Albums | COOKIE. Shares New Single “Bite The Bullet”
Posted by VMan on July 1, 2022
German-born, New York-raised singer, songwriter, producer and dancer COOKIE. brings a versatile sweetness that packs a powerful punch. Since arriving on the scene in 2019, she has dazzled with a series of stunning releases and has struck up a great creative partnership with Grammy Award-winning producer Brasstracks (Chance the Rapper, Anderson .Paak, Khalid) with tracks such as “After A While” and “Green Season”. And the pair have teamed up once again for COOKIE.’s new single, “Bite The Bullet”.
Infused with catchy melodies, a memorable hook and a classic-sounding groovy R&B production, the track is another impressive offering by the emerging artist and will surely propel her rise in the music scene even further. COOKIE. has no plans of slowing down anytime soon either, with more singles and an EP on the horizon, so she’ll be one to watch for the rest of the year.
Speaking further on the new release, COOKIE. says, “I wrote the track and then co-produced it with Brasstracks. The song is about my indecisiveness and things I deal with a lot of the time that tend to lead me to much anxiety. So, to make me feel stronger in recognising those feelings and issues of self-sabotage, I personified the feeling of never making my mind up into a really bad relationship. After all, it is a bad relationship with myself anyways.”
Albums | mickey jas Shares New Single “Better Me”
Posted by VMan on July 1, 2022
Rising singer, songwriter and producer mickey jas has unveiled his latest single, “Better Me”. Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, mickey only burst onto the scene earlier this year but made a big impression with the March release of his outstanding debut single, “Angel Child”, and he looks set to keep his momentum going with new single “Better Me”.
Produced by mickey, the track stands out on first listen with its captivating and versatile production alongside mickey’s stunningly soulful vocals. It’s elevated further by a slew of infectious melodies and a huge anthemic hook that will no doubt be ingrained into everyone’s head as mickey sings about becoming a better person. “I’m a better me / I’m a better me / Can’t you see”, he croons on the inspirational track.
Speaking further on the new release, mickey says, “This song was inspired by recent life changes that have me thriving. These include new sources of income as well as blocking out those who have made my life less enjoyable over the years. I completed this song within one week and used as many elements as possible to fully illustrate my current emotions. I am very excited to see how ‘Better Me’ connects with different types of listeners.
Albums | Former Club MTV Host Varski Debuts On Perfect Havoc
Posted by VMan on June 26, 2022
Varski, the house DJ and producer and former Club MTV Dance show host, is ready for his first outing on Perfect Havoc alongside prolific UK vocalist Abi Flynn with new single ‘Hypnotic’. Released on 24th June as part of a huge-single deal with the London-based imprint that served up the chart-topping singles from Joel Corry, ‘Hypnotic’ is the latest addition to a wave of impressive club-geared singles that continue to keep Perfect Havoc at the forefront of UK dance music.
Upbeat and engaging from the outset, ‘Hypnotic’ carries an energetic flurry of potent kicks, sizzling hat grooves and percussive flair alongside unrelenting musicality from end to end. Following the lead of on-trend UK club cuts with riveting energy throughout, its blend of big room and bass house flavours makes the perfect accomplice for Flynn’s exemplary vocal hooks. Her talents have led to working with Navos, PS1, Bad Boy Chiller Crew and many more, each time carving out an ultimately danceable and undeniably fetching peak time record.
Known as the ultimate showman and party frontman, Varski has been making moves for almost a decade. With famous charm and charisma to spare, the lovable character hosted the Dance Show on Club MTV in 2017 and went on to open the MTV EMAs alongside Eminem, Stormzy, Selena Gomez and more, cementing his place on the worldwide stage. An absolute selector in the booth packing his sets full with original edits, but these days he is deeply immersed in the studio.
Already achieving largely commendable feats through his music, including ‘When The Bass Goes’ which was synced by Lucozade in a TV campaign in 2015. More recently and marking a more accessible sound from the Varski studio, his 2021 hit on New State Music ‘Over You’ feat. Cammie Robinson reached #7 in the iTunes’ Dance chart, hit 350k+ streams on Spotify and received a month-long rotation on KISS Dance and Capital Dance. Varski is making serious strides and capturing the ears of an ever-growing fanbase.
For the UK-based vocalist and topliner, Abi Flynn, she’s been making ripples in the UK soul/jazz scene for some time, but her most recent successes have come in the commercial dance world. She is the mystery voice behind Gold-selling global hit ‘Believe Me’ by Navos, ‘Every Single Time’ by Bissett, and countless other chart hits, clocking herself 150 million global streams. Abi’s smooth, melodic vocals and irresistibly catchy toplines have taken the dance world by storm, releasing on labels including Sony Columbia/Relentless, Island Records, UKF, New State Music and more. With her own debut soul/jazz album on the way and plenty more exciting dance projects lined up for 2022, this diverse and mesmerising vocalist is one to watch.
Perfect Havoc – a runner-up for Best Independent Record Label at the 2022 Music Week Awards – is one of the most successful indie dance labels of recent years. Its trademark commercial dance with a smattering of the more club-focused sounds has generated the label over 5 billion streams and given rise to six UK Top 20 singles including the No.1 single ‘Head & Heart’ by four-time Brit Award nominated producer, Joel Corry & MNEK.
With a talent-packed schedule for 2022 that also features releases from Charlie Hedges, Just Kiddin, PS1, James Hurr and many more, Perfect Havoc is guaranteed to serve up a ton of new accessible and underground house sounds from both breaking and established talent.
Albums | Watch the Raw and Reflective Music Video for “SEE ME” by Mulay
Posted by VMan on June 25, 2022
Taken from her upcoming EP, IVORY, which comes out on October 7th via Groenland Records, Mulay’s new single and visual for “SEE ME” is hybrid and clean combination of alt r&b that reminded me by FKA Twigs prior videos, just on a tighter budget (understandably). The Berlin based singer-songwriter left me wanting more on this one, I’ve already replayed this one a handful of times. Hyped for the full EP this fall, and I’m sure you will be too after clicking play on the above video!
“We cannot hold on to love. We can only cherish and nourish it once it finds us and practice acceptance and gratitude for having experienced it, once it leaves. It will hurt. like hell. But you will live through it and get out on the other side. You will grow and it will bring you closer to yourself. Sometimes things need to end, so others can begin. Sometimes we have to let go, to say goodbye to what we know, to create space for change, so we can transform.”
Albums | Pharaoh Phonix Drops Pharaoh’s Gold Vol. 2
Posted by VMan on June 20, 2022
After the success of Pharaoh’s Gold Vol.1, the debut compilation to come out via Thomas Xavier’s imprint, Pharaoh Phonix, the family is at it again with another volume unleashed upon the world less than a month after the first. Thew new 4-track-project features versatile House infused heat from label founder Thomas Xavier, St. Sinny, Heily Beatz, and the final song “Gangsta Level” is by Jet Blvck and Thomas Xavier. Check out the new compilation above now!
Albums | James Hurr, Xoro & Adam Griffin Join Forces On Summer Smash “Toxic Game”
Posted by VMan on June 19, 2022
Studio wizards James Hurr, Xoro, and Adam Griffin team up for the feelgood anthem ‘Toxic Game’ with newcomer vocalist and songwriter, Shayan. When considering that between them they have had nine straight Party Anthems spins on BBC Radio 1 (Hurr), released on Sony Nitron, worked with Wankelmut, and remixed for Joel Corry (Xoro); and steered Perfect Havoc to achieve five UK Top 10 hits including the No.1 single ‘Head & Heart’ by Joel Corry & MNEK (Griffin), it’s inevitable this new single is pure quality. It’s out now on Perfect Havoc!
Playful piano stabs and a rubber-bounce bassline are at the heart of ‘Toxic Game’. Straddling sounds of 90s rave and the style of crossover dance that Perfect Havoc has built its reputation on, ‘Toxic Games’ is enhanced by the rich, full vocal of Shayan, singing of an all-too-familiar relationship that is toxic but inevitable.
The producers at work on this single are rising superstar, James Hurr. His credits as a production and mixing engineer are an impressive ‘who’s who’ of the UK’s best-known dance talents. Hurr is behind Mark Knight’s ‘Yebisah’ and Prok & Fitch’s ‘Wow’, plus dozens of tracks, collabs and remixes with Michael Gray and Frederick & Kusse to name just two. Toolroom Record’s Mark Knight said that Hurr “was on fire” and the man wasn’t wrong. Hurr’s Perfect Havoc debut ‘Jump In’ with legendary DJ Michael Gray was so well received that it was played for nine straight weeks on BBC Radio 1’s Party Anthems.
Collaborating with Hurr on ‘Toxic Game’ is one of Perfect Havoc’s shining stars, Xoro. There are two touchpoints that mark the start of Xoro’s journey; winning Spinnin’ Records’ Buzz Low remix competition and his first single ‘Face Mask On’ which saw official release after achieving over 60 million streams on TikTok. From there Xoro has been in demand releasing originals on Soave and Loudkult, as well remixing on several high profile Perfect Havoc releases such as PS1 ‘Life Goes On (feat. Alex Hosking)’, Tobtok, Milwin & Alfie Cridland ‘New Levels (feat. Mila Falls)’ and Joel Corry x Jax Jones ‘OUT OUT (feat. Charli XCX & Saweetie)’.
Completing the production bill is Perfect Havoc co-founder and producer, Adam Griffin. Together with Robert Davies, Griffin has steered Perfect Havoc into one of the most in-demand independent labels around, underlined by platinum certified releases and generating over five billion global streams. His contagious house cuts include ‘The Sting’ and ‘The Stand Off’ (BBC Radio 1 Future Anthem) and ‘Don’t Over Think It’ produced with house icon Todd Terry. Griffin has also worked and released with acclaimed producers such as Anton Powers, Redondo, Simon Field, James Hurr and Tobtok, and has received several spins on BBC Radio 1’s Party Anthems & Dance Anthems, been playlisted on Capital Dance and KISS Dance and been featured on Music Week. Over 25 million streams have been generated so far by this versatile label head and he’s only just getting started.
Perfect Havoc – nominated for Best Independent Record Label at the 2022 Music Week Awards – has even more talent-packed up its sleeve for 2022. As well as a guest residency at Eden Ibiza with immersive house night WNDRLND, the label will see releases from Just Kiddin, PS1, Varski, Charlie Hedges, and many more.
Albums | Manic Focus gives the remix treatment to synth-rock band Jimkata’s “Bonfires”
Posted by VMan on June 17, 2022
Synth-rock band Jimkata emerged from their four-year hiatus last summer with their galvanizing Bonfires album; a 10-track LP that found the evolved trio stretching their boundaries with bold, intoxicating arrangements fueled by swirling synthesizers and anthemic hooks.
After showcasing Bonfires across the country this year with coast-to-coast performances and festival appearances at Summer Camp Music Festival and Gem & Jam to name a few, Jimkata has tapped Denver-based bass purveyor Manic Focus to remix the album’s title track.
Drawing inspiration from his roots in funk and soul, Manic Focus’ euphoric rendition layers soaring synth progressions and scintillating basslines atop singer/guitarist Evan Friedell’s stirring vocals. Transforming “Bonfires” into a wispy, euphoric anthem that’s destined to soundtrack festival stages all summer long, the classically-trained musician showcases his prowess for genre-crossing production work.
Manic Focus’ remix follows widespread acclaim for the Bonfires album, which has already garnered 1,000,000+ combined streams across platforms and been praised by taste-making outlets like American Songwriter, Earmilk, and Wonderland.
New York-bred band Jimkata has been pairing playful, buoyant melodies with weighty, emotive lyrics since its members – three lifelong friends – formed the project in 2005. The group notched nationwide festival performances and released a series of celebrated studio albums before taking their hiatus in 2017. Since reforming last year with a renewed sense of purpose, Jimkata has charted a course for nonstop growth as they look toward a summer brimming with East Coast tour dates and another Bonfires remix coming down the pipeline from rising electro soul artist Phyphr.
A multi-dimensional artist with a rowdy style that spans multiple genres, Manic Focus fuses soulful blues with heavy-hitting bass to create a tone that’s entirely his own. A true beat-making machine, Manic Focus has released six full-length albums over the last ten years and continues to push himself to new musical limits by incorporating original, sample-free recordings. Since dropping his last LP Lost in a Digital World in 2019, the Denver-based producer has released 15 singles and a handful of EPs including collaborations with Break Science, SoDown, Marvel Years and Mersiv. Manic Focus has also remixed heavy-hitters like Louis the Child, Zeds Dead, Pretty Lights, GRiZ, Umphrey’s McGee, and Lettuce, in addition to taking the stage at festivals like Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Electric Forest, Hulaween and North Coast Music Festival.