‘CAN’T BUY ME LOVE’ is the debut single from JAY ME LLAMAN, which serves as the first preview of what will be his first album. A single with two tracks inspired by famous pop and r&b artists like Janet Jackson or Justin Timberlake.
Its A-side, «CAN’T BUY ME LOVE», is a very danceable r&b song with which you can shake out everything that makes you sick. A very careful production through the use of virtual instruments and samples that accompany the versatile and elegant voice of the promising artist from Badajoz.
Its B side, «ALL I NEED», is a somewhat more relaxing and chill song, inspired by the sweetness and delicacy of India Shawn and with clear nuances of lofi and neosoul.
Born in Badajoz, JAY ME LLAMAN is a pop/r&b artist with a long history in the music industry. After introductory training in guitar and piano, he began to compose and perform his music in 2012. In recent years, he has also remained very active on the concert circuit in Madrid and Extremadura, DJing at various LGTBIQ+ friendly parties in Madrid and appearing in various contests on the national music scene such as LaRemovida from RTVE.
He is currently presenting the first previews of his debut album, «AT LEAST I TRIED», a 13-track conceptual work that explores the different stages of a relationship, from its beginning to its end.
His first single has been available since December 15th on all digital platforms:
Belau is one of the most promising electronica newcomers around the European music scene. In four years, they had more than 200 live performances in 25 countries. The debut LP, The Odyssey won the Hungarian Grammy in the best electronic music album category. Their long-awaited sophomore album, titled Colourwave, made their name on the international level, and now they release ‘Unimaginable’ featuring Sarah Jay Hawley, who was the vocalist of the legendary Massive Attack album, Mezzanine.
“Take You to The Sea” – claims about their compositions. Belau (Peter Kedves and Krisztian Buzas) is a band that tries to provide shelter for the modern human through their music – representing the path to self-awareness through the depth of the individual – by making modern and elegant electronic beats with longing lyrics driven for the solace of the mind. Forever inspired by the fundamental elements of nature, especially the infinite sea.
The duo had many international successes. In the last years, they played more than 200 shows in 25 countries and impressed audiences at renowned festivals like Primavera, Eurosonic, Electric Castle, Sziget, and SXSW – to name just a few. Belau was supported by radios like BBC Radio 1, Triple J or KEXP and mediums like Clash Music, Billboard, The Line of Best Fit, or Rolling Stone. Their debut album won the Hungarian Grammy Award, the second one streamed by millions and had massive radio successes.
Belau is back with a new single called ‘Unimaginable’ featuring a soulful English art-pop electronica artist, Sarah Jay Hawley, who was the vocalist of the legendary Massive Attack album, Mezzanine. The vocal was recorded by Martin Smith who also worked with Bombay Bicycle Club, Bob Sinclar, Jarvis Cocker, and Groove Armada. “As long as we give it to ourselves, there comes a point when we realize how much more difficult it is to sustain the unsustainable illusion around us than to simply become ourselves. Beyond this point, we simply no longer wish to be other than what lies within us. From the starting perspective of this process – as the title of the song states – the end result is unimaginable, but the path of the anxious person can be purification itself, and there is certainly a way out of the infinitely hopeless. The music video sets a fine example of this process. For us, it was a huge honour that Sarah said yes to our request and we could have a really special underwater video for it. We feel that the song, the lyrics, the music video and the creators are now in a wonderful harmony” – said the electronica duo about the new single which is a dreamy soulful R’n’B hymn.
Belau who’s currently working on its third LP. Hungary’s No.1 musical export good, Belau will continue its European tour in 2023 including some club shows and summer festivals. You can always find all the updated information about the new dates or the special splatter vinyl release on their social pages.
MAX IS BACK! The most-recently-talked-about, American singer/songwriter and Iowa native Max Jury today announces his brand new third studio album Avenues – out March 31st.
The news follows the release of his infectious single Is This Love?– a duet with rising British star, Delilah Montagu – produced by London Grammar’s Dan Rothman. The track was warmly received by the UK Press: “The two voices intertwine like whiskey and ice, with the pair steering their music in a warming, organic, acoustic vibe” – Clash. I declared it “a folk earworm that gets better with every listen”, and The Star described the track as a “fab duet”.
Today also sees the release of a second track, the Nick Drake-esque – Feel Free. “This is a song about the creative process and all the peaks and valleys that come along with it. It’s dedicated to the people and places that have helped and inspired me along the way. “
Max has been travelling without moving, exploring without leaving, and getting ahead without getting out. And now, with his glorious third album, he’s taking us all with him, on a country-soul odyssey into the canyons of his mind. The American singer-songwriter is taking us down Avenues.
In the first year of the pandemic, Max bunkered down in North Carolina. He worked out of a studio run by an old friend next to his old friend’s parents’ house. True to form, Max started travelling once more. Destination… once again, London. Connecting with another new collaborator, Dan Rothman of London Grammar – they met after sharing mutual appreciation on Instagram – he realised he had even more songs ready to be fleshed out. Even more, journeys to share. Working too, with Jimmy Hogarth, the Grammy-winning, London and Dorset-based writer/producer (Amy Winehouse, Suzanne Vega, Paolo Nutini), Max sought to colour the vision he and Harden had sketched in North Carolina.
‘Peace of Mind’, is a tripped-out blast of folk-rock freakery: written with his partner in North Carolina, scuzzed up in the studio in London with Rothman. ‘Is This Love?’ and ‘Happiness To Myself’ is further products of the UK sessions. Equally, other songs on the album were left as they were when he recorded them in North Carolina, notably ‘Is There A Light?’ – a symphonic wonder that starts off quite hymnal, and ends up like The Zombies.
“Avenues is the album I’ve always wanted to make.” Max explains. “It’s the closest I’ve come to being my true self as an artist, and it re-inspired me to keep pursuing this whole music thing. It’s about self-reflection and discovery, it’s about rebirth, and it’s about not giving up on a dream. But most importantly it’s about being present for the journey.”
Max Jury is a footloose songwriter, a troubadour in the classic sense. Someone who’s always followed the music. Ahead of his self-titled 2016 debut Max Jury, Max set off for London, which marked the start of his unique musical journey. The debut album went on to receive great critical acclaim, with the first single Numbconnecting with new fans alike across the UK, France and America, garnering more than 40 million global streams to date.
For his second album, 2019’s Modern World, Max decamped to Los Angeles to work with award-winning producer, Robin Hannibal (Kendrick Lamar, Little Dragon). However, the Covid 19 pandemic descended soon after the album’s release, bringing the campaign to a halt before it had a chance to get started.
Max returns to London early in 2023 for a residency at The Slaughtered Lamb with a hat trick of special headline shows and a few surprises.
Settle down and lean into the yearning, restless, reassuring and wholly wonderful sounds of the first tastes of his third album, from a musician who’s still roaming far by digging deep. It just might be the best trip you take this year.
Acclaimed singer, songwriter and poet Lux Lyall has released her brand new single Draw Blood, described today by Wonderland Magazine as “brimming with haunting melodies and seductive harmonies”. It is the latest song to be taken from her forthcoming second album Runaway Bride out next year via Smoking Mermaid Records.
‘Draw Blood’ presents a shudderingly accurate reality for women facing abuse in relationships. “Is it still love ‘til he draws blood? Is that when you’ve finally had enough?”, sings Lux in these brutally honest musings.
The song is a first-hand account capturing the multitude of complex feelings and emotions found in these tragic circumstances. Musically there’s nods to the 90s with the guitar that grooves from start to finish with a warm blues delay, while the bass and drums add extra sway and richness. Paired with the soulful storytelling from Lux the result calls to mind a melding of Hole, The Bad Seeds and PJ Harvey.
Regarding the new single Lux says, “‘Draw Blood’ is actually about multiple things. A few years ago I was finally open with my therapist about an assault that happened while I was dating someone when I was younger; I was pretty closed about it after it happened because I actually felt guilty for staying in the relationship afterwards. Now I know I basically shut the whole thing out because I didn’t want to face it, it’s still hard to talk about.
“Reflecting on that a few years ago while in another romantic situation that made me feel stifled, I wrote the chorus about being angry at what I’d put up with, and what a lot of my friends were still putting up with in abusive situations. The verses are more about how trapped I felt at the time.
“I was watching a few of my guy friends going on tour and I was happy for them and envious at the same time. I kept thinking about the concept of “being with the band” and how I’d been that way when I was young and all it did was give me trauma! I’m trying to say I don’t want to be with the band anymore I want to BE the band.”
‘Draw Blood’ is the latest song to be taken from Lux Lyall’s forthcoming second album Runaway Bride and follows the release of the dramatic lead single ‘Bonesaw’ earlier this year. The darkly cinematic slasher horror alt-pop song also received a twisted ethereal remix from Jessica Winter.
Runaway Bride will follow the release of Lux Lyall’s highly praised 2020 debut album VAMP, which received strong critical support from the likes of The Independent, The Line Of Best Fit, Clash Magazine, Wonderland and many more.
Born in London, but brought up in Cyprus where her Pakistani mum and half-Sri Lankan, half-Dutch dad moved for work when she was six weeks old, Lux grew up immersed in vintage American movies because that was all there was to watch. Proving highly influential to Lux, this film noir doused her creativity creating a dark and decadent musical world where her theatrical songs meld the glamorous nostalgia of Hollywood with modern, dark pop sensibilities, laced with an enchanting mystique.
