https://lnk.to/khokhoba

‘Khokhoba’ is the third single taken from Hopeyard, the debut album from classically trained studio wizard, composer and pianist NIN3S released now on Dorado Records.

Undoubtedly one of the album’s most affecting tracks, it features the powerful, compelling vocals of South African songstress, writer, poet and musician, Toshi Tikolo. Toshi co-wrote the track with NIN3S and sings in her native South African tongue; Xhosa.

Hailing her as “one of the most sonorous voices of Africa’s electronic music scene,” Mixmag last year listed her among their ‘Top African Women Shaping Dance Music.’ She has worked with a who’s who list in the genre including Black Coffee and David Morales. Here though, Toshi’s rich vocals ring out, quivering with raw emotion adding heart and depth to an epic, uplifting track that combines a mesmerising melody and NIN3S deceptively simple piano motifs.

Meaning ‘getting old’, ’Khokhoba’ is dedicated to Toshi’s grandmother who raised her and persuaded her to sing in church at the age of 6. It speaks of a yearning and love for her role model and inspiration who is growing old and frail. Toshi has been writing songs since a young child, and through her storytelling captures her life’s stories in her powerful lyrics. Like NIN3S, she was classically trained, turned to jazz, yet found her voice through poetry and folk music.

Toshi said “The song is dedicated to my grandmother, how gracefully she’s aging, the suffering she went through in all her living years, raising her kids as a single parent.”

Accompanying the track is an astonishing video that is an emotive masterpiece. The sands of time are a theme running throughout – we see grains of sand dancing in the atmospheric, golden light around a graceful young face. The sands shift in rhythm and tempo as the song reaches its crescendo with soaring vocals, yet as the sands starts to fade, so the face ages in a dimming light, but her inner glow remains undimmed.

https://ninesmusic.com/

Today, March 16, unstoppable New Zealand eight-piece The Black Seeds, tease the upcoming release of their upcoming seventh album ‘Love & Fire’ due on June 17, with another cracking single – the funk-filled ‘It’s So Real’, accompanied by an epic video of superhero proportions. The album will be released via Proville Records/Kartel Music Group in Europe and seminal New York City-based reggae label Easy Star Records in North America in Summer 2022. Pre-order ‘Love & Fire Here. Stream/Watch ‘It’s So Real’ Here

http://lnk.to/ItsSoReal

Following on the release of recent singles ‘Bring The Sun’ and last year’s perfect summertime banger ‘Let The Sunshine Through,’ and destined for dancefloors worldwide, ‘It’s So Real’ is The Black Seeds at their party best. Driven by an infectious muted guitar riff and backed by a rock-solid bass and drum groove, ‘It’s So Real’ weaves and tantalizes. The groove constantly evolves, dropping in and out creating an enticing labyrinth of rhythm and melody with The Black Seeds co-frontman, Barnaby Weir, and his distinct vocals, the glue that holds the track together.

All big statement tunes deserve a big statement video, and ‘It’s So Real’ is no exception. Director Ria Simmons worked closely with Barnaby to visually capture the sentiment of the tune and its “gritty, sexy, funky undertones.” “Barnaby rang me and told me it was a song basically about the domestic grind and trying to make things work with your partner,” says Ria. “With the title of the song, we knew it needed to hold some home truths. We got onto the idea of following Barnaby and his son Miles on their daily grind – a week of stay-at-home dad activities. Then weaving the idea that it’s all to impress the Mrs, and we stumbled into the idea of mashing up super heroism with domesticity. From there the concept grew to the super powers needed to get through life in general. We want to encourage people to see the fun and magic in the normal everyday grind and believe that super heroism can be the smallest of acts, like washing the dishes!”

‘LOVE & FIRE’ is The Black Seeds’ seventh studio album. The 10-track record features ‘It’s So Real,’ plus previously released singles ‘Bring The Sun,’ ‘Let The Sunshine Through’ and ‘Raised With Love’.

Long established as one of New Zealand’s finest bands and with a solid foothold in Europe and North America, The Black Seeds have carved out their reputation on the back of multi-platinum selling albums, and a masterful live show that has been filling dance floors across the globe for years. While firmly based in the island grooves that inspired the birth of the band over a decade ago, The Black Seeds’ sound casts a wide net, layering funk, soul, Afrobeat, and other eclectic elements over their dub/reggae foundations.

The Black Seeds released their debut album ‘Keep On Pushing’ in 2001, which despite a minimal marketing budget, went on to reach platinum sales in New Zealand. The second album, 2004’s ‘On The Sun,’ added a heavy dose of funk and soul to their dub reggae sound. Third album ‘Into The Dojo,’ signaled the beginning of the band’s introduction to the rest of the world. 2008’s follow up ‘Solid Ground’ and 2012’s ‘Dust And Dirt’ and 2017’s ‘FABRIC’ continued to build the band’s global following after they were successfully released through trailblazing North American label Easy Star Records. Easy Star subsequently re-released the entire catalogue from the band in North America.

Consistent touring throughout Europe, North and South America has led to over 60 million Spotify streams since 2015, and their tracks have found placements on cable classics ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Weeds,’ as well on the big screen in movies like ‘Eight Below’ and ‘The Inbetweeners II’. 2017 saw the band continuing to push the boundaries of reggae with the release of their progressive 6th studio album ‘Fabric,’ featuring new guitarist Ned Ngatae and Francis Harawira on bass. The album, which included the popular single ‘’Better Days,” reached the #3 spot on the Billboard Reggae Charts & NZ Album Charts, number #3 on the UK & German iTunes Reggae Charts. Highlights from two decades of international press have included The Huffington Post describing their sound as “thick, bottom-heavy, and melodic,” and Clash Music deeming them “one of the best live reggae acts on the planet…a broad, vastly creative return..matching low-end weight against some mature, soulful songwriting.”

17 year old rising star, Lexie Carroll returns with a new track and video for ‘familiar stranger’. The single drops ahead of the release of her new EP, ‘when the sun came up’, out on 22 April.

With a flair for storytelling inspired by life’s fragile moments and feelings, ‘familiar stranger’ sees Lexie turning to indie pop as she deftly explores letting go and getting over someone. With her vocal floating across catchy pop hooks, ‘familiar stranger’ finds a bright space in Lexie’s teenage vulnerability with her lyrics delivering an understated intensity of feeling from self-reflection as she tries to recover “something that sort of functions like a living heart”.

The video for the track is a charming and heart-warming visual in which Lexie is joined by an unexpected companion, in a friendly balloon as they spend the day at a funfair as Lexie learns to recapture the joy in the simple pleasure of her own company.

Speaking on the premise of the track, Lexie said, “‘familiar stranger’ is about having to see someone again who you used to date and wanting them to think you’re over it – you just want to be familiar strangers to each other so it doesn’t have to be awkward.”

Lexie’s last two singles have hit Spotify’s New Music Friday, she has been picked as the face of ‘Fresh Finds’ and her tracks have also been featured on ‘Our Generation’ and’ Lost In The Woods’ playlists. Lexie has also been receiving strong support from BBC Introducing.

https://www.facebook.com/lexiecarrollpage

This song is about the endurance of love over time. It is a lullaby that is dedicated to all our loved ones, who are always in our hearts, including our animal friends. I had the great pleasure of working with one of my favorite singers, Kimberly Knighton, who performs the vocals here. The song itself goes back to an early melody I had written years ago, with more recently revised lyrics. I recorded the song at June Audio in Provo, Utah. The film was shot by videographer Nick Sales, who also provided the cinematography. I am thrilled to share this with you all. I hope it brings to mind your loved ones, including those who are with us today as well as those who have passed but will remain in our hearts forever. The song is also available for streaming or downloading via all the common platforms. Thank you.

https://www.instagram.com/mattherbstmusic

Norman, Okla.-based singer-songwriter Beau Jennings and his band The Tigers have released their new single “Lord, I’m Reaching” from their upcoming album Heavy Light, due out March 25 via Black Mesa Records. Click here to watch the official music video.

Melding classic blues with gripping heartland rock, “I’m Reaching, Lord” finds Jennings searching for something to hold on to while pushing through life’s uncertainties.

“What else can you do besides keep reaching? I’ve heard it said how satisfying it is to call a spade a spade, no matter what that might mean, and I think there’s a good element of that here,” Jennings says. “But there’s a spirit of defiance here too that I can really credit to The Tigers and the energy they bring. I can zone out and write a song in black and white on my own but one of my favorite things about the band is how they can blow it out and bring it up to full color.”

“I’m Reaching, Lord” is the latest track from Jennings’ upcoming full-length record, which was recorded at Cardinal Song, the studio of The Tigers bassist Michael Trepagnier, following the release of The Thunderbird and its bold acoustic reimagination, Son Of Thunderbird. The band — which is comprised of Jennings, Trepagnier, Chase Kerby, Dustin Ragland and John McCall — mix lush, layered production with the warm, retro sound of 1970s heartland rock. Alongside the upbeat, sunlit vibe of “Sunflower,” Jennings taps into some challenging and reflective moments too. “Colorado” recalls his personal pilgrimage to the state following the loss of his mother, while “Juniper” serves as a personal letter to Jennings’ own daughter.

The record follows up the band’s 2021 EP Feel the Light, which earned praise from an array of outlets including Americana UK, who noted that the release “sound[s] like classic heartland rock like Tom Petty or Jeff Tweedy, with jangly indie rock guitar… Jennings’ low croon sounds similar to Chris Isaak’s and Lyle Lovett’s if they had both decided to rock out a bit more.” His new track “I’m Reaching, Lord” follows the record’s heartfelt lead single “Sunflower,” which was featured on BBC Sounds and earned coverage from DittyTV, Americana Highways and more.

“My wife and I went on a long bike ride one summer morning a while back,” Jennings explained, shedding light on the inspiration behind the tune. “East Norman, Okla. has lots of backroads that are perfect for a long trip with rolling hills and long interrupted views of sunrises and sunsets. I remember at one point as she went ahead of me that it was a good thing, it meant I had farther to go, and I just wanted the ride to last forever. Oklahoma has a lot of problems and yet this was one of the more beautiful moments that make living here just a little bit richer. I wrote this song about as quickly as it took to sing it. I wanted to preserve that ride, that morning, that time with someone I love, and use it as a kind of introduction to the record, kind of a, ‘Welcome, come on in, get comfortable’ kind of statement.”

Released in January, Jennings also joined Rosie Thomas for a cover of Björk’s 90s track “All Is Full of Love,” which earned coverage from Pitchfork and Brooklyn Vegan among others. Jennings and Thomas are joined by Sufjan Stevens, The Shins, Iron & Wine, Alexi Murdoch, The Head and the Heart’s Charity Theilen, The Lone Bellow’s Kanene Pipkin, William Fitzsimmons, Dawn Landes, Audrey Assad, Leigh Nash, Denison Witmer, Josh Ottum, Kyshona Armstrong, Kevin Brace along with Buster, Alvie and Jeff Shoop for the collaborative track.

With nearly two decades of hard work and creative accomplishments behind him, Jennings has much to be proud of. From his time in Brooklyn during the late 2000s with his band Cheyenne to his own DIY solo work, Jennings has continued to create art that is both inspiring and thought-provoking.

One of his most celebrated projects is The Verdigris, his 2015 music and documentary film project which focused on the life of legendary cowboy, actor, writer, humorist and Oklahoma native Will Rogers. Inspired by the historic 1930s field recordings of Alan Lomax, Jennings went on a journey to locations Rogers had visited throughout his life. He recorded a song at every stop during his journey, trekking from the North Slope of Alaska, where Rogers tragically died in a plane crash, all the way back to the place of his birth in Oklahoma. The project, which featured backing vocals and banjo from Sufjan Stevens on a selection of songs, was nominated for a Heartland Emmy and aired on Public Television channels across the U.S.

https://www.facebook.com/beaujenningsok/

https://onerpm.link/celebratingnina

The seven track EP features as many female artists revisiting songs written or previously covered by Simone, with exquisitely crafted one-drop reggae rhythms further embellishing Simone’s category-defying sonics” Billboard

“Nina Simone is a great black woman who have made significant contributions, she inspired many through her song and story. I certainly think it’s important to note her and contribution and her role in the civil rights movement. When teaching about Dr Martin Luther King, it’s important to note that music played a big role in influencing black people to join and fight for equality.” Etana

“This project is significant because it’s a reminder to the Black Woman of the role she plays in self-identity. It was my absolute pleasure working with Stephen on this one.” Queen Ifrica

Multi-GRAMMY Award-winner Stephen Marley has released his new EP ‘Celebrating Nina: Reggae Tribute To Nina Simone’ via Ghetto Youths Intl, available now everywhere.Co-produced by Paul Fakhourie, mix and mastered by legendary Errol Brown, who was also Bob Marley’s engineer, this EP the biggest Reggae Blues collaboration of 2022 has arrived, as Stephen Marley celebrates Nina Simone, in a Reggae style. This new EP has seven tracks as an ode to some of Nina’s greatest hits. Stephen has been building anticipation for this release for some time. Riding on the high of single releases like Queen Ifrica’s Four Women in April of 2021, and Etana’s Young Gifted And Black in February of this year. Stephen himself has described the EP as a “tribute to the legendary American jazz singer, composer, pianist and arranger Nina Simone.” These tracks have given the audience a mere taste of what the EP has to offer but now it’s finally here.

Nina Simone, legally known as Eunice Kathleen Waymon is one of America’s most legendary singer, songwriter, and musical arranger. Outside of her music, she is most known for her role as a civil rights activist during the separatist and racist 60 & 70s. Stephen Marley has never shied away from his musical appreciation for Nina. Producing songs for himself such as Father of The Man featuring Wyclef Jean and a classic Nina sample from her iconic Keeper Of The Flame hit. “I’m such a huge fan of her work” Mentions Stephen Marley during a Musicme interview in 2017.

Now, many years later, this appreciation has blossomed into an entire EP, paying tribute to Nina’s musical genius. “This project is about preserving Nina Simone’s legacy, passing it on to younger generations, including my children, because you don’t often find music this substantial. When we started this project, we reached out to Nina’s daughter (Lisa Simone Kelly) and to the Nina Simone Foundation to establish a connection; we want to donate a portion of proceeds to the things that she was all about.”

As we celebrate International Women’s month, Celebrating Nina: Reggae Tribute to Nina Simone highlights the strength, power, and resilience of women. With tracks from artists like Terri Walker who does a beautiful rendition of Nina’s 1961s No Good Man. Maya Azucena makes an appearance with her take on 1971s Mr. Bojangles. Joss Stone chimes in with Here Comes The Sun, Melanie Fiona inspires with her version of Don’t Explain and Cedella Marley honors the well-known 1964 hit Misunderstood. Speaking to Billboard Magazine, Patricia Meschino, Marley shared that he chose to work exclusively with female artists on this project because “our queens deserve recognition as the mothers of creation. These are beautiful, strong women and their voices do Nina’s work and reggae solid.”

https://www.facebook.com/OneEtana

Today, singer, songwriter, and producer BoyWithUke uncovers a new single entitled “IDGAF” [feat. blackbear] accompanied by the official video. The song paves the way for his anxiously awaited full-length debut album, Serotonin Dreams [Republic Records], on Friday, April 15, 2022.

Listen to “IDGAF” HERE and watch the video HERE. Pre-order/Pre-save Serotonin Dreams HERE.

https://boywithuke.lnk.to/SeratoninDreams

On the track and working with blackbear, BoyWithUke said: “‘IDGAF’ was so exciting to make for me. hearing all the components of the song merge together to make the tune was so much fun, and on top of that, i was able to work with such a talented guy like blackbear. i’m just so excited to show people what i can do.”

The music video picks up right where the “Long Drives” music video leaves off, as BoyWithUke finds himself heartbroken after being misled by someone he met online. Check out the first installment of the story in the “Long Drives” video here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIILsSmS_nA

Already making a name for himself with nearly 700 million streams to date with just two songs out (“Toxic” and “Long Drives”), the new Serotonin Dreams album is highly anticipated and will feature collaborations with mxmtoon, Powfu, and more.

Speaking of “Toxic,” it just vaulted into the Top 15 at Alternative Radio and currently sits at #12 on the chart while already reaching nearly 680 million global streams to date. Meanwhile, his showstopping performance of the single as part of the Genius Open Mic series has emerged as the platform’s second highest-viewed Genius video to date with over 40 million views and counting. Not to mention, he has officially surpassed 1 million subscribers on YouTube and is approaching 4 million TikTok followers.

In addition, “Long Drives” shows no signs of stopping or slowing down. Not only has it amassed nearly 30 million global streams, but it has also racked up over 14 million YouTube views on the music video. Ones To Watch recently raved, “with his face hidden behind an LED faceplate, we may not know who BoyWithUke is, but one thing we know for certain is that he’s poised to be the next big thing.” Indie Shuffle noted, “the sadness of this track is electric, it surprises and enthralls,” and added, “‘Long Drives’ makes melancholy easy to listen to and utterly impactful in the space of alt-pop joy.”

In the wake of Serotonin Dreams’ arrival, BoyWithUke will embark on a much-anticipated global headline tour this spring. His headline tour begins on April 19th at Heaven in London; then he will visit multiple countries across Europe and conclude the tour in the US on May 10th at The Roxy in Los Angeles and May 12th at Bowery Ballroom in New York. The headline tour will be followed by a slew of dates supporting AJR on their upcoming North American tour this summer, which kicks off in May and includes shows in Nashville, Chicago, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and more. Check out the full list of upcoming dates below.

Get your fill of Serotonin Dreams from BoyWithUke.

https://www.instagram.com/boywithuke/?hl=en

The song describes a relationship that wasn’t mutual, the woman didn’t feel the same way as the man did.

The man feels that the woman doesn’t give him the love he deserves, and it’s making him weak, and everything suddenly seems so weird.

He starts to recollect all of the wildest dreams that came true and the ones that they planned for the future to come.

He talks about the deep connection that they had, his strong feelings that dont align with hers.

https://www.facebook.com/EthanGontarOfficial

This song is a great Afrobeat mix. It’s a blend of an upbeat inspirational soul vibe with a light-hearted Afropop feel. A beautiful video from artists village in Ghana.