In The Spotlight

WARGIRL – “How You Feel”

Cold War Kids producer and musician Matt Wignall has created a new, six-piece collective, which looks for the fringes of genres, from afrobeat via smooth jazz to funk and soul and smashes them all together into a smoothie of aural flavors. Written in a small, funky garage in Long Beach, California, they dropped their subversive debut single “PEOPLE” and the European album release in 2018.

Taken from their self-titled debut album, which is due for release in North-America on April 19th, their new single explores the funk-rock sound of the swinging sixties. With a bracing bass, striking rhythm, vintage-dipped Hammond organ and joyous horns taking you back in time, it’s the sheer power of the soul-dripping vocals that makes this exultant tune feel groovelicious and nostalgic.

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In The Spotlight

Matt Bloyd – “Make You Mine”

This Los Angeles based singer and songwriter started his career on YouTube, when his cover version of Brandy’s “Have You Ever” went viral back in 2016. Coinciding with this success, he released his debut EP “Dying To Survive” shortly after. He’s shared the stage with artists like U2, was featured on Todrick Hall’s album “Forbidden” in 2018 and was a contestant on singing reality show “The Four”.

The bouncy beats of this contemporary R&B/pop fusion give his new single a danceable, upbeat groove, which is highly infectious. Filled with searing synths, adding a shimmering ambiance to the punchy soundscape, his first original song is brimming with neoteric flair and a touch of 90s vibes. With intricate harmonies and his soulful vocals topping the tune, it is steeped in melodic freshness.

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In The Spotlight

Amber-Simone – “Something More”

This British singer and songwriter spent her childhood listening to funk and soul and at 16 discovered her own singing voice. Her powerful sound is influenced by the music of Sade, The Police and Michael Jackson, as well as 80s soundtracks and electronica artists like Metronomy. Lending her skills to other projects whilst releasing her own songs, she debuted with “Taught Me Better” in 2017.

Kicking off with a rocking rhythm, bouncy bass line and crisp guitar plucks, her latest single is a bubbly blend of 80s funk and sparkling pop. Taken from her EP “For Those Moments”, the bouncing melody tickles your dancing feet, while her vigorous, yet refreshing vocals worm their way into your ears and take residency. With its rejuvenating retro vibe and delicious catchiness, it’s a scintillating jam.

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In The Spotlight

Sub-Radio – “Better Than That”

This sextet of childhood friends, who found a shared love of music in high school, have been playing the Washington DC area for many years. With their eclectic, high-energy live shows, they’ve been performing at music festivals like Cherry Blossom and Firefly. Influenced by bands like WALK THE MOON and Two Door Cinema Club, they released their debut indie-pop EP “Same Train//Different Station” in 2016.

Their new single is an energetic eruption of infectious exuberance. The virulent beats, jaunty guitars and joyful synths create a multitude of catchy stabs and memorable hooks, all blending together into an anthemic power-house of indie-pop grooves. And with their enthusiastic and dynamic vocals injecting even more happiness into this euphonious jam, it doesn’t get much better than this.

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In The Spotlight

KiSMiT – “No Turning Back”

Cape Townian Sebastian Reunert and zesty Californian Carly Barnette discovered a mutual love of soul, dance-pop and funk when they attended songwriting class at Berklee College Of Music in 2013. Influenced by Allen Stone and Justin Timberlake, they forged a lively funk-pop sound and traveled through Europe, the UK and The Caribbean. They released their debut single “The Giving Tree” in 2016.

Bursting with colorful torrents of funkalicious fun, their new single builds a peppy party in your ears. The cheerful beat and funky guitars move effortlessly from a laidback vibe to the infectious chorus filled with joyous splashes of energy. Dipped in pure glitterball glitz, the spirited, disco-touched melody fuses with their soulful vocals. Once you join this buoyant, neon-lit party, there’s no turning back!

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In The Spotlight

Johnny Stimson – “Flower”

This Dallas, TX native singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter not only managed to get his music used in TV shows like The Vampire Diaries and Trophy Wife, but got himself a live show booked in London and got noticed by Elton John. Influenced by the likes of Sam Cooke, Michael Jackson and Frank Ocean, he forged an eclectic pop sound with a sense of soul and debuted with “So Good” in 2015.

His latest single is a buttery smooth slice of soulful R&B with an organic vulnerability and sheer beauty. Shaping a sensual soundscape with a mild rhythm, gentle electric guitar and velvety harmonies, it’s his silky, infatuating vocals, singing about life’s moments that are so perfect you just want them to last, that take this tune, waters it and make it bloom into a rainbow of magical, aural colors.

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