Music News

“Yibby’s energy and enthusiasm are innate – spitting bars with a confidence beyond his years without so much as breaking a sweat.” – FBi Radio

“Yibby brought it in a big way on Poke. His tone is becoming more and more recognizable in the burgeoning Australian hip-hop community.” – Tommy Faith, triple j Unearthed

After a breakout 12 months of releases, YIBBY returns with his first release for 2020 with laid back in name and nature new single ‘No Sweat’ which premiered on Home & Hosed last night.

Once again the Ethiopian-born, South Sydney-raised rapper has teamed up with dynamic producing duo Clockwork Odyssey to create a funk riddled track full of swirling synths and a bouncing beat, as a bed for YIBBY’s signature animated flow. YIBBY explains the content saying “No Sweat is about not stressing while going through adversity or dealing with things and still celebrating the wins.”

Forever a melting pot of genres, YIBBY’s music always comes accompanied with coming of age tales and food for thought bars. His debut single ‘Woah’ came in late 2018 signalling the start of a rapid fire first year for the now 20-year-old which consisted of the Lost In Translation EP and a hard-hitting team up with fellow up-and-comer Raj Mahal.

Quickly gaining recognition from fans and media, last year he came in at #14 on FBi Radio’s Most Played Artists of 2019. He also left his mark on triple j’s Bars of Steel and FBi Radio’s Independent Play series whilst garnering fans from Sniffers, Tone Deaf, Life Without Andy, Purple Sneakers and more. Single ‘Folk’, pulled from his debut EP, was added to spot rotation on triple j, as well as full adds on triple j Unearthed, FBi Radio, SYN Radio, 4ZZZ and EDGE Radio, and spins on Beats Radio 1.

On the live circuit he’s cut his teeth supporting Winston Surfshirt, Boo Seeka, Drapht, Arno Faraji, Milan Ring and Kuren as well as performing a show-stopping set at Bad Friday Festival. 

YIBBY
‘No Sweat’
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“The Sydney hip-hop/RnB singer continues his run of fine form.” – Life Without Andy
“Okkaido has fast tracked himself as a name to watch.” – It’s Hip Hop Music

Infectiously melding hip hop, funk and R&B, Sydney-based crooner Okkaido delivers on his new single ‘No Filter ft. Sunee BOI’.

Driven by a boom-bap beat and flourishing with moments of hip hop, funk, electro and R&B, ‘No Filter’s message is right there in the title. Combating the constant dribble of inexperienced content on social platforms – ever more present in this new world – the track hopes for a more filtered online presence. Okkaido elaborates “I had always had the idea to make a song about social media, making it humorous and shine light on how ridiculous it has become. An expert in the modern age seems to be determined by the following you can acquire rather than the validity of your credentials.”

Engrossed in poetry and armed with writing intricacies, Okkaido debuted less than 12 months ago with single ‘Amanda Who’ which has since amassed almost 250,000 Spotify streams. Then came follow ups ‘Red Whine’ and ‘Flies’ catching the eye of tastemaker Life Without Andy and helping him secure his first support slot opening for Steven.

With a deluge of music planned for release this year there’s no better time to get acquainted with Okkaido.

OKKAIDO
‘No Filter’
OUT NOW

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Fat Wreck Chords are announcing the triumphant return of Bad Cop / Bad Cop, with the unveiling of the new album: The Ride, to be released on Friday June 19. The Ride was recorded throughout much of 2018 and 2019 by Johnny Carey and Fat Mike (D-Composers), and boasts all of the elements of BCBC’s sound: big guitars, lock-step bass and drums, intricate vocal harmonies, and plenty of attitude.

The lead single, “Simple Girl,” is streaming on the Fat Wreck Chords YouTube channel, and all digital platforms.

I wrote “Simple Girl” in response to what the man I’m seeing said to me when pausing our relationship…. “We both have complicated lives, the next person I’m going to be with is going to be simple.” It hurt and got me thinking. I decided then to make a declaration of everything I am and am proud to be – vocalist/guitarist Stacey Dee

In a time of chronic rage, happiness is revolutionary.

Bad Cop / Bad Cop has done angry. The band’s 2017 full-length, Warriors, was recorded in the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election. The Los Angeles quartet’s new full-length, The Ride (Fat Wreck Chords, June 19th), shows what happens when you come out the other side of that anger.

“It’s not that I am just stoked or blind to suffering,” says singer-guitarist Jennie Cotterill. “I think anger is a legitimate and understandable reaction to injustice and wrongdoing. It’s just that for myself, I am trying to move past ‘reaction’ into productive ‘response.’”

The message BCBC is sending this time around is less about wagging your finger at others, or giving the middle one to the Man, than it is about self-love and acceptance. As Cotterill puts it, “Love is a more powerful truth than anger.” That positivity fuels many of The Ride’s tracks: “Originators,” “Simple Girl,” “Community,” “I Choose,” “Perpetual Motion Machine,” and “The Mirage” exude confidence, gratitude, and compassion. In 2020, such things qualify as contrarian.

“These are political statements—self-love is a huge fucking statement,” affirms singer-guitarist Stacey Dee. “Self-love means putting a fix on the problems at home before trying to fix everything in the world. It’s asking people to find it in themselves to create the life that they really want to have so they’re not in turmoil, so they’re not in a place of stress and sickness.”

Dee speaks from experience. In 2018 she was hospitalised twice for different ailments, then discovered she had stage one breast cancer at the end of the year. Fortunately it was highly treatable, but the experience was life-altering. Dee captures it with brutal frankness on “Breastless,” whose bright melodies belie the struggle described in the lyrics.

“Certain Kind of Monster” and “Pursuit of Liberty”—both written and sung by bassist Linh Le—are blistering repudiations of the current administration’s treatment of immigrants.

The former is an imagined conversation with an ICE agent, and the latter juxtaposes her family’s immigration to the U.S. from Vietnam in 1975 to current events, something she’s never explored musically.

The perspective behind The Ride lends it an undeniable maturity, without losing its power. Recorded throughout much of 2018 and 2019 by Johnny Carey and Fat Mike of production team the D-Composers, the album boasts all of the elements of BCBC’s sound: big guitars, lock-step bass and drums (the latter by powerhouse drummer Myra Gallarza), intricate vocal harmonies, and plenty of attitude.

It’s just that this time, the attitude is encouraging, not raging. Nowhere is that more apparent than lilting album closer “Sing With Me.” Built around acoustic guitar, piano, and Cotterill’s voice, it’s an exhortation to “sing with me / or sing your own song / I don’t mind, just as long as you find / a voice.”

Dee adds, “If people are listening to our songs and they’re going to sing along to them, they’re going to start owning some of those words. And in owning some of those words that gives them some strength and power going forward. That’s really the biggest gift that I could give to anybody.”

“Stronger in every way” aptly describes Bad Cop / Bad Cop in 2020. The anger may have taken a back seat on The Ride, but what’s taken its place is even more powerful.

 

With Martin Garrix premiering the track during his set on the Ultra Miami MainStage last year, it became one of the most highly anticipated tracks of both artists, with music lovers from all over the world waiting for its official release date. Now, a year after its premiere, Florian Picasso and GRX’s collaboration ‘Restart Your Heart’ is finally available on all digital streaming platforms.

The pumping track which combines both artists’ signature production values has been a staple in Garrix’s sets throughout the year. No strangers to collaborating together, Garrix and Picasso have already mixed their sounds on the successful ‘Make Up Your Mind’, which was released during Amsterdam Dance Event in 2016 as part of Garrix’s ‘Seven’ EP.

The release is accompanied by an official music video which will be available at 5pm CET.

Hot on the heels of his “Redux 004” EP, Kaskade is back with “I Have Dreams,” another brand new track to carry fans through these difficult times. He teamed up with Australian newcomers Blue Noir and NYC-based Tishmal for the emotive and groovy song, which was originally intended to be part of Kaskade‘s upcoming studio album. However, he recognized the healing power of music and connection that the dance community needs now more than ever and wanted to give his fans something to smile about. “I Have Dreams” delivers distorted melodies and ethereal vocals that have become a key part of Kaskade‘s sound, which build into deep, reverberating basslines perfect for after-hours vibes. Kaskade elaborates on his decision to release the the track earlier than planned below:

“The song ‘I Have Dreams’ was initially meant to be saved for a later studio album, but as this stay at home/quarantine moment is unfolding, I’ve just seen one consistent thing: music is a true healer. Everyone enjoys the distraction and the connection. It just dawned on me that I have one way to maybe help some of my audience smile and keep going, even if it’s only for the next 3 minutes. They have supported me with almost evangelical loyalty through the years, the least I can do is start just releasing as much music as possible right now so we can stay connected in that way.” – Kaskade

As a household name in electronic music for nearly two decades, Kaskade needs no introduction. His list of achievements is a mile long: 11 studio albums, 7 GRAMMY nominations, the first solo electronic dance artist to sell out both Navy Pier in Chicago and the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the first DJ to ever secure a Las Vegas residency, and the first electronic artist to headline Coachella. Less tangible but even more important has been his influence on dance music tastes and culture for generations of listeners. Often Kaskade is one of the artists who introduced now-veteran listeners to the genre, and such fans are usually fans for life. In 2019, he worked with multi-award winner Meghan Trainor on “With You” and Gorgon City on “Go Slow,” among solo releases, such as “My Light,” “Come On,” and official remixes for the likes of Alicia Keys, Jennifer Lopez, and Gwen Stefani earlier. Kaskade continues what has become a nostalgic tradition for many dance music veterans and a cherished experience for new listeners. Stay tuned for more news from Kaskade in 2020.

Photo credit: Maria Jose Govea/@Supermaniak

“Toronto duo A Is for Arrows’ song “Go Slow” is an effervescent, self-assured expression of cool confidence going into a new romance, highlighting independence and individuality through the band’s buoyant, fresh tones” – Atwood Magazine

April 7, 2020 (Toronto, ON) – Showcasing the dichotomy of confidence and vulnerability, sparks fly in electro-pop act A is for Arrows’ latest offering “Go Slow”, available for streaming today. The delightfully dreamy track explores the delicate evolution of a brand new love; valiantly showing your truest self to another, while simultaneously letting go of your inhibitions to leap into the throes of passion.

“I like to think that on a very rare occasion, I can be the confident person that I envision in my head,” notes lead singer Alessia Balasbas. “Go Slow is that song for me. It’s the mirror image of the scared and insecure human looking back, it’s the self-assured, self- aware and fearless version of self. The one that doesn’t take no for an answer, the girl that will go up to anyone in anyplace and have a conversation. Not because they aren’t afraid, but because they stare their fears in the face and go right through. This song is meant to inspire and empower, I think of it as my own personal female anthem.” On a personal note of inspiration, she adds, “Meeting someone you’re meant to be with is exciting and scary at the same time. I had to jump. I had to throw caution to the wind and dive in head first. In my case, it worked out and I’m so happy I took that chance on this person.”

The track follows their debut release “Without You” and more recently “Roses“, a delicate love song showcasing elegant vocals and crystalline beats which immediately draw in listeners.

The Toronto duo couldn’t be more different from each other, but their bond over music led to the creation of their upcoming debut EP, a highly personal, vulnerable, and self-deprecating collection of songs with a get-back-up resilience, produced by Joel Stouffer (bülow, Dragonette, Ria Mae). Singer Alessia Balasbas and guitarist Eric Robbs, both multi-instrumentalists, met in 2009 and have proven that you don’t have to like the same food, movies, wardrobe or have similar personalities to work successfully together, music was always the common ground. Their early collaborations began with original pop-rock songs, but organically evolved further into the pop direction, experimenting with beats and soft synths to create the electro-pop sound that has been carving out A Is for Arrow’s place in this industry.

For more information, please visit www.aisforarrows.com.

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PRAISE FOR COTILLON

“The L.A. singer/songwriter synthesizes rock history into something new and compelling.” –  Spin

“Cotillon makes intricate, textured rock music that will sweep you up, entagle you in its grip, and lay you gently back down again.” – NYLON

“One of the things I really like about Jordan is that he is caught in this interstice between high-culture & low-culture; between the cleaner aspects of life and the grittier.” – Shane Butler of Quilt via Consequence of Sound

Cotillon, a.k.a. NY-via-LA singer, songwriter and musician Jordan Corso, today reveals new single ‘Cruiser’, taken from forthcoming album ‘Memories (Of A Seaside Vertical City)’. Listen to ‘Memories (Of A Seaside Vertical City)’ now on Spotify and Apple Music. Corso began writing songs that would ultimately become ‘Cruiser’ in mid-2018 after packing up life in NYC to take up an A&R job working between China and Japan. Abroad, he found himself coasting (or, as he describes it, “cruising”) through the laughable stress and every day unknowns of culture shock. He spent most of his nights holed up recording demos, tackling the constant “how did I get here?” moments, from days filled with laughter, liquor-fuelled adventure and longing. The demos and ideas Corso gathered abroad were returned home and filtered through the mind of Los Angeles-based producer, Bret Leinen. Brian Lee Hughes unapologetically handed the keys of his Silver Lake home (as long as Corso agreed to look after his famous art collection), and they locked themselves inside for two weeks to finish ‘Cruiser’. New single ‘Memories (Of A Seaside Vertical City)’ was written when Corso was staying in the central district of Hong Kong on the 51st floor of a tower. “The city is extremely vertical, unlike any landscape I have ever experienced.” Corso says. “I’m not used to being that high up in the air and it just makes you see the world differently. I have a fear of heights and just laying down to sleep at night was extremely uncomfortable. I was always dizzy in the apartment. It felt like I was in a spaceship looking down at the world… I could see people walking down different desire lines, fantasising about where they may end up. I was also reading a book about a young man who lets go of his first love. This song just kind of came together as a product of these thoughts and feelings… vertigo… fictional loss.” While Cotillon’s first two albums amplified Corso’s gift for direct lyrical expression and melody amidst grit and distortion, ‘Cruiser’, produced by Bret Lienen, moves further into the dream-pop realm, at times recalling soft-voiced indie-pop acts like Hovvdy and (Sandy) Alex G. 2017’s ‘The Afternoons‘, released on Burger Records and Dinosaur City Records, was embraced by early lovers of Cotillon’s debut LP and new fans alike, receiving tremendous support from outlets including Pitchfork, Stereogum, Consequence of Sound, The Fader, Dork and Nylon. Cotillon went on tour with highly acclaimed acts including The Chills, Hinds and Lee Ranaldo across the USA, Europe and Asia. 2020’s ‘Cruiser’ is available to pre-order now on Anniversary and Dinosaur City Records. Out May 14, it is Cotillon’s third album overall, and their second for Dinosaur City Records. Pre-order ‘Cruiser’ here.

Cotillon ‘Cruiser’ Out May 141. AFK (Introduction) 2. Orbit 3. Archer 4. Memories (of a seaside vertical city) 5. Purple Summer 99 6. Cruiser 7. Last Train Home (Harajuku) 8. Knife / Throat 9. Lily Adler 10. Pocari Threat

“[Cotillon’s] music mixes DIY glam with shoegaze and the melancholy indie rock of Girls and other familiars .” –  KEXP “Considered, heartfelt and beautifully intentioned.” –  DORK “Poetically, he’s an elegant fighter for his own subset of like-minded people. Melodically, he’s an expert at exploring the interesting wrinkles on the edges of previous masterpieces.” –  Brian Lee Hughes via Issue Mag

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