NICK, “Ex Games”
It has quietly slipped onto the scene as the lead song from Nick Hagelin’s upcoming Streamline/Interscope album – a year and a half after it debuted on Soundcloud when I wrote about it, quickly becoming (and remaining as) my most-read post in the history of this blog! But I’m glad to see this slick video telling the story of this sweet-and-sour breakup song which might be the counterpart to Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor”. With all of the smooth R&B/pop singers breaking through in 2013, is there room for another? I say a BIG yes to Nick, who has been building up this release with many sterling covers that I’ve written about, including Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” and Eric Benet’s “Sometimes I Cry”. This video and song gives Nick more direct streetwise cred – you’ll definitely think of Drake – which seems to be otherwise lacking in many other releases this year. Been waiting for that full album, sooo looking forward to it!!