Reviews

Here It Goes by E

Ryan Lafferty released his aptly titled debut single "Here It Goes" today. A surreal deconstructed country with pop influences sound wraps itself around narrative lyrics that spell out Lafferty's journey.

Story-like lyrics reach beyond the song with their honesty: a first love gone wrong followed by an endearing breakaway that proves it wasn't the worst thing that happened that day. Lafferty's sound is fresh and different, but stays within the realm of pop country, making it as comfortable and easy to listen to as it is exciting.

Give the single a listen and follow all those links below to stay up to date with Ryan Lafferty.

 

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Natural by E

Russ Macklin's "Natural" featuring Kyle Reynolds is a cool step up from the electronic pop you're used to; with its thoughtful lyrics, warm melody, and cool beat it's everything you need right now to dance around and de-stress.

Said the two of the track, "I had this track and we pretty much just had it playing on a loop, what we thought would be the chorus. Kyle was humming and words were just slipping out and non-words were coming in there and I was like, "hey, whoa, did you just say natural?" and he was like, "uh, yeah, totally," so I was like, "okay, feels so natural" and that's where we went. We literally went from that title word" (Macklin) "...and it's very obvious when something is natural, as far as chemistry, and it's very obvious when something is not and feels forced and uncomfortable. We had the idea of natural, so we, together, painted this picture" (Reynolds).

A gentle mix of the singer-songwriter style with pure pop - full of irresistible melodies, catchy hooks, and a chorus that only takes one listen to fall for - Macklin's easy control over his production and Reynolds' emotive vocals lift the track to something listenable, pure, and just real damn good. We'd recommend listening to the unstoppable single all weekend, so check out their interview here and follow all those sites to stay up to date with Russ Macklin and Kyle Reynolds.

Kyle Reynolds             Facebook             Twitter             SoundCloud

Russ Macklin             Facebook             Twitter             SoundCloud

No Lie by E

Sean Paul dropped the video for brand new single "No Lie" today via Island Records. The video, directed by Tim Nackashi (Maroon 5, One Republic), features fast rising chart-topper Dua Lipa with creative direction from long-time collaborator Tanisha Scott.

”No Lie” comes hot on the heels of Sean’s standout collaboration with Clean Bandit and his global smash with Sia on "Cheap Thrills" which hit number 1 on the Billboard, no. 2 on the UK charts and has just been nominated for a Grammy.

There's a reason Sean Paul is a dancehall legend and there's no denying the fact that this song is instantly addictive, so watch the music video, get the single on iTunes, add it to your Spotify playlist, and head to all those sites below for more.

Photo Credit: Paul Hampartsoumian

Website             Dua Lipa             Facebook             Twitter             Instagram

Hard Liquor by E

If you're not already on the edge of your seat for SOHN's Rennen, his latest single "Hard Liquor" presents the strongest argument yet that this is no sophomore slump.

Tangibly rich and packed with so many combating elements it should be too thick, too much happening in too condensed of a space, but it spins itself out in embracive melodies, abrasive lyrics, and a beautifully cinematic atmosphere that reins in heavy beats with such inherent ease it can't be ignored.

SOHN is no stranger to weaving together cinematic elements with straight storytelling and tying it into hooks which turn melancholy into dance, but "Hard Liquor" sees the London-born artist at the top of his game.

Director Jovan Todorovic best sums up the video with his explanation, "SOHN sent us a frame from Jurassic Park, a cup of water with ripples in it resonating from the massive steps of the approaching T-Rex. The concentric circles inspired me to look for more circles, not only in the physical world, but even more importantly within my inner life. A line is not enough to symbolise the vector of one’s life, I feel it’s maybe better represented as a progression of circles that are chained together. So this video is about circles and lines, the past, present and future, regret, anger, despair… being lost in the tunnel of ones inner life and the physical labyrinth that surrounds us. In the end we face our own self, and we are led to dive deeper within. To me the video is very meaningful on a personal level, but I tried to paint it in such a way so everyone could potentially reflect on themselves. We shot the video back home in Serbia and were lucky to find some amazing locations, and a wonderful crew. But it was Dado [Ćosić], one of the most talented theater actors in Croatia today, who really gave the video its substance".

Check out the video below, head to those sites for more, and look for SOHN to release his sophomore album, Rennen, Friday, January 13th via 4AD / Remote Control Records - you don't want to miss this one.

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