Tag Archives: alternative

Lush and soulful pop from @Cobimusic with “Darker Than Dawn”

COBI, “Darker Than Dawn”

The former singer with Gentlemen Hall follows up last year’s “Walking Through The Fire” with a lush, soulful charmer called “Darker Than Dawn”.  To me this is Cobi’s most unique piece of music yet, full of old school R&B and blues influences in both vocals and rhythm as well as contemporary electronica that wouldn’t sound out of place next to James Blake.  It all makes “Darker Than Dawn” another wonderfully cathartic and personal affair, and it’s no wonder that his versatility has afforded the popular EDM duo Above & Beyond to select him as a vocalist on their current tour.  Give a listen above and pick up the song on iTunes!

Cobi sings with Above & Beyond in Toronto at Massey Hall on Saturday May 14 & Sunday May 15.

It had me at first listen: Thoughtful and poignant “Love Me Sober” by @MartinLukeBrown

MARTIN LUKE BROWN, “Love Me Sober”

Leicester, England-born multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter Martin Luke Brown scored in 2015 with his unique vocal with a soulful edge on “Take Out Of Me” from an EP of the same name, followed by “Knife Edge” and “Scars on Scars”.  “Love Me Sober” still has the grittiness of some of those songs but what’s brought out here is a lot of depth with a thoughtful arrangement that keeps you going until a stunning climactic moment that will have you hanging for almost the minute of self-realization that remains.  Think of this as Martin’s “Take Me To Church” – like Hozier’s song (with some definite Coldplay-ish moments), “Love Me Sober”, while lurve at first listen for me, will be a grower for fans of piano-led storytelling songs.  I hope this will see official release soon.  In the meantime listen at the link above.

Martin Luke Brown is currently on tour throughout Europe with Jack Garratt.

@Lyonntweets returns as a duo with the progressive house of “The Symphony”

LYONN, “The Symphony”

Last I wrote about Lyonn in these blog pages, it was a one-man pop band (aka California native Ty Andelman) writing bright shiny tunes like “Just Say Hello”, which even got to #13 on the BILLCS Top 30.  Two years later, Ty’s subsequent partnership with Attila Yavuzer has led the pair quite successfully at a first crack into the EDM progressive house genre with “The Symphony”.  The bright and shiny is still there – and should be reflected in the disco lights 😛  The song itself actually moves along so quickly that it would benefit from some extended remixes, but it’s definitely one meant for handclaps and some hardy partying as you dance the night away.  I dare you to get its sweet melodic hook out of your head!  The EDM dance community should definitely embrace Lyonn’s “The Symphony”.   Download it for free at the link above.

“I Thought You Were My Friend” by @weareFightNight where punk influences and EDM make a happy medium

FIGHT NIGHT, “I Thought You Were My Friend”

The Washington, DC duo Fight Night, consisting of singer Andy Gruhin and producer Josh Grant, follow up their EP Underground with “I Thought You Were My Friend”, a decidedly different, rock-flavoured EDM track that can easily turn heads.  Picture if you will the approach and attitude of say All-American Rejects, Simple Plan, or blink-182 (timely this considering the latter’s comeback!), and pair it up with slick but not too busy electronica, which allows the rock guitars to be prominent throughout.  Add to that a common lyric for our teens and 20s generation and you have “I Thought You Were My Friend”.  I like it when performers and producers step outside the often narrow confines of pop music and can realize a song with true potential.  Find out why and download Fight Night’s “I Thought You Were My Friend” using the link above.

New music from @JamesBlake!!! Check out “Radio Silence”

JAMES BLAKE, “Radio Silence”

Surprise!  Grammy-nominated UK alternative EDM performer James Blake drops his new album The Colour In Anything tomorrow, and has already scheduled gigs within the next two weeks in lucky New York City and Los Angeles.  Of the four songs that he’s already previewed, I think you might find “Radio Silence” to be the most likely you’ll hear on an alternative rock station.  Undeniably influenced by old school folk and blues but wrapped in the sheen of careful but typically sparse EDM layers, “Radio Silence” also recalls the recent music of both John Grant and Icelandic singer Ásgeir (whose lyrics were translated by John).  It’s not for everyone and never has been, but the music of James Blake is undeniably hypnotic and his fans will eat this one up.

Soul and Body: “Worship” by @BrandynBurnette

BRANDYN BURNETTE, “Worship”

Following the recent “Underneath”, Brandyn Burnette releases another single in advance of his EP State I’m In.  This one’s a rather understated and different EDM ballad called “Worship”, a little moodier than usual for Brandyn but definitely with beautiful intentions.  It’s a pledge to the one you adore and worship, soul and body.  Brandyn mixes the EDM backdrop with hip hop and R&B and an honest vocal that seems totally, lovingly lost in the song itself.  Brandyn’s music world has definitely shifted for the better since he released “Thanks For Nothing” almost two years ago, which makes his songs so interesting to write about and enjoy.  Pick it up on iTunes.

An effortless vocal by Lydia Kelly (@lfruits21) leads “Breathe Into Reality” by @AashMehtamusic

AASH MEHTA featuring LYDIA KELLY, “Breathe Into Reality”

Producer/DJ Aash Mehta and vocalist Lydia Kelly are two talents from Ann Arbor, Michigan to watch out for and “Breathe Into Reality” is an affecting alternative EDM track that can bridge a mix when some quiet moments are required.  The song’s first minute and a half can create beautiful transitions between sets when Lydia’s seamless vocal is unleashed and simply soars.  Aash definitely goes his own way with his mix, which is divided between that introductory vocal showcase and a moodier, thoughtful second half.  “Breathe Into Reality” is one of those songs that manages to stand well on its own and grows with repeated listens.  Download it for free at the link above. 

Chilled and Funked Out: @Snowmassbeats works over “Sound Of Home” by #SterlingGrove featuring #EllynWoods

https://soundcloud.com/snowmass/sterling-grove-ft-ellyn-woods-sound-of-home-snowmass-remix

STERLING GROVE featuring ELLYN WOODS, “Sound Of Home” (Snowmass remix)

One thing about remixes from Chicago producer Snowmass:  expect the unexpected!  He takes a trippy chilled out alt-EDM song by Montreal duo Sterling Grove called “Sound Of Home”, featuring fellow Montrealer, pop/jazz vocalist Ellyn Woods, and attaches a deep funk edge that will pound the hell out of huge club speakers.  The now dramatic house rhythm chugs along while you strut your stuff and creates a perfectly alternate setting for Ellyn’s distant but still affecting vocal.  All in all, though Sterling Grove’s original has a different kind of appeal, Snowmass has re-envisioned “Sound Of Home” quite well which should make club DJ’s very happy indeed.  Download it for free at the link above.

Going deeper: “Underneath” by @BrandynBurnette

https://soundcloud.com/brandynburnette/underneath-winandwoo

BRANDYN BURNETTE, “Underneath”

It’s been nary a blink since Brandyn Burnette’s EP Made Of Dreams dropped last November, and the prolific Brandyn already has a bunch of new songs to spring on you in the form of another upcoming EP titled State I’m In. Brandyn’s faithful fans can guess that “Underneath” is another winner, which contains a similar progressive soul vibe as “Nothing At All” from the Dreams EP, and also recalls at times the low-fi demo that Brandyn put online last year called “1,000 Degrees of Separation”. While the lyrics are personal and touching as always, “Underneath” has a lot of contemporary style seemingly rooted in rock and roll and R&B of the past – think Hall & Oates meet Tom Waits meets John Mayer meets Allen Stone….. to start.  Win & Woo (the pair who made that sunny remix of “Made Of Dreams” which is climbing the BILLCS Top 30) get to the heart of what Brandyn’s song is all about with their attentive production.

Everyone sing! “f u till i f u” by @CallMeKarizma featuring #Cass

CALL ME KARIZMA featuring CASS, “f u till i f u”

To initiate his album due for official release tomorrow called Uninvited, Minnesota rapper and birthday boy Call Me Karizma has followed a similar pattern with this third preview, “f u till i f u”, as with the BILLCS Top 30 top tenner “u suck” – centre a grab bag of emotions around a great female vocal. Cass’ perfectly suited, somewhat disaffected sounding vocal, which carries the song with its refrain, is counterpoint to Karizma’s love-you-hate-you outpouring which his fans will just love. Plus like many of his best songs, you will find yourself singing along in no time. It’s not a story that everyone goes through, but Riz gives you his take and we can still all relate, younger and older.