New Music from Odario, Terell Safadi, Classified ft DAX & SNAK THE RIPPER, Chin Injeti, Luke McMaster, Carly Thomas, ROOKIE, Stuck On Planet Earth and The Beaches!
It's New Music Spotlight time! There's so much cool stuff that dropped this week. It's too much to list it all here, but in addition to what's here, Crown Lands dropped a new video, Green Day dropped a new album, a video for Meet Me On The Roof, X Ambassadors has a new song and there are so many more. Did I miss your new favourite? Let me know in the comments.
Let's do it!
Artist: Odario
Hometown: Toronto, ON (Guyanese-born, Winnipeg-raised)
Genre: Hip Hop
Related: Oddisee, Dawn Pemberton
Song: Low Light (In This Space)
Notes: This is a great song, but if I'm being honest, it was the video that completely blew me away. I love the message, the timbre, the timing and the creativity of this pairing. Blown away!
The video is directed by Odario with cinematography by Lucas Joseph and features dancers Dammecia Hall, Kwame Mensah and Ofield Williams (Odario's brother and partner-in-crime in hip hop collective Grand Analog).
Low Light (In This Space) is the first single from Odario's much anticipated solo EP Good Morning, Hunter slated for release this May via Do Right Music.
Odario - Low Light (In This Space) ft. Dawn Pemberton
Artist: Terell Safadi
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Genre: Rap
Related: Nineteyfour, Hungry
Song: Black History
Notes: Black History was produced by Nolan Sarnicki aka Zero Beatz, and mixed and engineered by JUNO-Nominee Jamie Kuse of NOVA Studios in North Vancouver, BC, and it was released in celebration of Black History Month. Coming up, on February 10, 2020, Safadi will be the first black rapper to perform at a Vancouver Canucks game at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
"I wrote this song after years of being upset about the improper treatment that black people experience all around the world," said Safadi. "I wanted to shed light on the struggles and heroism of our late brothers and sisters, and encourage ALL people to not turn a blind eye, but instead, unite on this issue and work together to ensure unity, equality and justice for all."
Watch for more from this artist, we're hoping to have an interview soon!
Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple
Terell Safadi - Black History
Artist: Classified ft DAX & SNAK THE RIPPER
Hometown: Enfield, NS
Genre: Hip Hop
Related: Swollen Members, K-OS,
Song: Rap Shit
Notes: Featuring DAX, who boasts 1.4 million YouTube subscribers and SNAK THE RIPPER, a well-known rapper from Westminster, BC, Rap Shit is the first new track from Classified's upcoming album, Pick Your Poison. It's the first of many big releases to come this year from an artist who celebrates a 20-year career as one of Canada's premier rappers.
"It's hard to think of what to say about dropping a new song or a new project when I've dropped so many over the years; and have said pretty much everything I can about dropping something new," Classified tells HipHop DX. "I just know when I made this beat, it hit me - every time I hear it, I like it more. I wrote some classic rap shit on it and asked a couple of friends to get on it with me. I hope you like. There's more to come."
Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple / YouTube
Classified ft. DAX & SNAK THE RIPPER
Artist: Chin Injeti
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Genre: funk, soul and R&B
Related: Base is Bass, Michael Chase
Song: Serious
Notes: Singer (maybe you'll remember him from Base of Bass), songwriter, producer, Grammy award winner. He's worked with Dr. Dre, Eminem, 50 Cent, Drake, Pink, K'Naan, LeCrae, J Cole, Anderson Paak, Aloe Blacc. Chin Injeti's newest project is one that's full of energy, and get up and go.
"Serious is about not taking a brand new relationship so seriously. It's about feeling good, dancing, and enjoying the moment," said Injeti. "It was recorded and produced on analog gear to really stay true to the sound of that era. It's boogie, funk, and soul that will get you on your feet."
Links: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple
Chin Injeti - Serious
Artist: Luke McMaster
Hometown: Brandon, MB
Genre: Soul
Related: Deep Wave, Mark Masri
Song: Tracks of My Tears
Notes: Luke McMaster sings Smokey Robinson, count me in. Songs of Smokey, released on February 7, features McMaster's reimagining of Robinson's most beloved Motown hits. If you like Smokey or Luke, this is the album for you.
Toronto readers, watch behind Luke for Toronto musician Rob Brown on drums.
Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple
Luke McMaster - Tracks of My Tears
Artist: Carly Thomas
Hometown: London, ON
Genre: Acoustic rock
Related: Belinda Bruce, Indio Saravanja
Song: Front Row
Notes: A bit of a change for the singer-songwriter, Front Row leans more heavily towards pop-rock than her previous work.
"In the bridge, there's the line, 'hold this moment before it's gone.' And that sums it all up: we have a very small window to live in each moment, and if you really grasp that, life can be a beautiful experience. When we live without the past or future, there's a peace that comes, and I think that's where music can take you too. It's like the pulse of our human experience."
Carly Thomas has upcoming Toronto shows at The Horseshoe Tavern on Wednesday, Feb 12 at 11:30 pm and February 15 at The Old Nick on the Danforth.
She'll also be playing February 22 at the Queen's Bar in Port Elgin and February 29 at the Rockstar Music Hall in Windsor, Ontario
Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple
Carly Thomas - Front Row
Artist: ROOKIE
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Genre: Classic Rock
Related: NE-HI, Girl K
Song: Sunglasses
Notes: Sunglasses is fun, it's catchy, it's twangy and it's got pups in it. Can you really ask for more?
The six-piece out of Chicago is a bit of a throwback to' 70s and '80s pop-rock, and this track is one to add to your playlist. They're heading out on tour and while they're not coming to Canada, they will be fairly close by, in NYC and playing the Saturday at Shaky Knees, the same day as The Smashing Pumpkins. Check their website for tour date info.
Their self-titled, debut full-length album - out on March 13th and it's available for preorder now at https://rookie.fanlink.to/cxGH.
Links: Web / Facebook / Instagram / Spotify / Twitter / YouTube
ROOKIE - Sunglasses
Artist: Stuck On Planet Earth
Hometown: Vaughan, ON
Genre: Rock
Related: Fake Shark, The Treble
Song: Higher Than The Drugs
Notes: The Vaughan rockers have another hit with this one. Higher Than The Drugs is the second release from their debut album, set for release this year.
"Like in any bad relationship, oftentimes one finds comfort in the toxicity. 'Higher Than The Drugs' is about deciding to break ties with your addiction because you've reached a level within yourself where you're higher than the drugs could ever take you."
Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple
Stuck On Planet Earth - Higher Than The Drugs
Artist: The Beaches
Hometown: Toronto, ON
Genre: Rock
Related: Arkells, July Talk, Hollerado
Song: Want What You Got
Notes: I love this song and I love this video. The lyric video is jammed with high school photos of the band members, and I cannot get enough of this! They're on tour for the month of February and they'll be at The Danforth Music Hall on February 28 and 29 for our Toronto readers. Check out the rest of their tour dates on their website.
Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple
The Beaches - Want What You Got
