@skopemag news – monday – december 28, 2020 @ 10 am est

@skopemag HQ – http://smarturl.it/skope

Shafluss – The Game (Ko Le Ye)

An assertion of incomparable experiences; Afrobeat’s hottest new creator Shafluss makes this declaration in his new hit single The Game (Ko Le Ye).

Collaborating with Chefbeatz, the two have managed to curate a sound the industry didn’t know it was missing. Blending spicy African rhythms with familiar Hip-Hop flare, layered with Shafluss’s out of bound vocals, the two creatives have seemingly established a winning formula.

Directed by creative guru Liban Prime, and shot by Calgary’s premier videographer LK Visuals; the quality and aesthetic ingenuity to The Game (Ko Le Ye) video sets the bar high in terms of what to expect from a Shafluss video. The video has some of the most clever and technical shot combination the Canadian music scene has witnessed in a while.

WEDGE: go all-out rock’n’roll with new track “Playing A Role”!

Berlin rock’n’rollers WEDGE unleash an ecstatic and delightful new track taken from their third studio album “Like No Tomorrow”, dropping January 15th on Heavy Psych Sounds. Come taste the frenzy of the 60s and embrace the contagious spontaneity of “Playing A Role” now!

WEDGE comment: “Playing A Role” is our tribute to the great wild garage rock riffs of the 60s or the raw side of bands like The Kinks, The Sonics, MC5. It’s also one of our catchiest tunes on the new album, one you can definitely party to. Of course we ‘wedged’ things up quite a bit, so there is a good amount of fuzz & a spacey/hypnotic middle section, which includes something we call the chicken part. See if you can spot it! Lyrically, it’s about people hiding behind fake personas and plastic attitudes. We’re down-to-earth guys, so naturally we can’t stand pretentious folks. “Playing A Role” is our musical middle finger to all those hyped up characters.”

Premiere: Wedge ‘Playing A Role’

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah shares new track

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah are excited to share “Where They Perform Miracles” from their anticipated new album New Fragility (due February 12, 2021 via CYHSY / Secretly Distribution).

(Skope) Liberian-born Finnish composer dissects the capitalist machine with gospel-infused prog rock

Hailing all the way from Finland, Liberian-born composer Jesse Markin utilises elements of indie-pop, Rap, RnB and African folk; a craft beyond any genre limitations. Having spent years as a member of the hip-hop group ‘The Megaphone state’, Markin embarked on his solo career. Demonstrating his multi-layered soundscape through melodic vocal displays, ambient guitar strings and gospel samples, new single ‘Counting Money on a Sunday’ sees Markin express his ambivalent feelings towards capitalism.

VINCENT CROWLEY BAND signs with ODIUM RECORDS

After 30 years of fronting Black / Death Metal underground legends ACHERON, lead vocalist Vincent Crowley put the group to the rest to pursue a solo career with the VINCENT CROWLEY BAND. Back from the blacked Abyss, this new musical entity veers to a different dark path from his past work. Instead, the material is influenced by all kinds of metal music and is hard to be automatically lumped into any certain genre. Along with their macabre music, a visual stage – show of horror is planned for live performances.

“Beyond Acheron” was recorded at Sonic Lounge Studios with Joe Viers as a producer. This 8-track album has a dark sound, while maintaining a great production.

Bellaire drops funk-laden new single ‘My Love’

French DJ and producer Bellaire sounds off 2020 with new single ‘My Love’, out 16th December.

A sunkissed, funk-laden house jam, ‘My Love’ pairs a punchy bassline with a seductive looped vocal sample and the most irresistible of piano breakdowns. It marks his second single release of the year, following on from June’s ‘Daytime’, a slick blend of house, disco and soul flavours.

“My Love draws from all influences I’ve been into recently. I wanted this track to be as funky as possible, which is why I used 70’s legendary synths, allowing warm sonorities like you can also find in France’s 2000 house music.” Bellaire explains. “Above all I created ‘My Love’ for clubs, perfect for ‘peak time’. I truly can’t wait to play it in my DJ sets after this challenging time we all go through.”

Ivorian Doll marks her birthday with new track release ‘Clout’

2020 breakout star Ivorian Doll sounds off a memorable year with another no-holds-barred release in the form of new single ‘Clout’, out today.

Released on her birthday, ‘Clout’ sees the East London MC flaunt her seamless flow and powerful vocal delivery as she calls out the sketchy behaviour of her rivals amidst menacing drill beats and gun shot samples.

Young Knives share animated video for new single “Jenny Haniver” | New album “Barbarians” out now

Young Knives (brothers Henry Dartnall and The House of Lords) are today sharing an animated video for their new single “Jenny Haniver”, created by Iman Mahdy. Following a series of unfiltered and unsettling self-made video releases from the band, throughout the release of new album Barbarians, they wanted to hand control of the visuals around “Jenny Haniver” to Iman Mahdy, who they met through the Women’s Music Project in Oxford and is part South London’s Blkbrd Collective. With the song itself being about perceptions of beauty, it felt natural that an artist external to the band would offer their own interpretation.

NICK MULVEY PREMIERES ‘BEGIN AGAIN’ SHORT FILM

Following the summer digital release of his stunning EP ‘Begin Again’, Nick Mulvey today releases a visually stunning and thought-provoking short film exploring the themes and origins of the EP’s three tracks. The film sees Nick explore themes of ancestry, sustainability, nature, grief, the pandemic, and more. It’s profound, beautifully shot and refreshingly different from the traditional album or tour documentary format.

DEFTONES’ ADOPT-A-DOT FUNDRAISER DONATES PROCEEDS TO UC DAVIS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL & CREW NATION

Closing out 2020 on a very positive note, Deftones have completed their ‘Adopt-a-Dot’ fundraiser and made a donation of $52,500 to UC Davis Children’s Hospital and $52,500 to ‘Crew Nation’—a global relief fund for live music crews who have been impacted by COVID-19.

Deftones explain, “With pride, today we’re making our Adopt-A-Dot donations to UC Davis Children’s Hospital and Crew Nation. Hopefully these will go to making things a little easier for those facing challenging times. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our fans and friends that contributed to this campaign. We sincerely thank you all.”

LISTEN: Studio 54 Music Presents Life on Planets – ‘Grateful’

Launched back in May earlier this year, Studio 54’s official record label has announced their final single of the year Grateful, by Baltimore bred, Brooklyn underground mainstay Phill Celeste aka Life On Planets. The track is a hard hitting future disco and r&b banger, a description that many can debate as it is a unique sound hard to put in the box.

It will be followed up by second single and feel good groover ‘Everyday’ to be released in Jan 2021 that will include two versions: the Life on Planets ‘Original Mix’; Phill’s signature sexy, minimal, and BK after hours sound; and the ‘Studio 54 Remix’ a feel good disco mix perfect for the dancefloor, beach, and living room, mixed by Studio 54’s in house go-to Morgan Wiley, featuring mesmerizing additional production work by Kris Vanderheyden.

Globally acclaimed producer Alok has launched his own social institute called Instituto Alok

Brazilian DJ and producer Alok has launched a social institute bearing his own name, and has donated 5.2 million dollars (biggest donation made by a Brazilian artist) to the foundation.

Throughout his life, Alok has been dedicated to social causes and been dedicated to human and environmental development in the world, especially in Brazil. He sought inspiration from charities he has supported in the past, with the objective of financing projects to combat social exclusion and foster access to opportunities, especially for young people and women in vulnerable, rural and urban areas in Brazil.

Ready for broadcast… Halelujah from Hip Hop / Gospel duo Shedo and Wizzit

Artist Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

Shedo and Wizzit are Christians; believers of Christ. They matched their music together in 2018 when they met in church and became good friends.

Shedrick, known as Shedo, started music at the age of 12. He is from small town in the North West province and is currently a professional Teacher.

London Rapper, Yella Tzairi Returns With New ‘Prisoner’ EP

London based rapper Yella Tzairi is back with her second EP ‘Prisoner’. The Camden born and raised artist mixes Hip Hop, RnB and Pop to great effect, fusing contemporary rap with melodic hooks to create catchy tunes with depth and commercial appeal. Working with mental health charity and record label Key Changes, Yella has come through a number of personal issues and found a self confidence which shines on the new EP.

HIRAKI: Aarhus, Denmark-Based Progressive/Extreme Noise Rock Trio To Release New LP Through Nefarious Industries In Early 2021

Nefarious Industries welcomes Aarhus, Denmark-based HIRAKI to the label family, as the band prepares to unleash their explosive new LP in the first quarter of 2021.

As a part of Denmark’s flourishing underground scene for dark and heavy music, the HIRAKI trio deploys an aggressive style of progressive synthpunk from the edge of the abyss. The band presents this sonic assault to accompany the inevitable fact that our world is sick, and we all take part in maintaining the fucked up systematic structures. Encouraged by boundless acts like Daughters, Street Sects, and The Body, the band relies on gnawing synthesizers, ripping guitars, and crushing drums to deliver the foundation from which the vocals burst forth, with concepts about corrupted data and moral decay.

YUNG BLEU UNVEILS EMOTIONAL VIDEO FOR “YOU’RE MINES STILL” FEAT. DRAKE ON OVO SOUND

With his breakout year in full swing, Alabama artist Yung Bleu (aka Blue Vandross) delivers a brilliant new video for his smash “Your Mines Still” featuring Drake. Nearly 60 million cumulative streams later, the song that catapulted Yung Bleu into the media spotlight is now accompanied by an emotional roller coaster of a video featuring influencer India Love. Shot in Los Angeles, the visual paints a vivid story of a wedding with Bleu’s acting ability on display. “You’re Mines Still” appear’s on Bleu’s 2020 EP Love Scars: The 5 Stages Of Emotion.

GBHBL premieres Pyramido’s new music video for Fänrik Källbacks sägner

Sweden’s Pyramido shares a music video for “Fänrik Källbacks sägner”. The track is featured on the band’s latest, fifth studio album “Fem”, released on The Sign Records in September 2019. Being one of the shortest and fastest songs Pyramido has ever written, the lyrics to “Fänrik Källbacks sägner” tackles the issue of bullying. Dan Widing comments the track and video:

Video Premiere: Pyramido – Fänrik Källback sägner

NAPALM RECORDS Expands Rock & Metal Empire with Acquisition of SPV

Internationally esteemed heavy rock and metal record labels Napalm Records Handels GmbH and SPV GmbH are pleased to announce that they have joined forces, combining decades of renowned expertise and passion for music, their artists, and those who inspire it all – the fans. Napalm Records’ acquisition of SPV was completed at the end of November 2020 and represents a logical step in the Austrian company’s global strategy.

Claud shares video for ‘Soft Spot’

Today Claud shares the video for their single ‘Soft Spot,’ the second single taken from their forthcoming debut album Super Monster (out 12th February via Saddest Factory Records). The melancholic pop song has found fast success around the globe since its release earlier this month. Following a premiere on Zane Lowe’s Beats1 show, it earned continued plays from Lauren Laverne and Amy Lamé at BBC 6 Music and Jack Saunders & Steve Lamacq at BBC Radio 1.

Listen: Sim Fane releases dreamy maxisingle ‘closure’ ft Elijah Waters

Rising Dutch producer Sim Fane has just released new maxisingle closure featuring Elijah Waters, the Rotterdam-based artist who delivered a stunning COLORS show earlier this year.

Specialising in trap and electronic beats, Sim Fane has lent his production prowess to some of the biggest names in Dutch music such as Hef and Ares, and played a large part in the album Snowsniper by S10 which received a prestigious Edison Award. He’s also set to produce the sequel to New Wave – one of the most important hip-hop albums in Dutch history – and is a frequent collaborator to rising artist Joya Mooi, having produced single Bitter Parts for her recent EP Blossom Carefully. This year, he’s had major love from Baauer, Flume, Hudson Mohawke and RL Grime for his recent submissions for Baauer’s Bop Battle competition.

(Skope) Glaswegian songwriter Crawford Mack explores music-evoked nostalgia through new artistic visuals

+ Taken from his recently released debut album ‘Bread & Circuses’, Glaswegian songwriter Crawford Mack performs with a sense of purpose and ardour in new video ‘Turning’. An ode to the legacy that people leave through their art, the new abstract visual directed and animated by Alex Uragallo opens with a record spinning, which flourishes into everyday objects; a cleverly crafted metaphor capturing the idea that music evokes nostalgic memories.

TIA CARYS SHARES VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE ‘TROUBLE TRAIN’

Determined to hold on to her unapologetic roots and articulate free spirit, ‘Trouble Train’ sees Tia lay down bars dripping with charisma and confidence. Dembow rhythms and whistling hooks produced by Knox Brown bounce behind Tia’s lyrics that show us a different and self-assured side to the rapper.

Nique Got-It | “Kitchen” – (Official Music Video)

CMC Entertainmet LLC presents and supports Muskegon, Michigan based rapper and recording artist Nique Got-It in street banger, Kitchen. ” You owe me better pay me, every cent just like 50 / Oh you think I’m playing / I ain’t shy with my glizzy” , says Nique Got-It. He made it clear throughout this record you gotta stay out his kitchen and most importantly out his way!

BEWITCHER Announces New Album ‘Cursed Be Thy Kingdom’ Out April 16th

BEWITCHER vocalist and guitarist M. von Bewitcher states, “We summoned the mighty Paolo Girardi to deliver us a cover that visually depicted a few of the lyrical themes within the album. It has a Renaissance-era vibe to it, but it also incorporates some nods to the band’s past. It’s filled with all kinds of omens, harbingers, and all that cool dark, evil looking shit that is a necessity in any heavy metal album cover of merit! Get your dose of black magic on April 16th, when ‘Cursed Be Thy Kingdom’ is finally turned loose upon the world”.

Recorded at The Captain’s Quarters in Ventura, California by Armand John Anthony (Night Demon), and mixed by Cameron Webb (Motörhead, Megadeth), Cursed Be Thy Kingdom is a powerhouse, heavy-metal-rock-‘n’-roll record forged in the white hot fires of Hell.

Nathaniel Rateliff premieres new song “Redemption” today

Today, Nathaniel Rateliff premieres “Redemption,” a new song the acclaimed singer-songwriter wrote for the forthcoming Apple Original film, Palmer. Premiering globally on January 29, 2021, exclusively on Apple TV+, Palmer stars Justin Timberlake (The Social Network, Bad Teacher, Alpha Dog), Alisha Wainwright (“Raising Dion,” “Shadowhunters”) and Juno Temple (The Dark Knight Rises, Atonement). The film, directed by Fisher Stevens (Stand Up Guys, Before the Flood, The Cove), tells the story of former high-school football star Eddie Palmer (Timberlake), who went from hometown hero to convicted felon, earning himself twelve years in a state penitentiary.