BY NICOLAS SCOTTMeet Sticky Blood!
|
Elijah Blake: A writer behind Usher's "Climax" and a renowned behind the scene's talent, Elijah Blake has been trying to find his own artistic feet for around two years now. Finally given the green light by Def Jam to start his album campaign, he already has found success in his launch single "I Just Wanna" featuring Dej Loaf. The fresh and powerful production gels incredibly with his soulful edge and establishes a solid introduction to the forthcoming album "Shadows and Diamonds" due imminently. The track is on the rise on R&B radio and currently sits at #40 on the Mainstream R&B and Hip Hop charts giving a strong start to his solo chapter in his career. |
Kehlani: Oakland's most buzzing artist at the moment; Kehlani, has laid impressive foundations and groundwork into what could very well be the start of a long career in the R&B universe. Following her critically appraised Cloud 19 EP, the artist returned last month with the follow up "You Should Be Here" boasting collaborations with BJ The Chicago Kidd and Chance The Rapper (both ironically Chicago artists). The project hints at releases from Jhene Aiko but with more of a punch and rough around the edges feel which definitely works in Kehlani's favour. Her dynamic artistic approach is something which draws you in and makes it very hard to lose focus and attention as she dives into her battered experiences with boys and relationships, but somehow the project doesn't feel typical and cliché at all as the 19 year old makes the subject contemporary and adds a "cool" feel to it. |
Justine Skye: Dubbed "The Purple Unicorn", Justine Skye has transformed her impressive Tumblr buzz into a lucrative opportunity for success in music. Solidifying her record deal from Atlantic records, the upcoming vocalist has been in the studio with Mustard (Chris Brown, Omarion, Tinashe), Insomniaks (Trey Songz) and Cashmere Cat (Ariana Grande, Usher) mounting anticipation for her second EP "Emotionally Unavailable" due June 23rd. Her #Skyemix's on Soundcloud (Popular songs remixed and re-produced by her and Swagg R'Celious) all have gained hundred's of thousands of streams on the platform without the singer even having a radio hit under her belt. To add to this the singer is armed with audience backing after a sell out show in renowned NYC music venue SOB's and a mini-tour across the state's which has sold successfully. Justine has carefully utilised her social media prominence to usher in her rapidly growing fan base in preparation for the real campaigns she has on the horizon. Lastly, with murmurs of a collaboration project with DJ Mustard on the way following this upcoming EP, it is clear the purple haired teenager is not playing when it comes to her transition from a social media star to a prominent new R&B female act. |
BY NICOLAS SCOTT
Mismanaged, Underrated, Unlucky. Three adjectives which perfectly describe Leona Lewis' period at SyCo recordings. Fast forward almost a year after severing ties with the Cowell imprint and here we have the BRIT winner's return to music entitled "Fire" released under Universals Island Records.
Unleashed last Monday, the single shows the progression and impact which the songbird has lacked thus far in her career. The track opens with pure vocals, Leona's voice without the aid of a beat or layering and we hear an almost warrior like cry of bravery "You cant put out these flames, you cant keep me out of my seat". The former X-factor winner is clearly here for her place in music back. Instantly following this line, the song launches into a collision of drums and piano keys as the singer continues to dare someone (unknown to the listener) to challenge her agenda. In a similar organisation to Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" but more playful, we hear Leona talk about her struggles thus far in both life and the industry under a suppressing force. But she doesn't appear to be weak in her recollections, they instead seem to empower and strengthen her rebellion which leads us to a racy bridge, in which a saxophone is added into the equation which perfectly gels with Ms Lewis' angelic vocals. After which her signature whistle notes take centre stage before concluding with the stripping back of the instruments one by one until we're left with the piano and the final line "Can't put out these flames".
Leona Lewis has carefully engineered an insightful and impressive comeback. It gives listeners the breath of fresh air they've been waiting for from an artist of her calibre and finally a sense of raw honesty in the music released, something the powerhouse vocalist has previously struggled to convey. Listen below.
Unleashed last Monday, the single shows the progression and impact which the songbird has lacked thus far in her career. The track opens with pure vocals, Leona's voice without the aid of a beat or layering and we hear an almost warrior like cry of bravery "You cant put out these flames, you cant keep me out of my seat". The former X-factor winner is clearly here for her place in music back. Instantly following this line, the song launches into a collision of drums and piano keys as the singer continues to dare someone (unknown to the listener) to challenge her agenda. In a similar organisation to Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" but more playful, we hear Leona talk about her struggles thus far in both life and the industry under a suppressing force. But she doesn't appear to be weak in her recollections, they instead seem to empower and strengthen her rebellion which leads us to a racy bridge, in which a saxophone is added into the equation which perfectly gels with Ms Lewis' angelic vocals. After which her signature whistle notes take centre stage before concluding with the stripping back of the instruments one by one until we're left with the piano and the final line "Can't put out these flames".
Leona Lewis has carefully engineered an insightful and impressive comeback. It gives listeners the breath of fresh air they've been waiting for from an artist of her calibre and finally a sense of raw honesty in the music released, something the powerhouse vocalist has previously struggled to convey. Listen below.
Editor:
Nicolas-Tyrell Scott
Music Blogger studying at The University of Kent.
Archives
December 2015
September 2015
August 2015
June 2015
May 2015