Month: October 2021

Gela. Say it out loud, say it with pride, with the honour and respect it deserves: GE-lah. You’ve met the bright-eyed, ferociously talented rapper Danzal Baker under a handful of names – the Fresh Prince of Arnhem Land, Baker Boy, the “proud blak Yolngu boy with the killer flow”. Now, he’s ready for you to meet him as Gela: his skin name, and one of the truest markers of his identity. Miles Davis famously said that an artist should only release a self-titled record when they know themselves well, know themselves truly, and when their music can reflect that. So there was only one obvious, perfect choice for the title of Baker Boy’s long-awaited debut, a blistering, joyful record that paints the young rapper more vividly than ever before: Gela. “Gela is who I am,” Baker Boy says, “and it’s my story.”

14-track album Gela will include ‘My Mind feat. G Flip’ as well as previously released singles ‘Meditjin feat Jess B’, ‘Move’, ‘Cool As Hell’ and ‘Ride feat Yirrmal’. New tracks on the album feature friends and collaborators Lara Andallo, Jerome Farah, Thando, the revered Uncle Jack Charles and notable co-writers Dallas Woods and Rob Amoruso with Jerome Farah, Pip Norman, and Willie Tafa producing tracks off the album.

The journey to Gela has been winding and sometimes intense, with extreme ups and downs – though, Baker Boy admits, “more ups than downs.” Raised in Arnhem Land Baker Boy was first introduced to adoring fans in 2017, and has continued to establish himself as a deft, talented rapper, with charisma and verve inherited from the genre’s greats.

The Fresh Prince of Arnhem Land’s freewheeling joy was only one part of the story, though. Sudden fame released an internal struggle, between his ties to his community back home, and his love for his art and the inspiring figure Baker Boy was becoming. It’s a struggle undoubtedly familiar to anyone who’s moved from somewhere remote to the big city, but one uniquely heartbreaking for First Nations people who move from remote communities to more populated areas. Gelais the story of Baker Boy overcoming this conflict and coming to terms with himself both as Gela and as Baker Boy – an inspiration and beacon of light to his fans, his family, and, most of all, himself.

The record’s striking album artwork, by iconic street artist Adnate, is a perfect encapsulation of this concept, featuring a split portrait of Baker Boy. “I want people to see what my life is like, and where I come from,” Baker Boy says. “The journey from a remote community to living in the city and trying to adapt, and have that balance, is a lot of hard work, [but] it’s an amazing journey.”

True to that duality, Gela is a breathtaking portrait – a coming-of-age tale, a powerful political vessel, and a story of a variegated, fascinating life, all in one.

Multi-award winning vocalist, songwriter, and producer Natalie Nicole Gilbert demonstrates her musical versatility yet again, this time with her new dance pop album, Don’t Blink . Having released over a dozen albums of original music ranging from EDM to jazz to alt pop-rock, Gilbert glides back to the dance/pop realm with her 2021 album produced by Latin Grammy Award nominated producer, engineer and remixer Robert Eibach (Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Camila Cabello, Jennifer Lopez).

On her new 10-track album, Gilbert includes her 2020 original dance cut “Morning Light,” and an unreleased extended cut of the track. Six of the other eight tracks are the artist’s soulful interpretations, in both radio edits and extended mixes, of “Exhale” (Sabrina Carpenter), “We Are the Flyers” (Lara Fabian), and “Whatever We Started” (Richard Marx). Gilbert’s renditions of the 1985 hit single “Broken Wings” by Mr. Mister and Demi Lovato’s 2017 powerhouse single, “Sorry Not Sorry,” round out the album.

Guest collaborators on the album include violinist/composer Andrew Joslyn, cellist Eli Weinberger, pianist Warren Pettey and vocalist Lisa Ramsey (NBC’s The Voice). Eibach produced the instrumentation of 9 of the 10 tracks on Don’t Blink. Multiple award-winning TV/film producer Jonathan Still (Dancing With The Stars, Shameless, Inside the NFL) produced and arranged “Broken Wings” on the album. The album is currently being considered for Best Dance/Electronic Album at the Grammys.

Don’t Blink, the new dance pop album by Natalie Nicole Gilbert, is now available on all digital platforms.

Check out more new music coming from this LA artist on her website:
NatalieNicoleGilbert.com

Axle Whitehead is one of Australia’s most versatile musicians, with studies in jazz improvisation through to a gold-selling pop single ‘I Don’t Do Surprises’, but it’s country music where Axle’s heart lies. First jumping into the country world in 2011 with ‘Sister Sunshine’ Axle has toured around Australia and beyond, juggling a successful acting career with his first love of music.

Whitehead has spent much of the last decade throwing himself into a successful acting career traveling between Los Angeles and Sydney with roles on the international hit TV series Shameless and Marvel Agents of SHIELD. Already known across Australia as the host of iconic music show Video Hits and game show The Wall as well as a four-year stint on Home and Away, it’s music that always brings him home.

His new single ‘One Gun’ is his most accomplished track to date, collaborating with writer /producer/ musician Carl Dimataga (Khalid, James Fauntleroy, Thundamentals, Baker Boy) creating a roots-based sound harking back to his regional Victorian upbringing, melting rock, blues and jazz influences into a unique and contemporary country sound. With his soulful vocal winding through a shuffling, minimalist guitar lick, ‘One Gun’ explores the relatable story of a man trying to find his identity. A parallel to Whitehead’s own fulsome career coming full circle to his country roots, the song is Axle Whitehead at his confident and accomplished best.

“I am incredibly proud of ‘One Gun’, said Whitehead. “Through writing many songs, Carl and I have stumbled across this Soul/Country sound. By taking the drums out it allows the listener to sit and breathe
with the song whilst the guitars do the heavy lifting.”

“Before I went to music college to study Jazz all I wanted was to be Garth Brooks or Steve Earle. Now after exploring a few different genres over the years, I’ve finally found my own sound.”

Suga Boom Boom, the smash hit that generated 1 BILLION streams across all networks, has yet another excellent cover to add to the repertoire! This new remix features the intoxicating vocals of DL Down3r’s original that will help you chill and vibe in a whole new way. Combining the many remixes and covers of Suga Boom Boom with the original, the iconic track has reached 35 million streams on just Spotify alone, and has a colossal cult following! So to see a new remix for it now is just the perfect cherry on top. This particular remix was overseen by Jack Parry, mixed/mastered by Tom Polce and Chris Garcia, pre-produced by Gabe Rizza, and produced by Damien Reilly. Jack’s unique vision has really helped bring the track to life in a wholly different way, and we’re absolutely here for it.

The team has worked hard on adding another feather to Down3r’s cap, and if you’ve ever heard any iteration of his killer hit Suga Boom Boom, you’d see that effort shining clearly through the mesmerizing hooks and beats of the timeless banger. It’s been creeping up the charts for years, and various versions have seen great success on other platforms that even rival 35 million, and the versions of this classic track are numerous! So numerous that there’s a billion strong. We’ve had acapellas, remixes in numerous genres and styles, retellings, and all sorts of different spins on the classic formula, including by DL Down3r himself trying new styles out! The summery vibes of this particular version put the listener in the mood for a chill and electric party by the poolside, the synths rippling like the water, the soothing sounds of electric pianos and a peppy brass section bringing the remix home in one hell of a way. Jack Parry’s vision in particular was strong with this new direction, causing the old reliable earworm to inherit a new life along with the remix’s cheerful aesthetic.

The original Suga Boom Boom is a melancholy head-nodder, letting you into DL’s vulnerable side with a metaphorical discussion of his experience with illegal drugs. Artists have previously brought out the happy side of melancholy before with the track, especially of note are the Key Crashers and their EDM dance mix of course. But this particular track adds another element that isn’t typically seen in remixes and covers of this track that tend to take it in a new direction: it remains relaxing. This identity of the track synergized well with the original, for while it was melancholy, it also had a bit of zing to it. Usually covers and remixes of Suga Boom Boom take these elements and separate them – not necessarily a bad thing, especially when you hear how good the energetic Key Crashers’ EDM take of the song is, or how cruisey the more methodical and chilled recent trap remix by DL Down3r himself is. But it’s impressive to see a remix that is both chill and relaxing, and retains the spicy energy of the original, while keeping it distinct and different from the original – and that is exactly what the Jack Parry remix accomplishes today. We’re expecting big things from it due to the bold direction it takes!

And with all this talk of Suga Boom Boom, don’t think for a moment that Down3r hasn’t branched out past his flagship song. From cocky bangers talking smack like “No L’s” to introspective sad pieces like “Long Road Ahead”, Down3r has proven many times over that he’s the king, and that whatever he attempts, he does with the utmost care and love that will bring each of his hits to success, no matter what form they take! So it’s no wonder that his work is so suited to new interpretations like this one, whether they be from his own hand, or from the community his music has fostered.

Through fierce and funky west coast rap, Down3r shares his prolific work with the rest of the world, and the stage with west coast rap legends such as Coolio, Brown Boy, Jay Tablet, Lil Young, Snoopyblue, Baby Bash, Steel City Hustlers, King Z and DJ Kane to name a few. From powerful messages, lyrical poetry and sharp comments on society, to G-funk and Trap/EDM hype songs, he proves that age and experience is the opposite of a liability in today’s rap game. Suga Boom Boom is the flagship song of his talented repertoire! This remix is out now on all major online retailers and streaming services, so get ready to buy a new pair of speakers!

Today, multi-platinum-selling singer/songwriter Calum Scott premieres his triumphant new single ‘Rise’ – a timely and exhilarating anthem of resilience.

Produced by Gabe Simon and Jon Maguire, ‘Rise’ offers exactly the kind of reassurance needed in difficult times. As the song unfolds in a joyful and majestic sound – pounding drums, glorious harmonies, urgent piano work – Calum delivers a spirited vocal performance that perfectly captures the uplifting message at the heart of ‘Rise’.

“‘Rise’ celebrates overcoming, defeating the odds, and prevailing despite the obstacles or the knock-backs you face along the way,” says Calum. “We’ve all faced it during our lifetimes: feeling demotivated or uninspired, feeling like life is out to get you, that it’s easier to stay on the ground when life throws its punches. I wanted to write a song that would empower people to chase down their dreams and to try to embrace life, no matter what they are going through or what their circumstances. We all have the opportunity to do it our way, to put our best foot forward and to rise.”

At turns wildly soaring and gently reflective, ‘Rise’ marks a bold departure from the soulful minimalism of Calum’s recent single ‘Biblical’. After releasing the heart-on-sleeve ballad and its breathtaking video back in June, Calum returned with an American Sign Language (ASL) version of ‘Biblical’ made in collaboration with the Tony Award®-winning Deaf West Theatre. Check out the powerfully moving visual HERE. Calum recently featured on Lost Frequencies new track, ‘Where Are You Now’ which has already amassed over 50 million global streams. With the official video for ‘Rise’ coming soon, Calum is now gearing up for the release of his eagerly anticipated sophomore album. Due out in early 2022, the album will follow his 2018 full-length debut Only Human – a widely acclaimed release that hit No. 1 on the iTunes album chart in 21 countries across the globe, in addition to selling more than 3.6 million in adjusted album sales and amassing over 7.5 billion combined streams.

ABOUT CALUM SCOTT

With the arrival of his 2018 debut album Only Human, U.K.-based singer/songwriter Calum Scott landed at No. 1 on the iTunes album chart in over 20 countries around the world, amassing over 7.5 billion total global streams and counting. Now certified platinum or gold in 21 countries, Only Human includes his platinum-selling smash ‘You Are The Reason’, a track that cracked the top 25 on Spotify’s US Viral 50 and hit the top 10 on iTunes single charts in 38 countries. The album also features Calum’s stripped-back, platinum-certified cover of Robyn’s ‘Dancing On My Own’ which earned a Brit Award nomination in the category of Best British Single. His first new music since Only Human, Calum’s recent single ‘Biblical’ marks an exciting evolution of his artistry, bringing even more raw emotion to his soulful and timeless sound. With its title referring to “a love of biblical proportions that transcends everyone and everything,” according to Calum, the piano-laced ballad is the first song released from his highly anticipated sophomore album, due out in early 2022. Over the last few years, his songs have appeared on countless TV shows (including American Idol, The Voice, So You Think You Can Dance, Grey’s Anatomy, and many more), while Calum has performed on such shows as Late Night with Seth Meyers, Ellen, Good Morning America, Live with Kelly and Ryan, and Dancing With The Stars, among others. In addition, he’s garnered acclaim from outlets including Billboard (who hailed his “stunningly pure voice”), The Huffington Post (who stated that “Scott makes an impressive splash…compelling”), and Ones to Watch (who noted that Calum’s music “elegantly transforms pain into beauty”).