Post-bank holiday blues? Banish 'em with Hannah Diamond and an A+ Ellie Goulding rework (no really)
TAMARA SAUL – "NUMB" (PROD BY NEW MANTRA)
We featured Croatian R&B singer Tamara Saul in this list a of couple months ago, and today we’re excited to premiere her next single "Numb", taken from an EP out later this year. Produced by Sam Cooper of New Mantra, she keeps it raw with a powerful edge – her feelings seem untouchable, as if platinum-plated.
LIL JABBA – "MURKY MOON"
Chicago-based footwork collective Teklife has been going through a lot recently with the passing of their founder DJ Rashad. Before that, a Brooklyn-based member of his crew, LiL JaBBa, added "MuRKy MooN" to his Soundcloud collection. The track creeps around the surface, dances romantically with you and eventually grabs into gnarly wobbles of bass – as if dawn is approaching the night and things start getting weird from there.
KELELA X TINK – "WANT IT" (PROD BY DJ DAHI)
Hip hop goddesses Kelela and Tink got together with DJ Dahi ("Worst Behavior") for Yours Truly’s Songs From Scratch series for "Want It", an honest downtempo delight with vocals perfectly weaving through the evaporating rhythm and beat. A transcendent triple threat.
POPCAAN – "EVERYTHING NICE" (REMIX) (FEAT MAVADO)
Wonder label Mixpak paired Dubbel Dutch with Vybz Kartel’s protégé Popcaan in a summer dancehall banger called "Everything Nice". In this new remix, Jamaican artist Mavado jumps in after 58 seconds to deliver a sincere verse confessing about how he has to make it right. Twice as nice.
HANNAH DIAMOND – "ATTACHMENT"
Hannah Diamond is PC Music’s shining star and she just keep glistening with every release. Following "Pink and Blue", the British pop singer debuts a painfully genuine side in "Attachment" with minimal liquid production. She pours her heart out in angelic revelations – ending with “now I’ve saved you as a picture on my phone”.
DIFFERENT SLEEP – "CONFLICT"
Chicago producer Different Sleep (aka Rafa Alvarez) recently put out a very emotional EP on Friends of Friends. Beautiful piano melodies were placed in ambient shreds amidst shuffles of heartbreaking questions. The EP came together when Alvarez ended a relationship, and you can feel every bit of the pain in each second of "Conflict." (A big shoutout to Alvarez for learning how to iMovie for this video to YouTube, too.)
ELLIE GOULDING – "BURN" (KARMAN REMIX)
19-year-old Beverly Hills producer Hunter Karmanis is sometimes known as Sad Shawty, yet his twist on Ellie Goulding’s ubiquitous "Burn" is nothing short of euphoric. He escapes the original pop structure with chopped samples of Goulding’s voice, mind boggling cuts and additions of heavy ethereal cowbells, more percussion and bass. Personal, and a lil' poignant too.
DEAD FADER – "TENBLUM"
Berlin producer John Cohen (aka Dead Fader) premiered the latest ambient cut from his current album Blood Forest a couple of weeks ago – and it's a beauty. As you follow the trippy colored kaleidoscope visuals into the dark with ambient noise statics and smothered rhythms, everything around you will start to feel haunted with nostalgia. Dream on.
DESSERT – "PLAYER"
Californian band Dessert have created another sonic indie pop track. If you visit their website, there is an actual puppy you can play with as "Player" automatically soundtracks the entire interaction – it’s as exhilarating as their blend of riffs, softspoken sensitive words and sweetly vibing dance beats.
FUTURE – "I WON" (FEAT KANYE WEST)
This Honest single is obviously a shoutout to Future’s and Kanye’s respective baes, but it also hits home if your special someone shines like a trophy. Future declares his success in autotune on the beach in an all white outfit, while Kanye looks casual and gives us a glimpse of his personal life with the Kardashians. Damn, this song definitely makes us feel some type of way.