LISTEN: Chinwe – ‘Intoxicated’

A sultry, lo-fi tune that lives up to its namesake, East London songwriter Chinwe has shared her latest single ‘Intoxicated’. Influenced by the likes of Nina Simone and Portishead, Chinwe’s latest offering falls somewhere between the two musical worlds – spaced out yet soulful, melancholy yet uplifting.

Raised by her Nigerian father and Jamaican Mother, Chinwe was surrounded by a an eclectic collection of music from a young age. She began learning how to play the violin, but once she started to teach herself chords on the guitar her true musicianship began to shine through. Now, the young producer is captivating listeners with her smooth, intense vocals and heady beats.

Listen to ‘Intoxicating’ below and follow Chinwe on Spotify for more updates.

 

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Emma Kupa – ‘Nawlins’

Having recently announced her upcoming debut solo album, and following last single ‘Nothing At All’, Emma Kupa has now shared ‘Nawlins’. Already a big fan of her band Mammoth Penguins, I’m no less in love with Kupa’s solo material, and this latest offering showcases why. 

Inspired by a period of travel and meeting new people, ‘Nawlins’ flows with lilting, folk-strewn melodies and Kupa’s distinctive raw vocals. Filled with a reflective, heartfelt lyrical storytelling and effervescent uptempo musicality, it builds with glistening whirring hooks to a stirring slice of perfect indie-pop. Of the track, Emma explains: 

“‘Nawlins’ is a song about a period when I was travelling around a fair bit visiting family for various reasons – a wedding, a elderly relative with cancer (see my song Katie NYC) and I’d end up hanging out with fun people I was put in touch with through friends and family here in the UK. It’s always good to know someone in a new place who can show you round, especially if you’re on your own.”

I just can’t get enough of the sunny yet reflective chiming offerings of Emma Kupa, and truly find everything she creates to be blissfully soothing and subtly uplifting.

‘Nawlins’ also features on Jeanie Finlay’s documentary about Indietracks – aka the loveliest festival in the world. And listening to this song just leaves me longing to sit in the damp grass in Derbyshire, local beer in hand; the sound of owls, steam trains and dreamy indie-pop wafting through the air. Bring on 2021…

Made with the help of Emma’s neighbour Sara (and her dance students), and edited by Darren Hayman, watch the beautifully choreographed new video for ‘Nawlins’ here: 


Listen to ‘Nawlins’ on Spotify now. It Will Come Easier, the debut solo album from Emma Kupa, is out 18th September via Fika Recordings. 

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Debbie at Wolf James Photography

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LISTEN: Laura Fell – ‘Bone Of Contention’

London-based artist Laura Fell has announced her debut full-length album Safe from Me, via journal-turned-label Balloon Machine Records, and has dropped soaring lead single ‘Bone of Contention’ to celebrate.

A psychotherapist by day, Fell entered the realm of music at the age of 25 as her decade-long penchant for poetry progressed naturally into songs, and ‘Bone of Contention’ speaks clearly of Fell’s magnetic song writing abilities, elevated further by the expansive instrumentals and her husky voice.

Rich and atmospheric, the track boasts a refined, mature musicality which combines an echoey vocal quality with layered productions of synths and strings. With a touch of world-wise lyricism and meticulous arrangements, the single feels like the work of a veteran rather a woman making her way through life discovering new parts of herself.

‘Bone of Contention’ in Fell’s own words is an “exercise in anger,” as she learns to understand and embrace it, finding clarity and power within. The single paints a vivid picture of genuine emotions coloured by Fell’s imaginative wordsmithery and framed by her life experience.

Listen to ‘Bone Of Contention’ below and follow Laura Fell on bandcamp, Facebook and Spotify for more updates.

Malvika Padin
@malvika_padin26

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Track Of The Day: Dream Nails – ‘This Is The Summer’

Both an energetic and a sardonic insight into the climate crisis we’re currently facing, feminist punk witches Dream Nails have shared their latest single ‘This Is The Summer’. Lifted from their upcoming self-titled debut album which is set for release on the 28th August via Alcopop! Records, the band prove once again that their activism is as sharp and essential as their riotous punk sounds on this latest offering.

“‘This Is The Summer’ is a song about how our climate is breaking down irreversibly,” explains Dream Nails vocalist Janey Starling. “Colonial capitalism, waged by UK governments and corporations for centuries, has ravaged our earth. We need to be urgently fighting for migrant rights so the UK welcomes climate refugees displaced by countries hit by extreme weather. We must demand transparency from oil companies who relentlessly put profit before people, even as the world burns.”

Starling’s vision is passionately and equally shared by her band mates Anya Pearson (guitar), Mimi Jasson (bass) and Lucy Katz (drums), who all play humorous parts in the track’s accompanying video. Directed by Guen Murroni and filmed with a women, non-binary and trans crew, the footage is a fast-paced blend of shots from recent protests in London, the band parodying newsreaders, and a live performance they filmed in a scrapyard during the August 2020 heatwave.

Pearson elaborates on the context of both the track and the video: “We wrote ‘This Is The Summer’ in the heatwave of 2018, recorded it in another heatwave in 2019 and now we are releasing it in yet another heatwave! Our video for the track shows how the current pandemic, white supremacy and climate change are not separate issues but interlinked. The song is about the brazen complacency of getting drunk and catching a tan in the park while the world burns.”

Fuelled by the need to change the world around them and inspire others to do so, Dream Nails will be celebrating the release of their debut album with a live stream performance on the 5th September. You can join in the fun by pre-ordering the album, which will also get you a link to the party (pre-order link here).

Watch the video for ‘This Is The Summer’ below and follow Dream Nails on bandcamp, Facebook and Spotify for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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