FRESH NEW KICKS: Piano Song- Eryn Allen Kane

‘Piano Song’ is somewhat of a misnomer for Eryn Allen Kane’s latest delight. Sure, it kicks off with a twinkling little key sequence, accompanied only by Eryn’s gorgeously full voice, all peaks and ebbs like a whirl of meringue. Yet less than halfway into the track the presence of those signature layered harmonies and- more excitingly- bold and brassy horns have made themselves known. Perhaps dubbing this beautiful track ‘old school soul’ is a bit of misnomer too; there’s a tendency to constantly hold up new bluesy offerings to the ‘classic’ standard, in much the same way rap conversations always pay homage to Biggie or Pac. By now, Eryn has woven enough originality and spark throughout her work to be seen as more than just an imitator of bygone musical eras- a lack of synths doesn’t automatically denote a lack of modernity. Beyond that, ‘Piano Song’ possesses a timeless message: ‘Sometimes clinging to a cloud/Ain’t as easy as it seems’ she sings, pondering the sheer, hard graft that goes into maintaining a successful relationship before erupting into a climatic series of belting riffs that repeat the message to ‘never give up’ if you really want to make something last. It’s a message that’s just as easily applicable to success in her chosen industry yet slowly but surely she seems to be making her way.

Follow @ErynAllenKane on Twitter now. 

Fresh New Kicks: Halfway To Mexico- Jodie Abacus (prod. Royce Wood Jr.)

We’re already aware that Royce Wood Jr is a phenomenal producer- he put in years of service to others before dropping The Ashen Tang after all- but this latest Jodie Abacus track only strengthens the knowledge. Titled Halfway To Mexico it boasts a squelchy, swampy beat that gathers the listener up and sweeps them along, exuberant and the perfect accompaniment to Abacus’ rollercoaster vocal journey. He’s an artist who emotes with more than just the melody- there’s changes of tone, pacing, even brief snatches of spoken word in this bouncy soul denunciation of the predatory vultures he finds surrounding him, in what appears to be a Hollywood-esque town populated by people without a moral compass. It’s a sad situation- but at least this diamond emerged from the muck.

Follow @JodieAbacus on Twitter now. 

FRESH NEW KICKS: Refuse- Kevin Garrett

We’ve likened Kevin Garrett to fellow emotional tormenter James Vincent McMorrow before but it’s meant in the most complimentary fashion. Both artists create music that whispers like a last kiss; the melodies they spin anchor themselves within your bones and force you to sit and ruminate for their duration. Refuse is Garrett’s follow up to his five track April release, Mellow Drama, despite the fact it was written ‘a little while ago as I was developing my sound’, according to his NYLON magazine interview. Lyrically Garrett is adept but he may as well not be; it’s the intersection between that devastating falsetto and the insistent, throbbing beat that cuts to the quick. A building vocal sample injects more soul still as Refuse reaches climax; then it’s all over and gone before you can reach out and grab it. No prizes for decoding the metaphor.

Follow @KevinOGarrett on Twitter now.

FRESH NEW KICKS: Love For That- Mura Masa ft. Shura

Age ain’t nothing but a number now which is why 19 year old Alex Crossan is able to snag a ‘Hottest Record In The World’ nod from super-DJ Annie Mac and no one bats an eyelid. Besides, his latest track Love For That speaks for itself; glottal percussion paired with lush strings receive an added kick courtesy of Shura‘s sugary sweet vocals. ‘London, let me see your lighters’ booms a sample halfway through- this is headlining music, built to enthrall huge crowds. In less than a year, Mura Masa has gone from an underground artist featured as Pigeons and Planes’ Daily Discovery to being premiered on The FADER. Plus, Kylie Jenner recently pouted along to Miss You on Instagram. If that’s not making it, what is?

Follow @mura_masa_ and @weareshura on Twitter now.

FRESH NEW KICKS: Slipping- Eryn Allen Kane

To be honest, Eryn Allen Kane could sing the alphabet and I’d still recommend you pay top dollar to hear it. Thankfully, she’s willing to give her fans slightly more than ABCDEF rendered in a brassy mezzo soprano belt; latest soul-soaked single Slipping is a worthy successor to phenomenal gospel debut Have Mercy. Dealing with the difficult subject of outgrowing both lovers and locations, Kane marries her fantastic ear for melody with a keen eye for lyrical detail. ‘You can tell I’m not content/But bitten nails prove some relent‘ she informs her paramour, a bad little habit spotlighted as evidence of her desire to move onto to greater things. Later, Kane dangles a relationship lifeline with an invitation to join her on the road: ‘ditching this town before I drown and there’s one more open seat’  but by the softly cooed coda it’s pretty obvious that the entanglement’s beyond CPR. Slipping is a farewell missive slid under a door one sunny morning; Kane proves herself capable of conveying impressive emotion even when she’s not stretching her voice to full capacity. Beautiful and bluesy, this compact little track will leave you ready to hitch yourself to her wagon.

Eryn Allen Kane’s EP Aviary is out later this year. Follow her @ErynAllenKane on Twitter now.