Posts made in June 2020

Grace Davies – Friends With The Tragic

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Friday 26th June, London: 23-year-old composer, songwriter, pianist and singer, Grace Davies releases her debut EP ‘Friends With The Tragic‘ today via The Orchard/Sony Music. A powerful and emotive collection of songwriting prowess the ‘Friends With The Tragic’ EP includes previously released critically acclaimed singles; from the spellbinding depiction of self doubt ‘Invisible’, to the cool scandi pop vibes of ‘Addicted To Blue’, bewitching slow ballad ‘Amsterdam’ and jubilant new track ‘Just a Girl’.

New single ‘Just A Girl‘ is an energised defiant anthem of empowerment packed with sarcastic lyrics and girl power attitude. Juxtaposing an analysis of gender inequality and celebrating and embracing womanhood, this fired up battle cry inspires an instant confidence boost as Grace sings ? ‘But I won’t be quiet, I’m gonna breathe fire, you’re never gonna drown me out, never gonna push me down, It’s time for a? change, cos you’ll never hear me say that I’m just a girl’

Fitting to the tracks celebration of female resilience, accompanying visuals were reimagined in quarantine. Directed by award winning director Kate Cox (Nowness, Vogue), the video embraced the limitations of lockdown and was filmed and choreographed totally remotely creating an intimate fun incarnation of the track. Kate Says: “? When lockdown happened around the time we were due to shoot Just A Girl we stepped into uncharted territory of remote shooting. With us all feeling confined and creatively frustrated JAG became a call to prayer for me, nurturing my talent to show the multifaceted nature of being a woman today.”

2020 has marked the start of a new era in Grace’s career and cemented her reputation as a songwriter, racking up millions of streams, landing countless places on influential tastemaker playlists and gaining accolades from a wealth of tastemakers. Debut EP ‘Friends With The Tragic’ was written between the UK & Sweden alongside heavyweights Lauren Aquilina, Adam Argyle (Dua Lipa, James Arthur), Duck Blackwell, Andrew Jackson (Rag N Bone Man, Dua Lipa) and producer Elias Kapari, and reveals Graces’ unique voice as a writer, honest, brave and relatable.

A songwriter able to make the personal universal. With a poet’s ease, Grace’s honest lyrics come alive through her soulful, unique vocals and haunting melodies; traits that saw her ascend to the final of X Factor 2017. In a first for the programme, Grace shook up the format and confidently showcased her own songs at every stage.

A true artist, she oversees every element of her music. Following extensive time in the studio writing for other artists as well as herself, Grace’s unmistakable voice and fearless songwriting seems set to secure her future.

Follow Grace Davies: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube

Turbo – “Racing After Me”

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GENRE BENDING ARTIST TURBO RELEASES SOPHOMORE SINGLE “RACING AFTER ME”

Calgary-born artist Turbo releases his second single “Racing After Me” today via 10K Projects/ Homemade Projects/ Internet Money. His latest track further proves that the young songwriter’s style is incomparable and completely post-genre, bravely mixing elements of rock with country while referencing hip hop beats. The single arrives on the heels of his debut release “Heart Stop” which was featured on Spotify’s New Music Friday (US and Canada), Outliers, and Wild Country playlists and was heralded by Ones to Watch as a “confident and honest crossover track.”

LISTEN TO “RACING AFTER ME” HERE

Born Nicholas LaMonaca, Turbo grew up on country thanks mainly to his father (a famed guitarist in the international bluegrass scene), but felt drawn toward rap music and obscure electronic genres like hardstyle, the fusion of techno and hardcore. At the age of 12 he started making his own music, a move heavily inspired by Avicii’s progressive-house classic “LE7ELS.” “Once I heard that song I couldn’t get enough of it,” Turbo recalls. “I was so obsessed, I ended up downloading FL Studio to try to recreate the melody on my own.” Although he instantly discovered a natural talent for production, Turbo put music aside for several years, until he graduated high school. “On my 18th birthday I bought a laptop, keyboard, and set of speakers, and figured I’d have rappers come in and do their thing,” he says. “But after a while I just started winging it, making beats and rapping over them myself.”

As he pushed deeper into his artistry, Turbo began mining inspiration from left-of-center country singers like Colter Wall, a Canadian musician he stumbled across while stocking the shelves at his full-time liquor-store job. “Colter Wall has one of the raspiest, rawest, rudest voices I’d ever heard in my life, and it just completely took me over,” he notes. From there, Turbo tapped into his own country roots and created a full-length project titled Sixth Gear, a 2019 release featuring his breakthrough single “Light Speed.” Soon after YouTube curator Astari shared the song’s video on his channel, “Light Speed” caught the attention of 10K, quickly paving the way for Turbo’s signing to the label, along with Homemade Projects and Internet Money Records.

In the making of his 10K / Homemade Projects / Internet Money debut, “Heart Stop,” Turbo embraced even more confidence in his songwriting, and followed his intuition more fully than ever. “The more music I make and the better I know myself, the more I’ve realized that the best songs come from me sitting in a room alone and just taking my time—that’s how I come up with something honest and timeless,” he says. “I don’t really follow a particular process. Instead of worrying about any kind of rules, I just do what I want, and go with whatever feels right to me.”

CONNECT WITH TURBO:

Instagram | SoundCloud | Twitter

6LACK × 6 PC HOT

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Right after summer officially hits, 6LACK (LVRN/Interscope Records) serves up his newest EP 6 PC HOT for the world. It features production from Timbaland, Fwdslxsh, Gravez, STWO, and more as well as one guest feature from Lil Baby. Aside from the music, he has a lot of news to announce as well.

Fans can enter an augmented reality chicken shop pictured on the EP cover via Instagram to view merch, including the hot sauce, tied to the project. It can be found by searching “6pc hot” in the IG filter search menu. A link to the filter is available HERE (to be opened on a phone). Once selected, a 3D shop will launch through the camera to share pictures and videos. The AR shop was created by Jackie Carlise, a 3D motion designer who recently graduated from School of The Art institute of Chicago. She created it using the Spark AR platform.

For Atlanta fans, 6LACK has partnered with Postmates, the leader in delivering nearly anything on-demand, and local favorite restaurant Goodfellas, a Black-owned business, as a part of his 6LACK on Black Business initiative. Exclusively on Postmates this weekend, customers can order a custom 6LACK wing item from Goodfellas for $6. Through Sunday June 28, customers who order the 6pc Hot wings meal will receive a free bottle of 6LACK’s new hot sauce “600 Degrees.”

For Los Angeles fans, 6LACK will be sending his new hot sauce directly to their doors starting 6/29 via a friendly robot. You can sign up for a delivery day and time through 6LACKBOX.

6LACK is also showing love to Australia by working with Butter, which will also be delivering custom orders of 6 hot wings. The first 60 fans will also receive a special t-shirt.

In addition to local fans in different parts of the world, 6LACK is looking to help aspiring Black entrepreneurs by presenting a handful of them with 6LACKCARDS. These will be Amazon gift cards to purchase any equipment and supplies to help get their dreams off the ground. After 6LACK collected over 25K addresses in under an hour through his 6LACKBOX “6PC Scratch and Win” folder, he sent fans a classic scratch-off lottery-styled ticket which they should receive this week. It reveals the tracklist to the EP, the date of release, and the chance to be one of the select few to win physical prizes.

The 6LACKBOX has also been updated with resources like voter registration tools and a contact sheet for Black businesses. A Black author history reading list and access to social justice reform information and participating organizations will also soon be available. 6LACKBOX was announced alongside his open letter to his fans regarding the social unrest stemming from the murders of innocent Black men and women. Inside the 6LACKBOX, you’ll find snippets of unreleased music, the East Atlanta Love Letter movie that he premiered at his album release event at Starlight Drive-In Theatre in East Atlanta, never before seen photos, and more. It will also contain some content leading up to his upcoming third studio album.

For those who still have cookouts to prepare for during the warmer months or also need a new hot sauce for the collection, 6LACK will be releasing his own hot sauce brand, “600 Degrees.” It’ll be the perfect addition to your own 6 pieces of wings as you listen to the new project.

Pronounced “Black,” the alternative R&B and three-time GRAMMY-nominated rapper/singer/songwriter has long considered the number six as a central part to his identity for several reasons: he was raised in Zone 6 of Atlanta, it’s his life path number, and also the name of his daughter (Syx). In 2018, 6LACK released his sophomore album and now certified Gold East Atlanta Love Letter to critical acclaim and peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top R&B Albums. He’s the #2 most streamed R&B artist behind Frank Ocean, and his debut project Free 6LACK is now certified Platinum. 6LACK has been the most featured artist of 2019-2020 with over 30 features. Last week he teamed up with JID, Earthgang, and Mereba to form supergroup Spillage Village, who just released “End of Dayz.”

Get 6LACK ‘6pc Hot’ EP Retail HERE.

View 6LACKBOX HERE.

Follow 6LACK: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

JP Cooper Releases EP

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British singer JP Cooper releases a new collection of songs in the form of ‘Too Close’ EP, which is released globally today via Island Records

“Too Close” can be streamed here and includes singles “In These Arms,” “Little Bit of Love,” and “Bits & Pieces.”

JP explains, “It feels like it’s been a while since I’ve released a collection of songs, so I’m very happy to be putting this out there. I see ‘Too Close’ as a precursor to my second album. I’d like to think of these songs as part of the same collection.”

The body of work is led by latest single “Little Bit of Love,” which is the uplifting anthem that JP released to comfort fans throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic

Other tracks included on the record include the Mr Hudson produced “Bits & Pieces” and the soaring “In These Arms” which was produced by Al Shux. The title track is a song based on that pivotal moment many people have found themselves in before stepping into a romantic relationship.

“I’d love to see what a brain scan would look like in that moment,” JP ponders. “I’m pretty sure it would be a huge ball of light.”

Beyond the exciting release of “Too Close,” more big things are set for JP Cooper in 2020. JP announced an extensive UK and European tour in the fall, including a show at London’s Brixton Academy. The full list of tour dates can be found here.

About JP Cooper:

The personal reflections in Cooper’s debut album, Raised Under Grey Skies, introduced him as a deeply affecting, soulful songwriter, and now these new singles find Cooper expanding his sound, imbuing his distinctive vocals and infectious hooks with modern energy.

The star has two UK Top Ten singles to his name: the Jonas Blue smash “Perfect Strangers” which he co-wrote, and the inescapable radio hit “September Song.” JP has since notched up an incredible 10 million single units worldwide, a whopping 11 million monthly Spotify listeners and an extraordinary 3.3 billion total global streams, fueled by his devoted 550k Spotify followers.

Connect with JP here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Sweden × Liquefied Carbon Dioxide

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Liquefied carbon dioxide ready to sail

Gothenburg and Sweden could be the first in the world to create a joint infrastructure for the transport of liquefied carbon dioxide extracted using Carbon Capture Storage, CCS, technology. The project –Carbon Infrastructure Capture, or CinfraCap, – is a unique collaborative venture between Göteborg Energi, Nordion Energi, Preem, St1, Renova, and Gothenburg Port Authority.

“We must speed up the process if we are to achieve our climate goals and collaboration is the best way forward. We expect to be able to transport two million tonnes of captured carbon dioxide per year from our quayside facility and to do so we must have an efficient infrastructure,” said Elvir Dzanic, Gothenburg Port Authority chief executive and one of the parties involved in the joint CinfraCap infrastructure project.

CCS is widely regarded as a key component in the transition of the global energy system, and several research and development projects are already under way. CCS involves trapping carbon and liquefying it under pressure. It can then be safely stored deep underground, in many cases below the seabed, reducing emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. If the carbon dioxide is captured from a biogenic source, this could even result in a reduction in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Within the CinfraCap project, the various parties are focused on the transport of captured carbon and how this can be done in a climate-smart, cost-effective way.

Here’s how CCS occurs:

Carbon dioxide capture plants.
Liquid carbon dioxide is transported through pipelines from capture plants nearby and by truck or railway from plants further away.
CinfraCaps reception site with temporary storage in Gothenburg harbour.
Liquid carbon dioxide is loaded on ship using loading arms.
Receiving terminal from where liquid carbon dioxide is unloaded and pumped into formations 3000 meter below seabed.
Porous rock, with impermeable rock above, where liquid carbon dioxide is returned.

The Swedish Energy Agency climate initiative Industrial Evolution (Industriklivet) has agreed to cover half the cost of funding a pre-study, which is being conducted by the consulting company COWI. The pre-study will focus on the means of collecting captured carbon optimally from each company, transporting it down to the port, intermediate storage prior to loading, securing of permits, risk identification, and presentation of a business model.

“We are starting up CinfraCap in western Sweden although the ultimate aim is to share our experience and the business model behind the carbon capture infrastructure with the rest of Sweden and the world. We are joining forces with other partners to ensure the requisite resources are in place to rapidly reduce the climate impact of companies and contribute to a sustainable future,” said, Karin Lundqvist, Business developer for Preem AB.

With research and enforcement of projects like CinfraCap we can better environmental practices across the world.

About the Port of Gothenburg:

The Port of Gothenburg is the largest port in the Nordic region. 30 percent of Swedish foreign trade passes through the Port of Gothenburg as well as half of all container traffic. The Port of Gothenburg is the only port in Sweden with the capacity to receive the world’s largest container vessels and has the broadest range of shipping routes within and outside Europe. The 25 rail shuttles that depart each day mean that companies throughout Sweden and Norway have a direct, environmentally smart link to the largest port in the Nordic region. The Port of Gothenburg has terminals for oil, cars, ro-ro, containers and passengers. Follow The Port of Gothenburg on Twitter.

Usher – I Cry

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Usher releases “I Cry,” a song with an emotional response to this unprecedented time in our lives

Today, Usher releases a brand new song “I Cry,” which explores Usher’s emotional response to this unprecedented time in our lives.

Listen to “I Cry” here.

“This song was inspired by wanting to teach my sons that it is ok for a man to feel emotions deeply and to cry. Like many men, I was raised to believe that we have to be “tough” and not show our vulnerability, which I don’t want to teach them. While I was shut in during the Pandemic and watching the death of George Floyd, the ongoing slaughtering of Black men and women, the protests and the events that unfolded, I became very connected to the wider universal feeling of hopelessness. Like many, I grew increasingly frustrated by how slow things have been to change. I became very depressed thinking about all sons who have lost their fathers to police brutality, social injustice and violence; the daughters and mother’s too. So I returned to this song and realized it was intended for this time, so I finished it and here it is,” said Usher.

Usher will be donating his proceeds from the record to LISC, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, which provides grants to Black-owned small businesses and communities. In addition to the release of “I Cry” today, Usher will also debut the track live tomorrow at Global Goal: Unite for Our Future – The Concert.

About Local Initiatives Support Corporation:

LISC is one of the nation’s largest nonprofits investing in underserved communities and communities of color across the country. LISC provides grants to minority-owned small businesses that are the lifeblood of their neighborhoods and local economies, and that are reeling from the health and economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic. LISC also supports thousands of community-based organizations in urban and rural places to connect residents with affordable housing, education and good jobs, and with programs that support community health and safety and address the wealth gap created by structural racism.

About Global Goal: Unite for Our Future:

International advocacy organization Global Citizen and the European Commission are partnering on Global Goal: Unite for Our Future – The Concert, a globally televised and digitally streamed special that will highlight the disproportionate impact COVID-19 has on marginalized communities. Global Coal: Unite for Our Future will include a summit and a concert and will be streamed on many services, around the world. The summit will showcase world leaders, corporations and philanthropists and their responses to equal treatment of COVID-19 treatments to everyone. The concert will feature musical and entertainment stars who will celebrate the current triumphs and encourage even more positive change. See all the ways to watch Global Goal: Unite for Our Future here.

Follow Usher: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Alec Wigdahl – Lipstick

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Following up the success of his biggest single to date, “Cologne,” singer and guitarist Alec Wigdahl releases his latest single, “Lipstick,” out now via 10K Projects/ Internet Money Records. A departure from his acoustic debut EP Strawberry (2019), “Lipstick” and the previously released “Cologne” show off his versatility as a writer as he moves in a more pop-driven direction. Flirty and confident, Alec’s carefree new single “Lipstick” proves to be a perfect soundtrack for summer romance. Check out “Lipstick” by Alec Wigdahl HERE.

Based in L.A. but originally from outside Minneapolis, Alec Wigdahl took up songwriting at the age of 15, initially using music as a form of therapy. After teaching himself to play guitar by watching videos of his favorite musicians, he put out a self-produced EP called On My Mind his senior year of high school. Upon graduating he headed to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music, but quickly dropped out and returned home to enroll at the University of Minnesota, compelled to continue with his D.I.Y. approach to music. Those instincts proved to be right on target when the Internet Money team reached out to Wigdahl after discovering his songs on social media. By the end of last summer, Wigdahl had signed his deal with 10K Projects, and soon set to work on Strawberry – released December 2019, the EP showcases Alec’s stripped-down sonic palette.

Alec kicked off 2020 with a brutally honest, but infectious new single called “Cologne.” His most popular to date, the track was produced by Wigdahl along with Internet Money founder Taz Taylor, Nick Mira, and OkTanner, and featured more elaborate pop production than his previous record, Strawberry. Despite the differences in its production, “Cologne” offers up the same raw emotion that Wigdahl has always brought to his songwriting. As Wigdahl explains, that fearless honesty ultimately serves as a vehicle for personal connection.

“I love the kind of songs that are incredibly specific to the artist’s life, but when you listen it hits you right in the chest — almost like it’s happening to you,” says Wigdahl. “In my own music I try to be as personal and vulnerable as I possibly can, so that everyone can feel like the song was made for them. I want them to feel like I’m narrating their story at the same time that I’m narrating mine.”

Follow Alec Wigdahl: Instagram | Twitter | SoundCloud

LPB POODY – ADDRESS IT

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LPB POODY RELEASES OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR HIT SINGLE “ADDRESS IT”

Buzzing Florida rapper, LPB Poody releases the highly anticipated video for his hit single “Address It” today.

Watch It HERE.

In the visual for his breakout single, hip-hop’s rising star LPB Poody is hanging out in his neighborhood with friends, watching as a new family moves in. While the presumed plot line is that there should be tension between the newcomers and the existing residents, by the end of the video it’s one big party, dispelling the stereotypical myths that are usually presented in this situation. Peppered throughout the video are cuts to TikTok influencers, who’ve helped Poody’s song go viral on the platform with over 3 million videos created and everyone from Jason Derulo to Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B. participating. The track itself has garnered over 14 million global streams and counting.

Ever since setting TikTok on fire with his viral hit “Address It,” LPB Poody has been making waves in hip-hop. The Florida native adopted the prefix LPB for “Light Pole Baby,” marking himself as an illuminating street fixture in his neighborhood just west of Orlando. His early style reflected that reality, as Poody made a strong name for himself on the local circuit before taking to social media with his music. Track after track, Poody honed his craft, though cuts like “Kill The Beat” showed his knack for a potential mainstream takeover. He sealed that fate with “Address It,” clocking in over 14 million streams across digital platforms and landing on Pigeons & Planes Best New Artist of the Month list in May. As Poody readies his debut mixtape, he’s geared to take over the charts.

Lil Durk New Video

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Lil Durk releases visual for “3 Headed Goat” ft. Lil Baby & Polo G

The “3 Headed Goat” video gained over 100,000 views in just 10 minutes of being released. “3 Headed Goat” debuted at #43 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and is one of Durk’s first ever Hot 100 entries with over 5 million global streams and counting. Watch “3 Headed Goat” here.

In addition to the new visual video, the deluxe version of “Just Cause Y’all Waited 2” released today.

JONAS BLUE × MAX

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Acclaimed British producer/songwriter Jonas Blue teams up with U.S. pop sensation MAX on the feel-good summer romance anthem “Naked,” released today alongside an outrageously fun quarantine video. Buy / stream “Naked” HERE. View the official video HERE.

Laden with hooks, infectious melodies and an indelible guitar line, “Naked” reaffirms Jonas’ reputation for producing world-class hits. Ed Drewett (Little Mix, One Direction), and Sam Romans, who helped pen the U.K.’s biggest single of 2019, Lewis Capaldi’s “Someone You Loved,” collaborated on the track.

In the scintillating official video, directed by Isaac Rentz (Katy Perry, Mabel, Blink 182), Jonas and MAX are joined by a diverse pool of partygoers, oozing the sexy, liberating attitudes of the song. Steeped in neon and rotoscope animation, the clip was created entirely in lockdown, with a little help from Jonas’ family and MAX’s wife.

Jonas Blue says, “Creating ‘Naked’ was such a magic moment in the studio – it all clicked and flowed so naturally. The song is fun, positive and carefree, but also shows a bit of a seductive side. Having MAX feature on it was the perfect combination. He’s got the soul and swagger to deliver this at the perfect level – capturing every emotion. I couldn’t be more excited to get this one out into the world.”

MAX adds, “I’ve been obsessed with ‘Naked’ since the first time I heard the demo. It was like when I met my dog for the first time and knew I had to tell everyone else to back off, he’s mine! There’s something so infectious about it, and when Jonas asked me to sing it, I was extremely honored to be a part of this incredible song.”