LISTEN: Chloe Castro – ‘FUTURE’

Having been tipped as one of BBC Introducing’s ‘Tips for 2021’, and previously charming listeners when she reached the quarter finals of BBC One’s The Voice, British-Brazilian artist Chloe Castro has now shared a powerful new single.

Gliding in with pristinely enunciated vocals, ‘FUTURE‘ mesmerises instantly. Just as our hips start to find an infinity motion to match the alternative R’n’B opener (think Banks meets PARTYNEXTDOOR), Castro switches the beat – suddenly smacking out speedier lyrics borrowing cadences from hip-hop and rap as she goes. 

For Castro, language isn’t just how she describes her emotions, but the conduit through which she makes us really feel them with her. When she belts out “fucking go for it” she hits the guttural “K” with a firmness that makes me gasp and nod my head in agreement like “yes tell him Chloe!”. The track’s refreshing bluntness lands like a high kick to the chest, accompanied by scattered subtle percussion. A perfectly crafted mood.

Although Castro goes in on indecisive boys and their half-baked excuses, this isn’t a heartache song – the opposite in fact. Instead of pleading for clarity and commitment, Castro holds her agency and her boundaries firm: “… you don’t need to tell me why you sad boy”. What a chant. She’s onto something there. The perfect track for a long chaotic Love Island obsessed summer. 

Tutku Barbaros
@tutkubarbaros

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Track Of The Day: Moor Mother – ‘Shekere’ (feat. lojii)

Having released her debut album Fetish Bones back in 2016, musician-poet-artist-workshop facilitator Camae Ayewa – aka Moor Mother – has since been wowing fans with 2017’s The Motionless Present and 2020’s innovative project with Swedish musician Olof Melander, Anthologia, which raised money for disability justice. Now, following much critical acclaim, she has announced her upcoming new album – Black Encyclopedia Of The Air – an exploratory reflection on modern life, recorded last year, once again with Melander.

Taken from the album, latest single ‘Shekere‘ features Philadelphia rapper lojii and is propelled by a stripped-back, jazz-infused musicality as it oozes a swirling, stirring allure and immersive, soulful drive. As its poetically poignant lyricism is set against the captivating flow of the instrumentation – soaring strings providing the backdrop for the hypnotic vocal refrain of “Shekere” – a truly bewitching haze is created. With this latest offering, Moor Mother offers an exquisitely enthralling, and undeniably necessary, battle-cry: a compelling taste of what’s to come from the album.


Black Encyclopedia Of The Air, the upcoming album from Moor Mother, is set for release on 17th September via ANTI-.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Bob Sweeney

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Track Of The Day: Witch Prophet ft. Stas THEE Boss – ‘MUSA’ (Remix)

“’MUSA’ Remix produced by SUN SUN is a reflection on the current state of the world,” explains Ethio jazz-hip hip fusion artist Witch Prophet. Taken from the deluxe edition of her Polaris Music Prize nominated album DNA Activation, which is set for release on 23rd July, the track is a smooth rumination on how the voices of black artists and their communities are constantly undermined or overlooked.

“[The song is] named after my grandfather. It’s a critique on culture vultures, police, and those that do not recognize the influence of Black people within their lives.” Through her steady, distinctive vocals and hazy beats, Witch Prophet pays homage to her past and explores the issues that continue to affect her future, accompanied by the slick rapping of Stas THEE Boss.

“I’ve been a friend and a fan of Stas THEE Boss for over a decade and decided to reach out to her to see if she would bless the track,” Witch Prophet explains. “She said yes and within a day had the verse written, recorded and sent back to me. I literally screamed with amazement when I played it and heard her confidently rap ‘You drink the juice up / I Black up / you blue hug’. It was perfect.”

Listen to the ‘MUSA’ remix below.

Follow Witch Prophet on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Photo Credit: Francesca Nocera

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LISTEN: YINYANG – ‘Poison Darts / Boyish Charms’

In a murky, heavy-hitting track that embodies the dark of night, Irish hip-Hop artist Lauren Hannan – aka YINYANG – arrives smashing in her new release ‘Poison Darts / Boyish Charms’.

With bending pads sweeping across haunting, moody percussion, ‘Poison Darts / Boyish Charms’ is spinning fiercely from the start and waiting for no one. With the presence of Hannan’s fearless vocals, a vigorous tone is set for this track – earnest and ready to break her silence. “What do you think about when I’m not there?” asks YINYANG as she unravels her headspace with no filter, captivating in her disposition.

Heavy driving effects surround her vocals as the soundscape creates an illuminated gothic world of its own. Nailing the sonic atmosphere between gritty and polished, YINYANG showcases her ear for the honesty of DIY, executed in the clarity of a radio-ready mix. The personal anguish of YINYANG shines through the cacophony of layers, chaotic to a near hypnotising level. With a massive guitar-led outro that sparkles against shadowy vocals, ‘Poison Darts / Boyish Charms’ remains astonishingly cinematic until its demise. YINYANG’s recipe for electronic hip-hop and hard hitting guitars creates the perfect storm for a cathartic release that all too many can relate to.

Jill Goyeau
@jillybxxn

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