Kastle f/ JMSN - "Make You Stay" | New Music
Kastle takes the tempo all the way down for the second single release from his forthcoming album and enlists SoulCulture 13 For 13 certified dope singer, songwriter and producer JMSN for the emotional "Make You Stay".Read more
SoulCulture 13 For 13: Laura Mvula
Hometown: Birmingham, UK
Record Label: RCA
Age: 26
In today's musical eco-structure afflicted with over-polished images, auto-tuned vocals and disposable content, the Birmingham hailing, classically trained rising star Laura Mvula arrives like the antidote to the infested scene.Read more
SoulCulture 13 for 13: Joey Bada$$
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Record Label: Cinematic Music Group
Age: 18
This is my "I told you so" moment. Back in March 2012, after hearing the impressive Capital Steez (R.I.P) featuring "Survival Tactics", we demanded asked you to Get Familiar with the then 17 year old, Brooklyn, New York repping rapper/the reason why your favourite rapper will retire or damn near go broke trying to sign him, Joey BadA$$.
Over the course of 2012, the excitingly pure Hip Hop artist from the forward thinking collective/movement Pro.Era (The Progressive Era) continued to impress, delivering intelligent verses, with thought provoking lyrics, with a cadence and delivery over boom bap soundbeds with such maturity that they conjured up comparisons with some of the icons of the 90s Hip Hop era (Big L, Biggie, Nas etc).
Then the young Bada$$, who is signed to the good folk at Cinematic Music Group (Their roster includes Big K.R.I.T, Smoke DZA etc) dropped his debut solo mixtape 1999, which became one of (if not the) best mixtape releases of the year, receiving accolades from his peers, seniors and respectable platforms and publications, the release kicked off a slew of guest appearances of several high profile releases, shows all over the globe and an ever growing international fan base.
Fast forward to the present and after reportedly turning down a deal with your/my favourite rapper, becoming a creative director at Ecko clothing, releasing a single with the legendary DJ Premier and featuring on A$AP Rocky's Billboard topping debut album Joey is currently prepping his next mixtape, his debut album and fielding offers from pretty much every major label around. Salute Joey, Pro.Era and the Cinematic Music Group, this year is going to be an epic one for them
WATCH
[tabs tab1="Survival Tactics" tab2="Waves" tab3="Hardknock"]
[tab id=1][youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDWAk8-leVA&w=610&h=343][/tab]
[tab id=2][youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51e1gIkzHgk&w=610&h=343][/tab]
[tab id=3][youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4xYGFc9Yw4&w=610&h=343][/tab]
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SoulCulture 13 For 13: AlunaGeorge
Hometown: London, UK
Label: Island, Universal
Age: 24 (Aluna ), 24 (George)
London hailing duo AlunaGeorge, comprised of producer George Reid and singer Aluna Francis, had us in a trance last year with their unique cocktail of new wave R&B, indie-pop and UK bass influenced music.
The duo, who first connected in 2009 when George approached Aluna's band at the time My Toys Like Me on Myspace offering to remix one of their tracks, first grabbed our attention with the addictive "You Know You Like It" showcasing the marriage of Francis' sweet and sincere almost childlike vocals and futuristic, bassy, glitchy and driving production which has drawn comparisons (albeit it slightly lazy ones) to the Aaliyah and Timbaland dynamic.
The duo has continued to excel track after track earning them accolades from a growing fanbase and tastemakers around the world (gaining the title of 'most blogged artist in the UK of 2012') and following the release of the critically acclaimed "Your Drums, Your Love" single, the band announced their eagerly anticipated debut album Body Music (listen to a performance of the title track here) which is set to be released in June.
Get familiar with these two now as they are set to dominate your radios, TV screens and festival stages over the next 12 months.
WATCH
[tabs tab1="Your Drums, Your Love" tab2="You Know You Like It" tab3="Just A Touch"]
[tab id=1][youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfCSx5641U4&w=610&h=343][/tab]
[tab id=2][youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmXZuv5BaHg&w=610&h=343][/tab]
[tab id=3][youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDAScB0kacU&w=610&h=343][/tab]
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SoulCulture 13 for 13: JMSN
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
Record Label: White Room Records
Age: 25
Drawing inspiration from some of the darker, overlooked and more honest portions of human emotion, the unique being that is JMSN captured our attention in 2012 with his beautifully unnerving and haunting odes, coupled with accompanying artistic yet almost horror-like self-directed visuals that in equal parts shocked, scared, hypnotised, disarmed and left us in awe, and is set to continue raising the bar this year. Read more
SoulCulture 13 For 13: Elijah Blake
Hometown: Florida, USA
Label: Artium/Def Jam
Age: 22
Even if the name Elijah Blake is alien to you, it's almost a certainty that you would have heard something the 22 year old RnB singer-songwriter either penned or featured on in 2012.
The Florida hailing fast rising RnB star (real name Sean Fenton)has had a stellar 12 months behind the pen having written Usher’s Diplo produced global smash hit record “Climax”, from the Looking 4 Myself album, "No Love Allowed" on Rihanna’s Unapologetic LP, as well as tracks for the likes of Trey Songz, JLS and many more.
Apart from notching up a gang of hits and placements as a songwriter, Blake made steps into the spotlight as an artist in his own right, notably appearing on tracks by Game ("Freedom"), Keyshia Cole ("Wonderland"), a standout appearance on Rick Ross' God Forgives, I Don’t single “Presidential”. Then last December he unleashed his debut critically FreEP/mixtape Bijoux 22, a near perfect display of commanding songwriting and soulfully captivating vocals, hurling him into the public spotlight.
Managed by Jay Z's Roc Nation and under the wing of the legendary producer/record boss NO I.D who signed the exciting artist to his Def Jam distributed ARTium imprint, the world is in Elijah Blake's palm this year.
WATCH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiDxDRp0n74
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WEB//FACEBOOK//TWITTER//YOUTUBE//SOUNDCLOUD
SoulCulture 13 for 13: Disclosure
Hometown: Surrey, UK
Record Label: PMR
Age: 21 (Guy), 18 (Howard)
Brothers Howard and Guy Lawrence, better known as sound wizards/production duo Disclosure, set dance-floors over the world on fire in 2012 and are set to take it to stratospheric levels this year. Read more
SoulCulture 13 for 13: ExR (Etta Bond x Raf Riley)
Hometown: Cambridge, UK (Etta Bond) London, UK (Raf Riley)
Record Label: Odd Child Recordings
ExR are the poster children for "Fuck what you think we should be making, we are going to make what we like, how we like, say what we like and you going to fucking love it!"
The Odd Child Recordings (UK superproducer and chart topping artist Labrinth's inprint) repping singer-songwriter Etta Bond and genre-decimating producer Raf Riley had already impressed us as solo artists, with Etta's features on records by Labrinth, Wretch 32 and more and Raf Riley's beats finding placements on projects by Diplo's Mad Decent imprint. But when the two talents joined forces as ExR released their first collaboration project the Emergency Room EP, their stock catapulted. Read more
SoulCulture 13 For 13: Rainy Milo
Hometown: London, UK
Record Label: Mercury/Universal
Age: 16
At the age of only 16, South East London born and raised singer Rainy Milo exudes an honest, mature and captivating essence far beyond her years. Read more
SoulCulture 13 For 13: Jacob Banks
Hometown: Birmingham, UK
Record Label: Renowned
Age: 21
Birmingham UK hailing Jacob Banks is an goosebump inciting old soul talent in 21-year-old frame.
The singer, songwriter and self trained guitarist, who first popped onto our radar last year after winning Adidas' "Are You In" nationwide competition (scooping a mentorship Plan B), delivers music soaked in just the right amount of nostalgia/retro influence combined with a modern, personal and emotive edge that will appeal to lovers of great music young and old.
After delivering his standing ovation worthy debut EP The Monologue last week (download it free here), the star in the making who is represented by the Renowned/Levels team (responsible for the success of Wretch 32, Daley, Josh Kumra and more) is set to hit stages across the UK and the world over the coming months whilst crafting his forthcoming debut album.
Expect nothing less than greatness from Mr Banks in 2013.
WATCH
http://youtu.be/ywc7eBEoTYE
LISTEN
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