Proklaim - CIVIL

CIVIL - Proklaim (Rap) Next up, we’ve got Proklaim’s “Civil”, diving a bit more into the socially conscious. It’s another sweet spot for Proklaim, using his smooth rap flow to criticize the current state of the world. In “Civil”, he does so over a hypnotic afrobeat sound, flushed out by a piano progression and a sax riff that add an element of live band to the track. We also get Proklaim’s “sing along” style of hook—in “Civil” Proklaim encourages audience engagement with an infectious chorus of “heys” and “yays” that we can safely assume gets his live audience involved when performing. It’s yet another way Proklaim structures his music to deliver his analytical messages.

Best Lyric: “Many scrolling on the internet they want to search, but don’t know what for.”

Proklaim - RIGHTEOUS

RIGHTEOUS - Proklaim (Rap) We’ve got another triple play of reviews this week for our most featured artist on this blog, the prolific Proklaim. Tapping into his usual positive vibes and Fugees/Kendrick sound blend, Proklaim continues to preach in his music—this time about operating from a space of love and living life to the fullest. Thinking on this more, Proklaim really is a rapper slash preacher slash motivational speaker with his music, using fresh beats to capture, silky flow to seduce and a powerful message to intrigue. In “Righteous”, he does so with a minimalist, haunting production, led by some enchanting chimes and backed by his expected lush background vocals. As always, we are excited to hear what’s next.

Best Lyric: “Know the real deal before you turn to soil.”

Grace McLean - Albertine

Albertine - Grace McLean (Pop) Grace McLean’s latest track, “Albertine” is a rousing love song with a lush and driving production. The title track from her most recent EP, Grace delivers andexpressive and delicate vocal, rising to a powerful belt by the end—it would not surprise us if Grace had a musical theater background as the song sounds like it could storm a stage. Her tone is honey, pure and airy, with the breaths left in the track to give some delicious intimacy. The instrumental grows throughout, beginning minimalist but reaching a peak with a hard hitting percussion in the final moments. Our favorite section, however, is the stirring bridge with the reverb on the vocal upped just slightly to make a beautiful moment.

Best Lyric: “I’ve forgotten how to leave.”

Ramo Z - The Holy Land.

Ramo Z - The Holy Land. (Rap) Ramo Z is delivering a timely number about the Israel/Hamas war and the brutal impact on the the Palestine people in “The Holy Land.”. Ramo Z pulls no punches on the topical track, clearly conveying his personal connection to the tragedy, criticizing not only Israel but US involvement. This is all done over an oldschool hiphop instrumental reminiscent of late 90s and early 00s social conscious rap, painting a bleak soundscape that mirrors the subject matter. Ramo Z also smartly uses a Middle Eastern styled vocal leap to help tie the sonics of the track to the subject. Meaningful and passionate with clever and thoughtful lyrics, Ramo Z delivers something truly impactful.

Best Lyric: “People are dying in the place that was a zion.”

Liam Keegan - Come Alive

Come Alive - Liam Keegan (EDM) Liam Keegan’s latest track, “Come Alive”, lives up to its name by delivering an uplifting dance banger. Led by a pure tenor vocal, “Come Alive” is one of those perfect summertime dance numbers, conjuring images of an afternoon outdoor party, cocktails in hand and summer sun beaming down. Containing all the great EDM elements from the momentum driving risers to the house keys, the track succeeds in exploring levels and distinguishing different moments within the track, elevating the song from the normal power through house beat to a true top charting mainstream pop endeavor. This is one you put on repeat.

Best Lyric: “Let me show you so you know you’re the one that I want.”

JACØB - Secrets

Secrets - JACØB (Pop) JACØB delivers a perfect pop gem with pop/R&B banger “Secrets.” The track is about a secret love, a strong connection that has to be kept on the low. The song feels like a Billboard 100 hit of the 2000s—Justin Bieber should be jealous—or even a modern Ed Sheeran track. The strong pop vocal is supported by some lush harmony walls and some expertly crafted verb effects that show off the professionalism of the overall production. Add to that that the track is incredibly catchy, and certainly hits that prized demographic of teens/twenties with a sound with enough retro influences to capture the interest of older audiences as well. There’s no reason this one shouldn’t be on the radio with today’s stars—stellar.

Best Lyric: “You talk to me like there’s nobody that can make you feel the same.”

Zarah Westhouse - English Violin in Love

English Violin in Love - Zarah Westhouse (Pop) A solo artist is creating a duet on her anthemic track “English Violin in Love” where Zarah Westhouse’s vocal equally shares the spotlight with a stunning violin performance. The vocal is lilting and mysterious, which matches the Swiss artist’s desire for anonymity in her artistry, singing about yearning for love from someone who has none to give. That vocal deliver leads into an emotional and impressive violin performance that truly soars, which serves to take equal billing as a lead on the track. The overall sound of the track is anthemic and prime for dance and club mixes, with a feel from the 2010s—there’s an Ellie Goulding vibe to it.

Best Lyric: “I wanna love you, but you don’t want it’.”

Ray Wills - Feel A Vibe

Feel A Vibe - Ray Wills (R&B) Ray Wills is certainly making us feel a vibe in his latest track “Feel A Vibe”, a song about wanting more of a commitment from someone who’d rather keep things more casual. Much like the hypnosis that Ray is trapped in, the track certainly casts a hypnotic spell with its heavy reverb, mysterious synth and padds, overlaid with a crisp trap percussion, thudding kick and distressed buzzy bass lead. For all it’s eeriness, it certainly has that knock. But we shouldn’t forget as we get lost in the otherwordly lush production that Ray is bringing the vocals with a strong and emotive performance. “Feel A Vibe” belongs on every chillwave playlist, as it certainly permeates the body and puts one into a trance.

Best Lyric: “You’re a siren and I’m hypnotized’.”

IN Kelly - Sleepwalker

Sleepwalker - IN Kelly (Dream Pop) IN Kelly delivers a dreamy toe-tapper with latest track “Sleepwalker.” There’s a nostalgic feel to this record, with elements of the 80s in the vocal line with the melancholy of mid 90s alternative rock in the overall feel. There’s also a new wave british sensibility as well, which when joining together brings an emotional heaviness to the track. The chorus has the catchiness of a commercial pop song, while the soul of the track remains in the indie space. It’s also a highly textured production, with a swirling synth line sliced by a buzzy bass lead and crisp percussion tops, providing a fusion of the electronic and the acoustic for a unique sonic ID.

Best Lyric: “Sailed away in your nightgown.”

Don Josef - Villain

Villain - Don Josef (Pop) Don Josef has no trouble being your bad guy in his latest track “Villain”, the second single of his upcoming EP due this year. Retro vibes abound in “Villain”, specifically in the soulful and impassioned vocal delivery, lifted by melodic synths that paint an ethereal mood. While the vocal is the star od rhw reXK, the beat by GRIZD and production by Rich La Flame pulls along beautifully, evoking the imagery of trudging through a muddy landscape towards salvation. The falsetto adlibs shine which along with the crispy percussion add texture to the track. Engaging and impactful, we think “Villain” is one of those “sing along in the shower” type cuts.

Best Lyric: “We just two strangers, we collidin’ no hidin’.”

Kiey - white boy i sat next to on the plane

white boy i sat next to on the plane - Kiey (Pop) Kiey delivers a lilting song of yearning in “white boy i sat next to on the plane”. On the track, Kiey finds himself drawn to a stranger in an unexpected an overwhelming way, despite having a lover of his own back home. The mood of unsettling temptation is set by a haunting piano and analogue fuzz with a thudding kick driving the track forward, with the story told through poetic and memorable lyrics delivered by an angelic tenor. The song has a grandiose feeling, with a delicious key change in the bridge keeping things interesting. Put this one on your chillwave playlist.

Best Lyric: “Curly brown hair like a Greek statue.”

Darius Christian - Volcano

Volcano - Darius Christian (Pop) We’re getting some serious John Legend vibes with the latest track from Darius Christian, “Volcano.” It’s an expertly mixed production, centering the soaring tenor vocal which at times dips both into some bass/baritone as well as some rap flow, displaying some real versatility. While boasting a modern production, there’s definitely a retro vibe with some motown sensibility here—it feels very much in the family of Legend’s “Used to Love U”—which gives this pop track an element of timelessness. With an infectious warbling bass lead and a crystal clear production, Darius Christina’s “Volcano” is a real tub thumper.

Best Lyric: “These wings are of good use when you play with that voodoo.”

D-Terence - Singing (LaLaLaLa)

Singing (LaLaLaLa) - D-Terence (Rap) Propelled by faith, D-Terence arrives with his positive vibe midtempo bop “Singing (LaLaLaLa)”, a track all about having faith that all doubts will resolve and that you will climb to the top of your mountain. The track is underlaid by a seductive salsa guitar and matching percussion, with a booming 808 hitting you in the chest as a chorus of children sing the “lalala” chorus. Cutting through all of that is D-Terence’s rapid fire flow, Twista-esque at times, casting optimism and faith as the way to overcome. Dancey and peppy, this feel good number will be sure to get your shoulders shimmying.

Best Lyric: “It’s all about the journey because there’ll be moments when you think you don’t deserve it.”

Shannen Bamford - Hallucinate (cover)

Hallucinate (cover) - Shannen Bamford (Pop) Shannen Bamford strips down Dua Lipa’s “Hallucinate” for a funk-inspired cover. Keeping the groovy bass line and an upbeat tempo, with the help of producer Uri Kleinman, Shannen centers her vocal with some delicious and ethereal layering and sprinkles in some tight, punchy percussion with some cutting crisp snaps. As a result, Shannen turns a spin around the floor pop anthem into more of a toe tapper, with a sound that reminds us a lot of the kind of production Madonna was doing in the Music era (say, songs like “Don’t Tell Me”). Overall, Shannen and Uri deliver an inventive take just as catchy as the original.

Wyoki - Hot Damn (El Camino)

Hot Damn (El Camino) - Wyoki (Pop/Alt Rock) Wyoki delivers an infectious little earworm with groovy “Hot Damn (El Camino)”, a song about feeling yourself. In “Hot Damn”, Wyoki’s simply cruising the neighborhood in his El Camino feeling like he’s hot shit—simple as that. The production utilizes some 80s synths, gated drums, warbling guitars and a distorted delayed vocal, giving an alt rock kinda feel injected with a lot of quirkiness. The hook is incredibly catchy and we found ourselves singing along to it, as well as humming it hours after first hearing the track. “Hot Damn (El Camino)” feels prime for commercial licensing and sync opportunities, and we can certainly hear it as part of a movie soundtrack. We loved this one.

Best Lyric: “Hot damn, I am, such a pretty little man.”

Michelle Lockey - Why Don't They Choose Me?

Why Don’t They Choose Me? - Michelle Lokey (Alt Folk) Michelle Lokey pulls no punches in the vulnerable “Why Don’t They Choose Me?”. The guitar led track, part of a special project that abandons commercial concerns in favor of raw emotion, feels like the alternative chart toppers of the 90s, possibly an album track from a Sheryl Crow project. The song is incredibly lush, which adds weight to the melancholy imbued in the record. Michelle’s self-esteem battles are on full display as she laments her being underappreciated, discounted and rejected by the world around her. There’s beauty in the sadness, and certainly a relatability factor as everyone has certainly felt this way at some point in their lives. This is a track for when you’re stuck in your feels.