It’s release day for Marcus James and RYYZN as they share their latest single, ‘Night Light’. The single is taken from their upcoming collaborative EP (which will be available early next year) and provides a small preview of what fans can expect.
Marcus James tells us about the single and EP: “Night Light is about trying to put on a brave face to the world when things aren’t going well. One of the hardest things is to be vulnerable and ask for help, and sometimes when you don’t want to talk about it, you just want to be around the person that makes you feel like it’s okay to feel this way. As the first single off our upcoming collaborative EP, the lyric video for Night Light really captures how RYYZN and I basically became family over the past year as we worked on these songs. After everything we’ve been through together, the RYYZN guys and I will always be there to support each other and we have this music to thank for that.”
This is not the first time Marcus James has collaborated with RYYZN as they previously released the single, ‘Honest’ earlier this year. The single was featured on Dave Rave, who had the following to say: “Marcus James uses the issue of time differences and space as a barrier between a relationship, but truthfully it boils down to the emotional distance between the two lovers.” Read the full feature here.
Today, music producer and composer HELMAUD has released single ‘Hey Boi’ ft. DIXIE along with an official music video for the single, featuring fiery songstress DIXIE and of course the man himself. Filmed with a DIY approach, the video captures the pair taking a night drive in the iconic city of Paris, where HELMAUD is from.
Previously interviewed by Muze FM, the music producer commented on his relationship with collaborator DIXIE, “The two neighbours initially met in Thai boxing classes in 2015 (have been doing boxing for 8 years now). They would both come and spar with good energy and an open mind, but DIXIE and HELMAUD only truly started sympathizing in spring 2019, as DIXIE learned HELMAUD was a pianist. DIXIE has a wonderful 1920 Pleyel Piano in her flat, rue St Denis, 75002, so I drop by many times just to jam. And she did the same, coming over randomly while down my block. Hitting me up asking if I’m around, and dropped by for a fast jam, and a lot of white wine… Man, I can’t follow up with her drinking.. she’s way too trained. As HELMAUD’s jazz-infused technique started attracting DIXIE, the two yet-to-be friends very quickly became inseparable. Music, and especially jamming had forged a very strong bond for the two, DIXIE, discovering her attraction for singing and composition, and HELMAUD, finding very much satisfaction through DIXIE’s soul heritage and care-free energy. Hedonism, stoicism, philosophy, friendship, and the ups and downs of relationships have forged their urge to doing music together.”
Talking about the video concept, HELMAUD adds, “After many unsatisfying cuts based on another story from a former director, I decided to change totally and go for a real DIY video. A variation on an old hip hop famous theme: the whip ride – a tribute to American hip hop iconography. We thought this 1964 Cadillac riding along contemporary Paris would fit the soul vibe on the modern beat and attitude of this song. Knowing that Dixie is half American (New Orleans) & I’m a full Parisian, it made sense. No one was in town or available for the last-minute deadline. Then comes Isabel Deprice, an old friend of mine, (who featured in my previous music video “I Know Your Game”, shot by Ryan Doubiago). In the end, it was shot in 2 hours with an Iphone & edited with an Ipad.”
Ananya is a twenty-something songstress from Mumbai who has made her mark on India and the world. The songstress went platinum in India with one of her English tracks and currently sits over a global stream rate of 300 million. Last year, Ananya released her single ‘Day Goes By’ with global hitmaker Sean Kingston, and this has been documented as one of the first major collaborations between the US and Indian artists to date. When Ananya is not making music, the singer breaks down mental health stigma in India as well as empowering and supporting local female entrepreneurs in India with her self-owned company Svatantra.
We find out more about this songstress and activist below.
What are some of your earliest memories of music?
When I was really young, I remember being totally entranced watching my mother playing the Santoor. It is an Indian instrument with a hundred strings that you play on your lap. I used to sit and watch her for hours. It was the first instrument that I learned, and it made taking up the guitar and understanding composition a lot easier later in life.
Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting music together?
Writing music has always been incredibly cathartic for me, when life feels a bit messy I love to find a quiet place and settle in with my notepad and a pen. The process starts with an emotion or a story from my journal and goes from there. Then, I’ll sit with a producer and we will take that really personal experience and put a melody to it. I love the process – it’s beautiful to take something so raw and then put it out to the world for everyone to interpret in their own way.
Studio work and music creation or performing and interacting with a live audience, which do you prefer?
Whether I’m performing to ten people or ten thousand, there is nothing in the world like standing on stage and having people vibe with something you created. Music is all about connecting with people, and there is no better way to do that than when you are live. That exchange of energy – there is no feeling like that in the world.
What is the most memorable response you have had to your music?
Music has always been there for me in the most challenging times in my life and I really want my music to do the same for others. When someone sends me a message to say that they related to something in one of my songs and it helped them through a difficult time, that means the world to me.
The most memorable? It has to be when I was in a cab in Poland of all places. I didn’t even know I was playing on the radio out there, but the driver got so excited when I got in and started singing me some of my songs – it was surreal!
If you could put together a radio show, what kind of music would you play?
I am a big believer that the best music is raw and comes from the heart. I love those songs where you can really feel the emotion of the artist because they are singing about something that happened to them. Audiences appreciate that too because they can connect with it on a different level. Emotions are universal – it doesn’t matter who you are or where you are from, they unite us all. I’ve always strived to be as unapologetically myself as possible with my music, every song feels like a part of me.
Name five artists and their albums who would appear on your radio show
Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP
Nirvana – Nevermind
Amy Winehouse – Back to Black
Khalid – Free Spirit
Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
What would you like to achieve with your music? What does success look like to you?
Everything I do is about doing what I love and hopefully making a positive impact at the same time. My definition of success is always evolving but for me, music has always been like a best friend, supporting me through good times and bad. I really hope that my songs can be like that for other people.
One last thought to leave your fans with?
This has been such a difficult time for everyone, it’s this unprecedented collective trauma. With my latest song ‘Let There Be Love’ I wanted to celebrate the beautiful sparks of hope and joy that we have seen coming out of this incredibly challenging period. I think our collective values have changed and we have realized the most important things are love, people, and connections. Keep your loved ones close and always be you.
Merging her unforgettable Swedish pop sound with classic references to the 70s and 80s, ‘Envious’ is launching Elvira onto the pop scene. Envious is her first single off of an upcoming EP, coming next spring. Complete with beautiful chord patterns, harmonies, and a strong groove, Elvira’s sound is inspired by not only old, but new. Growing up, her family used to host dance parties every Friday where they would listen to old music like Earth, Wind & Fire or Chaka Khan and perform for each other. Mixing that with modern day influences, such as Charlie Puth, Meghan Trainor, and Tove Lo, Elvira’s sound is a blended masterpiece linking different eras together, and Envious is no different.
Envious is the first single on the project, but more singles are coming out during the fall. we can expect intimate love songs, beautiful visuals and get to know her better through her songwriting and socials. Envious also comes with a gorgeous music video, filmed entirely on an iPhone in her old apartment. With help from her friends, they planned, directed, recorded & edited the video in two days. The video will be out the same day as the single.
