Meridian comprises of two young men, Yohimbe Sampson, also from Game Rebellion and Bradley Valentin, a music teacher at Urban Arts. Their union was something rather organic; musicians tend to always be in a creative space, where anything and all things are possible. With Meridian, they say they’ve “found a way to ARTiculate the optimism that exists in triumph and trial.” The video for “Magic” definitely shows that. With an eclectic and ambitious venture, they’ve pulled off something totally creative, bringing us back to a time when music videos are a series of vignettes that piece together in a story of discovery. There’s something very 80s about this track—the catchy hook, gives you a feeling of expansiveness, and the musical arrangement shows a sensitivity that one wouldn’t expect coming from a Game Rebellion solider. Stay tuned for more from this dynamic duo.

Whenever Duane Powell over at Soundrotation endorses anything, you better stop what you’re doing and LISTEN. The group he brought to my attention is the awesomeness of KING, a trio, Amber and Paris Strother (twins) and Anita Bias, who are currently based in California. The opening song, “The Story,” is this beautiful blend of harmonies, that has this whimsical 80s groove, that’s pop and futuristic, and warm all at the same time. It actually reminds me of The Rah Band’s “Clouds Across the Moon,” a time when nothing mattered other than having fun—”The Story” evokes those feelings within—and it’s quite fitting that the lyrics to the song are about moving to a place where one can be free.

The three-song EP The Story encompasses a good range of what to expect down the line from these super talented ladies. It hits stores tomorrow, March 1st through Amazon and iTunes, and you can preview it on their website www.weareKING.com. Check out the video to “The Story” below.

I know I haven’t been in a cave somewhere! So how did I miss these two?!! The sexy retro-soul duo, Nikki & Rich are about to take the world by storm with their forthcoming album. Nikki Leonti, a California native and daughter of a pastor, grew up singing in church and Rich Velonskis, is a Queens-NY born hip-hop and R&B producer. Rich was looking for a vocalist to take his music to the next level and voila!, in comes Nikki! With her sassy vocal style and strong song writing, you can’t help but think, “Where did that voice come from?!” Amazing sound. Very impressed with Nikki & Rich.

Listen to “Cat & Mouse” and “Next Best Thing” below from their forthcoming album which is expected to release later this year, then watch the Nikki & Rich Documentary Trailer. They clearly are having fun with it. It would be so cool if they were actually a couple. I suppose, time will reveal it.

Click on links below to hear songs:

“Cat & Mouse”

“Next Best Thing”

Check out their performance in NYC at the Ramscale Penthouse!

Electrolightz isn’t the kind of group I ordinarily listen to, but I surprisingly liked some of what I heard! Good music is simply good music. Hailing from LA, singer Rami Dearest, rapper Namebrand, drummer Barry Romance, and producer erOc are an electro-dance-hip hop group who formed overnight during a studio session. Their music is true LA dance, the kind of music you’d rock out to in your car, while you exercise, or if dance music is your thing, in a club. Each member brings something unique to Electrolightz — Rami Dearest (the son of renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman), fronted the band Something for Rockets, and whose second album was produced by Mark Hoppus (lead member of Blink 182); Namebrand was Rass Kass’ protégé and traveled the world along with him sharing the stage with Rakim; and erOc, with his production team, Da Riff, have produced video game scores for EA Sports as well as for rappers such as Young Buck, Chamillionaire, and Method Man. Most recently, Electrolightz remixed a few of Lady Gaga‘s tunes and have been getting a lot of attention on the West Coast. They will be taking their energy to SXSW and WMC this month, where they’ll be panelists for The Electro Wars documentary about electro dance music. They are featured artists in the movie alongside Spankrock, LMFAO, A-Trak, DJ Premier, Steve Aoki, and many more.

The Mixtape is a party, taking you through a carefree kind of nightlife of lost love and the complexities of relationships. Sponsored by Power 106 duo The LA Leakers, it includes Interscope endorsed remixes of Lady Gaga‘s “Bad Romance,” “Telephone,” and La Roux‘s “Bulletproof.” So get your Electrolightz on with this free download.

“Promises”

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There are so many artists out there who possess great talent and go unsupported. Every year American Music Awards illustrates that it’s nothing more than a farce, and harks to why I love talking about artists who deserve to be noted, in one way or another. It’s even better when you learn of an artist by “chance” too! This young woman is Dezaray Dawn. German-born, by military parents, Dezaray moved from city to city in gypsy-like fashion, experiencing different ways of life through travel. It’s no wonder solace was found in music. Now residing in Atlanta, a musical capital for classic R&B and hip hop bands, it was truly refreshing to find Chameleon, a 5-song EP featuring smooth future electronic soul sounds, with laid back mellow vocals, that match the grooves equally. Expecting to learn that a European producer in the Broken Beat, future sounds collective was a part of the production — but to the contrary, it’s quite the opposite. Dezaray Dawn produced Chameleon on her own, with just a little help from friend William “Crisis” Holt for additional keyboards.  Check out the two songs below and then head over to Dezarary’s Bandcamp page to buy a copy of the EP. You can name your price in excess of $5; it’s worth it.

Chameleon

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Da Day

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Electric Wire Hustle, please stand up! Let’s put it this way, if people like Om’Mas Keith, Waajeed, and Steve Spacek seek the artists out based on their talent, you know they have to be good.

Electric Wire Hustle have created their own distinct take on contemporary hip hop, soul, funk, and jazz infusion. It’s amazing to learn that these guys hail from Wellington, New Zealand. So far away and so on point! The vocals are sleepy, in the vein of Irish singer Lewis Taylor, with that soulful, retro edge, remnants of Marvin Gaye and Smokey echo through vocalist, MaraTK. The debut single is the moody “Perception” which takes from Minnie Ripperton’s “Inside My Love.” These guys are WICKED!

Members Myele Manzanza (drums), David “TaayNinh” Wright (producer/multi-instrumentalist), MaraTK (vocals/guitarist/producer), all bring something unique to the table. Forming in 2006, touring all over, working with international artists such as Om’Mas Keith (Sa-Ra) , Waajeed (Platinum Pied Pipers/Bling47),  Steve Spacek (Sound in Colour) and Recloose (Loop Recordings), they are no strangers to performance and formulating dope productions. They are the founding fathers of the Christchurch Hip Hop Soul Collective in New Zealand. They cannot be under the radar; their sound is just too amazing. Check out their video for “Perception” below. Wonderful angles, focusing on their musical perceptions. Pure niceness!

Now, head over to iTunes and buy their album! It’s brilliant. Check out their site for tour dates. I just hope they plan on coming to US soon!

When I finally got around to listening to the KEYEL Mixtape (which became available for download Sept 24), I actually felt a wave of sorrow. Sorrow, due to the current state of the music industry, that artists have to “give” their music away, and KEYEL‘s mixtape is worth that $9.99 – if not more!

Hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, emcees Prose, Holy Moly, Pease, and DJ ESO work exceptionally well together. The mixtape is a culmination of classic hip hop and alternative sounds. Their first single “Mary Jane” which was produced by German beatmaker fLako, is a smoothed out tune with a nice melodic la la la la la. The real treat is actually on the mixtape, where the song extends to an additional minute and a half, with a dope funky music change and an Eryka Badu type harmony. Definitely sounds like a Mary to me!  “Hanging by a String” was produced by the eclectic Sa-Ra Creative Partners. Their beats have just enough Dilla inflection to make it their own, with fun flowing rhymes, cool outros, and inventive musical arrangements, which go beyond hip hop.

Download your copy of the KEYEL Mixtape Vol. 1; you will enjoy it!

KEYEL excerpt from “Mary Jane” on Mixtape Vol. 1

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“Alternative Jawn” prod. by Sa-Ra Creative Partners on Mixtape Vol. 1

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Adiam Dymott got her singing start working as a receptionist at a record label and studio heads, while mapping out the vocals, would often call on Adiam to lay guide vocals. From these sessions, came her demo, which lead to getting signed to Razzia Records. Sometimes it works going in from the ground!

While Adiam was born and raised in Sweden, her Northeast African parents were from Eritrea, a country that fought for decades to gain its independence, which was not obtained until 1993. Her parents fled Eritrea and moved to Sweden, where Adiam was born.

Adiam’s debut album, was produced by fellow Scandinavian musician, Thomas Rusiak, featuring Christian Gabel (Thåström, Bob Hund), Mattias Bärjed (Soundtrack Of Our Lives) and Harri Mänti (former Kent member) is a mix between pop, rock, with a tinge of hip hop to authenticate it to our times. The production, with its rock-out guitar riffs sound very Lenny Kravitz (although he had nothing to do with the album), especially on “I Miss You” and “Pizza.” While it’s unclear what the meaning is behind the song, “John Denver,” it’s always great to commemorate folk singers of yesteryear. Totally sold on Ms. Dymott. Check out “John Denver” and video for “Pizza” below. The album can be purchased on eMusic.

“John Denver”

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Peanut Butter Wolf has found another great artist to add to his ever growing Stones Throw repertoire. Mayer Hawthorne, takes us back to the soul of yesteryear with his raspy soulful vocals, a cross between Smokey using Jay Dilla’s urban edge. On “Maybe So, Maybe No”, which is reminiscent of an old Motown tune, is no surprise as Mayer is from the Motor City. As his website says, “It’s not just throwback music anymore – this revival is all about progression.” That is exactly what you get when listening to his music. With an interesting Bond-like visual style, with heavy framed glasses and the fitted suits, you think easy listening and are pleasantly surprised by the pure soul.

Check out the video for “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out” and the Peanut Butter Wolf cameo appearence.

Not sure of the release date for the album, but keep your eyes on Muphoric Sounds for updates. And for those of you in the New York Area, Mayer will be at Le Poisson Rouge on May 9th.

“Maybe So, Maybe No” by Mayer Hawthorne

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