Category: music

The first New Release Friday roundup of 2023 is here. Songs by Emeryld, HIDDN and Uzia are some of those added to the weekly Spotify playlist.

Ben L’Oncle Soul – “A Rose…”

French soul artist Ben L’Oncle Soul is set to release a new album titled Is It You? on February 17. And he has just unveiled the first single, “A Rose…”. That track arrived with a nice-looking music video directed by Harry Delgas. “A Rose…” is a beautiful romance-driven piece. About it, Ben says,  “I’ve always been fascinated by roses… Every time I look at one, I fall in love again. When my friend Alex read me this poem by Robert Frost, the instruments just started to dance. The accompanying video for ‘A Rose’ is a journal style collection of visual fragments and scribbles. Glimpses of the everyday. And it is at the same time, an exploration of the vertical video that due to smartphones and social media has not only become commonplace, but also a way we look at the world”.

<<Find Ben L’Oncle Soul on Instagram>>

Emeryld – “Take The Exit”

Rising Texas-bred artist Emeryld has dropped a new EP, Bloodline. The project was released alongside the stunning music video for the single, “Take The Exit”. This is a punk-influenced high-octane pop/rock anthem. “Take The Exit”, and the EP as a whole, is splendid. Recently signing to Neon Gold Records, Emeryld is an artist to watch, with this EP being a great place to enter start.

<<Find Emeryld on Instagram>>

HIDDN – “Coming Back”

Belgian hitmaker HIDDN has returned with a new tune called “Coming Back”. This house tune is super melodic and exceptionally fresh. The vocals combine smoothly with the beats and synths to create an amazing tune. Out on Ninetone Records, “Coming Back” is HIDDN’s first release of the year. It is a song suitable for that evening-drive playlist.

<<Find HIDDN on Instagram>>

Uzia – “Ain’t My Problem”

Norwegian newcomer Uzia is back with an anthem. This dance-pop track is called “Ain’t My Problem”. It was co-written by Magnus Clausen and produced by G-Senz. “Ain’t My Problem” is a truly empowering song. Uzia has already filmed a music video which she will be releasing soon. Having caught the attention of the likes of Bebe Rexha whose song she covered in 2020, this singer is buzzworthy.

<<Find Uzia on Instagram>>

Richard Tichelman – “Red Lights”

Emerging Canadian musician Richard Tichelman has released a new single ahead of his debut album which drops later in 2023. Named “Red Lights”, it’s an energetic indie-pop/rock track. Listening to this tune gives you a euphoric feeling. “I know the energy I want to bring on stage and I feel I caught it on this song,” says Richard. “Releasing music for all artists has been a unique challenge over the past few years, but it feels like we’re back on the right path and I can’t wait to hit the stage again.” He wrote “Red Lights” with David “Messy” Mescon and Kenny Sharp. Giordan Postorino and Mike Fraser mixed and mastered the song, respectively.

<<Find Richard on Instagram>>>

Find other New Release Friday roundups here.

Today (Jan. 13) Warner Bros. Pictures has released their take on New Line Cinema’s 1990 Black cinema classic, House Party. Produced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter, and written by Jamal Olori and Stephen Glover, the film is directed by CALMATIC… formerly known as the rapper/producer Three-1-Zero and another DopeHouse alum.

The film’s accompanying soundtrack has also been released as well, featuring new tracks from 2 Chainz, P-Lo, and GoodJoon. Speaking of Overdoz, Kent Jamz and his Jank Tape partner Buddy are featured on the soundtrack with their offering, “House Party.”

Kent Jamz & Buddy Drop Title Track To ‘House Party’ Soundtrack was last modified: January 13th, 2023 by Meka

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson quickly became one of the biggest names in Hollywood due to his multifaceted career as a former professional wrestler and football player, Teremana tequila founder and, of course, an actor. He’s known for his roles in Jumanji, The Game Plan, Get Smart, Black Adam, DC League of Super-Pets, the Fast & Furious franchise and so many more.

However, a lesser known fact about the 50-year-old star is that he’s also proficient in the music world. He has shared his musical talents on talk shows, on social media, in films and on actual studio recordings.

As a result, we at Billboard have compiled our favorite music moments by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. See them below in chronological order.

More Black Thought for the 99 and the 2023? Yes, please!

After connecting with producer Danger Mouse for their incredible Cheat Codes project in 2022, the legendary rapper connects with the New York-based cinematic soul group the El Michels Affair for the collaborative project Glorious Game. A friendship and healthy admiration between Thought and EMA founder Leon Michels spanning twenty years, Glorious Game began to take shape during the height of the pandemic and will now be released on April 14.

To set things off, the pairing have released the project’s first focus track “Grateful.”

Black Thought & El Michels Affair Announce Collaborative Album, Drop “Grateful” Single was last modified: January 11th, 2023 by Meka

By Aki Ikeuchi / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

13:00 JST, January 12, 2023

“Why doesn’t everyone just dance and shout to the music once in a while?” musician Takao Tajima said about the latest album from his solo project Original Love. “I think perhaps that’s what this album is saying.”

“Music, Dance & Love” is his first new album in 3½ years.

In that intervening period, a series of unimaginable events happened, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

“The world is totally different from what it was 3½ years ago,” he said. “Things happened one after the other, and I had to rewrite the lyrics many times.”

He altered the lyrics of the album’s lead track, “The Invasion,” at least three times. He had never before rewritten lyrics so significantly other than tweaking them.

The song has an international feel, reminiscent of South American and Middle Eastern music.

He sings in a stern voice, anger underlying the song. “We all need to say, ‘Something is wrong with the world.’ The words should be direct,” he said. “If you use expressions that are hard to understand, you will never get the message across.”

Tajima was inspired to create “Music, Dance & Love” after learning from news reports that there are people who enjoy dance parties in a town in Ukraine that has been attacked.

“It’s wonderful and cool,” he said. “I was happy that music could live on in such a situation.

“You can’t stop the music, no matter how you might be intimidated.”

That message can be heard in the songs on the album that are a mixture of soul and rock.

He was conscious of having a “danceable sound” throughout, with a groove that makes listeners sway.

“Amid the pandemic, I wanted to make something that would cheer people up when they were wondering what was going to happen and make them want to work a little harder,” he said. “I’m just trying to convey the message that music will never let you down,”

The year of 2021 was the 30th anniversary of Original Love’s debut. His solo act had hits in the 1990s with songs such as “Kiss.” A version of that song appears on the new album.

For the album, Tajima invited musicians who had backed him in the past. He could also feel himself growing as a vocalist.

“No matter how good the performance is, if you don’t sing well, it won’t be funky. Singing is the most difficult part,” he said. “I’ve been making music for this long, I’m finally starting to see what it’s all about.”

The times may have changed, but music has always been a part of his life.

“If it weren’t for music, I’d probably be dead by now,” Tajima said. “I have to live with music all my life.”