Each week, we feature fresh new releases from emerging and established talent from around the world, these are highlighted on our New Music Spotlight playlist on Spotify, but we also share a handful of artists in our round-up who are making waves.
You can read more features in our Music + Culture section.
Gorillaz – Tormenta (featuring Bad Bunny) + Cracker Island
The wait is over for Gorillaz fans around the world. Cracker Island – the brand new album from the biggest virtual band on the planet – finally dropped!
Cracker Island is the eighth studio album from Gorillaz, an energetic, upbeat, genre-expansive collection of 10 tracks with an evocative synth-led 80’s sound featuring yet another stellar line-up of artist collaborators: including Bad Bunny, Stevie Nicks, Adeleye Omotayo, Thundercat, Tame Impala, Bootie Brown and Beck. Recorded in London and LA, it is produced by nine-time Grammy Award-winning producer/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter extraordinaire Greg Kurstin, Gorillaz and Remi Kabaka Jr.
Drummer Russel Hobbs said, “Cracker Island is a 70s love letter to LA. Corduroy, big hair, pool parties, a different time when today was still a thousand tomorrows off. Sit back and party like it’s 1979”, whilst Murdoc comments, “Every Gorillaz album is its own universe, behold our latest creation! Am I the all-powerful being at the centre of that universe? Listen and decide for yourself!”
Guitarist Noodle add, “A trip through many worlds, when I look back it already seems like some weird dream from another place and time”, and
2D muses, “Apart from nearly being sacrificed in a cult ceremony I really enjoyed making this album.”
Shygirl + Tinashe – Heaven
Shygirl has recruited Tinashe for a new version of her song Heaven. The track comes from Nymph_o, a new deluxe edition of Shygirl’s 2022 full-length, Nymph. In addition to Tinashe, Nymph_o has contributions from Fatima Al Qadiri, Erika de Casier, Björk, Arca, Eartheater, and more. The project is out on April 14.
The song comes with an out of this world music video featuring both artists, with visuals and direction by Actual Objects.
Tyler Brooker, Manu Francois and theajsound – Hypocrite
Setting the tone with a dark wave, deep house energy, Tyler Brooker, Manu Francois and theajsound open their collaborative joint, Hypocrite with an immersive nature and poetic prowess with the metaphorical prose, “Inviting I, to be captured into your trap, don’t you know I’m aware of that… I and I know as the humble one, guide and protected by the the mighty one…”
The opus expands with a dimensional riser into a progressive-EDM energy, and we are mesmerized. Speaking on the message of the song, the creators tell us, “It’s full of energy and emotion – the lyrics speak of the mechanics of being preyed upon by a hypocrite. Knowing yourself and your true intentions while traps are laid for you by those who wish to see you fall. It speaks of the transparency of their hypocritical ways and nature as well as the fate for those who build their hopes on mischief and lies.” We appreciate the dynamic nature of the sound design, and how cohesive the overarching energy of the composition is.
For additional reference, Tyler Brooker is a house music producer from Suffolk, UK who has received success with his remix of popular Ukrainian track Bayraktar. Manu Francois is a father and a music creator, Caribbean born and living in New Zealand. He describes himself as a philosopher and a vivacious and soulful performer of both electronic and acoustic music. Arjun Bhat (aka theajsound) is a singer songwriter and producer from India.
Pihka Is My Name – Reaching For The Out Of Range
Drawing us in with cerebral vocal chops, Pihka Is My Name open Reaching For The Out Of Range with a dimensional riser, atmospheric vocals with evocative prose. The opus expands into a surrealist, electronic pop energy which has us in awe as we learn more about the minds and spirits of the Finland-based creative duo.
We learn that Pihka Is My Name combine analogue synthesizers, hypnotic piano patterns and crunchy drum machines to create their signature sound. Reaching for The Out of Range is the first single from their upcoming sophomore album, due for release in September 2023.
We appreciate the nostalgic and timeless elements of the composition, fused with a sense of futurism in sound design. Henna Helasvuo, who performs keys and vocals says, “We had an album almost fully mixed and release-ready in mid-2022. Then we had a lot of gigs and received all this massively positive energy, which we wanted to include and make use of on our new album. So we basically ended up starting all over!”
“That’s really what our new single is all about. Not being afraid to start over, about recognizing the need for change, and about gathering the courage to shake things up”, adds Lasse Turunen, who creates beats and also performs vocals. “It doesn’t matter how much time and effort you’ve put into something. It’s never too late to start over, if necessary”.
We love the message that Pihka Is My Name share with their universe, and have added Reaching for The Out of Range to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we continue to stream their wider discography.
jazzygold – boring like me
Immersing us with vocal waves, before singing, “I got so much for nothing, give me a little something, I can see how you’re bluffing, but I don’t judge you for it…”, jazzygold opens boring like me with charisma and an assertive nature.
The centred and self-realized artist shares her authenticity and charm with her through expansive lyricism and philosophical depth. We learn that boring like me is the debut single from jazzygold, who is also known as artist Jasmin Mote.
Speaking on the release, the rising star comments, “boring like me is the new soundtrack for your most self-sabotaging moments in life. You know you’re a 10, but you still settle with the bullshit from a 5. That’s what sparked a fire for the making of the track.” She adds, “The breakup leaves you in the exact position you knew it would, and the track captures the irony perfectly.”
The music video for boring like me brings to life an incredible performance from the artist, showcasing a spectrum of colours and really allowing us to connect deeper with jazzygold as she brings to life the essence of the song in a visual manner. We cannot wait to hear more from the rising superstar.
Karan X Anoop + Chris Savor – Landour
Establishing the mood with a panning and immersive synthscape with intricate Eastern melodic nuances, producer duo, Karan X Anoop and singer, Chris Savor open Landour with a luscious timbre, atmospheric vocals and introspective lyricism.
The artists takes us on a journey detailing a soul connection, as they shares progressive chillwave romantic vibes with evocative instrumentation, including unique syncopated melodies which adds dimensionality and unique value to the composition.
We love the vocal production and indeed the magnentic delivery from the singer from High Wycombe in the UK. Landour comes with a cinematic music video produced by Aditya Pamnani under the banner APF Productions and directed by Aravind Sashank. The video stars Aditya Pamnani and Sonam Shankar, who bring to life the message of the song perfectly with incredible acting performances.
We learn that the track started in the dense forests of Landour, India, after Karan and Anoop had “a spiritual experience trekking through the small Himalayan town.” They tell us that “an exotic and unnameable fragrance transported them to an unimaginable world of wonder and calm”, and that they were inspired to create the song immediately.