South Africa’s ‘Lucky Packet’ release a touching, melodic and soulful rock single with ‘It’s Alright’

Lucky Packet are an Alternative Rock band based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Lucky Packet produce a unique and eclectic blend of alternative rock with a soulful edge.

The new single ‘It’s Alright’ from ‘Lucky Packet’ is captivating listeners in South Africa and globally on Digital Radio stations like New York FM, London FM, Bafana FM and Discover Rocks 21. Tune in here.

“It’s Alright my love” sings lead vocalist Katlego with a melodic and soulful ‘McAlmont & Butler’ twist that compliments the rich and well produced moving melodic rock sound. ‘It’s Alright’ from ‘Lucky Packet’ has a warm, soulful and earthy sound with a groovy rock edge.

The beautiful single ‘It’s Alright’ is taken off the debut album from ‘Lucky Packet’ entitled ‘Ancient History’. The melodic Soul meets Rock band Lucky Packet consists of Katlego, Yuri and Brendan.

‘Ancient History’ is a full length album from ‘Lucky Packet’ that was produced and mixed by band member ‘Brendan Peacock’.

‘Brendan Peacock’ has also played with 80’s Music acts like Leee John of Imagination and a host of well known South African acts.

ONLINE:

https://web.facebook.com/luckypacketband

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South Africa’s ‘Carmelita’ Drops her well produced sleek R&B gem ‘Got You’

South African Singer/Songwriter, Film school graduate, artist and producer ‘Carmelita’ arrives on the global music scene with her deluxe debut R&B single ‘Got You’.

‘Carmelita’ has been singing, writing, recording and crafting sweet R&B songs for years, but never released them. Instead she has carefully developed her distinctive, melodic, sleek, smooth R&B sound resulting in her fantastic debut drop ‘Got You’.

South Africa has featured hugely on the planets music map in 2020 with artists like Master KG, Prince Kaybee, Black Coffee, Holly Rey and Afro Brothers achieving global success. Everyone knows the 238 Million+ views worldwide phenomenon of Master KG – Jerusalema Feat. Nomcebo that took the world by storm in lockdown.

It’s fantastic to see South Africa on the world map for music reasons other than politics, and the incredible talent of the country spreading to the world. Africa is now becoming the new trending continent of the music industry in 2020.

Singer and songwriter Carmelita was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa.

HEY! Carmelita: What inspires your music ?

“I am inspired by everyday people experiencing love, heartbreak, and everything in between. I love writing about people and their relatable experiences. I studied film and acting, with a major in live performance, so writing for me is a way to creatively tell stories from my own perspective, but mostly it’s about the experiences of those around me. I love being able to express the feelings and emotions that people are too afraid to share or speak about, yet need or want to hear.”

South African R&B and pop singer Carmelita was recently featured in Stereo Stickman, Electrowow and is currently riding high on the playlists at The Digital Voice of Africa, Bafana FM.com, Londonfm.digital and Pop Shop Radio.

Carmelita attended the AFDA film school and graduated in 2011. Her musical influences range from artists like Adele, Sam Smith and Aaliyah to Ariana Grande and Kelly Rowland.

Carmelita drops a smooth, sleek, classy, well produced and warm modern R&B vibe with classic influences and a melodic soulful vocals.

Say Hello to Carmelita get watching, liking and subscribing.

CARMELITA ONLINE:

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South Africa’s ‘Byron Major’ returns with a tear jerking ballad ‘as the world joins him in ‘Finding the Light’

Byron Major is Back. Putting Singer-Songwriter-Producer Byron Major’s music into a box is not going to work. Byron says that “genres in music is like racism in society – not applicable”.

While his style is certainly influenced by his early classical music training, Byron’s music takes on elements from Motown to Alternative R&B, Soul and traditional South African rhythm. You can also definitely hear the influences of Stevie Wonder, Prince and John Lennon in his soulful R&B vocals and piano arrangements and performance.

The brand new single from ‘Byron Major’ is the title track to his latest E.P ‘Finding The Light’.  ‘Finding The Light’ is a touching and shiver inducing accomplished piano ballad of ‘Stevie Wonder’ and ‘John Legend’ proportions‘Byron Major’ sings his very heart out and delivers a performance capable of bringing a listener to tears, on this heart wrenching, emotional, God filled, warm and classic piano ballad.

You can hear the incredibly touching piano ballad ‘Finding The Light’ from ‘Byron Major’ on Bafana FM everyday at 6 p.m South African time and on the Africa Daily List. 

Byron Major has proven his Prowse as a singer-songwriter-performer-producer. He made it to the Top 24 of South African Idols at the age of 17 and was invited to perform his original song ‘South Africa’ at Nelson Mandela’s Boston birthday celebration attended by the Governor of Massachusetts in the USA in 2013. He sang his original songs alongside Grammy Award-Winning singer Paula Cole while studying at Berklee College of Music (Boston, USA) and his 2016 single ‘May Flower’ caught the attention of 21 radio stations across the UK.

His track “Delicious” charted for 10-weeks on college Radio in South Africa and his single Midnight Daydream peaked at number 26 on the UK Music Week Official Club chart, Color My World peaked at Number 15 on the same UK Music Week chart, and Rockstar peaked at Number 1 on BBC Radio One’s Essential Mix Creators Kings of Spin DJ Charts in 2018.

Rockstar went on to be playlisted in countries around the globe, including: Australia, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, England & USA, and to complete the year Byron Major’s Summer Day charted at number 16. At the end of 2019, Matchbox Recordings UK invited Byron to feature Color My World on their compilation album and the track was playlisted on London FM.

Byron Major was recently the Cover Star for South African Music and Entertainment Magazine, Bafana.

The year 2020 has indeed been an unprecedented year given the global health pandemic that had us in lockdown across the world, and has presented a wide range of personal challenges for us but it has also connected us on the level of our humanity.

Byron Major’s EP entitled “Finding the Light” therefore aims to bring hope and encouragement in the face of adversity. This EP touches on topics such as being lost within the circus of life’s rat race to his favourite topics of relationships and unrequited love.

In his forthcoming single entitled Finding the Light, the same title as the EP, the lyrics tell the experience of many a man and woman, and Byron’s emotions permeates his piano and vocal performance and penetrates the soul. The release date for the EP, Finding the Light by Byron Major, was released globally on 27th October.

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With a taste of ‘Thom Yorke’ on holiday with ‘Nick Cave’ and ‘Rufus Wainright’, Exceptional songwriter ‘Shayne Cook’ teams with the sweet ‘The City of Prague Symphony Orchestra’ to touch souls on ‘Epiphonetics’

Melbourne based singer-songwriter Shayne Cook is releasing another two tracks from his debut LP ‘Epiphonetics’ which is due late October.  ‘Restless Lovers’ and ‘Back to Love’ will be available on all digital platforms from August 25.

Born from a gentle descending guitar, ‘Restless Lovers’ is the love you had to have.  The one that’s intense, all consuming, knows how to trigger and will faintly beat in your memories with a promise of good love again.

The piano by Phil Turcio, Bass by Chris Bekker and the drum track from Josh Barber stay restrained but dance in response to the raw and reminiscent lyric.  Orchestral composition by Tilman Robinson and played by City of Prague symphony Orchestra builds on the rawness of this track to bring Producer Simon Moro’s focus’s each element of the song in its own sonic dimension and overall, letting the song guide the production to allow it be the most beautiful song you will here today

Listen to ‘Restless Lovers’.

‘Back to Love’ was inspired at a particular anxiety fuelled low point of life during the process of writing the album.  Shayne headed to one of his favourite Melbourne parks, Darebin Parklands to drunkenly wallow and sleep out in the car. It was also a full moon which is a stunning view in this park, so ideal for self pity.  The lyrics came to the song that night with a previous guitar part stuck in Shaynes head.  It deals with hitting lows as a person and supposing that happens with people as whole as well – and in that shit storm of feeling the only possible direction other than complete destruction is something that feels in some sort of direction closer to love.

Cook describes ‘Back to Love’ as initially a guitar-based folk song, “but when Chris Bekker came in and improvised a muted and percussive bass line, instantly we knew this is what the song needed – it transformed the song into something completely new.

The guitar driven song became a bass driven song which just really gave the darkness the song deserved. Simon also had an idea to get the orchestra to create the click sounds with their bow and instrument using a techniques called pizzicato.  This just added to the movement.  The last note of the song you can hear the snap of one of the violins bridge plates which we thought made sense just to stop it there”

Check out ‘Back to Love.’

‘Restless Lovers’ / ‘Back to Love’ will be released on August 25.
‘Epiphonetics’ will be released on October 23.

SHAYNE COOK ONLINE:

https://www.facebook.com/shaynecookofficial/
https://www.shaynecook.com/
https://www.instagram.com/shaynecook_/
http://www.shaynecook.com

THE FULL LINE UP

shayne cook 1

‘Restless Lovers’

Shayne Cook: Writer / Vocal /Guitars  l  Simon Moro: Producer/ Mix Engineer  l  Joe Carra (Crystal Mastering): Mastering Engineer  l  Joshua Barber:  Drums, Percussion  l  Chris Bekker: Bass  l  Phil Turcio:  Piano  l  Tilman Robinson: Orchestral Arrangements  l  City of Prague Symphony Orchestra: Strings

‘Back to Love’

Shayne Cook: Writer / Vocal /Guitars  l  Simon Moro: Producer/ Mix Engineer/ Synth Keys  l  Joe Carra (Crystal Mastering): Mastering Engineer  l  Joshua Barber:  Drums, Percussion  l  Chris Bekker: Bass  l  Phil Turcio:  Piano  l  Tilman Robinson: Orchestral Arrangements  l  City of Prague Symphony Orchestra: Strings.

SPECIAL FULL SHAYNE COOK STORY

Shayne Cook Epiphonetics

Shayne Cook is a Brisbane-bred, Melbourne-based singer-songwriter who writes hypnotic songs ranging from dark, simple and haunting to unleashed emotional outpourings.   His musical influences span from Nick Cave to Ainslie Wills, Bon Iver to City and Colour, Tom Isanek to Thom Yorke, Emma Louise and beyond.  With his debut LP ‘Epiphonetics’ Cook has delivered an impressive introduction of 9 songs that highlight a  raw and open songwriter with notable talent, his music not convoluted or overly elaborate, his vocals both fresh and yet familiar, and the songs delivered with heart and honesty.

Atmospheric album opener ‘Stawell Gift’ is driven from a piano riff droning in a hypnotic loop.  Piano, on this and the rest of the album was played by the masterful Phil Turcio with Shayne and producer Simon Moro both adding keys/ piano elements to the track.  Josh Barber added all the additional mood on drums.  The song is particularly personal as it is an ode to Cook’s father, describing his history of being abandoned at an orphanage and eventual adoption.

‘Shouldn’t War’ with its hypnotic percussive colour, haunting legato piano lines and syncopated acoustic guitar is Cook’s response to a someone dear to him revealing having suffered a sexual assault.  The sense of sadness, anger and helplessness felt by both the victim and Cook stayed with him for a long time – his vocals giving full range of expression to the anguish reverberating in the listener.

Third track on the album ‘Blood’ is in essence, about feeling love, almost unexplainable, but coursing through your veins, and the idea of losing that beauty is like a death itself.  The song’s concept had been with Cook for many years, morphing and developing until what it is today.  Producer Simon Moro perfectly highlights each instrument in such an intricate way to allow Cook’s vocals to gently float on the rhythm to end up soaring through the mood shifts. Drums from Josh Barber, Chris Bekker on Bass, and orchestral composition from Tilman Robinson.

‘Matters of the Heart’ features a 12 string acoustic waltzing with the rhythm section while Shayne’s heartfelt vocals describe the decisions made by the heart and also those made by the head.  The impulsive and the considered; the questions we ask about what is or what isn’t “right’,  making a choice fraught with risk; knowing all well the probability of failure,  but still going ahead anyway.  The junction between letting go or holding on tight and seeing where love leads.

Cook originally thought ‘Matters of the Heart’ was a throw –away demo, but album producer Simon Moro heard it and suggested they see how it developed.  His ideas and finesse as a producer/ engineer – including utilising contacts at the City of Prague Symphony Orchestra for strings on the song, helped ensure the song made the cut for his debut, and indeed become the album’s first single, scoring support from the likes of Triple J’s Roots N All and CBAA / 2SER FM’s Dirt Music.

‘Restless Lovers’ Born from a gentle descending guitar, ‘Restless Lovers’ is the love you had to have.  The one that’s intense, all consuming, knows how to trigger and will faintly beat in your memories with a promise of good love again.

The piano by Phil Turcio, Bass by Chris Bekker and the drum track from Josh Barber stay restrained but dance in response to the raw and reminiscent lyric.  Orchestral composition by Tilman Robinson  and played by City of Prague symphony Orchestra  builds on the rawness of this track to bring Producer Simon Moro’s focus’s each element of the song in its own sonic dimension and overall, letting the song guide the production to entice you back for another listen.

‘Disaster Yet’ is an argument between lovers.  The fight is not the end of the world, and you know the moment you are lying in bed wrapped in each other that it is all going to be ok.  The string arrangement by Timan Robinson sends the song into a dream state leaving the guitar to create the misty lake the dream passes within.  Phil Turcio on piano, Josh Barber on drums, Chris Bekker on bass complimenting the simplicity and movement of the narrative.  Shayne’s vocals sit in a place between both the simplicity and sometimes underlying complexity of the subject matter.

Describing the inspiration for ‘City Fire Lights’ Cook explains “Music has always been my innermost desire to pursue.  Prior to writing this album I was working full time in finance. While I most definitely did enjoy my job I always felt music was my calling and time felt it was slipping away.  Walking away from comfort and predictability can be tough.  I also felt like I had left my run too late, that I’d put it off due to insecurity and waiting for everything to be right.  Turns out there is no such thing as the right time and you can spend all your time waiting for the right time.”  Phil Turcio on Piano a piacere with Shayne sets the introspect of the song while the full band kicks in with resolve.

‘Back To Love’ which received airplay from both Triple J’s Roots N All and Double J’s Stir It Up amongst others started as a guitar based folk song.  As Shayne explains, “When Chris Bekker came in and improvised a muted and percussive bass line instantly we knew this is what the song needed – it transformed the song into something completely new. The guitar driven song became a bass driven song which just really gave the darkness the song deserved. Simon also had an idea to get the orchestra to create the click sounds with their bow and instrument using a techniques called pizzicato.  This just added to the movement.  The last note of the song you can hear the snap of one of the violins bridge plates which we thought made sense to keep”.

Ritual

Imagine sunshine streaming through the window while you sit with your lover enjoying a coffee.  The romanticism of talking about owning that farmhouse one day and heading on a sea change to escape the city.  Sitting on the back steps together with a whiskey after a shitty week.  Unsleeving that Nick Cave record and listening to ‘Into My Arms’ while entwined with your lover for those few minutes.  These things.  The moments we cherish.

Shayne explains “I had originally written the solo on a midi keyboard with a saxophone as a choice of sounds it was a little corny but I liked it.  Uncle George’s piano accordion coupled with a lush reverb was the obvious replacement for this on the album and fittingly George is also a man that enjoys the simple rituals of life.”

“In all I feel this album was about me taking the leap into my passion and releasing music.

It’s what I feel I have to give to the world and this album is the beginning  of that”

‘Adrian Javon’ is back with a warm, melodic, dreamy, entrancing trippy Soul Vibe on new single ‘Need Me’

Adrian Javon returns with a trippy quarantined vibe for his soulful single “Need Me”.

Shot, edited, and directed by the artist himself.

Need Me is the 5th single off the LA Native’s EP In Love’s Memory, which released early 2020 just before the world’s lockdown.

The History of Adrian Javon

Adrian Javon is a LA based creative, known for his professional photography, cinematography, and music.

Working with names from Janelle Monae, Tina Knowles-Lawson, Iyanla Vanzant, Zendaya, Ty Dolla $ign, Trevor Jackson, K-Michelle, T-Pain, Karen Civil, Hit-Maka, Fisticuffs, Montrezl Harrell, Kofi Siriboe, Mila J, and many more!

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With the strong connection to his subjects always resonating clearly, Adrian’s work has been described as soulful and inspiring and has taken him from LA to Japan to Ghana, Angola, and South Africa.

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ONLINE:

Stream: https://hypel.ink/in-loves-memory

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/iamadrianjavon

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/iamadrianjavon

Website: www.Iamadrianjavon.com

DISCOVER FAIRYTALE ROCK POP: ‘MATD’ release a ‘Tim Burton’ fuelled majestic, melodic, bold, theatrical and cinematic single with ‘Bitch Alice Is Back’ feat ‘Nida’

MATD is a pop duo. Marcos Kuusjärvi and Veli Eronen formed MATD in 2020. This is their second Alice in wonderland story.

Marcos and Veli enjoy creating music using fairytales, pop art and stories. Their most famous songs are dealing Cinderella, James Bond and Tom of Finland among others.

This Alice story can be visualized and take a trip to wonderland through music.

Today they live in Spain and Finland. Their former band “Max and the Ducks” reached the 9 official top 30 songs in Finland 2014-2017.

Nida is an LA based singer/songwriter originally from Croatia, raised in South Africa. She proudly sings for the MATD band and is looking forward to the release of Bitch Alice Is Back! It’s a powerful, empowering, yet fun and quirky rock track bound to get you on your feet and moving!

Hana loved singing on this track, as it’s a great twist on a classic story we all grew up with. It transports you into another world- the world of a grown-up Alice, ready to take anything on! We can’t wait to see how this rocking track is received by audiences!

DISCOVER FAIRYTALE ROCK POP: ‘MATD’ release a ‘Tim Burton’ fuelled majestic, melodic, bold, theatrical and cinematic single with ‘Bitch Alice Is Back’ feat ‘Nida’ – Discover Pop Rock

Hana is also the singer/ songwriter and frontwoman for Asila and they are currently set to release the latest single from their forthcoming album, Acid Rain. She also runs her own studio business: http://www.hanasings.com/ where she is working on a number of projects. Recently finishing up the music for an independent film to be released later this year.

THE FULL BITCH ALICE IS BACK STORY

This song is based on Alice in Wonderland story “Through the Looking Glass” written by Lewis Carroll and movie by Tim Burton starring Johnny Depp and Sacha Baron Cohen.

Alice returns to wonderland and spoils all the fun.

NIDA - Hana Muftic profile 2

It´s time to take action ride back to wonderland with rock´n roll attitude.

This fairytale also has some edgy meanings based on “Lion and Unicorn” battle. These are symbols of England and Scotland.

Will there be a wonderland through Brexit? Or is it exit for Scotland? Another fight more?

Marcos and Veli MATD 1

“The lion and the unicorn. Were fighting for the crown. The lion beat the unicorn. All around the town.”

Web

ONLINE:

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‘Modrick Buck’ is a fast rising London rapper going places in the Hip-Hop, Rap, Grime and Trap world with a unique sound as he collaborates with ‘Kidd Kidd’ on the catchier than Drake ‘Self-Made’.


Modrick Buck
is a fast rising rapper going places in the Hip-Hop, Rap, Grime and Trap world.

Modrick Buck however doesn’t associate himself with these genres with his musical vision directly focused on his fans.

London 80’s Pop hero Adam Ant felt the same and said in the 80’s “That music’s lost it’s taste, so try another flavour”.

Modrick Buck adopts a similar musical manifesto being open and proud of his independent fight and life journey to becoming a hot named rapper in London City delivering his own unique sound.

‘Modrick Buck’ is a fast rising London rapper going places in the Hip-Hop, Rap, Grime and Trap world with a unique sound as he collaborates with ‘Kidd Kidd’ on the catchier than Drake ‘Self-Made’. – Discover Rap UK

So where does MODRICK BUCK come from ?

Modrick Buck grew up in Africa in the impoverished and corrupt country of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique.

Breaking free after defeating personal battles and struggles, Modrick Buck moved to the UK to tell his story with his unique direct spit and musical vision building a fast growing following.

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Modrick Buck has already collaborated on a feature with the world famous “Kidd Kidd” who was once signed to the dope G Unit.

Modrick Buck is driven by story telling and strong real lyrical content and is set to run his own ‘Dope Boy Clothing’ brand.

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From his humble roots in Zimbabwe Africa to becoming a fast rising breakout artist in London UK, Modrick Buck continues his story telling and unique Rap sound.

Modrick Buck has dropped numerous releases in a prolific manner driven by a love for his fans who he speaks to directly like a strong Rap island of his own.

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Already collaborating with one of the biggest names in the game and drawing his infuences from acts like 50 cent, Russ, J Cole, Kanye West, Kidd Kidd and Troy Ave, Modrick Buck now delivers an infectious single with his new dope drop ‘Self-Made’.

‘Self-Made’ is an enchanting beat and melody-driven single with a mysterious African meets Eastern flava and magnificent beats under a catchy, addictive, efficient, distinctive and unique spit and rap that stays in your head. Poppy but dark and cool.

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This is catchier than Drake, but cooler and with better more intelligent lyrical content. You can dance like Michael Jackson, but you can also dance through life breaking down your obstacles uniquely like Modrick Buck and Kidd Kidd.

From Africa to the UK a big new name arrives from the trending continent of the music industry and spreading to the world and home of grime London City.

Modrick - Self Made

Online:

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