MUSIC ROUNDUP: June Releases 2023

Featuring fresh new music by Barry Can’t Swim, Azamiah, M2, Malka & more.

Words: Ewan MacDonald

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Azamiah - Celesta

Genre-fluid collective Azamiah have captured the attention of many, with their expansive sonic horizons on their debut run of singles. Celesta is the latest look into the world of Azamiah, a subtle and succinct melding of Neo-jazz, Electronica and Soul. Underpinned by the tight pocket of the rhythm section, band leader India Blue weaves her angelic vocal melodies around the track to create a truly sublime atmosphere.

Barry Can’t Swim - Women

Coming ahead of the debut album ‘When Will We Land?’, Woman is the first glimpse of the new era from Barry Can’t Swim. Having taken his signature blend of jazz and dance music across the country, with sold out headline shows in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London already in the bag. The syncopated piano breathes life into Woman as it soon turns into a glorious, floor-filling banger. Catch Barry Can’t Swim at his next headline at Glasgow SWG3 Warehouse.

corto.alto - Bye

Neo-jazz extraordinaires corto alto have one again graced us with the stunning waves of groove in the form of the new single ‘Bye’. With more electronic embellishments within the instrumentation the track sets up a groove and rides out the surf of the virtuoso keyboard chords and horn motifs that pepper the track. ‘Bye’ is definitely the beginning of a new era for corto alto, hopefully the sign of things to come in the future.

Danny Cliff featuring El Richie - Pull Up

Singer/songwriter, musician and producer Danny Cliff has been drawing attention to his immense talent since his debut release in 2020. Relocating to Edinburgh after growing up in Nigeria and Austria, Cliff’s sweeping R&B vocals and pounding drum beats has gained him a SAMA nomination and airplay from BBC Radio 1XTRA, BBC Introducing Scotland and Amazing Radio. On this latest cut Pull Up, Cliff teams up with fellow artist El Richie to provide some hard hitting R&B infused Hip-Hop. Rumbling 808’s and snaking rhymes pull you through as if you were walking through a smokey club.

Life Coach - Monday Morning Revelations

Hailing from the Scottish Borders, poet and musician Life Coach has been merging lo-fi bedroom beats with fast paced verses for just under year. Monday Morning Revelations comes from the debut EP ‘Scottish Cringe’, with strings of rhymes running rampant around the drum machine shuffle and acoustic guitar chords.

Kohla - Lovebites

Pouring a cocktail of 60’s soul and cutting edge modern pop music into the delightful form of Lovebites, Edinburgh based artist Kohla serves this enticing mix of genres effortlessly. Weaving between crackly-vinyl undertones and the refreshing modern production gives this track a life unto itself, while Kohla’s falsetto vocals rip through and grab you.

MALKA - Matriarch

With MALKA’s previous albums seeing critical acclaim from the biggest heads in the industry, notably Steve Lamacq and Lauren Laverne, the experimental electronic-pop artist is hailed for her ability to be constantly evolving her sound into wider sonic textures. On the latest cut ‘Matriarch’, MALKA burns the digital embers of the hazy synth chords to light the growing fire within herself, to form this emotive ballad of sleek electro-pop.

M2 - Local Shop

Up and coming Drill M2 ABZ artist, originally from Nigeria now currently based in Aberdeen, has been establishing his granite tough bars in the local scene. On the second single ‘Local Shop’ the artist deliver a hypnotic beat as the backdrop for the razor sharp rhymes that flow from M2 ABZ, proving that Scottish Drill music is not going away any time soon.

NANI - Bad Communication

Art-pop pioneer NANI has delivered another sleek, glistening and tinged with bittersweet melodies. Featured on the latest EP entitled Honey, ‘Bad Communication’ is a silky track with its chorus laden guitar chords and woozy synth. With a more Lo-Fi tint to the music, NANI croons over the rubbery bassline and serene guitar with a burning sincerity.

North Atlas - fasterthanyourthoughts

With an appearance at this years Download festival and an up coming UK tour, Alt-rock behemoths North Atlas have been continuing to ascend with their visercal mix of searing guitars and powerful choruses. ‘Fasterthanyourthoughts’ is the latest release from the band, a track that packs a punch from the word go. Brimming with electronic undercurrents as the band rip through distorted chords and colossal vocal chants.