Premiere: Around Here - Asch-Rose

Around Here is the new single from Auckland, New Zealand musician Asch-Rose. Having toured consistently, she has built up a significant fan base and has performed more than 250 dates in New Zealand. The sound Asch-Rose creates recalls Warpaint - there is a density to the sound that really hits me.

Around Here opens with a guilty walk and a steely-eyed stare that inspires a sense of foreboding. Asch-Rose’s vocal performance exudes siren-like qualities, drawing me in despite the apparent danger.

With bluesy guitar and hushed drums, things start slowly, but over time the quiet gives way to organ and layered instrumentation. It feels deeply atmospheric, a sound that winds around the listener to create a disorientating wall of sound.

Describing the song as being a record of heartbreak, Asch-Rose says:

“A broken heart... obviously something gets stuck in you and breeds like wild fire. I felt compelled to sit and self-loath, while at the same time productively record it. That’s where Around Here was written. I craved that and I stayed in that for a while, there, I wrote this music. These string of songs have been influenced by that state of self-study and self-pity. That state of heartbreak and desperate search to void-fill creates beautiful things.”

Check out Around Here below, or through your platform of choice here.

Listen: Alive - Casual

Arriving on a psychedelic cosmic rainbow hooked onto what sounds like a life support machine, Alive enters like a rebirth and a resuscitation. It crunches and crackles - fresh brass jostling against rolling bass to create something that feels like an overly excitable crowd losing themselves in the moment… and oh, how I miss crowds. Alive feels like being free again.

Casual’s sound reminds me of Jungle, who they cite as influences… there is an obvious commercial appeal here, yet it is mixed with an authenticity. They blend hip-hop stylings with the indie-dance vibes of MGMT, falsetto vocal harmonies playfully bouncing along with the melody. The feeling I’m left with is one of fresh sneakers squeaking enthusiastically on polished floorboards, of feeling good in your new favourite outfit, of sweating with people whose sweat you like.

Casual are Amsterdam-based duo ReauBeau and Rico Dean and they feel destined for success, particularly with fans that include Edith Bowman (sample quote: “There's nothing casual about that. It is HUGE and it's currently on repeat in my house.”)

So yep… Feel Alive, and check it out below:

Casual's first single Alive is OUT NOW Do you remember how Kevin is having the time of his life in his hotel room in Home Alone 2? That's Casual. It is exactly what the name suggests: to have fun with no strings attached. It’s the circus where you go to be entertained, it’s the comedy show you go to get a laugh, it’s the world you escape to and forget about everything. Taking inspiration from artists like Jungle, Justice, Pharrell and Outkast, Casual blends modern takes on ‘70’s disco and soul vibes with a late ‘90’s hip hop bounce that result in uplifting songs - bringing you to a new world of wonders..

Listen: Move - Jodie Nicholson

I recently found time to watch Luca Guadagnino’s movie A Bigger Splash. As I mention in my review of the movie on Letterboxd, the film conveys the brutal, dramatic electricity that occurs when the general predictability of human interaction and behaviour disintegrates to leave just the id. I found the movie thrilling in the way it feels like things are constantly on the verge of falling apart.

As a piece of music, British artist Jodie Nicholson’s Move simmers with a similar sense brooding intensity. Opening with chords that slowly increase in volume as Nicholson delivers hushed vocals, Move always feels like a track that as much about the spaces between the sound as the sound itself. Much like A Bigger Splash, Move never quite tips over into the sheer chaos it threatens. Despite that, it always manages to feel so much bigger than it actually is. The economy is wonderful - this is a piece of music that has the intensity of techno and disco, yet it never has to break its cover beyond a canter. It doesn’t need to, because the strength and gravity is implied by its gait.

Move was produced remotely during the coronavirus lockdown by Tim Bran, who has also worked with London Grammar, Birdy, Halsey and Aurora. Here he has helped Nicholson create something beautiful and subtle and mesmerising. Describing the song’s creation, Jodie says:

”On the surface, its message is typical of a generic pop song, but as the track evolved in its creation, Move has become a powerful symbol for taking a feeling and running with it. It’s been an organic, impulse-driven song from the get-go and in many ways feels like an awakening. I never thought that my first time working with a producer would be during a global pandemic. Working remotely with Tim was fascinating. As I recorded vocals, he controlled my computer from the other end of the country, and we streamed the audio from both sides so we could listen together in real-time. It was honestly mind-blowing. I feel very grateful for current technology and Tim’s knowledge.”

Check out Move below:

Produced remotely during lockdown by Tim Bran (London Grammar, Birdy, Halsey, Aurora), Move sees Jodie’s ethereal vocals come to the fore amid a hypnotic and mesmerising soundscape. Bringing to mind the effortlessly cool electro-indie-pop leanings of The Japanese House, the sparse hushed vocals of Dodie and the haunting synth vibes of Grimes, Move is the perfect soundtrack to a chilled out late summer’s night. In a breakthrough 2020, Jodie has already picked up airplay from Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 2, BBC 6 Music, BT TV Music & Amazing Radio, as well as numerous live sessions, BBC Sounds playlists and ‘Track of the Week’ accolades from BBC Music Introducing. With the support of respected tastemakers including Fresh on the Net, Maverick Magazine, Record of the Day, Alexrainbird, Mahogany & Sofar Sounds, Jodie has quickly emerged as one of the UK’s most exciting new artists. Influenced by the likes of Daughter, Lucy Rose, Bombay Bicycle Club, Rae Morris, Pink Floyd, Ex:Re and Laura Marling, Jodie isn’t afraid to experiment, explore and enhance each song’s raw foundations. Using songwriting to unravel a deeper understanding and sense of self, Jodie’s music sees wistful narratives, delicate melodies and emotive lyrics sit atop deep-rooted themes of melancholy and longing. Funded by Help Musicians UK’s prestigious ‘Do It Differently’ Award, Move is the first in a series of new releases that Jodie Nicholson will be sharing over the coming months. Previous press: “To say that Jodie Nicholson faces a bright future would be doing her a disservice… she is all set to make a very big dent in the music world” – Maverick Magazine “Jodie Nicholson has beautiful tone to her voice, and if she keeps the quality up it’s only a matter of time before she is a household name” – Fresh On The Net “Jodie Nicholson is a captivating performer and writer of beautiful music. Her melodic and ethereal style alongside her note-perfect delivery can reduce the rowdiest of audiences to pin-drop silence” – NARC. Magazine “Has a touch of Stevie Nicks... Nicholson has consistently showcased herself as a songwriter of increasing quality, and a powerful performer” – Record Of The Day “An emotional quality to her sound that falls in the likings of London Grammar, Daughter and Laura Marling… She is amazing!” – Give It A Spin “Nicholson is one of a kind, her music creates new waves” – LeFutureWave

Listen: Tired - Emily James

21-year-old New York native musician Emily James has today unveiled her new single Tired.

With the aim of helping everyone that may now be having a difficult time, Emily says of the release:

“I hope Tired can provide comfort to someone, letting them know that it's okay to not be okay, and they're not alone in the way they're feeling.”

Having written music since she was ten years old, James started releasing her work into the world four years ago. Taking inspiration from some of the world’s biggest artists, including Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac and Adele, James is clearly shooting for music that delivers melodically and yet has an emotional seriousness to it.

That aspiration feels jusitified in Tired. The soft production work here calls to mind Rumours and Tusk era Mac, but updated with a modern pop sensibility in the form of the lo-fi kick-drum-led percussion and synth work. That combination feels rich, steeped in emotion and feeling… James’ gorgeous vocal skips atop the sumptuous production whilst creating a sense of contrast with the melodic synth bass line that appears in the chorus.

I found myself wanting to reach for headphones and the ‘skip back’ button so I could really appreciate the detail in Emily James’ performance of Tired. Check it out below:

https://emilyjames.ffm.to/tired I wrote this song at a time when I was feeling down. While it’s important to spread positivity, I also believe it’s important that we talk about the moments that are difficult. “tired” is about being not okay- and that is okay. These are human emotions and it’s often hard to remember that we’re not alone when we feel this way. I want you to know that I’m always here as a friend- reach out any time if you need someone to talk to.

Listen: Wonder - Vania

Vania has previously appeared on BlackPlastic back in 2018 when she featured on Du Tonc’s In My Mind. On Wonder, Vania is back but this time on her own.

Wrapped in layers of cold-sounding synths, Wonder carries itself with a sense of dramatic, industrial alienation. The song is an exploration of a sense of nostalgia Vania feels for her time spent at an eating disorder treatment centre:

“It was a few years into my recovery and I was frustrated with my progress. I craved the false sense of power that being ill gave me and all I wanted was to return to the place where I’d had the complete care and attention of the people around me. I was worried that this topic would be triggering for myself and for others, but I take comfort in knowing that, rather than resorting to old behaviors, I chose to mourn through my music.”

You can really feel the sense of growth and determination and vulnerability comes through in Vania’s performance, which is both strong and delicate.

Wonder was co-produced with Elliot Jacobson, who has worked with Ingrid Michaelson, Elle King and Vérité. Check it out below: