Spider Rockets distribute the official music video “The Storm”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Certified Dope Release “Maneater”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Boston Singer-Songwriter Releases Her Third Single, “it isn’t like that” in September
Boston, MA – September 2026 – Emerging singer-songwriter Abby Hayes from Boston, MA releases her third single, “it isn’t like that,” September 18th. Hayes blends indie-pop production with vulnerable lyrics about her own lived experience. The song delivers a personal explanation of her own fears and being stuck in her own head when it comes to relationships. Inspired by artists like Niamh McCrystal and Gracie Abrams, Hayes used similar production techniques to demonstrate the emotional vulnerability of the song.
Streaming Link: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/abbyhayes/it-isnt-like-that
Hayes began songwriting in 2023 as well as composing her own music. What started as a creative challenge quickly evolved into a way of processing real-life experiences, shaping the vulnerable and honest sound that defines her music.
“it isn’t like that” follows Hayes’s two prior releases, “i wish i left sooner” (released in May 2026) and “circles” (released in July 2026). “it isn’t like that” was written and composed by Hayes in collaboration with producer Chris Billias at Bristol Studios in Boston. It will be available on all streaming platforms on September 18, 2026.
Socials: TikTok/Instagram/YouTube – @abbyhayesmusic
PONDER THE ALBATROSS RELEASES “OVER HILL AND HOLLOW,” A SONG SHAPED BY THE OPEN ROAD, INSTINCT AND A FULL-CIRCLE STUDIO MOMENT
The September 18 title track features Cooper McBean of The Devil Makes Three on banjo and previews the band’s forthcoming album, Over Hill & Hollow, arriving October 2
DENVER, CO — September 18, 2026 — Americana and folk-rooted band Ponder the Albatross releases “Over Hill and Hollow” on Friday, September 18. The title track from the band’s forthcoming album, Over Hill & Hollow, brings together years of life on the road, the natural rise and fall of experience and a spontaneous decision at Sonic Ranch that changed the direction of the recording session.
Frontman Josh Bower first began hearing pieces of the song while traveling, including on a dusty road near Moab, Utah. An unexpected spark came from the cover of High Performance Habits, a book a bandmate had given him. The phrase led Bower to think about the habits people feed—the vices that may provide temporary shelter but eventually demand a toll.
As the song took shape, Bower drew on contrasts between darkness and light, the pull of difficult paths and imagery inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien. The title arrived naturally. He continued writing after moving back to Arkansas, where the landscape of hills and hollows gave the song an even deeper sense of place.
Unlike much of the band’s material, “Over Hill and Hollow” had never been fully rehearsed or arranged before the recording session. While Ponder the Albatross was working at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, several planned songs were not coming together as expected. Standing in the booth and tuning his guitar, Bower decided it was now or never and brought the unfinished song to producer Ted Hutt and engineer Ryan Mall.
After hearing it, Hutt told the band, “Let’s give this some time. I do like what we have been doing with this other tune, but I do think I might like this one a little better—it kind of reminds me of The Devil Makes Three.”
The comparison carried special weight for Bower. The Devil Makes Three has long been a major influence, and the moment became a powerful affirmation of the songwriting journey he has pursued since he was 17 years old.
“Something in that studio brought me back to myself and my place as a songwriter and musician,” says Bower. “I’ve been chasing this dream since I was 17. To hear the band bring the song to life for the first time in that room felt like something bigger was happening.”
The band built the arrangement from the ground up in the studio. As the track came together, the emotional impact was immediate; Bower recalls bassist Eric fighting back tears as everyone realized they had found something special.
Then came another full-circle moment. Hearing a banjo part in the song, Hutt invited Cooper McBean of The Devil Makes Three to play on the recording. The connection was especially meaningful because The Devil Makes Three was the last band Hutt had worked with in that particular room at Sonic Ranch. Nearly a decade earlier, Bower had seen the group perform at Belly Up Aspen with Shakey Graves opening—long before he could have imagined McBean appearing on one of his own songs.
“Over Hill and Hollow” now stands as one of the clearest expressions of Ponder the Albatross: road-worn, reflective and rooted in the belief that the right song can find its moment through instinct, trust and a willingness to take the risk.
The single follows “Holy Road,” “1879” and “Genocide” and sets the stage for the full Over Hill & Hollow album, arriving October 2, 2026.
“Over Hill and Hollow” will be available on all major streaming platforms beginning Friday, September 18.
ABOUT PONDER THE ALBATROSS
Ponder the Albatross is an Americana and folk-rooted band known for blending roots music, rock energy, vivid storytelling and dynamic musicianship. Led by singer-songwriter Josh Bower, the band creates songs centered on perseverance, human connection and life’s winding journey. Their forthcoming album, Over Hill & Hollow, will be released October 2, 2026.
For more information, visit https://www.ponderthealbatross.com and follow Ponder the Albatross on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Spotify.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ponderthealbatross/
Michelle Renae Takes a Gamble on Modern Love with New Single “Pretty as Vegas”
Nashville-based independent pop artist Michelle Renae returns with “Pretty as Vegas,” a synth pop new single arriving September 18. Written and produced by Renae, the track transforms the confusion of modern dating into a night at the casino, where love is a gamble and everyone looks a little better under the city lights.
Inspired by Renae’s upbringing in Las Vegas, “Pretty as Vegas” pairs dark ’80s-influenced synths, stacked vocals, groovy guitar and casino-floor sounds with a playful but cynical look at romance. Michael Jackson’s sound and showmanship were a major sonic influence on the track, particularly in its rhythmic pop production and dramatic energy.
At the center of the song is the lyric, “Everybody’s pretty as Vegas under the city lights,” capturing the contrast between appearance and reality that runs throughout the track. Its chorus pushes the metaphor further: “The gamble of your life / Lay a heart I’ll give you mine”
“Pretty as Vegas” also marks the beginning of a larger creative world for Renae, who is developing a body of music inspired by the city where she grew up and using Las Vegas as a backdrop for stories about relationships, ambition, illusion and human connection.
Audio: https://on.soundcloud.com/9Gsmd40z05aldk9n1V
Downloadable Audio: https://app.landr.com/projects/99add1c4-c073-454d-885c-43c259179235?publicToken=c8adde7e-db96-427b-a432-15c5db93aa07&sharing
DSP Audio Link: (will connect to all DSPs once it hits 9/18) https://artists.landr.com/991048839458
Social: https://www.instagram.com/michelle.renae.muse/
Kasey Watts distributes the official music video “Speakers 2.0”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
South London’s Valentina Begins A New Chapter With Her Debut Single
South London artist Valentina introduces herself with a soulful debut shaped by family, resilience and a deep love of music, ahead of its release on 18 September 2026
There are entertainers who want to be famous, and then there are artists who simply cannot imagine doing anything other than making music.
For South London singer-songwriter Valentina, music has never been about chasing attention. It has been the one constant throughout her life — a way of expressing emotions, finding herself again and connecting with other people. Now, after years of performing, studying music and building her confidence on stages in the UK and Italy, Valentina is ready to begin her next chapter with the release of her debut single on 18 September 2026.
“I want to sing and perform because I genuinely love music and I love what it can do.”
It is a philosophy that sits at the heart of The Valentina Story.
Born and raised in South London, Valentina comes from an Italian and Filipino family and grew up surrounded by music, food, family and performance. Italy has been a second home since childhood, with summers spent there and extended family and close connections across the country. That connection has also become an important part of her musical journey, with Valentina already performing to audiences of thousands of people in Italy.
Her musical influences reach well beyond her own generation. Inspired by the likes of Amy Winehouse, Adele and Raye, as well as soul, R&B, jazz and classical music, Valentina has been described as a young artist with an older, soulful voice.
Rather than attempting to recreate the past, she wants to take the music she loves and find a place for those influences within her own generation.
“I’m a young artist, but I’ve always been told that I have an older, soulful voice,” she explains. “I want to take those influences and find where they belong in my own music today.”
Music That Helped Her Find Herself
Valentina’s relationship with music became particularly important during her teenage years.
At around 16, she went through a difficult period marked by bullying, isolation and a desperate desire to fit in. She found herself changing who she was in an attempt to gain acceptance, eventually reaching a point where she no longer recognised herself.
Music became her escape.
Writing lyrics gave Valentina somewhere to put emotions she didn’t yet know how to express, particularly through songs about heartbreak and the experiences she was going through at the time.
Slowly, music helped her find herself again.
That experience continues to influence the way she approaches songwriting today. For Valentina, a song is not simply something to perform. It can be a place where another person recognises themselves.
“I’ve experienced firsthand how a song can meet you at a point in your life when you feel completely lost and make you feel understood,” she says. “That’s also why honesty matters to me when I write.”
It is this human connection that Valentina hopes to carry into her music at a time when technology and social media can sometimes make creativity feel increasingly manufactured.
A Performer From The Very Beginning
In many ways, Valentina has been preparing for a life on stage since childhood.
Her parents apparently realised she could sing before she did, after hearing her harmonising along to Adele in the car. At home, music was part of everyday family life, including a weekly karaoke tradition with her Filipino relatives.
Her grandfather, an opera singer who could rarely be separated from his guitar, was another major influence. Valentina remembers him performing wherever he went and describes him as one of her biggest supporters.
Sadly, he passed away before hearing her original music — something Valentina says still breaks her heart.
His passion for music, however, remains part of her story.
As a child, Valentina was also involved in almost every school production from Year 7 through Year 12 after receiving a drama scholarship. She loved acting, dancing and singing, although her natural R&B style occasionally appeared where a more traditional musical-theatre approach was expected.
And despite being incredibly shy about singing in front of other people, she was regularly encouraged by her father to perform at family events. What she once found embarrassing ultimately helped build the confidence she would need as a professional performer.
From A Shy Girl Hiding In Wardrobes To Thousands -Strong Italian Crowds
Valentina’s transformation as a performer is perhaps best illustrated by one of her childhood habits: hiding around the house so nobody could hear her practising.
Today, she has performed at venues including COYA Mayfair, Bardo St James’s and Ronnie Scott’s, the latter representing a particularly significant milestone.
Influenced heavily by jazz and soul and inspired by Amy Winehouse, performing at Ronnie Scott’s had long been an ambition. But the significance went beyond the venue itself: it was the first time Valentina performed her own original music in front of an audience.
Then came Italy.
At Minturno Musica Estate, Valentina performed in front of thousands of people — her biggest audience to date. Performing in another country was challenging enough, but doing so while addressing thousands of people in a language that isn’t her first made the achievement even more significant.
She spoke to the crowd in Italian, performed her music and embraced the moment.
The journey from the young girl who once hid to sing privately to a performer confidently facing thousands of people has become one of the defining stories of Valentina’s career so far.
Two Hours, One Italian Classic And A Stage With Al Bano
Her connection with Italy has also produced one of the most unexpected moments of her career.
While on holiday, Valentina was due to open a show for legendary Italian singer Al Bano. Approximately two hours before the performance, he asked her to join him on stage to sing “Felicità”, his biggest hit.
There was just one problem: Italian isn’t Valentina’s first language.
With only two hours to prepare, she had to learn the Italian sections of the song as quickly as possible, with some verses adapted into English.
Despite the pressure of performing an iconic Italian song alongside one of the country’s most famous singers, Valentina took the opportunity — and Al Bano ultimately asked her to close the show with him.
It became another unexpected reminder of just how far her musical journey was taking her.
A New Chapter With Cronx Records
Valentina’s debut marks the beginning of a new chapter with Cronx Records, as she takes the next step in developing her career and bringing her music to a wider audience.
At the centre of that journey is a desire to remain authentic. Valentina has experienced what it feels like to change herself for other people’s acceptance, and she is determined not to repeat that experience through her music or image.
Choosing Music
Valentina’s path into music was not always straightforward.
She had grown up surrounded by people who valued education and hard work, and she initially felt pressure to pursue what she describes as a “proper” career. She even experienced a major setback when she was rejected by the BRIT School at 16, an experience that temporarily made her question whether she was good enough to pursue music.
But she refused to let the rejection define her.
While still under 18, she secretly auditioned for the British and Irish Modern Music Institute (BIMM), with help from her older sister. She was accepted and eventually told her parents that she wanted to leave sixth form and study music.
They supported her decision.
Years later, after briefly working in estate agency, Valentina made another major decision: in February 2026, she left her job to pursue music full-time.
It was a risk, but one she felt she needed to take.
“I was deciding to fully back myself and give music the time and commitment I’d always known it deserved,” she says.
That decision has already opened doors, including further opportunities in Italy and the forthcoming release of her debut single.
A New Generation With An Old Soul
Valentina enters this new chapter with ambitions that stretch beyond a single release.
A Christmas EP is currently in development, while 2027 will see her perform at a major festival in Tuscany in front of an expected audience of more than 20,000 people.
With connections spanning South London, Italy, Dubai, New York and Los Angeles, her story is increasingly becoming an international one. Yet her focus remains surprisingly simple.
She wants to make music that means something.
In an era dominated by social media, technology and AI, Valentina believes the most powerful part of music remains something that cannot be manufactured: human connection.
A song can make someone feel understood. It can bring people together. It can remind someone of a person, a place or a moment. It can express something that someone has never been able to explain themselves.
That is what Valentina wants her music to do.
Her debut single, released on 18 September 2026, marks the beginning of that story.
Not a manufactured image. Not an attempt to become somebody else’s idea of an artist.
Just Valentina — a South London girl with Italian and Filipino heritage, an old-soul voice, a lifetime of stories and a genuine love of music.
The Valentina Story has begun.
Follow Valentina
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevalentinastory
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thevalentinastory
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thevalentinastory
Website: https://www.valentinaofficial.co.uk/
The Songs of Butler & Cupples Deliver Polished Alt-Pop on ‘Therapy’
The Songs of Butler & Cupples keep their 2026 momentum going with ‘Therapy’, a sleek alt-pop cut that finds the songwriting project in a notably more sensual and polished mood. With MAVIS returning on vocals, the track brings together buoyant synths, light percussion and airy melodic touches, creating a sound that feels effortlessly smooth without becoming overly produced.
There’s a real sense of restraint to ‘Therapy’. The production gives the rhythm enough space to breathe, allowing the synths and percussion to provide movement while MAVIS’ vocals remain firmly at the centre. It’s a confident combination that gives the track an immediate accessibility, while the details beneath the surface reward closer attention.
That balance is becoming increasingly important to The Songs of Butler & Cupples’ wider identity. Rather than committing to one particular genre or fixed artist format, the project has used its 2026 output to move freely between electronic pop, rock and more experimental sounds, with the songwriting consistently acting as the common thread.
‘Therapy’ feels like a natural progression within that catalogue. It’s contemporary without chasing trends, melodic without overcomplicating the formula, and polished while retaining a clear sense of musicality. Most importantly, it reinforces the project’s central idea: strip away the surrounding noise and let the song do the talking.
Bonnie Milne Turns Memory Into Motion on “Glimpses”
By Cameron Dale
Some songs tell you exactly what happened. Others leave the door open and trust you to walk through it carrying your own history. Bonnie Milne’s “Glimpses,” featuring percussionist Dave Hewitt, belongs to that second category—an instrumental work that treats memory not as a fixed photograph, but as something alive, shifting and capable of catching you completely off guard.
The piece begins slowly, with Milne’s piano establishing a mood of quiet reflection. There is space between the notes, and that space matters. It feels like the moment when an ordinary afternoon suddenly triggers a forgotten scene: children laughing in the backyard, family gathered around a table, or a parent’s hand held during a long conversation. These memories arrive without warning, vivid enough to make the past feel momentarily present.
Milne’s movement between major and minor chords gives “Glimpses” its emotional tension. The major passages carry gratitude and warmth, while the minor turns introduce longing without allowing sorrow to overwhelm the composition. The shifts feel natural because memory rarely delivers one emotion at a time. Joy and loss occupy the same room here, occasionally brushing against one another before moving apart.
Cellist Kevin Fox gives the recording much of its warmth. His expressive countermelodies flow beneath and around the piano, adding emotional weight without crowding Milne’s central performance. GRAMMY and JUNO Award-winning violinist Drew Jurecka provides a contrasting voice. His violin carries a luminous, sometimes playful quality, yet there is yearning inside its upward movement. Together, the strings make the composition feel almost conversational, as though different generations are responding to the same family story.
Then Dave Hewitt’s percussion changes the landscape. His timpani-like drum line begins as a distant pulse, grounded and restrained, before helping propel the piece into its faster allegro section. The transition is crucial. “Glimpses” does not remain suspended in nostalgia; it gathers momentum. Remembering becomes a reason to move forward rather than an excuse to remain trapped in yesterday.
Recorded at Villa Sound in Collingwood, Ontario, with owner and engineer Adam Fair, the track sounds intimate without becoming confined. Fair keeps Milne’s piano centered while allowing the cello, violin and percussion to occupy distinct spaces. The reflective opening and brighter second section remain connected, giving the composition the shape of one continuous emotional journey.
Milne has already earned more than 200,000 Spotify streams, a Top 20 radio single with “New Beginnings,” and a #1 UK iTunes hit with “Perception.” Those accomplishments suggest that her romantic, cinematic approach has found an audience far beyond Canada.
“Glimpses” explains why. It is graceful without becoming fragile, sentimental without surrendering to excess, and technically polished without losing its humanity. Milne understands that treasured moments cannot be recovered exactly as they were. Music, however, can briefly reopen the door.
“Glimpses” featuring Dave Hewitt will be released on September 25, 2026.
Beyond the Music Video: How AI Is Helping Independent Creators Build a Visual World
For independent musicians and creators, releasing the work is only part of the job. A new single, podcast episode, artwork, or creative project also needs a visual identity that can survive beyond launch day.
There may be a cover image, a promotional photograph, a teaser before release, several social posts during launch week, and follow-up content designed to keep the project visible afterward. Producing a full video for every one of those moments is rarely realistic, especially for artists working without a large label, agency, or production team.
AI video is beginning to fill the space between static artwork and traditional video production. Instead of creating every visual asset from scratch, artists can use existing cover art, portraits, posters, illustrations, or written concepts as starting points for short-form video. The result is not simply more content. Used carefully, it can help a release feel like it belongs to a larger visual world.
A Release Needs More Than One Visual Moment
Music promotion used to revolve heavily around a few major assets. An album had its cover, an artist had press photographs, and a major single might receive a music video. Those assets could carry a campaign for weeks.
Social media has changed that rhythm. Listeners now encounter artists through vertical clips, short teasers, behind-the-scenes posts, streaming previews, release announcements, and repeated reminders spread across different platforms. The challenge is that constantly producing new material can dilute the visual identity of the project.
One solution is to stop thinking of each post as a separate design assignment. Instead, artists can begin with a small number of strong visual elements and develop variations around them.
A striking cover image, for example, can establish the color palette, mood, environment, and central imagery of a release. A portrait from the same campaign can extend that visual language. AI video can then introduce movement without abandoning the original identity.
Using SnapGen AI, a creator can start with an existing still image and explore how camera movement, atmospheric motion, or subtle subject movement might extend it into a short clip. The original artwork remains recognizable, but it no longer has to remain completely static.
For an artist with limited visual material, that can create more possibilities without requiring another shoot every few days.
Motion Can Extend the Mood of the Music
The most useful AI-generated video is not necessarily the most dramatic one. For music promotion in particular, movement should support the character of the track rather than compete with it.
A quiet acoustic release might work with slow camera movement, changing light, or subtle environmental details. An electronic track may benefit from more energetic motion, abstract visuals, or rhythmic scene changes. A darker alternative release could use restrained movement and atmosphere rather than a conventional performance-style clip.
This is where creative judgment matters more than technical complexity. Two artists can begin with similar source images and produce very different results because the motion, pacing, and visual tone are guided by the personality of the music.
An SnapGen AI video generator workflow can also begin from text when the artist wants to explore an idea that has not yet been photographed or designed. A written description of a scene, environment, camera movement, and mood can become an early visual concept that helps the artist decide whether that direction actually belongs to the project.
Sometimes the generated scene may become promotional content. Other times it may simply become inspiration for a future video shoot, stage visual, cover concept, or larger creative campaign. Both outcomes are useful because the technology allows the visual idea to be tested before significant production resources are committed.
The Space Between Major Releases Matters
One of the harder parts of being an independent creator is maintaining momentum between the major moments.
A full music video may receive substantial attention when it is released, but the artist still needs material for the weeks that follow. Reposting the same trailer or cover repeatedly can quickly feel repetitive, while producing entirely new footage every time can be exhausting.
Short AI-assisted visuals can help fill this middle layer of promotion.
A cover image could become a looping atmospheric clip. A press portrait might be developed into a subtle motion visual. Lyrics or themes from a song could inspire separate short scenes. A tour poster or announcement graphic might become a moving teaser rather than another static post.
This gives creators a way to build several visual touchpoints around one project without pretending that every post is a major event.
It also makes content planning less dependent on constantly inventing something unrelated. Instead of chasing a completely different aesthetic for every social post, artists can continue exploring the same world. Over time, that repetition can actually strengthen recognition because audiences begin to associate certain colors, images, textures, and moods with the release.
The goal is not maximum output. It is continuity.
AI Works Better When the Artist Still Directs the World
The ease of generating video also creates a temptation to use anything that looks impressive. That can be dangerous for creative identity.
A visually spectacular scene may have nothing to do with the song. A dramatic cinematic effect may feel generic rather than personal. A creator can easily produce ten interesting clips and still have none that feel connected to the project.
For that reason, selection matters just as much as generation.
Artists should ask whether the visual feels like an extension of the music, whether it matches existing artwork, and whether the movement supports the emotional tone of the release. It can also help to define a few consistent creative rules before generating anything: a color family, lighting style, recurring object, location type, camera language, or overall mood.
These constraints may seem limiting, but they often make the final campaign more recognizable. AI provides almost unlimited possibilities; identity comes from deciding which possibilities not to use.
Professional photography, editing, animation, and traditional music videos still have an important role. AI does not need to replace them. It can instead handle the smaller experiments and supporting visuals that would otherwise be difficult for an independent creator to produce consistently.
Building a Visual World Instead of a Content Feed
The growing role of AI video in creative promotion is ultimately about more than filling social media calendars.
For musicians, artists, podcasters, and other independent creators, the larger opportunity is to make visual storytelling more continuous. A project no longer has to consist of one cover image followed by a completely separate music video and a collection of unrelated social posts.
The cover can influence the teaser. The teaser can establish the atmosphere of later clips. A written concept can become a visual experiment, and that experiment can inspire another piece of the campaign.
Tools such as SnapGen AI make it easier to move between those formats by allowing creators to begin with either an existing image or a written idea and develop it into motion.
That does not remove the artist from the process. It makes direction more important.
The artists who make the most interesting use of AI video will probably not be those who generate the most clips. They will be the ones who use it selectively to make their creative world feel deeper, more consistent, and easier for an audience to recognize.
In a culture where every release is competing for another second of attention, that sense of identity may matter more than simply having more content to post.
Seasurfer Make Darkness Feel Beautiful on ‘The Noise Is Ours’
Hamburg-based trio Seasurfer continue to strengthen their position within the alternative music landscape with The Noise Is Ours, a four-track EP that expands their established “dream-punk” aesthetic through immersive guitar work, expansive distortion and restrained, intimate vocals. Following June’s Angels EP, the release signals a productive new chapter for the band while coinciding with their return to live performance.
Lead single ‘Flurry Glory’ encapsulates Seasurfer’s ability to balance scale with vulnerability. Warm, breathy vocals sit against layered, echoed guitars and driving drums, creating a dense yet atmospheric sound that draws from shoegaze, post-punk, darkwave and alternative rock. The production gives the track considerable sonic weight without losing its melodic focus, reinforcing the band’s distinctive position between dream-pop delicacy and heavier guitar music.
Across the EP, themes of loss, transience, rediscovery and love are explored through deliberately cryptic songwriting, allowing the emotional impact to emerge through texture, dynamics and atmosphere rather than conventional narrative. The contrast between fragility and force remains central to the record, with expansive passages repeatedly offset by moments of restraint.
With Kiora joining Dirk Knight and Apolonia to form the current three-piece, Seasurfer demonstrate a renewed creative momentum while retaining the core identity that has established their presence across the European and American alternative underground. The Noise Is Ours ultimately presents a focused evolution of their sound, combining strong melodic instincts with ambitious production and a clear commitment to atmospheric, guitar-led music.
From Professional Football to Roots Reggae: Jah Decko Enters a New Chapter With Love Who Loves You Back
From Professional Football to Roots Reggae: Jah Decko Enters a New Chapter With Love Who Loves You Back
Artist: Jah Decko
Album: Love Who Loves You Back
Release Date: 5th October 2026
Love Who Loves You Back Streaming Link
Suriname-born artist, producer and roots reggae veteran Jah Decko steps forward with forthcoming album release“Love Who Loves You Back”
With more than two decades of experience in reggae as an artist, producer and creative force, Jah Decko is entering a new chapter with his forthcoming album Love Who Loves You Back — a roots reggae project built around authentic musicianship, consciousness, love, gratitude and positive energy.
Born in Suriname and now based in the Netherlands, Jah Decko brings a distinctive Surinamese-European perspective to roots reggae. His story stretches from professional football to music, from performing to production, and from the Dutch-Surinamese reggae scene to an increasingly international audience.
Importantly, Jah Decko is not a newcomer to reggae. His musical journey began in 2003 when he founded Dreddayouthz, an early project combining roots reggae with lyrics in Sranan Tongo and connecting his Surinamese identity with reggae culture.
He subsequently developed his skills as a producer through Dredda Records, working with artists including Joggo, Ziggi Recado and Miriam Simone. His production work also connected him to Modern Rockers Vol. 1, a project that received international reggae attention and featured Jah Decko alongside Jamaican reggae artist Turbulence on “Strong Like Lion.”
After years of working both behind and in front of the microphone, Jah Decko returned increasingly to his own releases, including the Rastafar-I Way EP and tracks such as “Take It Easy”, “Opposite of Good” and “Irie Vibes”. Now, Love Who Loves You Back represents a significant new turning point: an opportunity to bring everything he has learned as an artist and producer into one defining roots reggae project.
A Journey From Football to Roots Reggae
Jah Decko’s path into music was far from conventional. Before dedicating himself fully to reggae, he spent approximately 14 years as a professional footballer. Music eventually became his true calling, leading him to leave professional sport and pursue a creative career.
That transition is central to his story. Rather than entering the music industry solely as a vocalist, Jah Decko developed experience across the creative process, becoming a producer and helping develop projects for other reggae artists before returning his focus to his own work.
“Coming from professional football into music was a completely different path,” says Jah Decko. “But reggae became my real calling. Being able to create music, produce other artists, work with respected reggae musicians and still be making roots reggae more than twenty years later is something I am proud of.”
Rooted in Culture, Consciousness and Positivity
Rastafari is an important part of Jah Decko’s life and naturally informs his music. His work is not centred on party politics, but on messages of love, unity, equality, consciousness, respect and positivity.
His music also reflects the cultural journey between Suriname and the Netherlands. Rather than attempting to imitate Jamaican artists, Jah Decko draws from his own experience, creating music that respects the foundations of roots reggae while bringing a distinctly personal perspective to the genre.
With Love Who Loves You Back, that philosophy comes together through a project focused on genuine musicianship and positive energy. Jah Decko is particularly interested in the role of live musicianship at a time when increasingly digital production dominates much of the modern music landscape.
For Jah Decko, the purpose of the music remains simple:
“If a song can give someone strength, make them think, remind somebody to give thanks or simply give them positive energy, then the music has done its job.”
An Established Artist Ready for a Wider Audience
Jah Decko has already built a foundation of international reggae recognition, with coverage from platforms including Reggae Tastemaker, World A Reggae, Reggaeville, Reggae Festival Guide, Reggae Agenda and Ovejas Negrax. Dutch national media outlet NPO Soul & Jazz has also featured him through its Sound of Surinam series, while French station La Grosse Radio has supported his music with repeated airplay.
Now, the forthcoming Love Who Loves You Back album aims to build on that history and introduce Jah Decko to a much wider UK and international audience.
From Suriname to the Netherlands, from professional football to reggae, and from production to his own artist career, Jah Decko’s journey is one of reinvention without losing sight of his roots.
Love Who Loves You Back is the next chapter — and a statement from an artist who has been part of the reggae community for years, now stepping forward with his own voice.
Follow Jah Decko
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jahdecko
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jahdecko
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jahdecko
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jahdecko?si=4zYkEZeUwhxQaiyl
Oskar Brandt Puts Emotional Storytelling at the Heart of ‘Now or Never’
Berlin-based singer-songwriter Oskar Brandt arrives with Now or Never, a cinematic slice of orchestral pop that pairs intimate songwriting with a widescreen sense of ambition. Built around sweeping piano, expressive strings and rich layers of instrumentation, the track finds its impact in the contrast between vulnerability and scale.
There’s a theatrical edge to Brandt’s approach, drawing from the emotional weight of film scores and musical theatre while retaining a contemporary pop sensibility. Now or Never centres on a relationship caught in the tension between personal struggle and the possibility of reconciliation, with Brandt keeping the emotion deliberately unresolved. His soft, assured vocals provide the anchor as the production gradually expands around him.
The track also benefits from an accomplished creative team, with acclaimed cellist Dave Eggar bringing an organic quality to the arrangement and producer Heather Holley helping shape its polished, emotionally focused production. Together, they give Brandt’s songwriting plenty of space without allowing the orchestration to overshadow it.
Now or Never makes a strong introduction to an artist clearly building towards something bigger. Brandt has found a compelling space between contemporary pop, orchestral composition and cinematic storytelling, using atmosphere as much as melody to draw the listener in. There’s plenty of ambition here, but importantly, it feels grounded in the song itself.
Deepwise Breaks Free on New Single “Keep on Dragging Me Down”
LAS VEGAS, NV — Conscious hip-hop artist Deepwise confronts the people and circumstances that hold us back on his new single, “Keep on Dragging Me Down,” arriving September 18th, 2026, on all major streaming platforms.
Drawn from Deepwise’s own life, the song explores the difficult experience of trying to help others while facing resistance from people who would rather pull you down than watch you grow. Inspired by the “crabs-in-a-bucket” mentality and the pain of betrayal from within one’s own community, Deepwise turns a deeply personal struggle into something universal.
“‘Keep on Dragging Me Down’ is about how sometimes you try to help everyone, but people still try to pull you down and how I’ve navigated that in my own life,” says Deepwise. “As always, I tried to find an angle that would make the song relatable to anyone who has felt held back.” The song ultimately rejects bitterness in favor of growth, healthy boundaries and freedom.
Musically, “Keep on Dragging Me Down” was shaped by Deepwise’s longtime interest in chill and cloud phonk. After years of listening to artists and tastemakers including Ryan Celsius, Soudiere, DJ Yung Vamp and DJ Smokey, he set out to create something with a similarly hazy, atmospheric energy. As the record developed, however, it took on an identity of its own.
The resulting track pairs an immersive, laid-back atmosphere with jazz-inflected instrumentation and candid lyricism. Its blend of reflective storytelling and forward-looking production captures Deepwise’s genre-fluid approach while reinforcing the song’s central message: sometimes moving forward means releasing whatever keeps pulling you backward.
Deepwise handled every aspect of the finished song’s creative direction, including the songwriting, lyrics, instrumental, production, piano and guitar performances. The demos were recorded by Well KraftedMusic. “Keep on Dragging Me Down” was mixed by Kyle Oueis at Hideout Studio in Las Vegas and mastered by two-time Platinum engineer Nate Middleman.
SINGLE-RELEASE SHOW
Deepwise will celebrate the release of “Keep on Dragging Me Down” with a live performance on September 19th, 2026, the day after the single arrives.
ABOUT DEEPWISE
Blending golden-era hip-hop lyricism with futuristic video-game synths, Deepwise is a visionary conscious hip-hop artist who spreads imaginative positivity through his music. Currently based in Las Vegas, he grew up in Salt Lake City as part of a musical family. His genre-fluid sound combines jazz and funk undertones with electronic psychedelia, creating a fresh perspective on contemporary hip-hop.
Raised on 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., OutKast and other ’90s greats, Deepwise carries traces of hip-hop’s past in a flow that remains distinctly modern. His substantive lyrics explore self-actualization, existential philosophy and empowerment through a playful and relatable lens.
Deepwise is distinguished by an unwavering dedication to authenticity and a constant desire to evolve. His infectious energy has commanded crowds at local venues and built a loyal following in the Salt Lake City underground. Onstage charisma and elite mic skills anchor his kaleidoscopic style firmly in hip-hop tradition, while his electrifying performances leave a lasting impression on audiences.
Appealing to fans of genre-benders such as Logic and Tyler, the Creator, as well as innovators including MF DOOM and OutKast, Deepwise offers contemporary hip-hop with old-school substance, new-school style and a timeless positive message.
FOLLOW DEEPWISE:
Clapper | Apple Music | Instagram | TikTok | Spotify | YouTube
DALE CORNELIUS ANNOUNCES WHAT IS CARRIED, WHAT IS LEFT BEHIND? A HAUNTING NEW CHAMBER WORK INSPIRED BY MEMORY, PLACE AND RENEWAL
Award-winning Australian composer explores memory, grief and renewal through an immersive new chamber work featuring Eclective Strings
Due for release in October 2026, the six-track album brings together string quartet, synthesizers and found sound in an immersive production mixed in Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio. Created with Melbourne-based string collective Eclective Strings, the project represents a major new chapter for Cornelius, moving beyond his celebrated career in screen composition into a more intimate and personal musical world.
The album began with a chance recording made late at night in Montalcino, Italy. While walking past the Concattedrale di San Salvatore, Cornelius captured the sound of a metal door moving in the wind. The strange, percussive sound became the central sonic motif of the title track and ultimately inspired the wider concept of the album.
Using Dolby Atmos, Cornelius has recreated the spatial experience of that original recording, placing the listener inside the soundscape with the string quartet and synthesizers arranged around them.
At the emotional heart of the album is ‘A Whispered Dawn (Spencer’s Lullaby)’, a string quartet composition originally written in 1999 during an extraordinarily difficult period in Cornelius’s life. His first-born son, Spencer, nearly died before and after childbirth. One of the first infants in Australia to undergo an operation in utero, Spencer was born at just 27 weeks and spent three months in neonatal intensive care, with doctors uncertain whether he would survive.
During this frightening period, Cornelius wrote A Whispered Dawn (Spencer’s Lullaby). The composition was never recorded and remained only as a manuscript for 26 years. Now, alongside the new material on What is Carried, What is Left Behind?, the piece finally receives its first recording.
For Cornelius, returning to the composition more than two decades later represents an act of reclamation — bringing together the fear and uncertainty of that moment with the perspective gained over the years since.
“Recording it now, alongside music written from that more honest place, is an act of reclamation. It’s the answer that piece has been waiting on for twenty-six years.”
Its inclusion gives the album a powerful sense of continuity, bringing together music from two very different points in Cornelius’s life and creating an emotional journey from uncertainty and memory towards hope and renewal.
“Recording it now, alongside music written from that more honest place, is an act of reclamation. It’s the answer that piece has been waiting on for twenty-six years.”
The album’s opening track, ‘In This Moment, What Matters Most?’, is similarly rooted in Cornelius’s personal experience. The phrase became an important reminder during a period of caring for his mother and dealing with anxiety, eventually becoming both a tattoo and the title of the album’s opening composition.
FROM MARY & MAX TO THE CONCERT HALL
Cornelius brings more than two decades of experience to What is Carried, What is Left Behind?. His extensive screen-composition career includes more than 90 international productions, including Mary & Max, Backtrack, Till Human Voices Wake Us and five seasons of The Doctor Blake Mysteries.
He has also composed music for major IMAX documentaries including Hidden Universe and The Great Barrier Reef, as well as creating site-specific immersive works for the Australian Pavilions at the Shanghai and Nagoya World Expos.
His work has earned 18 major international awards and nominations, including AACTA and APRA/AMCOS recognition.
The new album has already received strong reactions from leading figures in the music industry, including Deutsche Grammophon’s Senior Manager A&R Anusch Alimirzaie, who described Cornelius’s music as “truly beautiful.”
Christian Kellersman, Executive Producer of Deutsche Grammophon’s Recomposed series, also praised the new work, saying: “I listened to your new album and it’s beautiful.”
London-based Major Tom Music Supervisor Marina Guy described the music as “truly stunning.”
A 55-MINUTE IMMERSIVE LIVE EXPERIENCE
Alongside the album, Cornelius is developing a 55-minute continuous live concert experience, transforming the record into one uninterrupted performance.
The production combines live string quartet, keyboards and sample manipulation with spoken word, bespoke lighting and video projection. Designed with festivals and curated concert series in mind, the performance can also incorporate local string quartets and language-specific spoken-word performers for international presentations.
WHAT IS CARRIED, WHAT IS LEFT BEHIND?
— TRACKLIST
- In This Moment, What Matters Most? – 5:06
- What is Carried, What is Left Behind? – 6:41
- Innocence – 3:46
- A Whispered Dawn (Spencer’s Lullaby) – 6:50
- Under an Impersonal Sky There is Hope – 4:57
- Bloom – 3:12
ABOUT DALE CORNELIUS
Dale Cornelius is an award-winning Australian composer based in Melbourne, with a career spanning more than two decades in screen scoring. His work has appeared across film, television, documentary and immersive projects, including Mary & Max, Backtrack, Till Human Voices Wake Us, The Doctor Blake Mysteries, Hidden Universe and The Great Barrier Reef.
With What is Carried, What is Left Behind?, Cornelius steps outside the demands of screen composition to create a work where memory, place and personal experience become the story itself.
ABOUT ECLECTIVE STRINGS
Eclective Strings is a Melbourne-based string collective featuring members of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Partridge String Quartet. Co-director Amy You has performed as a featured soloist on the Hans Zimmer Live world tour and collaborated with Yo-Yo Ma. The ensemble’s wider credits include work with Sigur Rós, Nai Palm of Hiatus Kaiyote, Lior and Wafia.
Follow Dale Cornelius
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dalecornelius_composer/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaleCorneliusOfficial/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/dalecornelius
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/dalecornelius
Website: https://dalecornelius.com.au/
Camille K Finds Her Perfect Escape on Dreamy New Pop Single “Paradise,” Out NOW!
Preview Here!
Rising pop artist Camille K is ready to leave the everyday behind with her dreamy new single, “Paradise,” arriving on all major streaming platforms September 15th. Light, flirty, and effortlessly uplifting, the track captures the feeling of escaping the ordinary with the one person who can make anywhere feel like home.
The idea of paradise looks different to everyone. For some, it might be a faraway beach, a new city, or a destination waiting on the other side of a plane ticket. On “Paradise,” Camille K explores the idea that the perfect escape does not necessarily have to be a place at all. Sometimes, paradise is simply being with the right person.
Built around melodic vocals, an upbeat rhythm, and bright pop production, “Paradise” turns the fantasy of packing your bags and disappearing together into an irresistible feel-good anthem. The song carries the weightlessness of a daydream while maintaining the warmth and personality that have become central to Camille K’s music.
“Paradise” finds Camille leaning into a playful and romantic side of her artistry, capturing that intoxicating stage of a relationship where the rest of the world seems to fade into the background. It is a song about wanting to trade routines, responsibilities, and the noise of everyday life for somewhere new, as long as that special person is coming along for the ride.
The track was written by Camille K and M11SON, with production from Camille K, M11SON, Lectriq, and Dirty Harry Zelnick. Together, they create a polished pop landscape that feels vibrant and contemporary while leaving plenty of room for Camille’s vocals and personality to remain at the center.
With its breezy energy and instantly accessible hook, “Paradise” feels equally at home soundtracking a spontaneous road trip, a late-summer romance, or those moments spent daydreaming about being anywhere but here. Its blend of melodic pop, indie-pop charm, and romantic escapism makes the track a natural fit for uplifting, romantic, pop, indie-pop, and feel-good playlists.
Following releases including “Something to Say,” Camille K continues to carve out a distinct space through songs that find something exciting in the emotions and experiences of everyday life. Where “Something to Say” explored the courage of turning friendship into something more, “Paradise” captures what comes next: the rush of finding someone who makes you want to forget the rest of the world for a little while.
“Paradise” by Camille K available NOW on all major streaming platforms
A seasoned performer since the age of 11, Camille has shared the stage with legendary artists such as Gina Schock (The Go-Go’s), Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (Steely Dan/Doobie Brothers), and Barry Goudreau (Boston). She has also opened for major acts including Flo Rida, Ja Rule, C&C Music Factory, Lit, Chris Kirkpatrick of *NSYNC, O-Town, LFO, and Jon Anderson (Yes).
Camille gained national recognition as a featured contestant on NBC’s America’s Got Talent in 2022, where her original song “Still in Love” earned high praise from the judges that day. Simon Cowell described her performance as “beautiful,” Heidi Klum called her “absolutely amazing” and “the whole package,” and Sofia Vergara praised her “spectacular” voice.
Beyond the stage, Camille has also made a mark in the film industry, with her music featured in Finding Christmas and 7th Secret. Her previous maxi-single, “Daydreamer,” reached #2 on the iTunes Top Dance Albums chart, further cementing her status as a rising star. She is currently working with Grammy Award-winning production team Sakred Wolves, consisting of Dirty Harry Zelnick, Lectriq, and M11SON, to craft new music that continues to push creative boundaries.
As Camille continues to tour throughout Philadelphia and New Jersey, “Paradise” marks another milestone in her journey, showcasing her signature blend of raw emotion, powerful vocals, and polished pop production. Camille K is also an endorsed artist of Cleartone Strings, Anatomy of Sound picks and Minarik Guitars.
For more on Camille K, follow her on social media:
FOLLOW CAMILLE K:
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Spotify
AIONOSA Unveils IRIS, a New EP Inspired by Transformation, New Beginnings and the Beauty of Innocence
AIONOSA is set to introduce IRIS, an emotionally driven EP exploring life, growth, perspective, new beginnings and the rapidly changing world around us.
Created by three-piece group AIONOSA, IRIS draws on real human experiences while offering a message of transformation and hope. The project is particularly inspired by the personal reflections of group leader Zilla, whose experiences after COVID-19 prompted a deeper appreciation for life, change and the meaning that can be found in unexpected circumstances.
At the centre of IRIS is a powerful philosophy: turning disappointments into appointments. Rather than allowing difficult experiences to define the future, the EP explores how setbacks, endings and unexpected changes can become part of a larger journey towards growth and new possibilities.
Finding Meaning in Change
The emotional foundation of IRIS comes from a period of profound change following the COVID-19 pandemic. For Zilla, that experience brought a renewed perspective on life and encouraged a greater appreciation for the present moment.
The EP reflects on the idea that every chapter has a purpose. Disappointments can lead to unexpected opportunities, endings can create space for new beginnings, and experiences that initially feel difficult can ultimately become valuable lessons.
At the same time, IRIS considers the extraordinary speed at which modern life continues to evolve. Technology, culture, relationships and everyday experiences are changing constantly, creating an environment where it can be increasingly difficult to slow down and simply appreciate being present.
Against this backdrop, AIONOSA embraces the simplicity of life.
The EP celebrates fresh starts, ordinary moments and the possibility of discovering beauty in the world with an open mind. It also explores the importance of innocence — not as a weakness, but as something powerful and beautiful.
There is strength in retaining curiosity and wonder. Even after experiencing disappointment or difficulty, the ability to approach life with openness can create an entirely new perspective.
A Shared Artistic Journey
While the emotional inspiration behind IRIS comes largely from Zilla’s personal journey, the EP is ultimately a shared expression from AIONOSA.
The group brings together three distinct personalities and perspectives:
- Zilla — Group Leader
- Jojo
- Sagwa
Together, they contribute to AIONOSA’s evolving identity, sound and creative vision, transforming the themes behind IRIS into a collective artistic experience.
The project does not attempt to erase the past. Instead, it explores how people can take everything they have experienced and find meaning within it.
A New Beginning
IRIS is ultimately a project about seeing life differently.
It asks listeners to consider whether disappointment can become opportunity, whether endings can become beginnings and whether the ability to see the world with curiosity can survive even after difficult experiences.
For AIONOSA, the answer is yes.
Through IRIS, the group invites listeners to appreciate the simplicity of being alive, remain open to change and recognise that even the most unexpected chapters can lead somewhere meaningful.
AIONOSA’s IRIS — Goddess of Desire — is a celebration of transformation, perspective, innocence and the courage to begin again.
Rocky Kramer’s Rock & Roll Tuesdays Presents “Diamonds & Pearls” On Tuesday, September 15th, 2026 7 PM PT on Twitch
Rocky Kramer will be hosting “Diamonds & Pearls” on this week’s episode of Rocky Kramer’s Rock & Roll Tuesdays on Twitch. Tune into Twitch on Tuesday, September 15th, 2026 at 7 PM PT for this amazing show.
Rocky Kramer is a guitar virtuoso, often being compared to the greatest guitar players in the world. Rocky has performed on shows with some of the greatest musicians on the planet including Ozzy Osbourne, John Lodge, Steve Vai, Leland Sklar, Kenny Aronoff, Tommy James, Verdeen White, Ten Years After, BuckCherry, Rick Wakeman and more.
Rocky’s first studio album, “Firestorm” is now available worldwide through Allied Artists Music Group, together with an epic music video of his #1 Global DRT Chart topper single, “Rock Star”, that also picked up a Best Rock Performance nod at the 2019 Hollywood Music In Media Awards (“HMMA”).
Rocky Kramer recently returned to the studio to record his sophomore album “Alone In The Rain” which will be released soon!!!
Rocky Kramer was recently cast in The Mutt Productions/ Allied Artists rock n’ roll time travel comedy adventure “Rockin’ In Time” where he will play the film’s lead character, Lars Olsen. The film is being directed by Aaron Lee Lopez (of the “Teenage Girl” franchise) and is being produced by multi-platinum and six-time Grammy Award winning musician turned motion picture producer, Kurt Wipfli.
Rocky Kramer is now the new lead guitarist in Prescott Niles’ new revival of the legendary band The Knack. Known worldwide for their smash hit “My Sharona,” The Knack helped define the sound of late-1970s power pop and rock. Decades later, the band’s influence continues to resonate with fans and musicians across generations. With Rocky Kramer now joining the lineup, the band is poised to introduce that legacy to a new era of audiences while honoring the spirit that made them legendary.
Watch Rocky Kramer’s “Rock Star” Music Video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKx6zN1DydQ
Watch Rocky Kramer’s Rock & Roll Tuesdays “Diamonds & Pearls” on September 15inth, 2026, at 7 PM PT on Twitch here:
http://www.twitch.tv/rockykramer
The official website for Rocky Kramer may be found at
Visit Rock & Roll Tuesdays with Rocky Kramer on IMDB here:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13299266/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Ron-Ian Cottam Reconnects With The Part Of Himself That Music Brings Out
Music has a funny habit of waiting for people.
For Ron-Ian Cottam, that relationship was interrupted for a while. After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, he stepped away from playing, leaving behind something that had been part of his life for years. Eventually, though, music found its way back in, and his new single “Far Away” (via Now Listen) is part of that story.
Written by Billy Marlowe, the track deals with a relationship that has reached its breaking point. But what makes the release interesting is the contrast between its subject and the circumstances surrounding it. “Far Away” is about knowing when something has run its course, while Cottam’s recording of it represents a renewed connection with something he had once put aside.
The appeal of the subject is familiar without being worn out. Relationships can reach a stage where continuing becomes harder than admitting they have finished. Cottam captures that uncomfortable point and gives it an outlet that feels more liberating than bitter.
There is also something refreshing about the idea of returning to a creative pursuit because the enjoyment is still there. Not every musical comeback needs to be presented as a reinvention. Sometimes reconnecting with an old passion is enough.
“Far Away” therefore carries two stories without forcing them together. One belongs to the song itself, where a troubled relationship has reached its limit. The other belongs to Cottam, who has found his way back to making music.
That makes this more than just another release in his catalog. It is a reminder that creative lives do not always follow a straight line. Sometimes the music stops for a while. Sometimes it comes back. And sometimes the song waiting on the other side of that gap is one about finally deciding where to go from here.
Spellemann Winner Sidiki Camara Announces New Album Ankaben, A Powerful Celebration of Humanity and Cross-Cultural Music
Malian-born, Oslo-based percussionist and cultural ambassador Sidiki Camara is set to release Ankaben, his most ambitious project to date, bringing together an extraordinary ensemble of Norwegian jazz, folk and contemporary musicians.
The album, whose title translates to “Humanity”, is a deeply personal expression of Camara’s belief in the power of music to connect people across cultures, genres and borders. Following his 2023 Norwegian Grammy (Spellemannprisen) win for Return to the Traditions, Ankaben continues his lifelong exploration of Malian musical traditions through collaboration and improvisation.
A Lifetime Connected Through Music
Camara began playing music in Mali at just 10 or 11 years old, eventually choosing music over formal education to pursue a professional career. His journey has taken him from Bamako to Brussels, where he lived from 1989 to 2006, and ultimately to Oslo, where he has been based since 2006.
Throughout his career, Camara has worked with some of the most respected names in international music. His collaborations include legendary Malian musician Boubacar Traoré, with whom he toured the United States, as well as acclaimed guitarist Bill Frisell. After Frisell encountered Camara performing with Traoré, he invited him to join his trio on a European tour, eventually contributing to the Grammy-winning album Intercontinentals. Camara subsequently spent several years touring internationally with Frisell.
His musical collaborations have continued to cross boundaries, with a career encompassing artists including Ali Farka Touré, Mamady Keita, Karpe and Esperanza Spalding.
An All-Star Norwegian Ensemble
For Ankaben, Camara has assembled an exceptional group of musicians:
- Bendik Hofseth – Saxophone
- Unni Løvlid – Vocals
- Sarah Camille – Vocals / Spoken Word
- Erik Sollid – Fiddle
- Jacob Young – Guitar
- Audun Erlien – Bass
- Eirik Askerøi – Guitar
The album grew out of the acclaimed Sidiki Camara // A Life in Music performance, which debuted at Oslo World in 2024. The ensemble returned to the studio in June 2026, recording at Oslo’s legendary Rainbow Studios, with mixing and mastering handled by Martin Abrahamsen.
“Music Connects and Brings Spirit to All Peoples”
At the heart of Ankaben is Camara’s belief that music can offer an alternative to division and conflict.
“Ankaben is about meeting across genres and cultures through mutual respect and spontaneous creation. It’s a reflection of my life’s journey through sound.” — Sidiki Camara
When asked what he would most like the press to focus on, Camara highlighted humanity as the central message of Ankaben: a world in which people connect through music, togetherness and joy rather than division and war.
The project follows a series of major career achievements, including Camara’s 2023 Norwegian Grammy and the “Attestation De Reconnaissance” award presented by the Malian government in January 2026 in recognition of his contribution to Malian culture.
Camara will also appear at several upcoming Norwegian events, including the Drammen Sacred Music Festival on September 16, Djembe Tekno at Holmlia Kulturhavn on September 19, and a Sidiki Camara Group performance at Holmlia Kulturhavn on November 7.
With Ankaben, Sidiki Camara continues to build a musical world where West African tradition, Norwegian contemporary music, jazz and spontaneous collaboration can meet. His ambition is clear: to bring this music and its message of humanity to audiences around the world.
Sidiki Camara’s dream is to take his group on a world tour — carrying the message of Ankaben and the universal language of music with him.
Follow Sidiki Camara
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidiki_camara_yankadi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sidiki.camara.376
Website: www.sidikicamara.com
