Tag: Indie

Fresh Afrobeats artist Abblaze sets international dance scene on fire with new EP “Rhythms & Heartbreaks”

NEWARK, NJ – He may be new to the American music scene, but Abideen Omisola (known by his professional name, Abblaze) was born to be in the music game. Born in the US, Abblaze first got into music a long time ago while growing up in Nigeria. Harnessing the best of many worlds, Abblaze’s versatility stems from his background of moving around and living in different countries.

Those diverse influences are reflected in Abblaze’s new EP, “Rhythms & Heartbreaks.” His unique Afrobeats music is an uptempo, groovy mix with percussion-heavy rhythm and American lifestyle influences. Recorded in New Jersey and New York, the 9 track collection was released on January 27th and features heartbreak music, love songs, and music about situations the artist has encountered. The first two singles from the EP are “High Life,” a track about a love for smoking marijuana and for anyone trying to attain the best for their lives; and “Number One,” which praises the woman of his dreams who has taken over his heart.

Although a music veteran, Abblaze only began recording his work about a year ago. His previous EP, “Best of Both Worlds,” came out while he was still young in the game and perfecting his craft. In a short time, the artist has matured and grown and the new EP has a more grooved and refined sound while maintaining Abblaze’s signature Afrobeats style and messaging.

Growing up in Nigeria, Abblaze fell in love with music when he learned to play the recorder in middle school. To date, the artist considers his best beats to be the ones with recorder and flute music in the background. He also first began taking his writing seriously in Nigerian, winning multiple awards for his work. Ever since he figured out how to apply his essay writing talents to writing his own music, Abblaze has been burning up the dance scene.

Abblaze developed his core base in Nigeria and being raised there not only influenced his sound but his attitude towards music. Although Nigeria is considered an unstable country, Abblaze said “When you go there, you wouldn’t know that when the music is playing, everybody’s into the music and entertainment. You think ‘Is this a country where people are not living well? The standard of living is kinda low compared to the developing world.’ They don’t act like it! People are partying and having fun! I think that is reflected in my music.” When Abblaze finds himself going through trying times, his music is like therapy for him.

Since he was young, his taste in music has been all over the place. He listens to everything – from Classical to Dancehall, Afrobeats and Pop, and grew up listening to artists such as Westlife, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Elvis, Snoop Dogg, Vice Cartel, WizKid, Jay-Z and Ed Sheeran. “It doesn’t matter what it is,” Abblaze said. “It’s music – it just depends on how you connect yourself to the music.”

Abblaze has big plans for 2020. He has already shot footage for two new music videos. A video for “Number One” will be released first, possibly on Valentine’s Day, followed be the second single, “High Life.” He also will likely shoot a video for a third song, “No Lie” in April or May.

Right now, Abblaze is firing up his base in the New York / New Jersey area. Very soon, listeners all over America will be grooving to his distinct Afrobeat rhythms. With his international background and appeal, Abblaze’s music is destined to set the entire world aflame. Music is a universal language and Abblaze is ready for everyone to hear what his music has to say.

To listen to Abblaze’s music or to follow him on social media, please visit:

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/abblaze/1475035546

https://soundcloud.com/abblaze1

https://www.instagram.com/abblaze2.7/

https://twitter.com/Abideen1

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwxeIjApJSwK-6vSVmWOJnA

“Rhythms & Heartbreaks”

https://open.spotify.com/album/6m7cZjUGlm84i3jQX1Pe51

New Sensation, Zalarella offers a rebel vibe with her new single ‘Run For Your Money’

BROOKLYN, NY – Nearly everyone is familiar with the story of Cinderella – the young girl who is abused by her evil stepmother, adopted by a fairy godmother, granted a magical evening during which she falls in love with a prince, and ultimately finds her “happily ever after.” It’s a beautiful tale of an underdog whose rags-to-riches journey serves as a metaphor for attaining success and fulfilling your dreams.

That’s exactly the kind of story this Brooklyn native is telling. This R&B artist is one of the fastest-rising talents on the East Coast, and she’s fully embracing the Cinderella metaphor by adopting the stage name Zalarella. And like Cinderella, she had given up on her dreams for a while but found a renewed hope for the future when her new single “Run For Your Money” began to receive a lot of attention from new audiences.

“I’ve been through many mishaps and struggles and because of that, I feel like I’m the urban version of Cinderella,” she said. “I’ve gone through a lot of growing pains throughout the years”.

Her first single, ‘Run For Your Money’ is a song that touches on feeling emotional emptiness in a relationship after longing for it for so long. It’s a dark, compelling and edgy R&B type of feel that talks about no longer wasting your time on a guy that doesn’t value you. I’m encouraging others not to wait around for a call or for the love and affection of a man that doesn’t see your worth. Don’t feel sorry for yourself and wait for something that doesn’t exist.”

Endless obstacles and lack of support took its toll on her throughout the years – so much that she felt compelled to walk away from music completely for a long period of time. As fate would have it, her true calling came back to surface.

“It took a lot of soul-searching and evolving before I could come back to music,” she said. “But eventually, I realized I couldn’t make everyone happy. I don’t want to limit myself because of what others think are my limits.

She concludes, “I’ve been through a lot in my life and that gives me inspiration to share my life lessons. That alone gives me a unique voice that can connect with others. I’m marching to my own beat – that’s what’s in my heart. I can inspire others to do the same.”

To listen to Zalarella’s music or to follow her on social media, please visit:

https://www.instagram.com/zalarella/

“Run For Your Money” [Explicit] 

https://open.spotify.com/album/3jTQ72edoo2nweTOADimKj

https://music.amazon.com/albums/B081HDFLBV?trackAsin=B081HCYGV1&ref=dm_sh_KhNV9Kf2mY1gjPqBBok1PJC4j

Emmanuel Quiah combines silky smooth voice with cutting edge guitar licks for one-of-a-kind sound

PEORIA, AZ – Sometimes the most beautiful things in life can grow from soil covered in ash. No matter how tragic the beginning of the story, there can always be a happy ending. This perfectly describes the journey of Emmanuel Quiah, a fast-rising artist out of Arizona whose blend of musical influences and a heart-piercing voice is drawing attention from all corners of the music industry. 

Born during the civil war era of his home country of Liberia, Quiah lost his father during the war and eventually came to the U.S. as a refugee with his mother and three siblings. Music became a source of refuge at a young age, and he would often play songs for hours and hours in his room as he processed a riot of emotions. In high school, he picked up the guitar and was a quick study. He began to put lyrics to the songs he has created on the guitar, and he started to study the greats like Eric Clapton and Tommy Emmanuel. After a decade of study and hard work, Quiah is ready to release his one-of-a-kind sound to the world. 

“I want to make a change in this world and I want to get my message out through music,” he said. “I won’t stop until I get to the top. So many people have said I couldn’t do it and that I won’t make it in the music industry, but I want to prove everybody wrong. I can take over and be the King of Afrobeat. Even though I came from a place that was in the middle of a war and I had no hope and nothing to my name, I came to the U.S. and I’m proving to people that I can do it. And I hope that through my music people will see that if I can do it, they can, as well.”

Afrobeat is just one of the major influences that fans will find in Quiah’s music. When he combines African beats with a bit of Reggae, with lyrics and flow that are reminiscent of Bob Marley, the sound is attractive, to say the least. Drop in his silky smooth voice that is reminiscent of Jason Mraz and the combination is so original that fans all over the world will soon be clamoring for more.

Currently, audiences can listen to Quiah’s music on his new single “Blow My Mind.” It’s a song about a guy falling in love with a girl and trying to share with the world just how much he loves her. Quiah describes it as an Afro-beat song with a “U.S. pop vibe.” 

“Whenever you listen to it, you will have to dance,” he said. “It will make you want to dance. That’s the kind of music I like to make – music that makes you happy. I want to share the love and encourage people to love one another. Don’t hate. Promote peace. And enjoy life with my music.”

To listen to Quiah’s music or to follow him on social media, please visit:

https://www.instagram.com/emmanuelquiah/

https://twitter.com/QuiahQuiah19

https://m.facebook.com/emmanuel.quiah

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCPmOYEUpKVu2Tm3aFFCwhw

https://artists.spotify.com/c/artist/1iACnwCkQWI36gS1pxJegl/profile/overview

Canadian artist from West Africa blends melting pot of sounds on eclectic new EP ‘Last Try, Attempt One’

CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA – Phreeboy is an artist who began molding his craft growing up in Montreal – one of the most eclectic cities in the world. A virtual melting pot of cultures and socio-economic status, young Emmanuel Boateng grew up seeing so many different walks of life that it left an indelible mark on his impressionable mind. All of that has informed his unique voice and with his new EP “Last Try, Attempt One,” he is ready to share that voice with the world.

Born in Ghana, West Africa, Phreeboy was 9 years old when his mother raised enough money to send him to Canada for a better education. But prior to moving, he remembers fondly joining his family in church and youth choirs. Those experiences planted seeds that would bloom during his teenage years in Montreal. Eventually, he started writing poetry and began to explore more of what it would look like to connect with the world through music. He started putting songs together and that led to his six-song EP which is slated to be available across all streaming platforms on Jan. 31. 

“It’s a project that really is about encouraging people to keep going until you get there,” Phreeboy said. “A lot of times in my life there have been moments where I’d wake up every morning and have to convince myself to just try again. Sometimes, that’s what you have to do – just keep trying even if you fail. Just try again. This current time in my life is when I’m going to put everything into this push with my music. If I fail, then I’ll try again – a kind of ‘Attempt 2.’”

The debut single from the project is a song called “Dollar & a Dream” which encapsulates the entire theme of the EP. Phreeboy calls it a wake-up call to people – pushing them to do what they have to do to realize their dreams.

“Don’t make any excuses,” he said. “Don’t tell yourself you can’t do it. You’re gonna die someday anyway, so why not try?”

Phreeboy said that though “Dollar & a Dream” has a real “boom-boom” vibe, the entire EP showcases more variety and truly embraces the different sounds and genres that come from his home town of Montreal. 

“There’s a certain kind of feel to this EP – there’s a hunger to it,” he said. “You can tell from the first bars that there’s a special quality to this EP. Growing up, because I lived in Montreal, I didn’t listen to just one genre. I listened to Jazz and Reggae and Africans and Hip-Hop and so many other things. And with this EP, I want to show that side of Montreal that has all that variety. It’s a city with a lot of different cultures, and that really influenced me growing up. Music is a depiction of what’s going on in the world, and I realized at a young age that it has the power to influence people to do something they wouldn’t originally consider doing. I guess in that way you could say my music is a little bit rebellious – which is where my name comes from. I just want to be able to do what I want to do instead of trying to accomplish all the plans that other people have for me. And that’s a message I want my music to send to other people. If you don’t want to fit in and you feel like there’s no path for you, create a new path. You’re going to make mistakes, but keep pushing. That’s what my music represents – it’s rebellious without a specific direction but that’s how life is sometimes.”

To listen to Phreeboy’s music or to follow him on social media, please visit:

https://www.instagram.com/phreeboy/

https://twitter.com/phreeboy

https://www.facebook.com/Phreeboy/

“Dollar & a Dream”

https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/phreeboy/1482381047

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4ZR5tRcmZVHlMrXV5DcnWl?si=yN7BcMsrQCqUwnH1feSsRw

EDM artist Mikey Theo to release encouraging new single “Fearless Spirit”

PITTSBURGH, PA – The past twelve months have been a breakout year for rising DJ, Mikey Theo. After releasing his debut EP late in 2019, Mikey is dropping his new single titled “Fearless Spirit” on January 24th.

For the new single, Mikey teamed up with Los Angeles based singer, Kerry Kathleen, who provided vocals and wrote the lyrics. According to Mikey, Kerry was a pleasure to work with & brought a lot of great ideas to the song which really helped tie it together. “Fearless Spirit” is a fun, upbeat track with a tropical house feel and encourages listeners to be fearless. “It’s about not being afraid to take risks in everyday life – it’s for those who need an extra bump to take those risks that they might not otherwise take,” the DJ said.

The new single is a contrast to Mikey’s debut EP, which has a completely different style. While “Fearless Spirit” delivers a kind of island buoyancy, Mikey’s “Deaf Child Area” EP has a far more progressive EDM / house sound. Mikey released the EP late last year to introduce his music and talents to the world. The artist provided vocals and all the production work for the three song collection.

Mikey Theo (also known as Michael Pavlik) has been writing music since he was 14 years old when his dad gave him his first guitar. His father taught him to play and introduced Mikey to music that he liked, by artists such as Johnny Cash, Aerosmith and Guns N’ Roses. Mikey played guitar in a few bands up until the time he went to college.

But, over the past two years, he developed a new love for EDM. “I just love it,” he said. “I love the feeling it gives you whenever you hear it.” After experimenting with music software, Mikey researched production techniques to carefully craft and perfect his sound. The artist transferred his guitar-based songwriting onto electronic sounds for his own unique brand of EDM.

Writing and recording music consumes most of Mikey’s time, and he is committed to producing uplifting and exhilarating music that is upbeat, energetic and great fun to dance to. He enjoys all types of music and has plans to expand his production work to include all genres, particularly Rock, Hip Hop and of course, more EDM.

As a DJ who is more interested in production work than singing, Mikey is working on collaborating with vocalists on the new songs he is preparing to drop in springtime.

To listen to Mikey Theo’s music or to follow him on social media, please visit:

https://www.instagram.com/mikeytheomusic/

https://twitter.com/mikeytheomusic

https://soundcloud.com/mikey-theo

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7yLNjbtRsBpVpP6GDbRPda

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/mikey-theo/1460088697

Afro-beats artist Abblaze introduces new with new EP ‘Rhythms & Heartbreaks’

NEWARK, NJ – There are many unique qualities that combine to make up the impressive artistry of East Coast musician Abblaze. For starters, he’s an Afro-beat artist who was born in America but grew up in Nigeria. And most of all, he believes in the healing power of music – so much so that he creates his one-of-a-kind sound as a way to produce a cure for the various maladies that might affect people around the world. 

“I want my music to be known as a cure for feeling down, especially for the females,” Abblaze said. “If you feel like there’s no way out or if a guy is doing you wrong, my music is the cure for that. I also have conscious music sometimes because I needed that in my life and I want to give that to younger generations. More than anything, I have a new sound that is relevant for now and it’s groovy. I like melodies a lot and if you’re feeling down, you can put on one of my songs and it’ll put you in a good mood. I like balance. That’s how life is. If you’re feeling down and want to be happy, listen to one of my songs. Or if you’re wondering why guys think a certain way, my songs can help provide an answer. I also sing about moving around and fashion and different takes on culture – I have that balance, too.”

That diversity is put on full display through Abblaze’s EP “Rhythms & Heartbreaks.” With a vibe that fully embraces the Afro-beats for which he has become known, the project features a combination of love songs and heartbreak songs. Two singles from the EP have already been making waves among fans and are rapidly making their way across the U.S. The first is “High Life” which Abblaze said pays homage to his love of marijuana. 

“The name says it all,” he said. “When I’m feeling down or depressed, I usually turn to marijuana. That’s what the song is about. I do Afro-beats which came out of the high life in Ghana and Nigeria. So in a lot of ways, this is a song for my African fans, too. But mostly, it’s just a song that says I’m a big fan of marijuana. Whenever I need to get my mind right or when things get a little fuzzy around me, I smoke some marijuana and I rediscover myself.”

The other single from the project is “My Number One Love” which Abblaze said is inspired by the “best girl I’ve ever met.” The Afro-beat love song praises the woman of his dreams and goes about detailing the good parts of her and how she has taken over his heart. 

Both of these singles and the EP showcase how Abblaze is one of the most consistent, upcoming Afro-beat artists in recent years. He’s gaining outstanding critical acclaim for his works and performances, and many have said that his sound is new, unique and versatile. 

“As an Afro-beats artist, I don’t think anyone in America is doing what I’m doing,” he said. “There are a couple of people who are popular in that space right now, but I’m the only one who knows both the Nigerian culture and the American culture first-hand. I have the best of both worlds. I also grew up in bad areas, so I know what’s going on in the streets. All of that combined gives my sound a mixture of Nigerian roots with an American lifestyle that’s grounded in the streets.”

To listen to Abblaze’s music or to follow him on social media, please visit:

https://www.instagram.com/abblaze2.7/

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/abblaze/1475035546

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2LuOCWCeIDzGnAKme6VA5G?si=7kK5Nt0MSFa-_S1ndGXe4A

“High Life”

https://open.spotify.com/track/3kcOCSbGJic6cfE9Tbkiyx?context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A0oBZHXpXqWw9Ql0LVkpnic&si=6lU1NtfaQkC0NcyOhTXJpA

Debut album by multi-instrumentalist Hildreth showcases the songwriter’s artistic individualism

LONG ISLAND, NY – Born and raised on Long Island, New York, Luke Gentil (known by his artist name, Hildreth) has been involved with music for most of his life. Taking up the drums at eight years old, he branched out into guitar, singing and piano playing from there.

Hildreth has a deep rooted passion about his music, and strives for authenticity in his every creation. The artist is completely self produced. By self producing his music, his emotion and individualism gets ingrained into his sound. Besides playing several instruments, Hildreth handles everything from songwriting, singing, recording to mixing and mastering. 

Working this way allows the artist to have complete control over his image so that it never changes drastically from his concept. He chooses not to sacrifice his individualism by allowing others to add their changes to his creations. “I put my heart and soul into everything I make,” said Hildreth. “If you can really sit down and pay attention to my lyrics and what I’m playing, it definitely will resonate with you.”

His recently released debut album, “Hildreth” delivers an alternative Indie sound and shows listeners exactly what he is made of. The collection includes seven diverse, unique tracks. A love song written for a girl he knows, “Daisies for “Daisy” speaks of giving beautiful flowers, daisies, for Daisy, daily. The very progressive song, “Levels” features a prominent electronic beat with Indie undertones, along with a complete beat change halfway through. The “Hildreth” album is available on all digital platforms.

Skilled at a number of instruments from an early age, Luke would perform in the talent show each year. He later attended a music high school where he began playing the piano. Luke got seriously involved in music production during his senior year of high school after attending a two-week film scoring seminar at NYU. The experience helped Luke with recording music and composing, and he went on to college for composition. When he realized that rigorous study of theory and playing was taking the fun out of music for him, he switched his major.

Growing up, Luke liked listening to everything from Hip Hop to Classical. Some of his greatest musical influences include 50 Cent, Led Zeppelin, Nick Drake, Sufjan Stevens, Nothing But Thieves, Soundgarden, Deadmau5, Lil Peep and even Polish composer Frédéric Chopin, whose name is tattooed on Luke’s arm. “I think it’s good to have diverse taste in music because then you can call upon different types of genres when you are making something,” Hildreth said. “Staying rigid in one genre can be kind of boring!”

For this year, Hildreth has plans to work on a new music video for “Daisies for Daisy.” He is also finishing up a new song for release later in the year, which will be followed by an animated music video.

Hildreth likes to keep it personal – on Twitter, listeners can see what he is up to and message him directly. Out there and open, Hildreth has no intention of hiding behind the facade of a big business.

To listen to Hildreth’s music or to follow him on social media, please visit:

https://twitter.com/hildrethsound

“Hildreth”

https://open.spotify.com/album/5X3ivUuB8gXV9CxF7caI6q

https://soundcloud.com/officialhildreth/sets/hildreth-debut-album