Band KARMACODA return with R&B infused track ‘Fly By’. Released via Sola Musa Music today, the trio have knocked our socks off yet again with their sophisticated rhythm on this latest release. Buttery and structured vocals from vocalist Jessica Ford, jazzified instrumentation from Eric Matsuno, and the refined production stylings of Brett Crockett all mold together, and shine through in their own unique ways.
Previously featured onRCRD LBL with their laidback track and animated music video ‘Lo Fi Girl’. We were enchanted by its anime stylings which perfectly complemented the melancholic and atmospheric downtempo range of this poignant track.
‘Fly By’ takes a softer path emotionally this time around, with its acoustic and percussion-driven instrumentation that shows us time and time again that this band is always evolving and not afraid to experiment with their sound.
Fusing pop-perfect hooks with a laid back indie style, SYTË (meaning “eyes” in Albanian) are making their mark in the alt-pop scene. Based in New York, the group has an abundant blend of musical backgrounds, with elements of R&B, pop, indie, metal and Jazz, creating a sound and vibe that transcends genre, geography, age and gender.
The group initially formed when vocalist Nita Kaja was visiting her family’s hometown of Prishtina, Kosovo and met future partner and band mate Drin Tashi. Falling deeply in love with the free-spirited and alternative lifestyle of the city, and being surrounded by a thriving and youthful music scene, Kaja felt inspired to create her own music, forming a duo with Tashi in 2018, before teaming up with drummer Granit Havolli and bassist Fatlind Ferati; evolving into the four-piece band we know today.
The new single “Where Did the Love Go” was written after three long months of isolation. Feeling disconnected from the world and missing out on a European tour due to the pandemic, Kaja penned the lyrics after finally reuniting with a friend, causing a burst of inspiration and the creation of this soulful tune. The sultry-hued vocals are a perfect complement to the funk-driven bassline, twinkling keys and groove-laden percussion, resulting in this vibrant, yet sonically textured track. Hoping to encourage people to express their seemingly-niche emotions, the band write music about acknowledging and navigating through destructive thoughts and patterns. Wanting to see popular music shift to a more introspective and intentional place, the band expressed, “Documenting these overlooked emotions can help bring humanity together and highlight how much more similar we are to one another than we think”.
Known for their electrifying performances, SYTË have already played a number of well-known festivals including Pop Kultur Festival, Localize Festival and Sunny Hill Festival, where they opened for powerhouses like Dua Lipa, Action Bronson and Martin Garrix. Returning to New York City to work on new music and grow as artists, and with nods from publications such asi-D, Noizz.d andThe Line of Best Fit,the band are in for a swell of a season!
Los Angeles-based alt singer-songwriter NAKAYA shares her brand new EP, Fire Becomes Me (out now via Better Company Records). This new four-track project is about growth and resilience as it chronicles Nakaya’s journey towards self-acceptance.
Speaking on the EP, NAKAYA wrote: “Honestly, I started this project feeling completely directionless but what I found was that Fire Becomes Me became my source of healing. I would love to tie the theme up with a singular bow but life is not so linear so I will say that it chronicles a vast change. I always made frail attempts at controlling the way my life went, but in this record you can see me grow from a person who fought with circumstance to one that embraced a sense of acceptance through my experiences. I am mutating and growing and shifting and I think the work reflects that.”
In his sophomore album Phenomena, Canadian musician Zanski submerges audiences into an immersive, emotional journey through his meticulously crafted sound.
Released via AWAL, the 15-track LP is a lucid dream expressed through R&B-influenced guitars, stunning electronic production, and mesmerizing vocals from the multi-talented artist. Written, produced, mixed, and mastered by Zanski himself, Phenomena is an exploration of ambiguity, challenging the malaise of apathy with a longing for something more substantial. The album shares its name from Zanski’s YouTube seriesPhenomena TV, in which he explains his creative process and how he shapes his DIY sound design, nostalgic visual aesthetic, and inimitable musical style.
Zanski explains, “The album weaves together a dream-like narrative about existential motifs and what it is to feel disconnected. Through the 15 tracks, I wanted to write cataloguing a feeling, a loose collection of places and times, rather than a strict narrative, that still feels like it’s linearly progressing to some sort of emotional catharsis. It’s open-ended but touches upon the dissociation of modernity and how we navigate that feeling every day.”
First garnering attention in 2017, Toronto-based artist Zanski released his Collapse EP to critical and commercial acclaim. This led to a breakout single in 2018, “Fool,” which has accumulated over 5 million streams across streaming platforms. Looking forward, Zanski seeks to create music that transports listeners into lucid dreams. Building sonic worlds with his meticulous and encapsulating sound design, Zanski’s latest releases firmly root him as an artist to watch.
