L.A.’s @Zhaomusic arrives with the ethereal “Lifetime”

ZHAO, “Lifetime”

Producer/singer/songwriter Zhao first came to my attention late last year as the vocalist on an enigmatic, enduring favourite of mine by producer Eric Sharp called “The Thirst” (below).  Now L.A.-based, born in Tennessee but raised in Atlanta, Zhao (first name Kenny) kicks off his EP Ride with “Lifetime”.  It’s a thoughtful dose of melodic electronica that will slip under your skin and transport you to somewhere peaceful and personal for a while.  It’s definitely the flipside of the more aggressive “The Thirst”, and may hold as many influences from the keyboard work of M83 and the sparseness of Rhye as it does from 80’s pop and R&B.  It’s complex music that sounds simple and most pleasing to the ears, and you can watch Zhao himself at work in the fine video for “Lifetime” up top.

Lots of big post-breakup beats in “Over U” by Australia’s @Enschway featuring @YeahBoymusic

ENSCHWAY featuring YEAH BOY, “Over U”

Australian producer/remixer Enschway knows how to power up a breakup song with the big beats in “Over U”.  Although anyone through a romance will relate to the lyrics, the bouncy execution becomes cathartic and fun.  It’s also carried by the clever vocals of British singer Yeah Boy, formerly of the duo Parachute Youth (you also know him from 3LAU’s “Is It Love”).  There’s a fine arrangement full of chemistry crammed into just over two minutes, which unfortunately has much too fast of a finale.  But I’d definitely love to hear these guys create another record.  Check out “Over U” at the link above.

Your new catch phrase? “Oom Zigga” brings the beach party courtesy of @itsPapaYa with @_MalcolmAnthony

PAPA YA featuring MALCOLM ANTHONY, “Oom Zigga” (free DL)

If you find traces of sand on your floor despite not being anywhere near a beach, then it may be the result of listening to LA-based duo Papa Ya with “Oom Zigga”, featuring New Jersey hip hop performer Malcolm Anthony.  It’s the follow up to the toe-tapper “Sunny”, and where “Sunny” got you dreaming about the beach, “Oom Zigga” takes you to the party along with some rhythmic chanting that you might find more in a campfire song from yesteryear.  But like “Sunny”, “Oom Zigga” is straight up fun that you don’t want to think about too much, otherwise you’ll simply prevent the title phrase from getting stuck in your head.  The beach boy pop/hip hop blend goes down easy, and you can get your own copy of “Oom Zigga” for free at the Soundcloud link above.

Papa Ya is touring with MAX in some of his upcoming US shows so watch out for them!

Chicago’s Pete Cho @petechosen makes an auspicious debut with “Howlin'”

PETE CHO, “Howlin'”

It was a rather pleasing and unexpected surprise to get to enjoy “Howlin'” by Pete Cho recently.  Pete is a Korean BBQ restauranteur from Chicago turned pop/dance artist who also writes and produces his own music.  And if you’re going to do it then you may as well go big and bold with help from the likes of Dino Zisis (Lady Gaga’s “Applause”).  “Howlin'” sounds great and of course has just arrived in time for Hallowe’en.  That means there’s a spooky video with a few twists, and Pete had his hand in writing it too.  “Howlin'” has a solid overall sound with a lot of punch in its beats that generates appropriate suspense without overkill.  The uncredited singer has a good voice too which adds to the atmosphere.  Check out the video above – you’ll want to hear “Howlin'” again and play it for your friends 🙂

“Flags” by @Shoffymusic (feat. #Yuna) is a low-key start to a fabulous debut album

https://soundcloud.com/shoffymusic/flags-feat-yuna

SHOFFY featuring YUNA, “Flags” (free DL)

Shoffy’s debut album may be one of the best and most understated dance music records to arrive this year, all in a very good way.  I really need to dig deeper into it to write more about it, but I’ll start with the unity-themed lead off single “Flags”, featuring R&B singer Yuna, available for free at the link above.  The singer I’m going to compare L.A.’s Shoffy to is Troye Sivan, not because of similar voices or styles, but for someone who has found his sound, which Troye did on last year’s huge Blue Neighbourhood.  Like other recent finds like Lauv and Kid Froopy, Shoffy has a natural, likeable voice that flows beautifully with his music as well as his singing collaborator.  The overall sound is a low-key electronic delight, one that will stay with you through subsequent listens.  Not all dance music has to result in big bangers, and Shoffy in the two years has been part of some interesting releases by others until he made the Billboard dance/electronic chart last year with “Takes My Body Higher” .  Check out “Flags” for now and I hope to feature more of Shoffy’s songs from his album soon!  

Shoffy’s upcoming east-west US tour starts in NYC on October 11 at the Mercury Lounge.

L.A.-based @Lash_music has silky tropical vibes with “I’m Gonna Be There”

LASH, “I’m Gonna Be There”

Lash was once a duo but it’s all Kelvin Beato now as he reveals his new single “I’m Gonna Be There” for Enhanced.  It’s quite a lovely story of commitment through ups and downs, skewing more of a pop side than what you might find in clubs.  And what’s most attractive about “I’m Gonna Be There” is the gentle, silky tropical vibes that can only come from someone who grew up with it all around him – Kelvin is native to the Dominican Republic.  “I’m Gonna Be There” is familiar but fresh and holds a lot of promise as a breakout for someone like Kelvin who grew up with adversity at his doorstep and is now flourishing through some pretty cool music.

Come out fighting: @itsKasum returns with “Burned Bridges”

https://soundcloud.com/kasum/burnedbridges

KASUM, “Burned Bridges” (free DL)

If you’re going to take a bit of a break to finish off school and then come back even stronger, then you can use “Burned Bridges” by NYC’s Kasum as a great example.  Not only has Kasum (aka Brandon Weiss) offered the song as a free download for you, but it takes a bit of a nostalgic turn both vocally and melodically into Blink-182/Sum 41 territory, while staying rooted in dance music.  So it’s electronic pop with a punkish side, but the attitude is all about fighting to leave what’s buried behind you in life and getting on with things for the better.  Reminisce about those “Burned Bridges” with Kasum but expect to be bopping along and smiling in the end 🙂

 

“High Tide” is gentle and inspiring folk/pop EP from Toronto’s @JustinNozuka

justinnozuka10

JUSTIN NOZUKA, High Tide (EP)

It’s so hard to believe that Justin Nozuka’s first album Holly was released 10 years ago this Fall, and the thoughtful and emotion-wrenching lead single “After Tonight” became one of my go-to songs for not only the next year but forever more, it has endured so very well.  Flash forward and we’re now at the start of a fourth album release for Justin.  He’s chosen to release it in EP parts instead of all at once, so the first three-song offering is called “High Tide”.  It’s a gracious blend of folk and pop and rock like no one else is making.  Inspired greatly by love and nature, you can feel the gentle power particularly in “No Place In Mind”, which reminds me a lot of songs from Justin’s 2010 album You I Wind Land & Sea.  Opener “All I Need” is satisfying and slicker pop, and could be a nice slice of ear candy for pop/adult/alternative radio.  “Hourglass” takes some kind early advice from parents to reflect on and use as empowering self-realization.  High Tide is a true pleasure to hear, with a lot to say crammed into the thoughts of three songs.  You can check out the entire EP at the Spotify link below, but be sure to pick it up at your favourite digital store too.

“Ride The Wave” is positive pop power from @CosmosnCreature

COSMOS & CREATURE, “Ride The Wave”

Following up their more-than-terrific second single as Cosmos & Creature as lead artist, “Bad Drug”, the ever-busy Brandyn Burnette and Molly Moore continue with “Ride The Wave”.  It is indeed positive pop power to get you moving to make the most of your day by seizing it and not sit back to wait for things to happen.  For the most part, success, even if it’s on ones own terms, comes with drive, and you have to choose the right times to let things come to you.  It’s a fine balancing act but “Ride The Wave” instigates the art of making things happen for yourself starting with you.  The song has a great arrangement, musically and vocally, and it’s hard to think of what Brandyn and Molly cannot do.  Check out “Ride The Wave” above and purchase it online at your favourite music store.

Summer redux: “Hit Rewind” by Axel Mansoor @iamAxelM & @LouisVivet

AXEL MANSOOR & LOUIS VIVET, “Hit Rewind”

It’s here, your official end-of-summer song!  One of my favourite new singer-songwriters  is L.A.’s Axel Mansoor, whose two recent free downloads of “Wasted My Love” and “Out Of My Head” have graced the top and near-top of my personal chart respectively, making them two of the best new songs you can hear this year.  Paired with fellow L.A. denizen and producer Louis Vivet, the groovesome twosome come up with some smokin’ hot pop with “Hit Rewind”.  I had yet to hear Axel in an uptempo setting and this one is a treat, with a chorus that is such an 80’s-inspired blast it needs to be played quite loud. But that doesn’t mean that the song doesn’t have some downtime saved for Axel’s sweeter voice before that chorus kicks in again.  “Hit Rewind” is the kind of potent pop that causes big ears to listen up.  Show it some big love at the Spotify link above.