MUSIC ROUNDUP: April Releases 2021

The music roundup is back for April! This month we dive into new experimental project Lift by Dan Stevenson (Frontierer), dreamy synths from Edinburgh duo Maranta, bright R&B sounds from Bassette and much more. Hit subscribe on Spotify or listen on the links below - Enjoy!

In alphabetical order:

Words: Ewan MacDonald

Aidan Moodie - Welcome

Bringing his love of traditional folk lyricism with a deep appreciation of contemporary music, Glasgow-based singer/songwriter Aidan Moodie has ushered in his debut single Welcome. A simple but effective track, Moodies storytelling lyrics paint a perfect picture of bittersweet memories. With the finger-picked acoustic laying the foundation, delay-soaked synths and luscious backing vocals help further the young artist's vision.

Alas de Liona - Cascade

Raised on the sun soaked plains of California, now based in Edinburgh, singer/songwriter Alas de Liona’s latest track Cascade is the third in a run of releases this year. Having released a debut album in 2017, entitled ‘Lightning and Fire’, the artist has been crafting her mix of indie rock and folk music ever since. Cascade comes as a subtle and majestic track, that burns along slowly as the piano provides the backdrop for de Liona’s stunning vocal performance.

Bassette - 4AM

Having launched herself into the music industry through a feature on DJ Joe Hertz’s ‘Playing For You’, Bermuda-born Bassette has been shaping her own sound ever since. Focusing her music around specific moments, like the soft hues of the early morning 4AM is a perfect example of how to capture such a thing. Combining her ethereal vocal performance with fusion of nostalgic R&B to produce a electronia moodboard.

Chef, Louis Seivwright - Blessings

Aberdeen-based MC Chef has teamed up with SAMA Nominee Louis Seivwright for the lead single off the upcoming EP ‘The World Is Mine’. Having garnered a wave of support due to his appearances on the BBC show Tune Stays In, as well as radio play on BBC Radio Scotland, Chef has managed to establish himself in the local scene as a force to be reckoned with. Blessings is an affirming listen, the MC mixed with Seivwright’s precision production allows for the MC to truly flex his skills.

Lift, Adam Betts - Zour

Released in anticipation of the debut album from Lift, Zour is a peek into the whirlwind of sonic landscapes and entrancing melodies. The track, with the help of electronic artist Adam Betts (Pete Tong/Squarepusher), is a swirling cacophony of glitchy vocal samples and wave after wave of atmospheric synths. The project written, composed and produced by Dan Stevenson under the alias, ‘There is Beauty In Everything’ will feature collaborations with Ian Maciak (Machinedrum/Headspace) and Finn Le Marienel will drop on May 14th on Venn Records.

Maranta - Miss Dupé

Merging their passions of synth exploration and poetic lyrics, electronica-duo Maranta have delivered another slice of juicy sonic goodness in the form of Miss Dupe. based in the Port district of Leith, Edinburgh the dup have been gaining attention since their debut EP ‘Care ii Cure’. This latest track continues their deep-dive into the world of electro-pop with an abundance of layered keys and retro-sounding drum machines. The track has a great deal of personality, with Glo’s enticing lyrics and vocal performance which brings a playful sensibility to the already joyous music.

<a href="https://marantaa.bandcamp.com/track/miss-dup">Miss Dupé by Maranta</a>

Rebecca Vasmant, Harry Weir, Paix - Jewels Of Thought

A melding of genres from three extraordinary musicians, Jewels Of Thought is a fresh take on modern jazz. Helmed by DJ & Producer Vasmant, with Weir and Paix providing the instrumentation, the combination of these three artists makes for a stunning odyssey of winding vocals and saxophone runs. Driven by a piano hook the song takes you through a wondrous and chilled world which these musicians have crafted.

Shogun, Britizen Kane, Turkish Dcypha - Borealis

A hard-hitting slab of trap-influenced hip-hop, Borealis is a battleground for rhymes coming in rapid hellfire from all three artists. Having featured heavily on The Rap Game UK along with airplay from BBC Radio 1 Xtra, Shogun continues to establish himself as one of the biggest hip-hop stars in Scotland. Kicking off the track, Shogun hits out with an unhinged slew of lines over the top of a red-hot beat provided by Turkish Dcypha. With Britizen Kane laying down equally fierce lines, the track is unrelenting till its climax.

Tagavaka - Particles

Based out of Glasgow, Tagavaka is a music and arts project that brings a visual element to the world of electronic genre. With support from Anjuanadeep Records and fellow DJ Adam Port, Particles comes as the latest release. Having appeared on the Anjuanadeep sampler earlier this year, Particles is the title track from Tagavaka’s second EP. An enveloping song filled with washing synth pads and arpeggiated leads, this track is best suited for massive speakers in a sweaty club.

VUKOVI - Kill It

Embracing a sinister new look, Glasgow based duo Vukovi have returned with the scorching new single Kill It. Complete with their signature onslaught of guitar and sprinkling of synths, Kill It is a defiant and triumphant track that rages throughout. With appearances at trnsmt and 2000 Trees festival in their line of sight, Vukovi will surely be greeted with open arms when they make their return to the stage.