Featured Artists, Songs and Posts

Feautures

Songs, Artists and Music News that has win Nagamag’s attention. Timeless sound harmony and unique pesonalities that are worthing extra attention! With no specific release date or music genre, fine music never expires.

  • Chris Hyson - Spoons (Spotify) Nagamag

Chris Hyson – Spoons (Spotify)

August 11th, 2020|Categories: Ambient Features, Audio, Features, Neoclassical, The Latest|Tags: , , , |

A deep, atmospheric and lush ambient track of analogu synth textures spiced with field recordings. A track from the due to be released soundtrack 'Castle in the Ground'. Starring Alex Wolff, Neve Campbell, Imogen Poots, Keir Gilchrist and Tom Cullen.

The story: "After the untimely death of his mother, a teenager befriends his charismatic but troubled next-door neighbor and becomes embroiled in a world of addiction and violence just as the opioid epidemic takes hold of their small town. "

Few words about Chris Hyson:
Chris Hyson is a London based multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer. He studied at the RWCMD and the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he developed his keen sensitivity and creative flair for composition, indulging an appetite for writing that has since led to a professional portfolio spanning performance, composition, and production.

As a performer, Chris has shared the stage with various acclaimed artists across genres, including English singer/songwriter Mara Carlyle (EMI), renowned Drummer/Producer Richard Spaven (José James and Jameszoo), Mercury Prize nominated Folk artist Sam Lee, Mercury Prize nominated British Rapper TY, three-time Grammy Award winning artist Bill Laurance, project of Australian-born London-based Singer/songwriter Jamie Doe ‘The Magic Lantern’, Rough Trade Records artists Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker, and Sony artist & Texan Jazz Singer Hailey Tuck, with whom Hyson appeared live on Jools Holland in 2018.

Chris’ talent and creativity truly take center stage however in his steadily growing collection of self-produced solo instrumental music, now spanning a notable 5 EP’s; ‘Little Moon Man’, ‘Alive With Closed Eyes’, ‘Paradise’, ‘Human Error’ & ‘Still Life’. This impressive body of work has not gone unnoticed, collectively reaching over 1 million streams online, and gaining recognition and radio play across major UK stations, including BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3, Jazz FM and Classical FM.

Chris is the composer and producer behind ‘Snowpoet’, a hugely successful collaboration with Jazz FM's Vocalist of the Year (2016) Lauren Kinsella. Tracks from the band’s self-titled debut album, ‘Snowpoet’, were championed by BBC 6 Music and Snowpoet’s stunning second album, ‘Thought You Knew’, a unique & fresh offering that was dubbed by Clash Music as ‘a multi-faceted jewel’ drawing influence deeply from jazz yet imaginatively and ‘wonderfully retrained’.

Chris has recently branched out into the world of film composition, a landscape beautifully suited to his effortlessly enigmatic and emotive composition style.

He has composed several noteworthy film scores; Richard Raymond’s ‘A Million Eyes’, ‘Pink Wall’, starring Tatiana Maslany & Jay Duplass - which premiered at SXSW Festival 2019,‘Castle in the Ground’, starring Neve Campbell, Alex Wolff & Imogen Poots which premiered at TIFF in September 2019 and ‘Hailey Alien’, directed by Hannah Arterton, starring Gemma Arterton & Karla Crome.

Chris has also worked as a producer, lending his sensitivity, imagination & dynamism to the music of contemporary Jazz Vocalist and composer Emilia Martensson, Alternative Folk Singer/Songwriter Laura Fell and, most recently, Ninja Tunes emerging talent Jordan Rakei; holding true to Clash Music’s celebration of Hyson’s ‘ability to stretch towards virtually any style placed in front of him’. Indeed, it seems clear that there is no creative field in which Chris fails to excel, impress, delight and surprise.

‘an exceptional musician’ TIME OUT

‘His music exhibits a remarkable self-assurance’ - New York Times
https://www.instagram.com/chrishyson

  • Daniel[i] and Purl - Tesseract (Bandcamp)

Daniel[i] & Purl – Tesseract (Bandcamp)

August 9th, 2020|Categories: Ambient Features, Audio, Electronica, Features, The Latest|Tags: , , , |

The long days of summer are well upon us, and along with them comes Tesseract, a beautifully expansive and immersive dub techno odyssey from Daniel[i] and Purl. Shimmering figures echo into infinity and vaporous plumes of texture dissipate into clouds of warm mist, while vapour trails of melody gently emerge from sunlit pools of radiant dawn.

Join us and swim in the unexplored depths of consciousness and through the rippling undercurrents of the universe.

  • Aftrlyfe, Rider Shafique, Silke - Dive Deep (Spotify) Nagamag

Aftrlyfe, Rider Shafique, Silke – Dive Deep (Spotify)

August 8th, 2020|Categories: Audio, Features, Hip-Hop, The Latest|Tags: , , , , , , |

With a powerhouse collaboration with UK-based artist Silke, blending in perfectly with a post-rock production and Rider’s rootsy vocals, this EP is nothing short of hip and groovy. The three heavily synth-based tracks seem to be telling a series of chronological stories, starting with the contemplative and atmospheric ‘Dive Deep’. The second track ‘Babylon a Burn’ furthers the theme with a more upbeat cinematic music, leading to climactic crescendos in its penultimate track ‘Rise from the Ashes’.

Aftrlyfe’s music is reminiscent of the trip hop vibes of Massive Attack, and his influences also include FKA Twigs, Run the Jewels, and 6Lack, among others. When asked for a defining album that influenced him, he answered Radiohead’s ‘In Rainbows’, which was a sonic illustration of emotions that made him feel beyond what was known before.

  • Kepa Lehtinen interview on Nagamag Music Magazine

Kepa Lehtinen Interview on Nagamag

August 6th, 2020|Categories: Features, Interviews, Neoclassical Features, Neoclassical Interviews, The Latest|Tags: , , , , , |

Kepa Lehtinen Interview on Nagamag


Nagamag:
What are the genres that describe better your music style?

Kepa Lehtinen:
Classical, cinematic


Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Kepa Lehtinen:
I was born in Helsinki, Finland in 1971 and began studying music in childhood, eventually learning to play piano, synthesizers, theremin, and drums. I went on to study Sound Design at Finland’s Aalto University and I have since written music for many films, commercials, and TV productions. My work has appeared in award-winning Finnish titles such as Kimmo (TV series), Almost 18 (feature film), and A Stone LeftUnturned (short film). I released my first solo album, Playing Theremin, in 2018. In 2019 I released Helsinki in November and 2020 album “It Is OK To Be Sad And Dark”.


Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?

Kepa Lehtinen:
As a child, the Queen was the biggest. Seeing live aid on tv and year after that seeing band live (on Stockholm). Point of no return.


Nagamag:
Does your music have any underlying messages in it?

Kepa Lehtinen:
Strong melodies over anything else.


Nagamag:
Is music political? Should it be?

Kepa Lehtinen:
I have been on some political projects, including "I Have Only Just Begun,” a song for gay rights in Russia. It made Boy George cry and Madonna said it is something Putin should hear.


Nagamag:
Most artists have a favorite song from a different music genre than the one they are producing music for... Which is yours?

Kepa Lehtinen:
Placebo "Running up that hill"


Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which track from a similar artist you admire?

Kepa Lehtinen:
Ryuichi Sakamoto "The Sheltering Sky"

Discover & Listen to Kepa Lehtinen

Kepa Lehtinen on Spotify

Kepa Lehtinen's Signature Track

Kepa Lehtinen on Social Media

  • Dale Nichols - Flauto Magico - Piano Reprise (Spotify) Nagamag

Dale Nichols – Flauto Magico – Piano Reprise (Spotify)

August 6th, 2020|Categories: Audio, Features, Neoclassical, Neoclassical Features, The Latest|Tags: , |

Dale Nichols, a Canadian musician based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, deliver us a sentimental piano solo reprise of an electronic track originally composed for an award-winning VR dance production "Eve: Dance Is An Unplaceable Place". Performed with right balance between harmonies and silence which allo listener get into the story quick and enjoy the flow.
http://dalenicholsmusic.com/

  • Emil Smith interview on Nagamag Music Magazine

Emil Smith Interview on Nagamag

August 1st, 2020|Categories: Features, Interviews, The Latest|Tags: , , , , , |

Emil Smith Interview on Nagamag


Nagamag:
What are the genres that describe better your music style?

Emil Smith:
Cinematic, instrumental world (middle eastern).


Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Emil Smith:
My background as a music producer, sound engineer and singer/songwriter has shaped my approach to how I currently work with soundtracks and instrumental compositions. I have a deep interest in shaping timbre and working with transforming textures.


Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?

Emil Smith:
My first head dive into music was when my brother introduced me to grunge rock. I started playing guitar and instantly connected with the genre and subculture.
A few years later I met a guy who did recordings and synth programming. I was intrigued by the creative process behind sound manipulation and using the recording studio as an instrument and a compositional tool.
Since, I've played in many small bands as a songwriter, guitarist, vocalist and drummer and gradually I've been leaning towards creation and less towards live performance.
I love storytelling, and I think music is a great tool to tell a story. I bring my own story and my love of art, fiction, world music and creativity into my music.


Nagamag:
What is the idea behind the Middle Eastern instrumentation used throughout the EP?

Emil Smith:
The EP is a conceptual soundtrack for an animation project called 'Aetherreach' (in development). It's set in a desert wasteland: As the rivers are polluted by toxic waste, the drought-plagued desert tribes rebel against the tyranny of the advanced tech-nation of Aetherreach.
I wanted the soundtrack to sound middle eastern, without pointing towards a specific culture of traditional music, as the story is set in an alternate universe. This is why the instrumentation is so eclectic - I've borrowed a bit here and there: Syrian kamancheh, Armenian duduk, Turkish saz, North African percussion and kalimba - besides neoclassical strings, dark synths and glitch drums presenting the sci-fi elements from Aetherreach.


Nagamag:
Do you have any new projects coming?

Emil Smith:
I'm sketching out my first ideas for a collaborative project with world influences and dark cinematic bowed textures.
Besides that, I'm working on the score of a short documentary. In August I start a Film Scoring master degree on the National Film School of Denmark.


Nagamag:
Most artists have a favorite song from a different music genre than the one they are producing music for... Which is yours?

Emil Smith:
Sudan Archives "Oatmeal"


Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which track from a similar artist you admire?

Emil Smith:
Madar Ensemble "Silence"

Discover & Listen to Emil Smith

Emil Smith on Spotify

Emil Smith's Signature Track

Emil Smith on Social Media