Single Review: “Listen” – Project Blackbird

Project Blackbird are back with a track that’s a slick bit of production! You have Ming’s vocals switching between melody and spoken word effortlessly. Given the fact that the lyrics are in poetic form that’s probably not an accident. I like the layers to the vocals, where there’s a deeper voice emphasising on certain words …

In The Spotlight: Sammy Stein Talks To Kim Cypher.

Tell us briefly about your journey in music until now. Music has been a lifelong journey. As a young child I was drawn to all things musical. There was always music playing in the house (my dad loved big band music) and when I was introduced to the recorder and the piano, I could instinctively …

Single Review: “Perfect Piece Of Person I’m Made For” – Daphnie

This is a great track straight off the bat, I love the way it begins with the synth sounds and then goes straight into a bit of indie pop effortlessly. This happens at around 1:09 when there’s a drum roll into the next part of the song, it works so well! The guitars on this …

Single Review: “High Horse (Be Gone)” – Rikke

This track has an off kilter beat and that’s what caught my attention initially! The drum intro, then a funny little bass run coupled up with a muted guitar played an octave up gives you a modern jazz feel with a little bit of pop in there too. This is a slick bit of production …

Single Review: “Money” – Ahmala

Well! This combines jazz, hip hop, neo soul, a touch of Motown and some gospel into this lovely track! There’s a flute to kick off proceedings over a bass that I’m suspecting is played live on the recording – it’s got some depth to it. Add to that a Rhodes piano and an upright piano, …

Single Review: “Last Call” – Summer Lee Carlson X Mute Speaker

Keeping with their overall vibes of old school soul Summer Lee Carlson and producer Mute Speaker are back. This takes a drop in tempo but maintains the same temperature, there are snare drum rolls with ghost notes as well as some sneaky percussion to keep the groove going – there are some synth pads in …

Single Review: “Kitty Paw” – Shook

This track is full of 80s goodness! What do I mean? Well, this track has what I reckon is a LinnDrum machine – very much that synth pop vibe, combined with synth chords with a touch of vibrato, and that bass line is part of the Yamaha DX7 playbook – Lately Bass at least? This …

Single Review: “Evergreen Time” – Erica Jean

This one starts off with a warped electric piano playing a progression that sounds like it’s been passed through old tape.. great effect! Add to it finger snaps that have a ping pong delay on it.. it gives it a real blues/soul vibe! Add strings to it then you’re away. This has such a summery …

Single Review: “Sunlight To My Soul” – Angelique Kidjo

An extraordinary thing happened yesterday. I met a couple from South Africa and we talked about music. Complete strangers. But the thing that connected us was that I love Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and the late great singers Miriam Makeba and Lionel Petersen. We talked about their impact and for just a brief moment we sang …