Feature stories and artist interviews
Have a look below, as Jason Rylan tells us more about his single “Powerless”: Skope: Was there any one incident that inspired the writing of “Powerless”? Jason Rylan: I would say that COVID-19 and all of last year definitely inspired Powerless. But to take it a step further, I think anyone with feelings of stress,…
A delightful mix of synth pop and funk, Jason Rylan captures the zeitgeist with “Powerless”. Lyrics lead the way for they speak to this very moment with a message of hope. The way Jason explores the hopelessness of the pandemic alongside the optimism for what life will be like after feels gorgeous. Production stuns for…
Breaking Tamil-Swiss vocalist and songwriter Priya Ragu shares her new single, “Chicken Lemon Rice,” today via Warner Records; check it out HERE and watch the official video HERE – Priya says: “‘Chicken Lemon Rice’ is a celebration of unity and diversity. It’s here to commemorate all the beautiful cultures of the world. The world is…
@skopemag HQ – http://smarturl.it/skope Marie Naffah releases stunning video for ‘Wasteland’ Marie Naffah has released the video for her brand new single ‘Wasteland’, taken from her forthcoming EP out later this year. The video premiered with Clash who said, “Marie Naffah’s punchy vocals speak for themselves. She makes each song feel like a statement, working…
Money can’t buy happiness, but it can motivate you to live a better life! Metro-Atlanta rapper Frank Hugo knows what it’s like to have started from having nothing. Growing up poor, he remembers being four years old, living with his great-grandmother and great aunt in a two-bedroom home with 12 other relatives. At the age…
Anarchist Emma Goldman once said “If I can’t dance, it’s not my revolution”. This is exactly the stance which President Street has taken when writing and releasing their protest song, ‘Time Is Up’. Inspired by the many movements the world saw over the last few years – whether climate change, marriage equality, LGBTQIA rights, police…
Four song EP release Dancing Trees is Federico Balducci’s latest collection in a short but impactful musical journey bursting with jazz inflections yet tethered to the composer’s Latin roots. You hear some of that in the opening track “Roots and Silence”, an appropriate title given the immediately apparent respect Balducci treats music with. There are…
The beat pounces on us like a wild animal in the middle of the jungle, but the assault it unleashes is surprisingly tame in comparison to the hazing harmony soon to adorn its percussive presence. The melodies are as strong as an overproof rum, and yet they’re constructed to draw us ever closer with every…
Raveena returns today to share a new song and accompanying visual. Produced by Everett Orr, “Tweety” adopts the same whimsical energy of the song’s namesake, with the accompanying visualizer directed by Raveena and Chris Cadaver bringing it to life as Raveena makes her way through a series of surrealist, candy-colored backdrops. “Tweety,” out via 12Tone…
@skopemag HQ – http://smarturl.it/skope SYML to share new EP DIM April 16, new single “STAY CLOSE” + video out today “This is a personal song,” says SYML about “STAY CLOSE.” “My father has been slowly dying of pancreatic cancer for almost two years. It’s certainly about grief, but it’s also about a love so deep,…
Music history is packed with songs featuring happy music put to otherwise sad lyrics. One good exemplar of this practice is The Cure. Robert Smith and his various rotating backing musicians have always created bouncy little tunes that many times also include morose lyrics. This is an unusual combination we’ve become quite accustomed to, and…
A soulful blend, Pascal Bokar delivers something that feels good for the heart on the joyous burst of “American Trails”. Described as Afro Bluegrass, the depiction feels accurate. There is a celebratory atmosphere that permeates the entirety of the collection one that draws the listener into something so vivid and outright beautiful. So many instruments…
Artist Lucy & La Mer teamed up with LGBTQ Influencer/Author Haley Faulkner to create a romantic, light-hearted music video about long-distance relationships. The pair, already known for their own individual content on social media, self-filmed an entire music video on their phones from opposite sides of the US. Lucy, based in Los Angeles, plays a…
North Carolina native Lenci, is not afraid to express her affinity for synthesizing music genres through her songwriting and instrumentation. With her songs often about the trials of love and life she has given her music a unique title; “My music reflects who I am internally and externally, even the parts I try to hide…
@skopemag HQ – http://smarturl.it/skope The Caracal Project and Leotrix Link Up on Forward-Thinking Glitchy Collab “New Lesson” on Gud Vibrations – Feb 12 The boundless project from France known as The Caracal Project has been pushing the envelope as he explores various BPMs with a maddening pace. He’s now joining forces with an equally ground-breaking…
@skopemag HQ – http://smarturl.it/skope Lucki and Lil Yachty Don’t Need “Greed” in Their New Video Single Serving confessional, incantatory rhymes with his distinctive croak, Lucki plumbs the depths of his soul in his music. Serving up a hypnotic, bite-sized banger, Lucki shares “Greed,” his new video single. Built around a swirling flute melody and clunking…
Having been Dralms touring drummer for a number of years, it feels as though Zane Coppard’s cover of Plants Behind Glass is a long time in the making. Originally starting out as a session drummer in Vancouver’s bustling music scene Zane started to hone his songwriting and production craft around the time of playing with…
Maribased1’s music is second to none, and that’s because he is on a mission to demonstrate that “Seattle music is real”- not hard to do, since the rapper’s universal sound sustains the weight of his city. Four of his recent videos – “Score’N”, “Bouncin’”, “Mystery Girl”, and “Thee End” – have received major programming love…
Night Beats, the Texas-born brainchild of Danny Lee Blackwell, are today announcing their fifth full-length Outlaw R&B and sharing the first single, “New Day.” Arriving following the Dan Auerbach-produced Myth of a Man LP (Heavenly Recordings) and the recent “That’s All You Got” 7′, Night Beats’ latest long-player lands May 7th via Fuzz Club Records.…
@skopemag HQ – http://smarturl.it/skope Reuben Koops | ‘Like the Movies’ – NEW SINGLE After a three year hiatus, Reuben Koops is back with a stunning new single Like the Movies, due for release on December 10. The modest, yet captivating acoustic track is a departure from more recent band-oriented material; back to his singer/songwriter roots.…
As vacations have been scarce lately, you can almost feel your ears perk to the upbeat, cruising-in-a- convertible sounds of Casual Vice. It’s easy to picture yourself on a road trip to anywhere, sun streaming down as the emotion-fueled pulse of promise pours out of the speakers. That’s the intention behind Casual Vice’s second EP,…
MADAME MAYHEM released her new single “Cruel Heart” to all digital platforms today! The single was co-written by Madame Mayhem and Keith Wallen (of Breaking Benjamin). “This was one of the first songs Keith Wallen and I wrote together. I always have such a great experience co-writing with Keith. I remember listening to this demo…
@skopemag HQ – http://smarturl.it/skope Memphis drone duo Nonconnah releases new album, shares video Nonconnah — Zachary and Denny Wilkerson Corsa — share their most ambitious sonic tapestries yet, spun across four extended tracks of swirling guitars and haunted static frequencies, and joined by special guests Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy, Arcade Fire) and synthwave juggernaut Jenn…
Sweden’s rising r’n’b/pop icon Zikai earned praise from Complex and Wonderland after her previous single ‘Twenty Something’ focused on the hedonism and lack of direction that comes with early adulthood. Adept at channelling an array of emotions into her music, Zikai now dives into nostalgia with her new single ‘Stay This Way’ with Jim Ouma.…
Not resting on the success of her brilliant disco-pop EP Introducing: Hedda Mae, Bergen’s pop starlet Hedda Mae is back with a brand new single, the 90s and 00s pop-channeling “Take It Or Leave It”. It’s out now! With all the moves, hooks and contagious personality of a 21st century pop star, Hedda Mae is…
@skopemag HQ – http://smarturl.it/skope TOTO Lead Singer Joseph Williams Debuts “Wilma Fingadoux” From Forthcoming Album He offers, “’Wilma Fingadoux’ is the latest in a long line of musical messages, songs and poems to my mother who died at the age of 41. I was 13 years old. This song is a reflection of the painful…
If you like psychedelic-sounding guitar work, you’ll likely love Jude Gwynaire’s single “King Sol and the Merwoman.” It’s nearly nine minutes of swirling, mystical musical vibes. Gwynaire created this long instrumental with acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar, electric guitar, as well as percussion, virtual Irish pipes, and virtual trumpets. This track’s opening melody has a sound…
Granfalloon, the recording project of Manchester alt-folk artist Richard Lomax, is releasing unplugged album ‘RGB Live’. Recorded in one night last December, this album captures a special performance of the Granfalloon album ‘RGB’ by Lomax, stripped back to acoustic guitar and vocals. The album is released on 5th February 2021 to launch the new Granfalloon…
Today the rising talent of KINGS ELLIOT returns with the accompanying visual for her touching latest single ‘DANCING ALONE’ – a heartfelt pop-noir ballad about navigating a relationship through the choppy waters of mental health issues. Speaking more on the video, Kings Elliot shares: “I filmed this video outside my house on my phone and…
@skopemag HQ – http://smarturl.it/skope Moontype (seen in NYT, Stereogum FADER) announce debut LP/Share “About You” Today, Moontype have announced their debut LP Bodies of Water, which will be released on up and coming Chicago imprint Born Yesterday Records. The announcement arrives on the heels of the release of the band’s debut single “Ferry” in December…
Matt Westin delivers a spellbinding piece that feels ever so timely with “Thin Blue Line”. Sung with such soul Matt proves to be a virtual force of nature, for his deep voice contains such passion behind it. Lyrically the song reflects upon the difficulties faced by so many, the danger they willing put themselves into,…
In Nashville, in Southern California, in small clubs and honky-tonks all over Country Nation, the tide is turning. A new generation of smart, articulate, and fiercely talented young women are taking the airwaves by storm. They’re making music that’s too good – and too much fun – to be ignored. The future of country is…
Pete Beat is a UK-based artist with an alternative sound that is refreshing and tinged with dark humour. He recently released new single ‘Drinking Lager’ featuring his rich North-East accent and kooky lyrics. The Beach Boys I think the best of the Beach Boys 1960s output is the most sublime music I’ve ever heard, and…
Lyrically driven, brazen and bold, singer-songwriter Ella-Jane Sharpe hold nothing back with her newest single “The Truth”. Cutting deep to the truth of it all and overcoming a break-up, Ella-Jane exemplifies the notion that all you need to do sometimes is just dance your heartache away. – https://open.spotify.com/track/1lGo2ejZZxr1bqAncGkTQU Ella-Jane Sharpe is a British-Australian Jazz and…
@skopemag HQ – http://smarturl.it/skope Artist: HOFF – Track: Another Country Song Since he made his first trip to the US when he was a young boy HOFF was fascinated by Country Music. Growing up he listened to everything from Hank Williams to Keith Urban. Every time he went on Vacation to the US his travel…
Based out of England “She Made Me Do It” is a music project that is more unique than each and every one of the trillions of snowflakes said to have it’s own identity as it falls to Earth. Guitarist Will Crewdson (Adam Ant, Bow Wow Wow, Rachael Stamp) and Vocalist/bassist Shaheena Dax (Rachael Stamp) along…
Emerging Hip Hop Performer/Producer Jesse Eplan has teamed up with Da Last Phoenix & Kfedey to release the video for their single “Ecstasy”, available now on Spotify and all the major services. – https://open.spotify.com/album/5lmPmGAYsQLHpa60AbC486 With major influences ranging from artists like Future to Lil Uzi Vert, Chris Brown and Travis Scott – Jesse Eplan has…
@skopemag HQ – http://smarturl.it/skope Ghosts Of Men: Rallying joint single ‘Hold On’ Heavy, alternative two-piece rockers Ghosts Of Men announce the release of their joint single with Samantics on 5 February. ‘Hold On’ comes ahead of the band dropping their second album ‘Exhale’ (from which it’s taken) on 14 May 2021. The band will release…
Effectively managing business finances is one of the common challenges that most small business owners face these days. While keeping the day to day business operations running smoothly, managing human resources, and creatively managing other important business tasks, business finances often neglected. As a small business owner, if you don’t have much experience in business…
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, London-based singer Ashleigh Bankx has shared sultry love song “Angel” alongside some steamy visuals. The independent artist’s first official release, “Angel” is an impassioned love song that arrives with accompanying visuals to set the mood. Inspired by the likes of Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse, Nina Simone and Rihanna, as…
