The first time Ezra Veda started creating music was during her high school period. In the school band, it became clear that she had a beautiful voice. Soon the first proposals came from the music industry to write songs and specially to sign with them. The then-teenager let it all happen resignedly. “I’d better finish my studies first and then I’ll see what else comes my way,” was her answer.
A few years later, the time has come. The now 22-year-old releases her first single ‘A Brand New Day’. A beautiful pop song in which Ezra’s voice is perfectly at home.
The single opens small and subdued and grabs you from the start and then slowly opens and guides you to an apotheosis to return to a sensitive outro. Before you know it, you’re at the end of the song and you think, hold on wait a minute, and you’ll listen to it again.
French electronic music producer PLEEG has shared his latest offering, a single titled ‘Still Friends’, with the help of his label Quality Goods Records. From lush breakdowns to modulated drops, ‘Still Friends’ epitomises PLEEG’s style.
Like a thousand-piece puzzle, the single is comprised of many loose elements, brought into harmony by the producer’s heightened sense of song arrangement. When one part falls away, another jumps in to fill its place, excluding, of course, the timed moments of silence that make serve the song as much, if not more, than the notes themselves.
PLEEG is increasingly being mentioned in the press, having recently gained the support of the recognised publication Run The Trap, which had nothing but good things to say about his latest song. “The stunning record is nothing short of a vibrant and heartfelt anthem that comes across as unpredictable yet warm and inviting at the same time,” they said, complimenting the artist.
Gowned in gold, German musician KID BE KID breaks down the walls to reveal her true self in her new single ‘Naked Times’, an exploration of what it means to be real in a plastic digital world–a theme further alluded to by the title of her upcoming album Truly A Life Goal But No Ice Cream, which will see streaming platforms on the9th of June. No disguises here. But who is the artist behind the moniker?
KID BE KID is a trained pianist with an antithetical approach to the traditional approach of playing music. She prefers the liberation that Jazz improvisation provides, composing music akin to the work of English singer FKA twigs, blending soulful vocals with avant-instrumentation to create something bordering the Art Pop genre.
Her musical admixture has gained the attention of magazines listeners will recognise: Complex UK and Jazzwise UK have previously published their support for the Fun In The Church signee, while a station native to her home country, German station Deutschlandfunk Kultur, has aired her work. 2023 will see her tour Europe at venues like the culture centre Kulturetage Halle in Oldenburg, Germany and the live music venue Les Cuizines, Ville de Chelles in France.
KID BE KID Tour Dates 2023
11th March – Kulturetage Halle, Oldenburg, Germany
23rd March – Burghof, Lörrach, Germany
24th March – Les Cuizines, Ville de Chelles (near Paris), France
18th April – Cully Jazz Festival, Cully, Switzerland
Natalie Shay is a critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning musician known for her explosive live performances and vibrant, infectious anthems. The North London artist writes relatable lyrics touching on love, self-discovery and the everyday experiences of a twenty-something. At her core, she’s a remarkable storyteller, one that continues to break boundaries and trailblaze into her own realm of indie pop from the soul.
Her latest single ‘The Edge’ is about the painful breakdown and complete blow up of Shay’s friendship with her best friend. The songwriter confides, “This is one of my favourite songs I’ve ever released, and as the feelings are still very raw, I’m hoping to find closure in this.”
Accompanied by its B-side “everything’s been happening,” the two tracks tell the story of how once you finally come out of something that had grown bad for you, you reflect and realise so many cracks showed long before you accepted that as the case. Shay reveals, “Despite missing her and the good parts of the friendship so much, I know in order to still respect myself, I have to honour the power of an apology, and in this case, the lack there of one.”
Both tracks voice the understanding of the power that someone’s dream can hold over their well-being and happiness. Shay admits, “I am guilty of this myself, a lot of my mental health, personality and entire identity are completely wrapped up in my work. This is the same for a lot of creatives and people with a dream or goal from a young age in general. On realisation that these goals may not happen the way you’d always planned, or realising things are going to be much harder than you ever expected, this can cause trouble for some people who lack the courage. I think me and my friend are guilty of this, and subsequently this triggered the downfall.”
Staying true to her irresistible indie pop sound, “The Edge” shines with kaleidoscopic synths, a contagious beat and energetic melodies. Despite the song’s melancholy theme, sonically it’s the ultimate get-up-and-dance track, allowing you to lose yourself in the music.
Having received praise from notable publications such as Billboard, Clash, NOTION, Wonderland Magazine and The Line of Best Fit to name a few, Shay is on everyone’s radar. She has landed on Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist in 12 countries and has also worked on EDM tracks with the likes of Grum and Kryder, racking up over seven million streams to date. Selling out prestigious venues across London, Shay is one of the UK’s hottest emerging talents. Tickets are now on sale for Natalie Shay’s upcoming headline show at The Omeara in London on 3rd March 2023.
