, “You hold the key to the kingdom / Wrapped ’round your wrist like a weapon.”

The band’s distinctive, powerful works have captured the attention of a number of stars. They’ve backed Nick Cave, Lucinda Williams, Ashley Monroe, and Devendra Banhart, and joined Ryan Bingham on four national tours. They worked closely with Jack White and T Bone Burnett, joining Nas, Elton John, and Alabama Shakes in the PBS/BBC primetime series American Epic. They have appeared on The Late Show (CBS), and their music was featured in the films Texas Killing Fields, A Country Called Home, Little Glory, and the TV series No Tomorrow.
Strays is an EP that’s full of catchy hooks, soulful vocals, and innovative arrangements. The Americans have once again proved themselves to be one of the most exciting and talented bands in the roots music scene.