CHOON OF THE DAY: "FOREIGN CAR" - Kelsey Lu

Kelsey Lu's debut album "Blood" is a sonic fountain of genres, styles and moods. A breathtaking ode to artistic freedom, eclecticism with a no-creative-compromise attitude. The uniquely gifted singer from North Carolina is serving us a bold mixture of folk, electronica, R&B and even some string-laden moody disco. The centre piece of the record is the spellbinding "Foreign Car" - a song worthy of Future R&B masterpiece status right next to FKA Twigs' "Papi Pacify" or Sevdaliza's "Human". The song is an aural mystery, an instantly captivating blend of electronica, Oriental vibes, distorted vocals and that beautifully unnerving sample of Stefano Torossi's 1975 piece "Walking In The Dark" which was previously used in Fatima's phenomenal "Somebody Else". On top of it all, "Foreign Car" has recently received an astonishing video treatment by the very talented Vincent Haycock. The artistry, the styling, the cinematography, the art direction, the opulence (!!!) all combine to have 2019's Video Of The Year written all over it.

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SHREM'S WORLD PREMIERE: "ABOUT IT" - AKIINE

When approached by the folks at Color Station about premiering AKIINE's brand new single I wasn't just immediately ready to say "Yes" but also felt particularly proud and honoured. This San Francisco based label continues to push artistic boundaries with eclectic fresh talents defying musical categorisations and bending genres and styles. One of such talents is AKIINE whose previous EP "Neptune" stole my muso heart back in autumn 2015 and scored a high spot among the year's greatest EPs alongside a number of other promising new female artists the likes of Nao, FKA Twigs, Kelela and Abra.

Now this London-based Swedish-born musician, who describes herself on her Instagram as a tropical space soul, is ready to share the brand new "Red EP" which is heralded today by the arrival of the instantly captivating "About It". The song is a wondrously multifaceted sonic excursion into the soundscapes of synth pop, future RNB, electronica and neo soul without borrowing too much from either and all the while remaining completely unpredictable. Sleekly produced, subtly put together, very current and unique, "About It" not only charms with its mellifluous melody but continues to mesmerise (and surprise!) with every next listen. There is just so much here to discover for every proper new-sound curious muso out there. Upon several listens I am hearing a beautiful bridge between "About It" and some other independent, distinctive female artists such as Rainbow Chan or Nite Jewel. It's a marvellous introduction to AKIINE's next artistic chapter and a very promising taste of another strong EP which promises to celebrate strength, creativity and self-belief.

In her own words, here's how Akiine herself tells a story of "About It":

"It's about opening yourself up. The song is about sharing your deepest emotions and thoughts to someone and showing them your true self and vulnerability - that golden treasure inside you, so that they can open up too. It's about all those things and the magic of creating a new unity. ‘About It' is my feelings coming to exist outside of me. I imagine the treasures in the belly of the sand tiger in the desert in Aladdin, and visually I think that's how I would describe this song. It's about sharing that kind of glowing treasure inside you and creating this wonder together by opening up."

On a final, non-musical note, judging by the cover of "About It", both myself and Akiine seem to be partial to a crushed velvet number every now and then, so there's that fashion connection too.

"About It" is out on all digital outlets tomorrow.

The "Red" EP is set for release on Friday May 24th.

Akiine will be performing at Sofar London at an undisclosed establishment on Verney Road April 10th.

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SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "SOMEBODY ELSE" - Fatima /// "WHO ARE YOU?" - Miink

Fatima. Always sophisticated. Never uninspiring. The Eglo Records ambassador returns with "Somebody Else" - the elegantly produced slice of neo soul integrating many a genre in her signature slick way. From jazzy piano vibes, layers of fervent vocal harmonies (that low register though!) and juicy downtempo beats to a whole palette of scratches, strings, samples, synthetisers, horns, 808's and a saucy dose of sub bass, "Somebody Else" sounds like a bona fide masterpiece. Electronica-meets-soul-meets-hip-hop-meets-jazz. Produced by rising star JD. Reid. Right up there with "Do Better" and "Technology" among Fatima's most exquisite recordings to date in her ever so distinguished underground career.

Purchase/stream "Somebody Else" HERE!

Keeping with the theme of urban sounds, musical eclecticism and artistic uniqueness, may I introduce you to the distinctly enigmatic Miink whom I have discovered thanks to our fellow bloggers at Disco Naïveté the other day. "Who Are You?" is a truly sublime excursion into electronic soundscapes, gliding between the creative worlds of Jai Paul, FKA Twigs or even Jamie Woon while remaining completely unparalleled aesthetically. Breathtaking! Miink is certainly one to watch even if unusually absent or even difficult to track down on the internet.

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CHOON OF THE DAY: "LET MY BABY STAY" - Amandla Stenberg

The actress-turned-singer Amandla Stenberg has just dropped a sublime slice of electronic neo soul "Let My Baby Stay" - her debut single taken from the soundtrack to "Everything Everything", in which she stars. The song is a cover version of Mac DeMarco's indie folk track. Miss Stenberg is serving some Solange, FKA Twigs and Kelela vibes with this effortlessly cool number...

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SHREM'S CLUB BIZARRE INTRODUCING: "ALEPPO" - K Á R Y Y N

I first stumbled upon the enigmatic K Á R Y Y N reading about Björk's inspirations in the Guardian last autumn. The Syrian-Armenian-American artist is paying a hauntingly elegant homage to Aleppo, her childhood hometown with this uncompromising slice of electronica, echoing some of FKA Twigs' most ethereal aural escapades. "Aleppo" comes from K Á R Y Y N's double A-side single "Quanta 1" and the song is accompanied by VHS home footage from her time in the Syrian city. The singer's breathy vocals, combined with the minimal, unnerving production, create an unforgettable atmosphere. K Á R Y Y N lists Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, Kendrick Lamar and Lebanese diva Fairouz as her biggest musical influences in this interview for Phoenix Magazine.

Photo by Derek Hutchison.

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CHOON OF THE DAY: "HUMAN" - Sevdaliza

Every so often there comes a track which literally leaves you speechless... In this case the track left me awestruck both sonically and visually. Sevdaliza's tantalising new single "Human" is an electronic orgy of slow and micro beats, subtle Oriental adornments, whispers, recitations and flawless vocalisations. One to throw on full blast on that surround system of yours. It's certainly not the first time this gifted multifaceted artist of Iranian descent caught our attention, with the opulent "That Other Girl" landing among Top 20 Greatest Tracks of 2015 in our annual year-end countdown and the haunting "Time" which I was singing the praises of only last month.

Over half a million views on Youtube in less than one week is quite an achievement for a niche alternative artist like Sevdaliza. The visual feast courtesy of Emmanuel Adjei.

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SHREM'S WORLDLY DELIGHTS: "TÁRTARO" - Buscabulla + "DANCE WHILE YOU SHOOT" - Noga Erez

The Puerto-Rican duo Buscabulla who blew us away back in 2014 with their self-titled, Dev Hynes-produced, debut EP are now back with a delectable new single "Tártaro". Continuing with their very own "Caribbean music of the future" ethos, the song amalgamates elements of exotica, funk, synth-pop and nu disco to an utterly captivating result. "Tártaro" is the first taste of the Brooklyn based band's upcoming "Buscabulla EP II".

Noga Erez is an Israeli musician, singer-songwriter, keyboardist and producer. Her politically engaged single "Dance While You Shoot" is an aural eruption of harsh beats, cold electronica, grime, alternative R&B and avant-garde Hip-Hop. The Tel Avivian artist sure launches her musical career with a bang with this energy-filled electronic stomper. Thank you Disco Naïveté for the heads-up!

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CHOON OF THE DAY: "TIME" - Sevdaliza

Sevdaliza, the enigmatic Future RNB/Electronic Soul chanteuse from Iran, treated her quickly expanding fanbase to a brand new single this week. "Time" is an indisputably masterful piece of music, every bit as unique and as impressive as "The Other Girl" without which the final of last year's Top 100 Greatest Tracks wouldn't have been the same... The song begins with a subtle, nostalgic piano intro and ends up with an explosive wall of electronic sounds. Everything in between is equally gripping from eerie synths, hand-claps, heavy basslines, that irresistible RNB-meets-Trip Hop atmosphere to Sevdaliza's breathy vocals. Phenomenal.

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CHOON OF THE DAY: "IT'S THE TIME" - Lulu James

One of the most unique and refined talents of the ever so vibrant UK Soul & RNB scene, Miss Lulu James, returns with a much anticipated first new solo single since the dramatic "Beautiful People". "It's The Time", a melodramatic 21st Century soul track, transfixes with its flawless melody, subtle production, understated elegance and a captivating video directed by Alicja Rymarowicz. It's so great to have Lulu James back especially that the track seems to be her best effort since the exquisite "Closer" back in 2013.

And here's "Closer" once again...

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CHOON OF THE DAY: "WORRY BOUT US" - Rosie Lowe [+ Machinedrum Edit]

When I first came across Rosie Lowe's enthralling "Right Thing" back in 2013, it left me stunned, mesmerised and gasping for more. Shortly after I selected the London based Future R&B songstress as one of Top 10 Hottest Newcomers in 2013. Somehow, despite numerous singles and EP's released ever since, no other track from Lowe's repertoire blew me away and made such a strong impression until I heard "Worry Bout Us" this week, co-written and produced by Machinedrum. Electronic soul at its most refined, building up so fascinatingly, unraveling its multiple layers. Elegant and truly hypnotising "Worry Bout Us" is magical in both versions.

Here's the phenomenal "Right Thing" again:

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SHREM'S FUTURE ANTHEMS: "REWIND" - Kelela

Back in March Kelela teased us with the moody, Arca produced "A Message" - the very first teaser from her upcoming EP "Hallucinogen" which drops 9th October via the legendary Warp Records. Now the Future R&B pioneer delivers the impeccably produced upbeat gem "Rewind", with a little help from Kingdom and Nugget, already sounding like one of Kelela's most irresistible and classic moments. The video for this surprisingly catchy song was directed by Eric K Yue. The mélange of throbbing electronic beats, layers of flawless vocal harmonies and that infectious melody makes it an instant winner in my music book.

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CHOON OF THE DAY: "A MESSAGE" - Kelela

"A Message" is another stellar production by the scarily talented Alejandro Ghersi, better known by his stage name Arca. Following his futuristic and unique aural escapades with Björk and FKA Twigs, the Venezuelan producer teams up with one of the most progressive American artists of the younger generation Kelela, for her brand new EP "Hallucinogen" which promises to take us "on a journey through lust, longing, delirium and ecstasy". One of the female pioneers of the alternative R&B movement, Kelela gained both enthusiastic praise from the critics and a cult status among her devoted fanbase for her debut mixtape "Cut 4 Me" where she added her own vocals on over instrumental tracks by DJs the likes of Kingdom, Nguzunguzu and Bok Bok. The stylish video for "A Message" was directed by Daniel Sannwald.

"Hallucinogen" is out 5th May 2015.

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SHREM'S BIGGIES BUT GOODIES BASKET: "VIDEO GIRL" - FKA Twigs

So FKA Twigs scandalously didn't win this year's Mercury Prize Award but she enthralled us once again with the official video for "Video Girl" which is both exquisite as it is disturbing. The most unique and sensational of all of the Female singers this year.

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CHOON OF THE DAY: "FKA X INC." - FKA Twigs & Inc.

The whole blogosphere is all about this otherworldly track today. Last year's most talked about newcomer, the mysterious and groundbreaking FKA Twigs teams up with 4AD's latest sensation Inc. to this astonishingly sensual duet of electronic subtlety and purest class. Quick there's only 400 copies of the one-sided 7" single packaged inside an 8-page full colour zine HERE! I managed to get one!!!



And if you've missed out on this very special recording of "Hide" from Twigs' debut EP where the chanteuse performs the song in Tulum, Mexico amidst Mayan ruins, here it is again...

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SHREM'S CLUB BIZARRE INTRODUCING: "PAPI PACIFY" - FKA Twigs

What a song to wake up to on a Saturday morning. I have been utterly blown-away by the enigmatic FKA Twigs for a few weeks at this stage, listening to "Water Me" quite obsessively... We're treated to another fascinating song today by this half Spanish half Jamaican musical mystery, also produced by Arca. "Papi Pacify" is a futuristic medley of alternative R'N'B and electronica accompanied by another sophisticated video. The EP#2 is out on Monday. I have recently read in the Bullett Magazine that FKA Twigs is what would happen "if TLC met Aphex Twin at a psy-trance carnival and had a kid in deep slow motion". I could never dare to try to top this comparison. This year's most original music act by a long mile. Exuberant.

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CHOON OF THE DAY: "WATER ME" - FKA Twigs

I must admit I have never heard of Twigs, or shall I say the artist formerly known as Twigs, until this week. All of a sudden a few of my muso friends whose tastes in music I always trust, started obsessively sharing this video. Strange I remained so completely oblivious to this extraordinary singer for that long. Anyhow here's "Water Me" one of the most unique, mind-blowing recordings I heard all year. Beautifully bizarre, hypnotically gripping, both visually and sonically astounding. Produced by Arca, the transcendent "Water Me" announces Twigs' EP2 out 9th September via Young Turks. I am in awe...

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