Multi-talented musician and innovator Fifi Rong has delighted once again with the latest song ‘Dream On’, which is set to feature on her upcoming solo album release There Is A Funeral In My Heart For Every Man I Loved later this year. The singer has been making her name known as a forward-thinking individual after the launch of her Yi Jing 意境 Live Performance Series , which is a virtual immersive platform for artists and art lovers to connect and get exposure.
Rong previously featured on RCRD LBL with the ‘Another Me’ video along with a feature on Phuture Life with the ‘Only Man’ video. Both works are noticeably different in comparison to production stylings and are probably due to the fact that Fifi is always keen to change things up for the sake of getting her poignant messages across for each song’s contrasting message – a true artist indeed.
Innovative and visceral with her approach to her craft, Rong proves to be an act to watch in the months to come with her latest platform initiative and creating music that leaves one pondering on their choices when it comes to being rational and being in love with someone. ‘Dream On’ is a clever take on unrequited love, as Rong shares foresight on a love that has not had the opportunity to be acknowledged.
‘Bad Things’ is an alt-pop anthem depicting the unfolding of a manic episode. With an ominous bass and eclectic drums, the track outlines the exhilarating yet terrifying reality of one of the phases of bipolar disorder. MOA’s characteristic vocals and honest lyrics bring us to the breaking point by illustrating the very core of the sensation, here portrayed as another being pulling her in: ”Now the noise is just too much / it’s digging into my skin and / I’m on the floor / But she wants more”.
MOA’s second single is a truthful insight into the world of mania as well as a fearless statement on an, even now, stigmatized condition. With catchy melodies and strong vocal hooks, ’Bad Things’ transforms multilayered mental health issues into a relatable story of an evening devoured by the urges of the part of you warring against logic and calm: ”When the light’s gone I can’t trust myself / When the sun’s down, become someone else”.
MOA’s music is an enchanting merge of sickly sweet pop and fearlessly provocative punk. The style and lyrics derive from a life of complex mental struggles, landing her in a world of ecstatic highs and sinister lows. As a result, the self appointed ’Sertraline Queen’ started using her experiences with bipolar disorder to her advantage, and has spent the last year assembling a line of indisputable alt-pop pieces, discussing everything from female empowerment to mental health.With a peculiar mind and a thirst for peril, she is the anti hero the pop world has been waiting for.
Swedish born MOA is based in London, where she has been honing her craft since a young age. She left Sweden for the thrill of the suburban capital of the UK, but brought with her the ferociousness of the Scandinavian winters.
Photo by Merritt Johnson. Art by Christian Petersen and Nicholas Galanin
Sub Pop will release Indian Yard, the debut record from Sitka, Alaska projectYa Tseen. To celebrate the group’s impending release, they have shared an official video for “Synthetic Gods,” directed by Stephan Gray. Hinging on verses from Shabazz Palaces and Stas THEE Boss,“Synthetic Gods” is sonically seductive, a tense reflection on crisis, that summons the pressure needed to ensure Indigenous sovereignty and power to the people.
Galanin says of the video, “‘Synthetic Gods’ is a response to the violence of capitalism dependent on systemic racism and division; and a narration of the pressure that will be applied to destroy it.” You can watch the new video HERE.
The North American deluxe edition on clear vinyl is also available to purchase now. The deluxe packaging will include a 24-page hardcover LP-sized book with covers featuring a sci-fi landscape populated by a toddler-wearing artistMerritt Johnson’s sculpture Mindset, a VR headset woven from sweetgrass. The interior art was designed by Galanin. This deluxe edition will be available while supplies last.
Maria Kelly premiered the video for her current single, ‘Martha’, on her YouTube channel. Directed by Tim Shearwood, who has worked on projects with the likes of Le Boom, Ae Mak and HAVVK, the video sees Maria playful in an empty room – a visual take on the song’s theme. ‘Martha’ was released on Maria’s label, VETA Music, and heralds her long-awaited debut album later this year.
Since its release just under a fortnight ago, on the 7th of April, the Westport alt-folk singer’s new single has surpassed 30,000 streams on Spotify, been played on Irish radio over 60 times, has been named Track of the Week on 2fm, been added to the coveted RTÉ Radio 1 Recommends list and received high praise from music journalists across the country.
Of the video, Maria says: “‘Martha’ is all about feeling stuck in that part of your early twenties, where you’re not who you were and not quite who you’ll be yet. And it’s about dealing with all of the change, restlessness, and confusion that comes with that. There are so many difficult parts of that process, but I wanted this video to explore the fun that still exists in that period of time – feeling stuck and unsure, but finding ways to make yourself laugh anyway.”
Maria Kelly’s world of delicately woven alt-folk is laced with a sincerity that cuts to the bone. Finding comfort in the confessional styles of artists like Regina Spektor, Daughter, and Lucy Rose, she soon transferred her own introspections to music, developing a sound that is as delicate as it is disarmingly frank.
A number of critically acclaimed releases on Veta Records have been accompanied by shows across Europe supporting the likes of James Vincent McMorrow, KT Tunstall, and Paul Noonan (Bell X1). Maria quickly became known for her heart-wrenching live performances, unassuming humour, and a ‘pin-drop’ vocal that is impossible to ignore. Maria’s work has continued to gain momentum internationally, rallying support from Mahogany, Consequence of Sound, and The Line Of Best Fit along the way.
After laying a foundation in the Irish music scene, Maria relocated to Berlin in 2018, a life-changing move that inspired her four-track EP, ‘notes to self’. Her stint in Germany saw her join All The Luck In The World on a month-long European tour, followed by her debut TV appearance on Other Voices Ballina. Maria finished up the year with two sold-out shows supporting Villagers.
2019 saw the release of ‘i leave early’ – a captivating track that showcases Maria’s continued development as an artist and one which quickly garnered more than a million streams on Spotify.
With the world at a standstill, 2020 saw Maria retreating to a small cottage on the south coast of Ireland. During this quiet in-between, Maria has found space to write and record her eagerly anticipated debut album – a blank canvas and an open sea with which to take stock and reflect on her 20s so far.
