there’s something to be said about sundays in berlin. unlike many other cities, there’s never a shortage of things to do on any given sunday in this city, and whether you’re brunching, burning the dancefloor at berghain, or shopping at mauerpark, there’s something strangely special about the way berliners take on what’s usually the week’s sleepiest day. certainly, then, there’s something to be…
Drunken Masters and Serious Klein link up for indisputable banger "Everyday Thursday"
Germany's connoisseurs of hype, wranglers of bangers and one of the most entertaining acts gracing our social media feed - Drunken Masters are back with their second offering of 2020. The world-renowned duo has teamed up with critically acclaimed MC Serious Klein for latest single "Everyday Thursday".
Award-winning German/Ghanian artist Serious Klein lays his dexterous vocal stylings over a choppy, hyped beat from party starters Drunken Masters. A "catchy, bouncy song that also works for energetic live shows", "Everyday Thursday" is braggadocious banger from the outset, delivering a high-powered, 2-minute sonic hit - true German efficiency, no-frills.
Created a year ago after having Klein on their radar for while, the hitmakers elaborate on the creative process "We had two days of fun and A LOT of Korean BBQ (laughs). When we started the session we were listening through some beats we prepared, and found a sample of our good friend Nikki3k. We took the sample and started working out the instrumental together with Serious - Drunken Masters.
"In many parts of Ghana, a person's name is determined by the day of the week on which they were born. My father and I were both born on a Thursday - it’s a special day for me and that’s why I chose to celebrate like Everyday' Thursday" - Serious Klein
Serious Klein
https://instagram.com/seritheking
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https://twitter.com/seritheking
The Story So Far
Drunken Masters are among a handful of German acts who have managed to communicate their music to an international stage - and that's no small feat. Putting themselves on the map through collaborations with Grammy-winner Portugal. The Man, Brazilian act Tropkillaz, Thutmose, Mothica out of NYC, and the ability to produce a broad spectrum of genres, including official remixes for Major Lazer, A-Trak, Brillz, Duck Sauce and TWRK: the Drunken Masters have become regular guests on the DJ sets of the greatest, and have released songs on Diplo’s Mad Decent/Good Enuff and A-Trak’s Fools Gold Records.
Despite their success internationally, they also hold down the fort in their home base, working with homegrown acts such as Kelvyn Colt, Casper and Nimo.
Their single „Louder feat. Portugal. The Man“ went straight to number one on the HypeM Charts, and „Rave“, a collaboration with Eskei83, has developed into a full- fledged club hit since its release in 2017.
Joe & Chrissi have been touring the world since 2010, playing every major festival in the German-speaking territories, including Splash, Rock am Ring, Southside/ Hurricane, Deichbrand Festival, FM4 Frequency and Lollapalooza. Their live sets are a combination of anything with bass and a bang, no matter the genre. Mosh pits are bound to occur at any given Drunken Masters live show!
Since launching their own label Crispy Crust Records in 2014, including an affiliated publishing house Crispy Crust Publishing, the Drunken Masters have emerged as tastemakers on a national and international level.
In 2019 they produced their first #1 album for German artist KUMMER together with blvth.
Serious Klein
‘Serious Klein’s charismatic flow will have you hanging on his every word.’ – COLORS
‘Dropping tongue-twisting rhymes with ease’ – COMPLEX
German/Ghanaian artist Serious Klein continues to prove his silver-tongued lyricism with a series of singles and collaborations since the release of his critically acclaimed 2018 debut album 'You Should've Known' via Majestic Casual.
Emerging from the underground hip hop scene in Germany, Serious Klein describes his music as “art rap” - a blend of rap, hip hop, jazz and soul - influenced by the likes of 2Pac and Luther Vandross. His growing profile has seen him collaborate and perform with the likes of Mick Jenkins and Bryson Tiller, with Alicia Keys describing him as “one of the hottest urban newcomers in Germany.”
The LP features production from long-time collaborator Rascal, who made a name for himself producing tracks such as ‘Juke Jam’ by Chance The Rapper and ‘Something New’ by SiR ft. Etta Bond. Previous releases have already garnered a flurry of support from the likes of mixmag, Earmilk, Dummy, Complex, Revolt and Highsnobiety, as well as two dynamic live sessions for the aesthetic music platform COLORS.
With a series of astute singles and his highly-anticipated debut album behind him, Serious Klein is cementing himself as one to watch for 2020 and beyond. Recently Klein's biographical short film/documentary The Seed by ICONOCLAST Germany (Kendrick Lamar) won a Webby Award for best Art & Experimental Video.
Following the release of his 2019 EP TWICE and his recent Pacific Music Awards nominations for 'Best Pacific Soul/R&B Artist' and 'Best Pacific Male Artist' in 2020, Noah Slee returns with his new single, 'Here For It All'. Slee stands for a seamless blend of hip hop, R&B, soul and jazz elements with a penchant for collaboration. 'Here For It All' shows all of that with a vibey beat and a glimpse of Noah Slee's unique falsetto, it's asking the right question in these uncertain times: What are we here for?
"This song is about support, it’s about community. The hook came to mind after I had been consoling a good friend when they had lost someone close. Death is a part of life and its important to let your people know you’re here for them. I wrote this song from gratitude for the people that have my back. I know what it’s like to be an outcast and sidelined so relationships are my most valuable currency. This one is for my people and it’s a reminder every time I hear it back or play it live so many faces come to mind. Friends, family, community it’s all LOVE. I had planned to release this song before the pandemic was even a thing and I feel it is even more timely and I hope it brings people comfort and lil needed bounce.".- Noah Slee
Noah Slee is an artist for whom the term "community" is a defining factor in his creativity. Be it in the relatively recent sense of belonging found as part of the free-thinking, queer community of Berlin, the community he is forever tied to through his Tongan roots, or the artist community he cultivates with newly minted event series "Higher Grounds", which strives to support home-grown Berlin talent.
Known for slick and evocative vocals, Slee was well and truly put on the map with the release of 2017 debut album Otherland (Wondercore Island / Majestic Casual), for which he was rewarded two prestigious Pacific Music Awards in 2018.
Fast forward a couple of years, a few international tours, and tens of millions of streams later and Slee continued pushing boundaries with his 2019 EP TWICE - crafted largely by Slee himself with help from his Berlin dynasty of trusted creatives but also showcasing talent from all corners of the globe.
Where Otherland tentatively touched on refractory notions of heritage, identity, sexuality and grief as Slee wrestled with place as something internal and unstable, TWICE (which boasts features from Ru Paul co-signed, Queerty nominated duo FHAT, prolific Australian all-rounder Oscar Key Sung and guitar virtuoso Beau Diako)shouts from the rooftops, in the glorious splendour of a peacock spreading his tail.
Slee's personal growth is tangible in his art - most noticeably in his forays into directing and producing his own videos - from merely appearing in "Radar" (2017), performing a traditional dance in self-produced "..and so, we move to Otherlands" (2018), to taking centre stage in roaring 80's dance-inspired "Do That" (2020) flanked by voguing dancers and inspired by ballroom culture. This is an artist finding his voice in the most joyous way possible, as he gets closer to the person he needs to be.
Praise for Noah Slee
'Slee's charming falsetto vocals are the star of the show, always delivered without a hint of strain'
- Complex
'a strikingly singular talent'
- Clash
'enthralling soundscapes and superb vocal performance'
- Earmilk
Introducing: Collaborative Canadian act Flõstate and debut hazy single "Time"
Brand new duo Flõstate release debut single "Time" via Lekker Collective.
A sedated downtempo R&B offering, "Time" is the first of many for the Canadian act, who create music building out from intimate jam sessions, producing songs which "happen in the moments that we’re not looking".
Comprised of songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Avery Florence and producer MKSTN, Flõstate embodies a spell-casting, fantasy RnB sound which serves to represent the space in-between moments.
The song is about time as a tangible object. The production evolved over the length of the track, as we purposely tried to fit things that wouldn’t normally go together to mess with the “time” and feel.
The key instruments and heart of this track is the Morrocan horn (which I impulsively bought in Morocco when I almost died hiking… also the reed broke so the horn lives in this song only forever lol), the Wah-Wah Rhodes, and Electric guitar. A lot of it was experimentation on how to create flow and space between everything, but I wanted it to feel like an unpredictable journey from hopeful and melancholy, to eerie, dark, and mysterious - MKSTN
This song feels like floating - it evokes the feeling of being in a timeless state. I see the themes of this song as an introduction to what Flostate means. The musical contrast of wavy guitar and sharp percussion fuses dayand night. Like day and night, you feel time slow down and speed up simultaneously - Avery
"..entwining captivating soundscapes with spell-binding vocal lines... the airy guitar lines and decisive percussion build a contrasting sonic support that ebbs and flows like a midnight dance between two free-spirited souls" - This Song Is Sick
The Story So Far
Flõstate is a fantasy R&B duo from space. Consisting of producer MKSTN Michael Le and songwriter Avery Florence, two worlds collide creating multi-instrumental soundscapes and virtuous vocals. Flõstate is the effortless, endless search.
Inspired by a wide variety of artists and genres, the duo site acts such as Beach House, Galimatias, Tame Impala, Jimi Hendrix, Lana Del Rey, Bon Iver, Enya, Little Mermaid, Matt Corby, Jeff Buckley and Pink Floyd as key influences to their sound.
Melbourne RnB/Soul artist Blush'ko brings flamenco guitar and mafia themes together for sultry-but-edgy new single "Al Capone"
Melbourne's Blush'ko follows a string of features in 2020 with his first official single "Al Capone" - a collaboration with long time pals, producer JUJO, rapper Jordan Dennis and guitarist Matty Fads.
Alfonzo Capone was a moonshiner and gangster in Chicago during the prohibition era in the early 1900’s. The song is about giving someone the “Gangster Experience” - entertaining an infatuation with a “Bad Boy” - Blush'ko
Wildy sensual with a distinct edge, "Al Capone" is the first original offering from the Macedonian-born since his 2019 mixtape "Blush'ko In Love Pt. 2" - for which he received praise from the likes of Complex,CLASH, 1883 Magazine, Okayplayer, Jamz Supernova (Top 5 EP's of the Week) and more - was released via tastemaker Majestic Casual.
Blush'ko
fb.com/blushkokickeet - instagram.com/blushkokickeet
JUJO
fb.com/jujoalchemist - instagram.com/jujo.beats
Jordan Dennis
instagram.com/jordanbdennis - fb.com/jordanbdennis
an incredibly well-rounded musician who in 2020, is ready for his time in the spotlight - Pilerats
a brilliant fusion of electronica and soul - 1883 Magazine
The Story So Far
Melbourne-basedm Macedonian-born electro-soul/RnB artist Blush’ko made ears prick up around the globe with 2017 debut single ‘Another Love’, earning him a spot from BBC Radio 6 and catching the attention of Majestic Casual, who went on to sign his "Blush'ko In Love" two-part mixtape.
His most recent collaborations have been with heavyweights such as The Ashton Shuffle on Idris Alba's7Wallace label, internet upstart Cabu, and many more.
Since his explosive solo debut, Blush’ko supported has the likes of Jhene Aiko, SG Lewis in Melbourne and Auckland, Shay Lia in Berlin, and Goldlink in Melbourne as well as performing alongside him in his Triple J ‘Like A Version’ performance of “Herside Story”. He has played every big stage in Australia, alongside Billy Davis and the Good Lords, Dom Dolla (closing Beyond The Valley), London Topaz and Ashton Shuffle.
Ben Esser - "Daily" ft. Jessy Rose (formerly of Irish group Hare Squead)
After reminding us he was still alive-and-kicking last year with comeback single "Stripes" (ft. emawk and Beau Diako), Berlin-based producer Ben Esser once again proves the power of collaboration with new offering "Daily". Featuring the incredibly talented Jessy Rose (former member of Irish group HARE SQUEAD), the track is a sweet love song with a gritty undertone.
"When I heard Jessy’s voice on “Herside Story”, I knew I needed to make music with him. It doesn’t happen often that I hear a voice that completely captivates me like his did - his tone and character really resonated with me so I got in touch and we started working online on some ideas.
After some time I visited him in London where we had our first sessions last year. “Daily” was one of those songs that came on very quickly and didn’t change much after the first session as everything had already fallen into place immediately".- Ben Esser
Ben Esser
fb.com/benesser - twitter.com/ben_esser - instagram.com/ben_esser
Jessy Rose
fb.com/jessyrosehare - twitter.com/jessyrosehare - instagram.com/king.j.rose
Ben Esser
Classically trained pianist and producer Ben Esser continually strives to find the emotional root in the music he creates. Citing a wide-ranging musical taste which was gained thanks to his parents, Esser is known most notably for his long-term collaborative affiliation with RnB artist Noah Slee.
Esser favours fluidity in genre above all, which is evident in the eclectic mix of artists he has worked with, which innclude Wayne Snow, Jordan Rakei, Izzy Bizu, Alxndr London, German rapper Kelvyn Colt, US rapper Denzel Curry, BLVTH, Drunken Masters and Portugal. the Man, just to name a few.
Full playlist of credits here.
Jessy Rose
22-year-old Jessy Rose is a prolific songwriter who grew up in Dublin, Ireland to parents of Congolese descent. After signing to Columbia Records in 2016 with his band Hare Squead, Rose went on to front the band as they quickly amassed over 50 million streams, collaborating with Goldlink and performing at festivals all over Europe.
In 2018 Jessy left Hare Squead to find his own creative path and focus on a solo project. The young talent has been busy in the studio with producers like Hoskins, SG Lewis, Jazz Purple, and Felix Joseph, as well as co-writing Mahalia’s ‘Sober’.
Now in 2020, the young Dubliner is eager to tell his story, with exciting new music and a compelling story of redemption and rebirth to share.
German producer and multi-instrumentalist De Rien follows moody debut with hazy, electronic RnB new single "Chimes"
On the heels of his debut "Cali", German producer and multi-instrumentalist De Rien demonstrates his versatility with hazy sophomore offering "Chimes".
Residing between neo-soul, organic electronica and a splash of nu-disco, De Rien not only showcases his ability to create wonderfully warm soundscapes as a producer, but proves he has the vocal chops to boot, with "Chimes" presenting itself as easy-going yet intricate piece of songwriting.
Picking up the soul-infused vibe of his first release, playful guitar riffs wind around a thick and organic groove.
"Chimes" is about looking behind your own facade - discovering the flamboyance of thought and mind. As every step towards a dear person can be hard, it is easier to do so while sunken into reveries. - De Rien
https://linktr.ee/derienmusic
The German producer proceeds to take us on a dreamy musical exploration, gently drifting between the many layers of the track like a wave through the ocean - This Song Is Sick
The Story So Far
After many years of experiencing the musical world from different angles, percussionist De Rien has turned his attention towards soulful electronica with his solo project.
Growing up as the son of an opera singer and a classical pianist, the young musician began his career by picking up the drums and piano at the age of five.
After performing with numerous classical orchestras, contemporary and jazz ensembles, he discovered the soul of Erykah Badu and Robert Glasper, before being fully absorbed by the groundbreaking sound of James Blake and SBTRKT, paving the way for his symbiotic blend of genres.
Harnessing the name "De Rien" for his project was a result of hearing the phrase “de rien” as salt and pepper were being passed around the table of a French friend. "It was used as a way of saying "you’re welcome". Translated literally it means "it’s nothing", which reflects a certain casualness that I've liked ever since.."
De Rien is also part of collaborative electronica duo Komplement, who, after playing quite a number of festivals last year, supported icelandic pop poet Àsgeir on his German tour in early 2019.
Budapest-born and Berlin-based producer, pianist and multi-instrumentalist Àbáse follows stunning debut EP "Invocation" with new release "Elevate".
The release, which is a collection of older songs and collaborations, showcases the diverse and multi-faceted nature of Àbáse's artistry - with hip-hop, RnB, neo-soul and jazz all compiled into a short and sweet 4-track offering.
Moving from the sophisticated jazz stylings of "Invocation" to the more urban leaning "Elevate", Àbáse reflects a newness of modern pick-and-mix culture diverting from the specificity of genre.
The EP is a collection of beats I created between 2014 and 2016 in Paris and Budapest that I finished with collaborators I met during my travels to New York, London and Birmingham.
The recordings also feature many of my long-time musician friends from the Budapest scene. The sound is heavily inspired by the late 90’s and early 2000’s Hip Hop, r&b and neo-soul productions, especially The Soulquarians (D’angelo, Erykah Badu, Common, Black Star among others).
This project is my tip of the hat to that era, but also includes traces of where I was heading sound-wise (the live experimental elements in Crossroads and the outros of Slow It Down or Elevate). - Àbáse
Gaining support from the likes of Complex, Worldwide FM, Soulection, KEXP, KCRW, BBC Radio 1, Jamz Supernova, Stamp The Wax and more, Àbáse is proving himself as a name on the rise.
https://fb.com/abasemusic
https://instagram.com/abase_music
https://soundcloud.com/abasemusic
https://twitter.com/abase_music
https://spoti.fi/32k2SNu
both the lyrics and the production, manage to show off impressive technical prowess without ever straying close to pretension - Complex (on Slow It Down)
Àbáse excels again at releasing a cohesive and intricate project, showing not only his levels of consistency, but also his talents as a musician to create diverse music - In Search Of Media
This felt like honey drops on my soul - Stereofox (on Too Close)
Title track Elevate features New York artist Jessie Davis, easing you into what is a smooth, eclectic journey.
"The outro was recorded on my mobile phone on a soundcheck for our live hip hop jam session with SoulClap Budapest ‘Hip To The Game’."
Too Close, featuring Birmingham based singer / songwriter Call Me Unique is a sultry behind-the-beat type slow-burner perfect for your sexy time playlist.
"The beat was written in my head during a long shift in the Paris restaurant I was working at at the time. I had to hum the main melody to myself over and over again so I didn’t forget it. I couldn’t wait to rush home and start laying down the idea on my laptop".
Chill neo-soul/hip-hop offering Slow It Down boasts features from UK all-rounder Emmavie and Brooklyn's ScienZe, before the EP ends with a completely improvised, impromptu live recording of Crossroads.
"an outtake from the late-night sessions we had for our ‘Mixtape #1, Abony Sessions’ with SoulClap Budapest. It features rhodes, drums, and flute only with me playing the bass on the keys.
The title represents a very real feeling and dilemma I had at the time ‘staying or leaving’ was a very relevant question to me as I had already traveled for several months in France and the states and had serious plans of moving to NYC".
Àbáse (Szabolcs Bognar) is a producer and multi-instrumentalist creating a blend of West African, Brazilian, hip-hop, new-soul and jazz music. He focuses on a heavyweight rhythm section (being a percussionist himself) and drifts between funky riffs and silky smooth chord structures. The word “àbáse” comes from the West African Yoruba language and stands for “collaboration” - a key element of Àbáse’s music, as he brings versatile artists together to push genre and style boundaries.
As a trained pianist Szabi tours as part of Nigerian-wonder Wayne Snow's live band, and has been an active part of the versatile Hungarian music jazz and hip-hop scene for a number of years, as a member of successful national acts including Amoeba, Soulclap Budapest and The Mabon Dawud Republic - a fourteen piece Afrobeat orchestra guest-starring Dele Sosimi.
Szabi, who studied at the Jazz Conservatory in Budapest, and boasts residencies in Paris, New York, Rio de Janeiro, and Salvador de Bahia - currently calls Berlin home.
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'a hazy piece of soul perfectly fitted for those days spent bathing
in sunlight creeping in through closed curtains' - Complex
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Berlin-based producer Ben Esser releases first single in two years with "Stripes". Created with New York basedemawk and UK guitar wunderkind Beau Diako, "Stripes" is a seamless collaborative gem which perfectly encapsulates "raw moments of pure inspiration".
"Whilst working with Beau on his upcoming EP, we had loads small melody fractions that needed to be developed into full songs. Around the same time my good friend Donna (Lekker Collective) showed me emawk's track ’18’, which I fell hopelessly inlove with. When visiting NYC earlier this year emawk (Kwame) and I linked up and started working on one of the little snippets I'd created with Beau 'til like 5am - paving the foundation for the song."
Esser is cautious not to overcomplicate or overproduce the music, with "Stripes" touting a refreshing simplicity. emawk's play on harmony, layering and scatting throughout his vocal performance lends something truly unique to the track, heralding a welcome return for Esser's artist project and an excitement for what his specific brand of electronic RnB will sound like moving forward.
I always try to incorporate analog gear and ‘real’ performance. There’s something about the human performance that we immediately connect with. Almost all the sounds on ’Stripes’ come from organic or analog sources and in combination with Kwame’s voice blend perfectly together - Ben Esser
After his breakout debut single "Love You More", the prolific producer has taken a backseat with his own project in order to help other artists hone their sound - resulting most notably in Noah Slee's critically acclaimed debut album "Otherland" (Majestic Casual / Wondercore Island).
Ben Esser
Since being exposed to a range of different music in his childhood years, classically trained pianist and producer Ben Esser continually strives to find the emotional root in the music he creates.
Moving to Berlin in the summer of 2015, Esser's musical horizons were expanded after being introduced to RnB artist Noah Slee, who became an important musical mentor and eventually collaborator, evolving the idea of producing and composing with other artists into actuality.
Since then, Esser has worked with an eclectic mix of artists across genres. From Wayne Snow, Jordan Rakei,, James Chatburn, Izzy Bizu, Alxndr London, German rapper Kelvyn Colt, US rapper Denzel Curry, New Zealand RnB songstress Bailey Wiley, BLVTH, Drunken Masters and Portugal. the Man, just to name a few.
Like most people I owe a lot of my early musical memories to my parents. Early records that got played around the house range from ‘2001 (Dr. Dre)’, ‘De La Soul Is Dead’ (De La Soul), ‘The Score’ (Fugees) and records by Steve Reich, Kraftwerk and Billie Holiday. I feel like that this variety gave me the tools I still come back to everyday when making music. The term ‘genre’ lost most of it’s meaning for me early on and I really enjoy artists the most who keep surprising me with their unexpected musical paths.
emawk
Boston born, Nairobi raised, and (now) New York based R&B artist emawk is one that doesn't conform to any one production style. His poetic lyrics, textured production and out-of-the-box song structures, has brought him accolades from tastemakers such Majestic Casual and Complex, as well as Spotify playlist placements stemming from breakthrough single "18".
Beau Diako
British producer/writer and guitarist Beau Diako blends his colourful and unique guitar style with a sound palette of indie, jazz and neo soul.
As a self-taught musician on the south coast of England, he found himself taking influence from a diverse range of artists and genres.
Following success with previous projects Zoology and Pigarette, and years of collaborations with artists such as Tennyson, Lido, Jordan Rakei, Galimatias and many more, Beau brings together some of his favourite vocalists for his debut solo release.
British producer and guitarist Beau Diako releases debut EP featuring emawk, Totu, Raelee Nikole, Jordan Rakei and Claudia Bouvette
Stream: https://soundcloud.com/beaudiakowicz/sets/flutter-3
Buy/Stream: https://awal.ffm.to/flutterep
British producer, songwriter, and guitarist Beau Diako follows debut single "Buttermilk" and sophomore offering "Flutter" with his third and final single "Flamingo" ft. Jordan Rakei, and his debut EP "Flutter".
You may recognise his specific sound on tracks by Tennyson, Lido, Galimatias and more, or as 1/2 of Zoology. With his solo project, Diako blends his colourful and unique guitar style with a sound palette of indie, jazz, and neo-soul to create something truly refreshing.
"Flutter was built throughout the last year and a half as a new start for myself. After a few previous projects and years of music with other artists, I felt that I finally needed to put something out under my own name.
Most of the songs started from small guitar ideas that I would try and grow the production around as naturally as I could, influencing the name ‘Flutter’ as I felt it reflected the light and floaty sound of the music and guitars.I’m fortunate enough to have some extremely talented friends from all over, who I’m so honoured and grateful to feature throughout." - Beau Diako
https://beaudiako.com
Track By Track
Buttermilk (feat. Emawk)
Buttermilk is meant to capture the sound and feeling of a calming nostalgia. The track came about naturally at home on a sunny, peaceful day whilst mindlessly layering guitars, and was finished later in the year after having some bad buttermilk pancakes in Berlin.
I wrote about leaving, in more ways than one. I heard the track not long after I moved to New York, so I guess it brought the feeling out of me - emawk
Cute ft. Totu
When Beau sent me this instrumental I got really excited and started recording vocals at home straight away. The melodies came quickly, but the lyrics arrived much much later. I sent Beau my idea for the chorus before it actually had any lyrics, which was a really bad idea because he ended up getting quite attached to my mumble singing, and even when I finally sent him the complete vocals with lyrics, he preferred the mumble!
In the end we came to a compromise, keeping some of the mumble vocals in there with the real ones. It kinda sounds nice like that so everyone wins - Totu
Flutter (feat. Raelee Nikole)
For Flutter I wanted to create a track that could be subtle and dramatic at the same time, with bright imagery of butterflies, flowers and fireworks. I decided to stick with orchestral sounds over some smooth chords and centred the structure around a cheesy guitar solo in the middle.
I wrote the lyrics while walking through Elysian Park in East LA. I put the track on repeat and let it be the soundtrack to everything happening around me: trees swaying in the wind, the mid-morning sunlight on the hills, pairs of butterflies that seemed to be waltzing in the sky.. - Raelee Nikole
Flamingo ft. Jordan Rakei
Flamingo is probably the closest I can get to making a pop song. It was written quite a few years ago and was one of the first full tracks I made and produced. I was still in a zone of trying to make music that was bright and accessible after a previous project, and wanted something that people could move to.A few months later I sent this track to my friend Jordan Rakei after we had been writing for his album Origin, and he came back with the perfect vocal.
Beau has always been the secret piece to a lot of other people's music, and it's so good to jump on his debut release! It's his time to shine!- Jordan Rakei
Birdsong ft. Claudia Bouvette
I met Beau through a common friend (Connor Seidel) who we both made music with. Beau came to spend a week in Montreal with Connor and I to write on my music project. He told me about his own EP that he was working on at that time and asked me if I was willing to jam and throw ideas on « Birdsong ». I was hooked right away by the tropical theme, and was also really inspired by the title. So I decided to write about a mother’s boy being too scared to jump off the nest and fly by himself - Claudia Bouvette
Sunn
A short and sweet instrumental which serves to close off the EP in style.
Collaborators
Boston born, Kenyan raised R&B artist emawk is a pianist, songwriter and producer that doesn't conform to any one production style. His songs are poignant commentaries of the nuances of life, and his careful attention to both lyrics and production brings listeners back to specific and meaningful moments.
https://fb.com/emawk
https://twitter.com/emawk8
https://instagram.com/emawk8
From the east coast of Australia, Totu (Tobias Tunis-Plant) is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer.
Founding TORA in 2012, who have since garnered critical acclaim across the globe. However due to creative differences within the band Tobias resigned after they completed their 2017 Take A Rest LP.
Tobias also worked as a producer / songwriter with Merryn Jeann and Parcels, with solo projectTotu marking the beginning of a more personal sound.
Raelee Nikole is an artist, songwriter, and instrumentalist based in Los Angeles.
After accumulating a devoted following from posting clips of raw vocal performances with the guitar online and her Spotify-Viral single, ‘Dreamin,’ her velvet-like voice has since made appearances on Grammy Nominated artist Bernhoft’s, “Buried Gold”, Kevin Garrett’s latest album, “Hoax” and has collaborated with Mac Ayres, co-penned Bruno Major's latest single, “Nothing” + more.
https://fb.com/raeleenikolemusic
https://twitter.com/raeleenikole
Jordan Rakei is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and producer with a soulful, jazz and hip-hop driven sound that recalls his predecessors The Roots and peers The Internet, Nick Hakim and Hiatus Kaiyote. Albums Wallflower (2017) and Origin (2019) on Ninja Tune stamped his authority as a preternaturally talented artist and cemented his worldwide rep as a modern soul icon..
Moving to London in 2015, Jordan now boasts collaborations with Loyle Carner, Tom Misch, Disclosure; Terrace Martin (Kendrick Lamar, Kamasi Washington); undisputed legend Nile Rodgers, Rosie Lowe and many more.
https://fb.com/JordanRakei
https://twitter.com/jordanrakei
Putting her own contemporary spin on UK-informed sophisti-pop, Claudia Bouvette is already a prominent presence in the Quebec entertainment industry. With evocative lyrical content and an eclectic approach to delving into different musical styles, the ‘more is more’ ethos of Claudia’s ambitious artistry is appealingly unfiltered. With her unmistakable voice dominating over lush instrumentals, such as that of her debut single ‘Cool It’, she invites us into a hazy universe that is vibrant, moody, and undeniably hers.
German producer and multi-instrumentalist De Rien releases debut RnB infused, indie electronic offering with "Cali"
Stream: https://soundcloud.com/derienmusic/cali
Buy/Stream: https://ffm.to/deriencali
German producer and multi-instrumentalist De Rien releases debut single "Cali" on Berlin label Lekker Collective. Residing between neo-soul, organic electronica and a splash of nu-disco, "Cali" is built on the foundation of a soulful groove set by a shuffling percussive line and mellow synth line, while lush layers of distorted vocals litter the track.
“Cali” was constructed with intentional levity, enhanced by smooth synth chords. A certain easiness emerges, hardly found within our daily routines. - De Rien
The ebb and flow of “Cali’s” percussive energy serves to punctuate the warmth of its melodic lines, inviting you to a slow, yet vibrant dance
Harnessing the name "De Rien" for his project was a result of hearing the phrase “de rien” as salt and pepper were being passed around the table of a French friend. "It was used as a way of saying "you’re welcome". Translated literally it means "it’s nothing", which reflects a certain casualness that I've liked ever since.."
https://linktr.ee/derienmusic
The German producer proceeds to take us on a dreamy musical exploration, gently drifting between the many layers of the track like a wave through the ocean - This Song Is Sick
Beau Diako - “Flutter EP” ft. emawk, Totu, Raelee Nikole, Jordan Rakei and Claudia Bouvette
Buy/Stream: https://awal.ffm.to/flutterep
British producer, songwriter, and guitarist Beau Diako follows debut single "Buttermilk" and sophomore offering "Flutter" with his third and final single "Flamingo" ft. Jordan Rakei, and his debut EP "Flutter".
You may recognise his specific sound on tracks by Tennyson, Lido, Galimatias and more, or as 1/2 of Zoology. With his solo project, Diako blends his colourful and unique guitar style with a sound palette of indie, jazz, and neo-soul to create something truly refreshing.
"Flutter was built throughout the last year and a half as a new start for myself. After a few previous projects and years of music with other artists, I felt that I finally needed to put something out under my own name.
Most of the songs started from small guitar ideas that I would try and grow the production around as naturally as I could, influencing the name ‘Flutter’ as I felt it reflected the light and floaty sound of the music and guitars.I’m fortunate enough to have some extremely talented friends from all over, who I’m so honoured and grateful to feature throughout." - Beau Diako
https://beaudiako.com
https://twitter.com/BeauDiako
https://www.facebook.com/beaudiako
https://instagram.com/beaudiakowicz
https://youtube.com/channel/UCS062fjF4tYn2o6tcQpCybQ
https://soundcloud.com/beaudiakowicz
Budapest-born and Berlin-based producer, pianist and multi-instrumentalist Àbáse releases debut EP "Invocation".
Created in a live recording session set up with Àbáse’s home-band in Budapest, "Invocation" is seven pieces of instrumental artistry, each channeling a musical journey of its own, while inviting the listener on a personal, emotional exploration with guest musicians encountered during his travels in Brazil, Ghana and Europe.
The crossover of jazz instrumentation and trap-style beats with swaggering repetition is one that feels as relevant as ever - e.g. Kendrick's To Pimp A Butterfly, Kamasi Washington, the flavours of Brainfeeder's output. Riding this wave of band-created groove well away from the producer's studio, Àbáse reflects a newness of modern pick-and-mix culture diverting from the specificity of genre.
Gaining support from the likes of Worldwide FM, Soulection, KEXP, KCRW and BBC Radio 1, Àbáse’s long-anticipated debut EP "Invocation" was released on May 23rd via HHV Records and Cosmic Compositions, digitally and on vinyl.
Invocation EP
Recorded mostly with two drummers, two bass players playing simultaneously, a flutist, a percussionist and Àbáse playing Rhodes and synths, "Invocation" hosts a wealth of guest talents from diverse backgrounds.
From title track 'Invocation' featuring Brazilian percussionist Roque Miguel, to the lengthly jazz-infused 'Align' which boasts the vocal stylings of Nigerian vocalist Wayne Snow, third track 'Skeme Goes All City' which reflects Àbáse’s hip-hop roots, while 'Sambo', recorded in Berlin and Ghana, guest stars Ghanaian vocalist Stevo Atambire, accompanying the band with kologo.
Afro-funk 'Get Off Di Floor' adds a brass section and a guitarist, for a unique take on the classic afrobeat “big band” arrangement, while final track 'Ashek Ellil' lends itself to being the most experimental, featuring Moroccon artist Saïd Tichiti on vocals, oud and karkabat. Over a mix of tweaked synths, Yoruba-inspired percussion and the oriental sound of the oud, Tichiti lays a beautiful poem in Arabic.
Àbáse (Szabolcs Bognar) is a producer and multi-instrumentalist creating a blend of West African, Brazilian, hip hop, jazz and club music. He focuses on a heavyweight rhythm section (being a percussionist himself) and drifts between funky riffs and silky smooth chord structures. The word “àbáse” comes from the West African Yoruba language and stands for “collaboration” - a key element of Àbáse’s music, as he brings versatile artists together to push genre and style boundaries.
As a trained pianist, band lead Szabi has been an active part of the versatile Hungarian music jazz and hip-hop scene for a number of years. He’s been a member of several successful national acts, including Amoeba, Soulclap Budapest and the latest project - The Mabon Dawud Republic - a fourteen piece Afrobeat orchestra guest-starring Dele Sosimi.
Àbáse studied at the Jazz Conservatory in Budapest and has had residencies in Paris, New York, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador de Bahia and is currently based in Berlin.
Buy/Stream: https://awal.ffm.to/flutter
British producer, songwriter and guitarist Beau Diako follows debut single "Buttermilk" with another heart-wrenchingly nostalgic offering in "Flutter".
Weaving a fairytale-like web of sound, "Flutter" enlists the help of Southern California native, Raelee Nikole, who adds a pure, fresh vocal to the whimsical creation.
"For Flutter I wanted to create a track that could be subtle and dramatic at the same time, with bright imagery of butterflies, flowers and fireworks. I decided to stick with orchestral sounds over some smooth chords and centred the structure around a cheesy guitar solo in the middle.
The song features beautiful vocals from my friend Raelee Nikole in LA, there are also a few nice moments from Noah Slee somewhere in the mix too." - Beau Diako
Buy/Stream: https://AWAL.lnk.to/Buttermilk
His guitar licks are as distinctive as any voice, as his fingers sing with soaring glissando's and creative, emotive note-picking. That is what sets British producer/writer and guitarist Beau Diako apart from the pack.
You may recognise his specific sound on tracks by Tennyson, Lido, Jordan Rakei, Galimatias and more, or as 1/2 of Zoology or Pigarette. Beau now takes his artistry into his own hands, introducing us to a new era with solo debut single "Buttermilk", featuring Kenyan raised, New York based R&B artist emawk.
Buttermilk is meant to capture the sound and feeling of a calming nostalgia. The track came about naturally at home on a sunny, peaceful day whilst mindlessly layering guitars, and was finished later in the year after having some bad buttermilk pancakes in Berlin.
Diako blends his colourful and unique guitar style with a sound palette of indie, jazz and neo-soul in this refreshing offering. Relentlessly pushing the boundaries of genre, "Buttermilk" is a calming offering compared to Zoology's more upbeat, pop-influenced sound.
The self-taught musician takes influences from a diverse range of artists such as Radiohead, Sufjan Stevens, James Blake, Joanna Newsom, while exploring a range of genres- from indie, jazz, folk, electronic and soul music - all which is evident in his genre-defying sound.
Stream: https://remi.lnk.to/5AM
Back with their first release in over a year, Melbourne hip-hop duo REMI share their latest single “5 A.M.” ft. Whosane, out via their own imprint House of Beige Records.
Remi’s effortless flow sways in precise time to Sensible J’s organic and world-class production, multi-layered in both meaning and musicality. Crossing between punctuated raps and satin-like vocals from Remi, J follows with rolling percussion that crescendos to old-school R&B choruses sung by friend and collaborator Whosane. The pair perform in a method where both talents shine, their ease in collaboration a product of finessing their personal brand of hip-hop, soul and R&B across multiple releases and stages.
“I wrote 5 A.M. when I was locked in the house for a couple of days with the flu. I guess I was trying to get all the shit out of my body or something because my mind wandered to a toxic past relationship and I just needed to write about it. I hadn’t dealt with many parts of it, so there was a lot of real-time processing and redrafting before I could properly articulate the whole situation. Sensible J, with the help of Silent J (not to be confused), had already created the perfect beat-scape for me to vent over." - Remi
Consistently selling out their headline tours at home and across Europe, REMI continue to hold reign at the top of Australia’s soul and hip-hop sphere. The pair boast a number of stellar collaborations including the likes of fellow MC Sampa The Great, Manchester’s [ K S R ], Black Milk and Jordan Rakei on their critically acclaimed sophomore album, Divas and Demons.
Gaining recognition from tastemakers Worldwide FM, Soulection and BBC Radio 1Xtra, Budapest-born producer, pianist and multi-instrumentalist Àbáse teases more of his artistry with second single “Align”.
Following on from debut single "Skeme Goes All City", “Align” comes in with a strong, smooth rhythm section – two drummers, two bass players and a percussionist merge to create dreamy magic. Driven by a steady rhythmic soundscape, the flute and the Rhodes playfully chase each other around, creating a sweet tension which Wayne Snow’s entry in the middle of the track serves.
With the addition of his signature smooth vocal, the tune turns into a jazz fusion melody with some extra synths and finally ends up in a fat raw broken beat.
“The chord structure, melody and groove of Align was one of my earliest musical ideas. I brought some sketches and ideas to the table but really left as much as I could for the band, building on our chemistry and shaping the music together. The addition of Wayne Snow on vocals really crowned the composition. We recorded his vocals in less than an hour in my living room.” - Àbáse
“This song is about unity, togetherness. If you listen carefully you will feel it.” - Wayne Snow
