Munchies

Navah Sea – “Roll Call”

This month UK record producer Phil Simmonds (aka Navah Sea) released “Roll Call”, the third single from his forthcoming eponymous debut album. Flexing his producer muscles and perhaps adding a bit of playfulness to the album, “Roll Call” features psychedelic elements like tape manipulation, whimsical percussion and Baroque Pop strings on the chorus. The song’s lyrical narrative speaks to the evolution of young love and how maturity influences relationships throughout adulthood. The theme of growing up and reassessing life runs throughout the album. Widely known for his production talents, Phil Simmonds created the Navah Sea moniker to highlight his exceptional songwriting skills and soulful vocals. The British-born producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and painter has been a hidden gem within the music scene since his teenage years as a touring musician. After coming off tour, he became musical director for Jessie J, Zak Abel, and Conrad Sewell while scoring credits and collaborations with established artists like Kareem Lomax, Masego, Snoh Allegra, Nao and Lucky […]

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Featured Placement: “Bad Bitch” by No Suits

“Bad Bitch” by No Suits is being featured in the first episode of the brand new NBC series Grand Crew, premiering on Tuesday, December 14th at 8pm ET as part of NBC’s “Preview Week”! About No Suits No Suits is Los Angeles-based band and production group blurring genres with an R&B and hip-hop-influenced blend that embraces psych-rock, funk, and electronic textures. About “Grand Crew” on NBC “Grand Crew” follows a group of young, black professionals in Los Angeles who meet up on the reg at their favorite wine bar to unwind, catch up, and find the humor in the ups and downs of their romances and professional lives. Life is better with your crew, they say, who consists of Noah, a hopeless romantic in too much of a hurry to settle down; his sister Nicky, a go-getter in real estate who’s adventurous in romance; Sherm, a low-key genius who plays the […]

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Alejandro y Maria Laura – “Lagrimón”

When you make music with your life partner, it gives you the freedom to expose your most vulnerable side. Having done so for more than a decade, Alejandro y Maria Laura have developed a unique sonic language. In their new single “Lagrimón” (or “big tear”, in English), Maria Laura takes the concept of a big tear and weaves it into a metaphor for the deep sadness and longing she feels for her mother. As her emotions build, her lagrimón fills the clouds and grows into a storm. Translated into English: The sky is closingThe big tear is pouring downEvery time I want toWrite a song about youThe sky is closingThe big tear is pouring downLet it fall, let it rainLet the heart heal itself Originally from Lima, Perú but now living in Mexico City, this singer-songwriter/producer duo incorporates Latin American folklore and elements of classic film score into their signature sound. Their intimate and […]

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Bronze Radio Return – “Chillers”

Bronze Radio Return is back with a new compilation album Chillers, featuring the best of their mellower organic material from the past decade. The album features a brand new song “Natural Rattle”; a warm and heartfelt song about the everyday woes of life, encouraging us to stay strong through it all. So unwind, but don’t unravelWe can’t help but be a little fragileThrough the clatters and sudden cracklesAre the soundsOf the natural rattleVibrating us allThe natural rattleVibrating us all In the band’s signature fashion, “Natural Rattle” starts off with an open, reverberant soundscape, with Chris Henderson’s finger-picked guitar and piercing vocals shining through like a ray of light after a storm. The song remains calm and subdued until the introduction of a beating kickdrum, quickly followed by lead guitar and bluesy harmonica that lifts the song up into the atmosphere like a tornado. Since its founding in 2007, Bronze Radio Return has gained […]

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How To Optimize Your Songwriting For Sync

Your song might sound awesome, but it sucks for sync. Sorry, but it’s true. Songwriters rarely consider how their song might be used to help tell someone else’s story. They’re often preoccupied with telling their own story, emulating songs they admire or maybe just trying to make something their fans will think is cool. And that’s totally fine, but it’s not going to get you far with sync. To help you out, here are some tips to help you write more universally appealing, sync-friendly songs. How To Optimize Your Songwriting For Sync Support The Narrative If you really want your music to stand out, it’s important to understand that songs are used in sync to support a narrative, not to tell one. If there’s a sad montage where someone dies, you’re not going to hear a song with lyrics about someone literally dying. The music supervisor will want a song […]

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The Kickdrums – “The Ghost Tapes”

The Kickdrums have been killin’ it for over a decade, and won’t stop any time soon. Back with a new full length album, The Ghost Tapes is an all-encompassing project with a wave of songs passing through a wide array of sonic textures. The album kicks off with a cool, laid-back instrumental called “She Killed Me With Her Eyes”, then begins pushing off into darker territory. “Love Buzz”, a meta-cover based on the Nirvana version of the 1969 original, features the fuzziest of fuzz guitars and filtered delay vocal treatments. Fitts manages to take this song into psychedelic depths, all while preserving Nirvana’s snarky tone and catchy hook. The album closes with “Hum”, a hard-hitting indie rock track with electronic and dub overtones. All in all, quite a trip! The Kickdrums is the recording alias of producer/songwriter Alex Fitts. Well known in the industry for his signature style, Fitts effortlessly blends together elements of trip-hop, dub and indie-rock into all […]

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K. Roosevelt – “The Voodoo”

Los Angeles-based artist/producer K. Roosevelt hits us with “The Voodoo” on the lead single from his upcoming full-length album “Day Glow”. Reminiscent of modern jazz-adjacent R&B artists like Thundercat, Kamasi Washington and Anderson .Paak, the track features K’s signature sparse, soulful vocals nestled perfectly between a laid-back beat and mellow slap-bassline. The son of acclaimed blues artists Keb’ Mo, it’s no wonder K. Roosevelt is one Cool M.F. First cutting his teeth as a drummer and then moving on to guitar, piano, vocals and beat production, K has evolved from an instrumentalist into a multifaceted artist, writer and producer. His first break as an artist came in 2012 with a feature on The Game’s “Can’t Get Right”, followed by a string of successful collabs with Jhené Aiko, Hit-Boy, Rapsody and Mahalia. K continued writing, producing and featuring on records up until 2018 when he released his eponymous debut EP on […]

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YONAS – “Skyfall”

After the prodigious release of four full-length albums, three EPs, as well as numerous singles and features, YONAS is back once again with his newest EP Skyfall. The overall tone of the record is hopeful; a testament to his newfound conviction in response to a multitude of personal challenges. Through his signature thought-provoking lyrics, YONAS illustrates how music has helped him rediscover faith and his true self. Skyfall opens with the rugged lead single “Fuego”, gradually moves through a more melodic soundscape, and then culminates with the inspirational anthem “Glory” featuring the soulful vocals of John Splithoff. YONAS has enjoyed plenty of syncs throughout his successful career, including recent brand partnerships with Ralph Lauren, Target, and Citibank. He’s shared the stage and collaborated with industry power players like Kendrick Lamar, Logic, B.o.B and Macklemore and has charted on both the Billboard and iTunes charts. With more than half a billion streams and sales worldwide, there’s no denying that YONAS is a major […]

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Chewii – “Soul Holiday”

Have you ever felt so consumed by love that it feels like your soul is on holiday? In “Soul Holiday”, the first single off of Chewii’s highly anticipated full-length album Fragments of Me, the Quebecois songstress dives deep into the overwhelming and all-consuming effects of love. The sultry, dreamy, yet melancholic song imagines the idea of the perfect holiday one would never want to end. You grant my dreams And make my life complete A text from you Can turn my day so sweet Time seems to stop And us is all I need Collecting all these treasured memories Following Chewii’s debut EP entitled Black Skin Lullaby which dealt with themes of social justice and racism, her new album pivots to a modern take on love. With a wide range of influences including Aretha Franklin, Alanis Morisette and Erykah Badu, the Montreal-born soul singer, producer and songwriter is creating her own lane in contemporary R&B. Fragments of Me was co-produced by her […]

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Featured Placement: “New Whip, Who Dis?” by Daz Rinko

“New Whip, Who Dis?” by Daz Rinko is featured in Episode 603 of the CBS series Bull. Entitled “Bull Undone”, it first aired on October 21st and is now available on-demand. About Daz Rinko Daz Rinko is a Hip-Hop artist from Memphis, best known for his upbeat, positive jams, and genre-blending style. This placement follows another one earlier this summer with his song “The Way (feat. Rahel)” appearing on the HBO dating series FBoy Island. About “Bull” on CBS Inspired by the early career of Dr. Phil McGraw, the founder of one of the most prolific trial-consulting firms of all time, Bull stars Michael Weatherly as Dr. Jason Bull representing the ultimate puppet master. He combines psychology, human intuition, and high-tech data to learn what makes jurors, attorneys, witnesses, and the accused tick for creating winning strategies for his clients. His personal life proves harder to manage, though, learning he is […]

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