This edition of ‘Sound Bites’ features a dynamic electronic musician, an English indie-rock band, an up-and-coming rapper, and a funk/hip-hop/R&B group.
Great Value Jesus - Beats II
Great Value Jesus is the project of Noah Renken-Kapatos and consists of instrumentals that range in genre from alternative/indie/psychedelic/rock and even lofi hip-hop. He even describes his sound on his Spotify as “you never know what’s going to happen next.” His latest album, Beats II, has the same unpredictability as any of his previous records, ranging from the sonic “Twilight” to the upbeat and eclectic “8Bit.” In creating his music, he utilizes panning and keeps the tracks relatively even. If you have 21 minutes to spare, you should check out this album.
STREAM BEATS II ON SPOTIFY HERE
Dirt Royal - Great Expectations
Dirt Royal is an indie-rock band hailing from Brighton, England. From the first track on their debut album, Great Expectations, the band presents accessible and friendly indie rock that’s hard to dislike. The gritty guitar-driven songs are anthemic and give the band a solid gem in their discography. I felt hooked from the opening track of “As Good As It Gets” all the way to the closing of “Lose Our Way.” They might not be the most original band in the world, but I can guarantee that the 32-minute album is enough to keep you entertained from the beginning until the end (especially for a sucker for guitars like me!).
STREAM GREAT EXPECTATIONS ON SPOTIFY HERE
Asher - Feel My…
Asher‘s debut album Feel My… holds back no punches. Opening with a voicemail from his grandmother and then leading into a hip-hop/rap track, Asher has layered his mixes expertly and does not distract from the main focus: his vocals and lyrics. Feel My… invites you to feel along with asher as he reflects on his family life as well as his other struggles growing up. Asher’s extreme honesty and lines like “I never asked to be here” on tracks like “Imagine” help to understand his own personal struggles, but also touches on the struggles of an entire race on the track “Black People Problems.” Asher is a phenomenal artist that you should keep your eye on if you’re interested in hip-hop/rap at all.
STREAM FEEL MY… ON ALL PLATFORMS HERE
The TRiBE - Language!
The TRiBE is a six-piece R&B group from Northern Pennsylvania. Their debut record, Language!, is a groovy body of work that really showcases their talent. The TRiBE has found purpose in making music that raises the spirit of others. The funky rhythms had my toe-tapping the entire time of listening to their album. I found myself focusing (and vibing) to the background instrumentals more than the lyrics. Each instrument really found its place within the group and produces a nice balance.
STREAM LANGUAGE! ON SPOTIFY HERE
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