Listen: I Am No Fun - Flawed Mangoes x Handsome

I Am No Fun arrives with an unnerving series of off-kilter chords before suddenly blossoming into a floaty-light piece of soul-pop. Gently played keys and bass and layered to create something that feels one-part the lo-fi production of Metronomy, one-part the plastic joy of Lemon-Jelly and one-part the left-field soul of Solange.

This is the second collaborative release from Handsome and Flawed Mangoes, and on it they have looked to capture an easy, relaxed summer vibe. For me, the song captures the chaotic feeling of being in love and being loved - the push and pull of feeling overwhelmed and yet still wanting more.

The production here is really stand-out - drums snap against thick bass and glossy Rhodes-like keys. It’s a really impressive and distinctive sound, and it feels like summer.

Next Wave · flawed mangoes & HANDSOME - I Am No Fun

Listen: Want You - Lu Kala

Lu Kala is a Toronto-based musician who immigrated to Canada at the age of three and has written for R&B star Jennift Hudson as well as local artists.

The power of her songwriting is self-evident on Want You, but whilst experience success writing songs Lu Kala yearned to express herself with her own voice and distinctive style. The vocals Kala delivers are strong and raw, sitting between R&B, pop and classic soul together with a bit of rock.

Want You packs a lot of power into its frame - an impassioned and uncompromising sound that culminates is an assertive chorus, Lu Kala’s “You ain’t giving me shit to hold on to, but I still want you” set against an infectious shout of “Hey” that reminds me of The Lumineers’ Ho Hey.

Lu Kala wrote Want You at the point where she was ready to move on from a toxic relationship:

”I wrote Want You once I was ready to face myself when it came to self-sabotage. I allowed a man into my life who wouldn't commit to me but I still wanted to lay there with him, hoping that maybe one day he'd want me. It was hard to see myself like that, I've just never been wanted by the ones I wanted. After that experience, I decided that my desire for him would never overpower my self respect again."

This is an inspiring and rousing anthem, boasting self-belief and self-respect. Check it out below:

Download & Stream: https://awal.ffm.to/wantyou ___________________________________________ Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/igobylu/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/igobyLu/ VEVO: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZLP... Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/lukalamusic Twitter: https://twitter.com/igobyLu

Listen: Happy For You - Alex Porat

Alex Porat has previously garnered attention as a result of the covers she has posted on YouTube and Instagram. Bringing depth of emotion and sophisticated production to gentle pop music, the Toronto musician is now focused on releasing her own music, with Happy For You her newest single.

With a delicate and emotive sound, Happy For You tells the tale of a breakup… Dealing with the conflicting emotions of being hurt by someone’s ability to move on from you, but still wanting the best for them. The difficult reality of being confronted by the constant reminders of a person - the optimisation algorithms online that don’t understand that you no longer want to be confronted with every little thing that person does… Technology gone from silently anticipating your desires to actively derailing your attempts to be better.

Describing the song, Porat says:

”The theme of this song is a situation that I find comes up often. When you go through a break-up, everything that person does online is now in your face and you want them to think you’re okay with them moving on when you’re not. For this track we wanted it to be super introspective and feel kind of dream-like since you’re not actually saying these lyrics out loud."

Happy For You captures a feeling most of us know well, but does so with a fresh feeling that makes it all the more personal and real. Check it out below:

Alex Porat · happy for you

Listen: Same Guy - Eades

Same Guy reminds me of of Phoenix meets Vampire Weekend… Certain bands just manage to sound incredibly tight, and Eades is clearly one of those bands. There isn’t necessarily anything specific that stands out about this song, and yet the way it all comes together… The shimmering, highlife-esque layered guitars, thumping percussion and vocal all come together to create an easy going slow build that feels both lo-fi and yet slick at the same time.

According to frontman Harry Jordan, Same Guy is about recognising our mortality and the temporal reality of our time on this planet:

“It’s essentially a coming of age tune, and the realisation that eventually we’re all going to grow old, becoming either our parents, or the oldies we might think are ‘uncool’. It’s about accepting we are all just part of the cycle.”

The sound of the track is actually inspired by Bollywood:

“The song started out with a pair of riffs Dave (Lancaster, bass) had been working on inspired by Bollywood music in an attempt to force us down a different style sonically. Making us break away from a certain writing style that had become typical for us.”

Check out Same Guy below:

STREAM NOW ON ALL PLATFORMS OR DOWNLOAD ON OUR BANDCAMP Eades’ latests single “Same Guy” uses bollywood rhythms to tackle the foreboding of growing older. With a steady groove reminiscent of 90’s classic Loaded the band carry you through the track with sample-esque guitar riffs and and a pocketed percussion section, held together with their self produced lo-fi recording style. “The song started out with a pair of riffs Dave had been working on inspired by Bollywood music in an attempt to force us down a different style sonically. Making us break away from a certain writing style that had become typical in the writing process of our first EP Then there was the chorus melody Dave brought forward and instantly I knew it was a keeper.” Enjoy, Eades

Listen: Daylight - Kass Rose Gold

Daylight feels like pure comfort. It’s a blanket spread out on warm grass, a coffee on a cold day and your favourite pair of trainers all at once. It’s a hug from a friend you haven’t seen in too long. It’s the familiarity of a well-worn joke. The easy-breezy feeling Kass’ vocal is seriously irresistible.

Walk makes Daylight shine so bright for me (yup, sorry-not-sorry) is the way her multiple overdubbed vocals wrap you up in layers. At the same time, the production boasts a relaxed, low-slung feeling that just feels RIGHT.

With Daylight, Kass is looking to capture the feeling of sunlight on your face, fresh air in your lungs and hanging with your person, all at the precise moment we need it the most… And it’s all here, the dreamy feeling of perfect, long, days enjoying one another.