Albums | Makh Shares New Single “Closer”
Posted by VMan on February 8, 2023
Bradford-born Makh is a rapper, vocalist and record producer. Along with creating his own music, he is also a presenter for the BBC Asian Network. Born to Sikh parents but with a multicultural, multi-ethnic family, his music takes inspiration from hip-hop, reggaeton, soul and rock, with sprinkles of South Asian instrumentation, resulting in his own unique stamp on popular genres, such as on his new single, “Closer”.
“Closer” combines elements of hip-hop and R&B and immediately draws you in on first listen with captivating vocals before the rousing beat kicks in. The song is elevated further by its infectious hook, which will no doubt have everyone singing along, and Makh’s candid lyricism about being scared to fall in love.
Elaborating further, Makh says, “It’s a love song but not the typical heartbreak or falling in love story. It’s about someone who really wants to fall in love but is scared of being vulnerable again. It’s about the struggles with letting ourselves be open and trusting again, especially after you’ve been hurt. It’s a real-life situation and circumstance that people face.”
“Closer” is only Makh’s second single after arriving on the music scene with debut release “You What” in summer 2021, but it’s already very clear what a huge talent he is. Starting out the year with a bang, it’ll be exciting to see what else he has in store for 2023 as he positions himself as one to watch.
Albums | Rod212 Shares New Single “Really Not Okay”
Posted by VMan on February 7, 2023
Blurring the lines of hip-hop and R&B, Rod212 is a rising artist/producer born and raised in Chicago. In college, he stumbled upon a YouTube video of Soulja Boy making beats and spent that summer immersed in endless FruityLoops tutorial sessions. Motivated by the undeniable magnetism of Drake and the vivacious energy of Skrillex, he perused his late mother’s records for inspiration and coveted samples. As a producer, Rod212 crafted beats for other artists until he decided to compete as a lyricist and artist in his own right. Now with several well-received releases of his own under his belt, Rod212 is kicking off 2023 with a bang with the release of his brand-new single, “Really Not Okay”. The track is an instant earworm with its infectious hook and Rod212’s pulsating rap delivery and lyrical abilities on clear display. The track is boosted further by the lush vocals of featured artists Sal Ly and Rico Maz. With lyrics such as “I’m stronger now more than ever / I’m doing better / That’s right I’m doing okay”, the track’s universal lyrical themes will easily resonate with listeners. Elaborating further, Rod212 says, “It’s hard to let people know about our pain and the things we think are wrong. We want people to tell us everything is okay, but the truth is, sometimes it’s not okay. This song is for anyone who has experienced love and heartbreak.”
Albums | juuku releases new single “Moonlight” (feat. Gianni Taylor) via Dim Mak ?
Posted by VMan on February 2, 2023
DJ/Producer/Multimedia Artist juuku starts off 2023 strong by announcing he’s signed to Dim Mak Records. This new partnership will yield hew new EP, Lavender Dreams and Scarlett Nightmares, which is set for release this spring. The first sample of what’s to come arrives via the EP’s majestic debut single, “Moonlight (feat. Gianni Taylor)”. Loving the vibes on this one, in his usual juuku form, the song has a moody feel to it that will hit you right in the feels. Listen to “Moonlight” by juuku above now and check out the tour dates below now and make it out to a show if he’s in your city.
Feb 22 / Montreal / New City Gas
Feb 23 / Toronto / Rebel
Feb 24 / Chicago / Aragon
Mar 10 / Los Angeles / Shrine Expo
Mar 16 / New York / The Great Hall
All dates in support of Steve Aoki’s HiROQUEST: Genesis Tour – buy tix here
Albums | “we’re the last to leave” is the latest offering by Aussie artist Ordley
Posted by VMan on February 2, 2023
Ordley is rising Australian newcomer who is crafting a unique blend of indie-dance/melodic-house music in the same lane asa Fred Again, Duskus and Tourist. His latest drop “we’re the last to leave” is a groovy one well worth checking out, so listen to it now above and read a quote from Ordley on the release below!
“This is a song about conveying the tension from how we wish life would be and how it actually is, and the strains this can place on our romantic relationships as we find the resilience to keep going. I wrote and produced this song in one morning after hearing a news segment about young people’s employment still not recovering after the pandemic, and the anxiety this was bringing to them. This was all too close to home for me as an artist, and that emotion went straight into this record. Musically, it’s a fun, chill record. Fast and dancey. I think the percussion has a UK rave feel, keeping the momentum super high and the vocals are showcasing my fun and playful nature.” – Ordley
Albums | Volaris Unveils Highly-Anticipated “I’m So Weak” on Armada
Posted by VMan on February 1, 2023
Nathan Cozzetto aka Volaris, is a producer and DJ from the UK. He has impressively amassed a large arsenal of music, scoring releases on key labels such as Armada, Sola & John Summit’s Off The Grid imprint. The DJ world has also supported the Volaris sound, with tracks being played throughout the summer of 2002. Plays by Solardo, Danny Howard, Vintage Culture, Dom Dolla, Eli Brown, Camelphat, Above & Beyond, Nora En Pure & John Summit, have seen Volaris gain huge traction in a very short space of time.
To kick of the calendar year, Volaris returned to Armin van Buuren’s esteemed Armada Music to debut “I’m So Weak” featuring Cammie Robinson. One of his best tracks to date, Volaris stuns with gorgeous melodies as Robinson’s sweeping vocal performance drives the track home.
Check it out below on SoundCloud.
Albums | Dropwizz Unleashes Menacing Trap Heater ‘Burn’ On FUXWITHIT
Posted by VMan on January 27, 2023
Toronto-based producer Dropwizz makes his return to FUXWITHIT with the powerful trap anthem ‘Burn’ on January 26th. The track serves as a follow-up to his heavy-hitting FUXWITHIT debut ‘Gulag’ off Champions Of The Underground Vol. 1. Dropwizz has been climbing the ranks in the bass scene with a slew of impressive releases on brednbutter that included the breakout ‘FOOTWORK,’ which has accumulated nearly 900,000 streams to date. ‘Burn’ elevates his signature style for an energetic and menacing banger.
Staying true to its name ‘Burn’ is assured to raise temperatures and destroy anything in its path. The opening melody is dark and wrapped in mystique. As the drums build, the vocals add a layer of catchiness while remaining gritty. The drops pack a powerful punch as mind-bending synths drift over crisp percussion and nasty bass. Stabs of brass underscore the intensity taking the track to new heights. Mixing elements of classic electronic trap with cutting-edge bass music makes ‘Burn’ a standout heater. Expect this one to set crowds ablaze.
“Listeners will first be welcomed by a mantric melody with a hint of mystery, then progressing into an unexpected buildup which then evolves into a violent and energetic bass drop. I personally picture myself entering a dungeon where I will have to battle the final boss, doing whatever it takes to prevail victorious.”
-Dropwizz
Albums | Multi-platinum artist Harrison showcases new sound in his Perfect Havoc debut
Posted by VMan on January 23, 2023
Via releases on labels including disco:wax and Selected, UK-artist Harrison arrives today with his debut on Perfect Havoc with new single ‘Dancing’. Infectious, deep house beats dominate this latest release in showcase of a fresher output from the Harrison studio while retaining the same energy as heard on previous productions supported by tastemakers from Meduza and Diplo to Tiesto and Vintage Culture. With skills in abundance in vocals, songwriting and DJing, as well as streaming figures in their tens of millions, Harrison is a multi platinum selling artist who’ll be right at home on the chart-topping Perfect Havoc.
A clutch of big, anthem-built records has put the multi-faceted Harrison amidst a generation of electronic music artists that have dominated dance culture for the past decade. Recent years’ successes include the release of his hit single ‘Praise You’ which stormed to a well-deserved no.1 in the Upfront Music Charts.
Further, his instantly lovable single ‘Lucid Dreams’ on Selected amassed more than 30 million streams and significant radio attention in its first few months, and his follow-up ‘Tainted love’ smashed the 20-million-streams-mark with ease. After collaborating with David Guetta on Jack Back Records, Harrison teamed up with ALOK to pay homage to Bronski Beat’s iconic classic with ‘Tell Me Why’. It was an instant hit with tastemakers, generating an enormous 40 million streams on Spotify and, in view of its massively engaged audience, secured platinum status.
Also a seasoned live performer, who’s renowned for delivering hybrid shows of DJing with live vocals, Harrison has unleashed his indomitable energy to packed out audiences everywhere from Ministry of Sound and Cream in the UK to META Music Festival in China and the World DJ Festival in South Korea.
Fans of Harrison’s music will notice a slight shift in style on his latest release as it moves away from the big room EDM sound into cooler house realms.
What’s next for Harrison in 2023 is an exciting run of tour dates and new releases as he continues to soundtrack the lives of club-goers and dance-lovers worldwide.
‘Dancing’ is another solid release for Perfect Havoc. Shortlisted for Best Independent Record Label at the 2022 Music Week Awards, Perfect Havoc’s niche of commercial dance with a smattering of the more club-focused sounds has given rise to six UK Top 20 singles including ‘Fake Friends’ by PS1 feat. Alex Hosking, and the No.1 single ‘Head & Heart’ by Joel Corry & MNEK.
Now having generated over 5 billion streams, the London-based Perfect Havoc is one of the most consistently successful indies in recent years. Keep an ear out for more releases in 2023 with cuts from PS1, Austin Millz, Freejak, Simon Field and much more lined up.