VIDEO PREMIERE: Valeska Rautenberg – ‘Berliner Morgen’

Berlin based musician Valeska Rautenberg has shared visuals for her new track ‘Berliner Morgen’ and they’re as cinematic as the soundscape that accompanies it. Taken from her most recent EP Veins: Songs for Piano, Wind & Water, the single is one of four songs that form a collection of “memories, favorite places, and forgotten tales” for the artist.

Valeska’s ambient soundscapes and minimal piano music takes listeners on a journey through her hometown, experiencing and concentrating on thoughts and feelings both she and the listener may not have noticed before. Speaking about her new music, she explains: “Sometimes there’s no need for words. You can let the wind whisper, the water roar, the birds talk, and the streets of Berlin tell their stories”.

‘Berliner Morgen’ in particular captures the beauty and solitude of a walk through Berlin at 5.30 in the morning. Valeska extrapolates: “Imagine coming out of a club (possibly slightly drunk) into the peaceful Berlin drenched in blue. With your blurry night-tainted vision you hardly see the dirt, only the serenity and sweet melancholy of the big B”.

Watch the video for Valeska’s new track below and listen to the Veins EP in its entirety here.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LISTEN: ESYA – ‘Nothing’

One of the most talented and easily recognisable bass players of recent times, Ayşe Hassan has shared her latest single ‘Nothing’ under new moniker ESYA. Having played in Savages, Kite Base​ and 180db, the musician has embarked on a new solo project designed to delve in to the obscure and absurd nature of life.

Taken from her upcoming EP ​Absurdity of ATCG (I) which is set for release on 24th May, ‘Nothing’ is driven by Hassan​’s trademark thunderous bass lines. It’s been described as “an existential industrial pop exploration” acknowledging and grieving the “profound impact of our relationships, choices and experience”. Both musically and vocally, EYSA’s music is an intense and brooding affair; propelled by a marked urgency to tell the truth.

The new EP is the second in a series of ESYA’s self-released works exploring the “myriad manifestations of selfhood through a whirlwind of FM and analog synths, drum machines and vocals”. Incorporating sounds and visuals recorded at significant points throughout the last year – and with the record taking it’s name from the building blocks in human DNA – ESYA is delving in to transgressive audio visual territory and we can’t wait to hear more.

Listen to ‘Nothing’ below and catch ESYA live at her EP launch at The Glove That Fits on 30th May (tickets here).

Photo Credit: Chiara Ceccaioni

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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WATCH: Thallo – ‘I dy Boced’

Gentle, soothing sounds and startling visuals come together on ‘I Dy Boced’, the latest release from Welsh artist Thallo. Premiered on Welsh blog Y.Selar last week, the songwriter’s talent for creating sounds that are easy on the ear shines through on her new single.

Roughly translated as ‘In Your Pocket’, Thallo’s new song is a fusion of archaic lore and personal experience, mixing elements of jazz, folk and electronica. Accompanied by a six-piece band and their celestial instrumentation, Thallo sings her pretty lyrics in both the Welsh and English language.

“Described as “a paradoxically bittersweet rose-tinted fantasy” ‘I Dy Boced’ is an intriguing release from an intriguing newcomer. Watch the video for the single below, and follow Thallo on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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FIVE FAVOURITES: Jackie Mendoza

Born and raised in the border city of Chula Vista, California, Jackie Mendoza blends the cultural influences of her hometown and her motherland of Tijuana, Mexico, creating eccentric pop, Latin-driven dance beats, and vibrant soundscapes. She’s just released her debut EP LuvHz via Luminelle Recordings; a 6-track exploration of love and relationships.

We caught up with Jackie to ask her about her “Five Favourites” – five albums that have influenced her songwriting techniques. Check out her choices below, and make sure you listen to her single ‘Mucho Mas’ at the end of this post.

1. Nicolas Jaar – Space is Only Noise
It was hard to narrow my list down to 5 favorites but these are some albums with the most spins. It was funny to find that most of these are from 2009-2011…which reaffirms how impressionable I was in my late teens and how these albums paved a way for my own music. My older sister showed me this album when I was a senior in high school and learning how to drive. I blasted this album the first time I was allowed to take the car out by myself. This is an album I connected with 5 seconds after listening to it. The sound was so interesting to me and unlike anything I had heard before. It incorporates pop elements into experimental electronica and never seizes to include the Latin influence; everything I love in one big sound.

2. Air – Talkie Walkie
I used to do my homework to this album while I was in middle school. I wanted to cover the song ‘Surfing on a Rocket’ and make it my own. Before Garage Band and Ableton, I had to download programs from questionable websites if I wanted to overdub my vocals on top of a track. This album sparked my imagination to think about producing and writing music because I wanted to sound just like Air.

3. Kid Cudi – Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager
This album really helped me get through a lot of teen angst. I went through stages of depression in high school and while I had to take antidepressants, this album was a big help too. I felt understood and helped me appreciate solitude.

4. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
This is another album I would play through and not skip a single song. Like Air, Animal Collective is another band that sparked my interest in producing music. The vocal harmonies, abstract lyrics, and experimental instrumentation stuck with me and I’m still inspired by it today. This album reminds me of summer in San Diego. I’m really lucky I had the opportunity to work with their producer, Rusty Santos. Working with him was really enriching and felt almost effortless.

5. Carla Morrison – Mientras tú Dormías
I hadn’t thought about singing in Spanish until I heard this album. I saw many commonalities in Carla’s music; ukulele, soft vocals, and electronic sounds. Hearing her music encouraged me to write in Spanish and to not be afraid to write love songs.

Photo Credit: Tayo Okyekan

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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