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CHTHONIC's award-winning 2018 album Battlefields of Asura reissued on vinyl in September via Svart Records CHTHONIC is a Taiwanese metal band formed in Taipei in 1995, with the members nowadays split between Helsinki and Taipei. Their 2018 album Battlefields of Asura is an award-winning release. With this album, CHTHONIC won their second Golden Melody Awards, Taiwan’s equivalent of the Grammy Awards. CHTHONIC's lyrics are inspired by Taiwanese mythology, folk stories, and history, while its music incorporates elements of traditional Taiwanese folk music, enka, and the sorrowful melodies of Taiwanese opera. These are accompanied by traditional instruments such as the hena and koto. Also integral to CHTHONIC's sound are elements of symphonic black metal and melodic death metal, along with intense riffs and solos. Critics have attempted to categorize CHTHONIC as death metal, folk metal, or black metal, but the band has opted for the simpler label of metal. They've performed at many major festivals around the world, including Fuji Rock and Summer Sonic in Japan, Ozzfest in the US, Download in the UK, and Wacken Open Air in Germany, as well as having toured extensively across Europe, North America, and Asia over the years. Prior to this album, CHTHONIC was signed to Spinefarm Records / Universal Music Group, under which they released three albums and toured internationally. After their 2014 European tour, the band decided to slow down, and vocalist Freddy Lim began his political career. He was elected to Taiwan's Parliament in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. During his tenure, he pushed for LGBTQ rights and gender equality, helping Taiwan become the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage, along with advocating for Indigenous rights and other human rights issues..

CHTHONIC's award-winning 2018 album Battlefields of Asura reissued on vinyl in September via Svart Records CHTHONIC is a Taiwanese metal band formed in Taipei in 1995, with the members nowadays split between Helsinki and Taipei. Their 2018 album Battlefields of Asura is an award-winning release. With this album, CHTHONIC won their second Golden Melody Awards, Taiwan’s equivalent of the Grammy Awards. CHTHONIC's lyrics are inspired by Taiwanese mythology, folk stories, and history, while its music incorporates elements of traditional Taiwanese folk music, enka, and the sorrowful melodies of Taiwanese opera. These are accompanied by traditional instruments such as the hena and koto. Also integral to CHTHONIC's sound are elements of symphonic black metal and melodic death metal, along with intense riffs and solos. Critics have attempted to categorize CHTHONIC as death metal, folk metal, or black metal, but the band has opted for the simpler label of metal. They've performed at many major festivals around the world, including Fuji Rock and Summer Sonic in Japan, Ozzfest in the US, Download in the UK, and Wacken Open Air in Germany, as well as having toured extensively across Europe, North America, and Asia over the years. Prior to this album, CHTHONIC was signed to Spinefarm Records / Universal Music Group, under which they released three albums and toured internationally. After their 2014 European tour, the band decided to slow down, and vocalist Freddy Lim began his political career. He was elected to Taiwan's Parliament in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. During his tenure, he pushed for LGBTQ rights and gender equality, helping Taiwan become the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage, along with advocating for Indigenous rights and other human rights issues..

In 2024, Audrey Powne emerged as a compelling new voice in contemporary jazz with the release of her acclaimed debut album From the Fire; a self-produced and self-composed work celebrated for its lush string arrangements, soaring trumpet performances, and emotionally rich songwriting. Now, two years later, Powne returns with Bodies of Water, a bold and deeply introspective follow-up that continues her elemental exploration: from fire to water. An exploration of what it means to exist alongside others in an increasingly unstable world, Bodies of Water reflects on vulnerability, responsibility, and human interconnectedness. The album’s title and conceptual foundation were inspired by a passage from Caleb Azumah Nelson’s novel Small Worlds: “...to make himself a body, like water, a still surface, but beneath this, a ripple, and beneath this, an ebbing tide, and beneath that, a violent, constant tow…” Throughout the record, lyrics ruminate on the idea that like all bodies of water, we are vulnerable to disruption and catastrophe. Unlike inanimate bodies of water, however, we are conscious participants in both the damage and the repair. That tension between what we are made of and what we are responsible for became a grounding and harmonious thought. This album is a meditation on that idea, both in my personal life and in a broader, collective sense. Swollen, Broken Record, and Karma, reflect on moments of cruelty and error including her own that felt unbearable. Viewing them instead as forces moving through the landscape of a life, violent but temporary to survive their immediate impact. More socially conscious tracks Stay Awake, Creeds, RYV, and Two Sides confront frustration with political polarisation and the emptiness of language unaccompanied by action. The title and final track Bodies of Water brings these ideas together, reimagining both personal and societal upheaval as events shaped by bodies of water moving through the world destructive at times, transformative at others, and always in motion. Blending traditional jazz with Afrobeat rhythms, Dilla-inspired grooves, ambient textures, and expansive arrangements, Bodies of Water reveals the breadth of Powne’s artistic vision. The record moves fluidly between spiritual jazz, warped soul and rhythm-driven experimentation, while layered interludes and meticulous production thread its disparate influences into a unified and immersive sonic world.

Mit “His Majesty King Funk”, seinem einzigen Album für Verve Records, schuf der Gitarrist Grant Green im
Mai 1965 einen absoluten Klassiker des Soul-Jazz. Zugleich war es das fünfte und letzte Album, auf dem
er mit dem aufregenden Hammond-Organisten Larry Young zusammenarbeitete. Einer der Höhepunkte ist
das von Green komponierte Stück “The Selma March”, das ein musikalischer Kommentar zu den Märschen
der US-amerikanischen Bürgerrechtsbewegung war, die zwei Monate zuvor Schlagzeilen gemacht hatten.
“Greens ‘His Majesty King Funk’ trägt seinen Namen zu Recht”. schrieb John Heidt 2007 im Magazin
Vintage Guitar über das Album. “Bei fünf Stücken voller soulgetränktem Jazz wird schnell klar, warum er
der Liebling der Acid-Jazz-Bewegung ist. Sein Spiel zeichnete sich durch eine Bodenständigkeit aus, die
man bei vielen anderen Jazzgitarristen vermisst, und dieses Album lässt diese besonders gut zur Geltung
kommen.”

Soulful, future-leaning house & hip hop distilled into wax form. Standout cuts by AKA ZEB & LIL DAVE 215, with appearances from J-LIVE, BLU and BLOOMY MEADOWS, bridging the gap between classic andy with contemporary with warmth and depth. Support from CRACKAZAT

,Our Final Album - Vol. 1" ist das vierte Album von Glenn Morrow's Cry For Help und zeigt die Band aus Hoboken, New Jersey, auf dem Höhepunkt ihrer Kreativität. Obwohl der Titel einen Abschied suggeriert, präsentiert das Album eine lebendige und vielseitige Sammlung von elf neuen Songs, die von klassischem Gitarrenrock über gefühlvolle Balladen bis hin zu Bossa-Nova- und Soul-Einflüssen reichen. Angeführt wird die Band von Glenn Morrow, einer Schlüsselfigur der unabhängigen US-Musikszene, der als Musiker, Journalist und langjähriger Betreiber des Indie-Labels Bar/None Records bekannt wurde. Gemeinsam mit Bassist Mike Rosenberg, Gitarrist Ric Sherman und Schlagzeuger Ron Metz greift Morrow auf jahrzehntelange Erfahrung in der traditionsreichen Hoboken-Musikszene zurück. Aufgenommen wurde das Album erneut im Magic Door Studio von Produzent Ray Ketchem, der besonders das Gespür der Band für eingängige Melodien und starkes Songwriting hervorhebt. Unterstützung erhält die Band diesmal vom renommierten Keyboarder Andrew Burton, dessen Beiträge den Songs zusätzliche Tiefe und Klangfarben verleihen. Musikalisch verbindet ,Our Final Album - Vol. 1" kraftvolle Rocksongs wie ,That's That", ,Beatle Bones" und ,Into Something New" mit nachdenklicheren Momenten wie ,Stop Your Crying", dem Bossa-Stück ,Boom Boom" oder dem souligen ,Let's Stay In Bed". Dabei ziehen sich Glenn Morrows persönliche Geschichten, Lebenserfahrungen und eine leichte Melancholie durch das gesamte Album. Das Ergebnis ist ein abwechslungsreiches, warmes und zeitloses Rockalbum, das die Stärke einer Band zeigt, die auch nach vielen Jahren nichts von ihrer Leidenschaft verloren hat.

Baltimore's End It is telling it like it is on their debut album, Wrong Side Of Heaven, set for release this summer. The hardcore band has built a reputation through being unapologetically outspoken, playing fast, ripping songs, and putting on an electrifying live show. Now they're ready to enter their next era. Formed in 2017, the band consists of vocalist Akil Godsey, drummer Chris Gonzalez, guitarist Ray Lee, and bassist Patrick Martin. Signed to Flatspot Records, End It came out strong with the release of their self-titled EP the same year they started, and followed it up with 2020's One Way Track EP. In the summer of 2022, the band took the hardcore world by storm with their Unpleasant Living EP, solidifying the Baltimore outfit as one of the most exciting acts in the genre. Following the release, End It embarked on a packed touring and festival schedule across North America and Europe, playing alongside No Warning, Terror, Cold World, Drain, Speed, Angel Du$t, Scowl, and many more. The band's reach goes even farther with breakout single "New Age Slavery" featured on the soundtrack for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4. No matter where they are and what they're doing, End It is true to keeping things authentically them and that shines through on the forthcoming Wrong Side Of Heaven. Entering Salad Days Studio with renowned producer Brian McTernan (Turnstile, Snapcase, Hot Water Music) the band came in with a few demos and wrote the majority of the album during the two month recording process in early 2025. Taking direction from classic hardcore, thrash, and soul music, End It has crafted a 15 song magnum opus centered on "Spreading awareness of the change that's coming to Americans, personal growth, and maintaining the ethics and integrity of hardcore."

Life Creates Itself is the new album by Bill Baird, releasing September 25th, 2026 on Royal Oakie Records. After years of restless wandering that took him from the Bay Area to India to Abbey Road and back again, Baird has returned home to San Antonio, Texas. Inspired by Lone Star legends Doug Sahm and Roky Erickson, the album inhabits a world where outsider country, avant-garde pop, and psychedelic folk dissolve into one.


Produced by longtime collaborator Jasper Leach (Tony Molina, Color Green) and mastered by indie-rock legend KRAMER (Galaxie 500, Daniel Johnston, Will Oldham), Life Creates Itself was recorded at Sear Sound in New York City in a single remarkable day — fitting for an album as indebted to Arthur Russell and Captain Beefheart as it is to Sir Douglas Quintet and Townes Van Zandt. The sessions brought together a constellation of collaborators around Baird and Leach, including Pedrum Siadatian (Allah-Las, PAINT), Phil Carluzzo, Austin Day, Oliver O'Haver, Jordan Johns, Michael Vattuone, Clara Kennedy, and Carluzzo’s dog Ernie.


Lead single "Yanaguana" — the original Payaya name for San Antonio, meaning either "land of many waters" or simply "where I am right now" — serves as a thesis statement for the album, a restless soul reckoning with what it means to finally come home. Meanwhile, "Karma Loan" is a fuzzy, sprawling psych track that spilled out of Baird during a deep immersion in Bach that features cello by Clara Kennedy and closes with a sound collage of spiritual gurus hawking easy paths to enlightenment. Then there's "Horse Moon" — built around pedal steel that shimmers like rays of moonlight, drifting through vignettes from a late night walk across New York City, with Pedrum Siadatian's lead guitar lending the whole thing an unhurried, dreaming quality. The night they tracked it, Baird climbed to the roof of Sear Sound and watched a full moon wash the city in a warm glow.


Baird has never sounded more at home, and Life Creates Itself may be his most cohesive record yet – a songwriter record through and through that stands apart from the rest of his discography. Royal Oakie Records is proud to release Life Creates Itself on September 25th, 2026, available on vinyl LP, CD, and digital download/streaming worldwide.

First up in the series - Heavy Salsa and Latin Soul from Puerto Rico-born pianist Eddie Lebron and Orquesta Suave, the album that kickstarted Ghetto Records. Ghetto Records was Joe Bataan’s way to get over on “The Man” and out of the ‘hood, a bold move by an artist looking for independence and creative control in an industry that had exploited his talents and treated him like chattel. As Bataan puts it today, “Ghetto Records was part of my journey, a stepping stone to everything else that I’ve done. I learned enough that it enabled me to get out of the box with my thinking, it showed me how to deal with adversity.” Like many dreams and schemes born of the street, this one was audacious, perhaps even reckless to a fault. Hatched from desperation yet full of hope Ghetto Records came crashing down shortly after its inception. The seven albums in its discography languished out of print - until now. These are the definitive reissues of these albums, licensed from Joe Bataan, with his oversight and input into a 16 page oversize book by Pablo Yglesias that details Bataan’s larger-than-imagination life and his little Latin label that could.

Hypnos , a new collection of his own mesmerising compositions, enchants us with sublime, atmospheric guitar intricacies beautifully constructed over soul- drenched hammond sound-beds. "With Hypnos , I wanted to create something paired back and super simple. These pieces were initially written as etudes for solo guitar, and they reflect the wide range of influences found in the music I love to listen to. A life spent listening to Django Reinhardt and Philip Glass! The inclusion of the Hammond organ came from a desire to pair the nylon- string guitar with an instrument you don't usually hear alongside it. For me, the Hammond evokes gospel and the classic organ trios of Wes Montgomery - it's a soulful, funk sonic and very spiritual. It was a real blessing to have Nathaniel Ledwidge play Hammond on the record and to showcase the softer side of this iconic instrument. Hypnos is the Greek god of sleep, the father of Morpheus, the god of dreams. Is the music dreamy and hypnotic, a brief slumberous escape from the madness out there? I hope so." - Robin Katz It's available as a limited- pressing 180g vinyl 'Gearbox Cut' LP and gatefold CD digi sleeve with obi strip & photo insert.

Hailing from Providencia, Colombia (Old Providence Island), Henner, Derrick, Luis, Feliciano and Senen are the Black Diamonds; a band that seamlessly blends the irresistible grooves of reggae with the infectious rhythms of calypso, creating a sound that is both timeless and refreshingly original.

For years, Black Diamonds have been synonymous with the laid-back, soulful reggae sound of Old Providence Island, crafting songs that reflect the Caribbean's easy rhythms and rich cultural heritage. Their debut release, however, takes an unexpected—and thoroughly enjoyable—detour into upbeat calypso, proving that the band is more than capable of stepping outside its comfort zone.

"De Seh Seh" (gossip.. chat and talk to much about the others in Creole) also features a remix by Venezuelan producer and multi-instrumentalist Caribombo, who transforms the song into a dancefloor-ready journey, blending electronic textures with soukous-inspired Afro-house rhythms for a bold, cross-Caribbean reinterpretation.

Intentions, the debut of LA-via-Chicago beat maker, composer, and multi-instrumentalist megiapa, is a 40 minute master class in synth-heavy, jazz-informed Neo-soul.

megiapa's lush and emotionally layered album feels less like a collection of songs and more like a living archive of transformation. Across its warm synths, fluttering basslines, meditative voice notes and spiritual grooves, the Los Angeles-based producer, vocalist and composer maps the uncertain terrain between heartbreak, healing, fear, and surrender.

The album's title is genuine.

"The record is literally my intentions," she says. "It's a representation of my intentions, my dreams over the last five years or so."

Those years carried the weight of upheaval: the pandemic, the collapse of a long-term relationship, a move away from Chicago, and the disorientation that follows when the structure of your life suddenly disappears beneath you. But Intentions never sounds defeated. Instead, it radiates the quiet confidence of someone learning to trust herself in real time.

Intentions, the debut of LA-via-Chicago beat maker, composer, and multi-instrumentalist megiapa, is a 40 minute master class in synth-heavy, jazz-informed Neo-soul. megiapa"s lush and emotionally layered album, feels less like a collection of songs and more like a living archive of transformation. Across its warm synths, fluttering basslines, meditative voice notes and spiritual grooves, the Los Angeles based producer, vocalist and composer maps the uncertain terrain between heartbreak, healing, fear, and surrender. Featuring: Ahmad Muhammad (aka Kafari), Mekala Session, Blvck Spvde, Aankha Neal, Telemakus, Aisha Mars, 10.4 ROG

After regular appearances at Berghain since his debut two years ago, Altinbas now presents his contribution to Ostgut Ton, tying together five tracks that outline an expedition through celestial bodies in ‘Beyond the Veil’. Deepening his research on intricately crafted ambiance, the EP strikes a balance between commanding rhythm and blossoming synth work that reaffirm his inimitable style. ‘Beyond the Veil’ is a conceptual collaboration between an artist and a room; describing the dancefloor as an organism and the architecture of its surroundings.

Over the years, harmony has become synonymous with the Belgian artist’s sound. Deeply tuned and cohesive, Altinbas’s productions walk the boundary between insistent anticipation and unparalleled warmth. Although dancefloor effect remains a central theme for him, ‘Beyond the Veil’ is the latest chapter in a long study of obscurity in music that qualifies almost as ritualistic. Tracks like ‘Beyond the Veil’ and ‘Charming the Cosmic Snake’create tension in the keys that resonates like an expedition into new soundscapes. With weight and stability in the percussion, airy textures and hypnotic synth lines roll off the rhythm to mesmerize the listener. Sculpting his arrangements around the development of rich, dubby and atmospheric tones, Altinbas capitalises on the natural flow of his elements to provide an organic touch to tracks that are tuned especially for high pressure sound systems. ‘Entanglement’ and ‘Winter’ are both examples of this : soulful techno that ebbs and flows with each transition. Dimension is pushed dramatically into each of the five pieces of the EP as a direct response to the current climate of tool oriented techno. Keeping a safe distance from this approach, Altinbas invites listeners to explore the shape of his sound in an embrace rather than submit to its abrasion. The project concludes with ‘Antichamber’ - the fifth track of the EP that announces a departure from strict club codes. Dampening the rhythm from a pulse to a sway, a dreamlike landscape rises from deep within the record, smoothing over any of the rougher residuals from the preceding tracks. The descent that is ‘Antichamber’ is the result of an accumulated euphoria, gently guiding the listener back to consciousness.

‘Beyond the Veil’ represents a checkpoint for Altinbas in his research of moving a dancefloor not only physically, but emotionally. Carving out his own space in dancefloor-oriented music, he offers highly expressive compositions in defiance of the status quo. Altinbas offers this EP as a personal statement of where he stands; five tracks of carefully tended tone and harmonic glow create an emotional urgency for the collective experience.

Since launching the edit and remix focused Brooklyn Lathe Cuts imprint last year, Patrick Sullivan aka P-Sol has not put a foot wrong. He's already released a swathe of superb two-trackers this year and here returns with another notable entry to the label's growing catalogue. A-side 'Canvas' is simply superb, with effects-laden Godfather of Soul vocal samples rising above a slipped beatdown-house groove, dreamy deep house sonics and jazzy, sun-baked instrumentation. He once more reaches for Brown vocal snippets on the even stronger 'Circles', a languid, break-powered slab of summery and shuffling deep house excellence.

Die britische Singer-Songwriterin und Musikerin Martina Topley-Bird wurde durch ihre Zusammenarbeit mit
den Trip-Hop-Pionieren Tricky und Massive Attack in der Musikbranche bekannt. Besonders hervorzuheben
ist ihr gefühlvoller Gesang auf dem Track ”Teardrop” von Massive Attack aus deren Album ”Mezzanine”,
der zu seiner atmosphärischen Wirkung beiträgt. Auch auf Trickys Debütalbum ”Maxinquaye” (1995)
hat ihre eindringliche Stimme den unverwechselbaren Sound geprägt. Als sie 2003 zu einer Solokarriere
überging, erntete sie mit ihrem für den Mercury Award nominierten Debütalbum ”Quixotic”, das bei Independiente Records erschien, großen Beifall der Kritiker. 2004 erweiterte Topley-Bird ihre Zusammenarbeit
und lieh ihre Stimme den Gorillaz-Tracks ”All Alone” und ”Kids with Guns” von deren Debütalbum ”Demon
Days”. Seitdem hat sie weitere Alben veröffentlicht, darunter ”Anything” (2004), ”The Blue God” (2008)
und ”Some Place Simple” (2010).
Martina Topley-Birds von der Kritik hochgelobtes und für den Mercury Award nominiertes Debütalbum
”Quixotic” wird zum ersten Mal auf Vinyl veröffentlicht. Diese erweiterte Ausgabe enthält das Originalalbum sowie drei B-Seiten und einen unveröffentlichten alternativen Mix der ersten Single ”Sandpaper
Kisses”. Sie wird auf Doppel-Vinyl gepresst und in einem Gatefold-Sleeve verpackt sein.

Davina, what can be said? A voice so rich, so full and lyrics that touched peoples soul! A Tech House classic. First broken in Detroit by the legends Ken Collier and John Collins and then later in Paris by Frances own Laurent Garnier and the record caught on fire from there. This record continues to sell to this day. produced by UR’s Mad Mike this is Detroit techno and soul at its absolute best.

Children of Zeus return with their third studio album ‘As The World Burns…’

Five years on from their highly-acclaimed sophomore album ‘Balance’, Manchester’s kings of hip hop soul, Tyler Daley and Konny Kon, bring us a brand new 16-track opus.

Sonically the duo continue their story where they left off; crafting an amalgamation of street soul, alternative r&b and boom bap hip hop, with a sprinkle of flavours taken from their original multi-genre pirate radio influences, and a dash of forward-thinking new sounds, ensuring all tracks are destined to become future classics.

The features are sparing but powerful, enlisting the talents of revered UK rapper Knucks (‘Before We Drown’), Colorado-native Young Old Soul (‘Dopamine’), MCR family K S R (‘Do You Want To Get High’, & Australian/Mauritian up & comer Anieszka (‘Water & Vibes’).

As with previous projects, this album is largely produced by the duo themselves, though there are guest productions from previous collaborators too, including Grammy Award-winner Beat Butcha, Grammy-nominated Teo, and broken beat pioneer K15, along with an assortment of new players making moves in the underground neo-soul & beats circuit.

Conceptually, this project continues on with the story to date. An eternal search for sunsets and soulfood, as a respite to the anxieties of the modern world; personally, professionally and globally. Assertive swagger is matched with brutal but sincere candidity. As ever, it encapsulates the rough with the smooth, with reflections on where they’ve been, where they’re at and where they’re headed. There’s no preaching to be found here; just an acceptance of things as they are, an embrace of the environment and people they were nurtured by, and a celebration of some of the finer things in life; slow jams, weed & rum, water & vibes. Raps for listeners, blunt heads, fly ladies and prisoners. All packaged together as another perfect sonic love letter to sound system culture. 50 minutes of big people music.

Since the release of their anthemic debut single ‘Still Standing’ a decade ago, to the subsequent EP ‘The Story So Far’, and their critically-lauded debut album ‘Travel Light’, the duo have received numerous accolades, including nominations for AIM Awards & Worldwide Awards both, along with tons of ‘Album of the Year’ nods care of Clash Magazine, Bandcamp, Complex, Wordplay and many more. This along with huge swathes of support from DJs, radio stations, press outlets, tastemakers, luminaries & fellow artists across the globe.

Children of Zeus have performed sessions for COLORS, Soulection (Apple Music), DJ AG, Boiler Room, BBC 6 Music and at the infamous Maida Vale studios for BBC 1Xtra as well as touring across Europe, Australia and South Africa. This is in addition to collaborating & touring with Mercury Award Winner’s Ezra Collective, including a Wembley Arena show. Other collaborations over the years have included Shy FX, Juls, Goldie, Black Milk, Kofi Stone and the late great Lenzman.

From the Broke ’n’ English / Hoodman-era, to the present day, Children of Zeus have been omnipresent in the fabric of British black music. Proud ambassadors of Manchester music, and of UK soul, it really is “Zeus to the world”.

Children of Zeus have been adorned with plenty of flowers over their career. The unbridled quality and poignance of the music and the message on display throughout this project will see the algorithmic needle move some more. It’s undoubtedly set to be a Zeus Summer. As the world burns…

Available on all digital platforms and physical formats, Friday September 4th 2026.







t 07: Do You Want To Get High? (feat. K S R ) - Children of Zeus03:26







t 07: Do You Want To Get High? (feat. [ K S R ]) - Children of Zeus03:26







[t] 07: Do You Want To Get High? (feat. [ K S R ]) - Children of Zeus03:26







[g] B3 | Do You Want To Get High? (feat [ K S R ]) - Children of Zeus03:26

Crystal Motion were from New Bedford, Massachusetts, formed in 1974 and released this soul gem the following year, originally on the Sound Gems label.
The track has long since been a soul scene favourite, Jack Faith's arrangement adding to its Philly flavour. Rare mint originals exchange hands for nothing less that £100.

Jazz, Soul, Highlife and spoken reflection co-exist without apology on 13 new songs co-produced with Benjamin James and featuring his group The Cavemen as well as saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin. For the Grammy-nominated vocalist/songwriter Somi, each new album is an act of place-making. The catalogue of the Rwandan/Ugandan-American artist reads like a map of migration and memory, with records rooted in Lagos, in Harlem, and in the spirit and political inheritance of Miriam Makeba. 'What Does It Take To Bloom? Is her ninth album overall and her first collection of original songs in six years. Musically, it also represents a new chapter in collaboration. During sessions in Lagos, Somi connected with Benjamin James, whose partnership would become pivotal. As one-half of the Nigerian duo The Cavemen., James brings a contemporary approach to heritage-centred sound. The collaboration proved so seamless that Somi invited him to co-produce the full album, with moods and rhythms ranging from upbeat Highlife-Soul-Fusion ('Aiwah'), via jazzy statements ('Throw Something'), to soulful reflection ('What Does It Take To Bloom?').

A long-lost Japanese acid folk gem, Niningashi’s 1974 private press debut Heavy Way shimmers with originality, deft song writing and a dream-like groove.

Although he was training as a pharmacist, Kazuhisa Okubo was much more interested in prescribing musical medicine.
A coming-of-age album, Heavy Way captured a turning point in Okubo’s life, and Japanese society more widely as a nostalgia for the pastoral calm of the traditional life, met the cosmopolitan thrill of coffee, sex and cigarettes in the big city.
Intoxicated by Tokyo, driven by a passion for music and surrounded by a thriving acid folk scene, the young student filtered his experiences through a psychedelic cocktail of soulful influences from the US and Japan.
Niningashi was his first band, and Heavy Way was their only album. It was honest and raw, deep and strangely funky, in an off-beat kind of way. Across nine tracks, Okubo and the 6-piece band put their own spin on the new folk sound of Japan, combining witty lyrics with electric guitar-driven solos and crisp, understated grooves.

Melancholy and profound, opening track ‘Ameagari’ feels like a synthesis of Harvest-era Neil Young and Haruomi Hosono’s Happy End. Then there’s the whimsical washboard country sound of ‘Semai Boku No Heyade’; the moody, low-lit charm of ‘Restaurant’; and ‘Hitoribotchi’, a sensitive portrayal of childhood, steeped in memories of rainfall that will resonate with fans of Woo and Mac Demarco.
While Okubo would go on to taste success with psychedelic folk bands Neko and Kaze, the latter of which scored three #1 albums, little is known about his mysterious debut with Niningashi.
Self-released by Okubo in 1974, and featuring album artwork by his brother, it has slowly generated a cult following online, intrigued by its soft and enchanting sound. So few records were ultimately pressed that those remaining have fetched up to £1,500 online.

Featured on Time Capsule’s era-spanning collection Nippon Acid Folk, Niningashi’s Heavy Way is a deep-cut grail of a vibrant time in Japan’s musical history, where even the pharmacists were making jams.

For over 11 years, Nowadays Records has been shaping the French electronic music scene with boundless energy and total artistic freedom. Much more than a label, Nowadays is a big musical family where every release, meeting and event becomes a real celebration. With over a hundred albums and nearly a thousand titles to its credit, Nowadays Records embodies musical diversity across a variety of genres: abstract hip-hop, house, electronica and alternative pop.



It's in this festive spirit that the Club Nowadays project is born, a true embodiment of the collective's vision. Through its club compilations and evenings featuring label artists and outside guests.



Today, the label continues to chart its course with the release of Club Nowadays Vol. 6, a new opus in its series of compilations, which fully embodies its vision of club music. This sixth volume brings together emblematic figures of the label and emerging artists around the following dance tracks.



Don't Lie, the first single from the compilation, is a heartfelt track born of a broken heart, but turned towards the light. Mira Ló composed this track as an act of resilience, following a break-up in love. She transforms her pain into positive energy, hoping that everyone can recognize themselves in it and find a little sweetness to soothe their own grief.



R1D1 brings together his groovy house and garage influences to create the track Marsupilami around a hand-crafted synth, sharp drums and deep bass. Influenced by hip-hop beatmaking, he incorporates vocals from radio and interviews, transformed into rhythmic elements. The name, a nod to the famous character, comes naturally through the sampled “houba houba”. Between offbeat textures and assertive groove, the track embodies R1D1's singular, hybrid universe.



OOGO & Blanka, two pioneers of the label, offer us Phô Real, a hybrid track between soulful deep house and hip-hop groove, mixing organic and digital textures. A track to get the dancefloor moving, with a delicious nod to La Fine Équipe's culinary universe.



With Tracksuit & Loafers, Yambow creates a bridge between groovy French Touch elegance and the effervescent energy of UK house, in the tradition of producers like Salute and Oppidan. The track is conceived like an acid cocktail: funky, euphoric and dancefloor-friendly. The title is a nod to cultural contrasts - between English tracksuits and French loafers - which translate into a musical interplay between sophistication and fervor.



Finally, Laaanky, the Parisian producer, breaks codes and gives free rein to his passion for raw sound, efficiency and groove on the track Bloom. Between textured house, dub echoes and Afro-tinged post-dubstep rhythms, he explores a danceable, minimalist and percussive electronica. Less is more.

FKJ returns with Tyber— a project that captures a period of personal and creative transformation following the release of his acclaimed album ‘V I N C E N T’. Written and recorded across multiple continents, the album reflects years spent navigating movement, solitude, collaboration and renewal.

The result is FKJ at his most expansive and uninhibited. Across ‘Tyber’, groove-driven compositions sit alongside jazz-led instrumentals, sample-heavy explorations and more direct songwriting moments, moving seamlessly through genres without ever losing cohesion. The album feels both deeply personal and globally informed, spotlighting an artist documenting his evolution in real time. It captures musical snapshots across London, Los Angeles, Paris, Brazil, and beyond to create music that combines intricacy and intimacy seamlessly.

Anchored by themes of emotional equilibrium and self-care, Tyber balances vulnerable storytelling with an unmistakable, groove-laden optimism. The album seamlessly weaves together spontaneous, late-night collaborations with artists like Labrinth, Bas, and Baby Rose, alongside deeply personal solo compositions. Ultimately, Tyber is a vibrant celebration of human connection and resilience, offering listeners an immersive, cinematic invitation into FKJ’s newly restored world.

Chicago was a hotbed for talent in the 1970s (well, it always has been and always will be, to be honest) and one of the groups to emerge at that time was Heaven & Earth, a vital soul vocal collective. They released four high-quality albums and this one, 'I Can't Seem To Forget You', was the first on Clarence Johnson's G.E.C. Label. It is packed with super sweet vocals and Dwight Dukes' lush falsetto and has never before been reissued. This version from the good folks at P-VINE has an extra bonus cut 'Promises,' which has previously only been available as a single from 1975.

Trusted Rhythm Records seeks to live up to its name right from the off with a debut vinyl compilation that explores deep house from multiple angles. Yuu Udagawa first comes at things from a soulful perspective, with diffuse pads and jazzy melodies heating up a nice soft groove. DFRA's 'Give Me' (Masaki Morii remix) is a playful, musical sunset sound for when you're dancing by the Med somewhere and the flipside begins with a tropical deep house heater that is organic and baked in sunlight. Trinidadian Deep keeps things dialled in and spiritual with his mix of Jean-Jez and a Coflo remix closes with more bold rhythms but no lesser depth. Sophisticated stylings all round.

The Vessel Recordings Group label is headed up by Ira James who has shown he has great taste when it comes to tapping into global house sounds. This new EP is another standout with Toronto talent Demuir behind the beats. He brings his signature mix of influxes to this one starting with 'Conversing With Angels' which has disco-tinged loops and soulful, feel-good vibes that liven up any party. 'Everynight' has a deep cut and funky groove that is made all the more arresting and emotive with the vocals and smart synth filters, while 'Mizz Hunni' comes as a hefty tech stomper and also as a dub.

American DJ, producer and Lone Romantic / Ellum Audio label boss Maceo Plex joins Radio Slave’s Rekids with the ‘Monster’ EP.

Maceo Plex opens the ‘Monster’ EP with 'Flute Jam', a muscular, progressive cut with broken beats and subtle chords lighting up the airwaves. Drifting vocals and widescreen synths add great scale to this intergalactic journey while textured bass brings the weight. The hyper-real and aptly named 'Baby Monster' then features vocals from Baby Monsta, refracted through a full-bodied Electro-Techno fusion. The chords dance over fizzing bass, all with future-facing sound design and an outer space atmosphere. Closer 'Cold Flow' is a prickly breakbeat cut with dehumanised, trap-style vocals and precision engineering in the groove. It's a cinematic sound that takes breaks, techno and electro into new realms while retaining a soulful, melancholic core.

Active since the 90s, Maceo Plex haș long been operating in his own musical world, where Electro, Techno and House all fuse into something futuristic and fresh. He's been shaping the underground for three decades as a DJ and producer but also head of the infl ential Ellum Audio and Lone Romantic labels. Already this year he has dropped the dark 2-step sounds of his 'The Plan EP' via the latter, which also features Baby Monsta, and continues his purple patch with a standout debut on Rekids that finds him exploring yet more new ground.

Over the last decade, Medlar has carved out a unique corner of the underground with releases on labels including Delusions of Grandeur, Wolf Music, Razor n Tape and Make A Dance, developing a sound that effortlessly bridges deep house, leftfield disco, broken rhythms, and jazz-infused electronics. Here he is with a brand-new Celestial Bodies EP on Delusions of Grandeur, deep, warm, Balearic sounds for the soul!

Two of the most prolific remixers in the world of Disco,Dave 'Love' Lee and John Moraleshave teamed up for one of their biggest projects to date - 'Mixed To The Maxxx'. After gaining access from the legendary original artists, the pair take the multi-track tapes of many classic Disco, Funk & Soul tracks and re-work them...to the Maxxx!

Where Remixed With Love stands as Dave Lee's own gold-standard body of work, Mixed To The Maxxx sets that legacy alongside Morales' own decades-deep M+M body of work: Lee brings his musically dense, groove-first touch to the likes of Harold Melvin, Syreeta, Lenny Williams and The Brand New Heavies, while Morales applies his extended, dancefloor-built M+M treatment and crushes the likes of Barry White, The Temptations and Loleatta Holloway, plus Dennis Coffey's breakbeat classic "Scorpio" for the DJs and collectors alike. Both work from original tapes, surfacing parts barely audible or entirely unheard in the source mixes, and both know when to let a classic breathe rather than bury it under modern production. It's a pairing a long time in the making. Lee and Morales first talked about working together around a decade ago, and getting Mixed To The Maxxx off the ground took five years of patient work: tracking down usable stems, securing approvals, and navigating a licensing landscape where much of the best material is now tied up with major labels increasingly cautious about clearing remixes. What's landed here is the product of that graft as much as the pair's shared ear for a great record, the sound of two people who know exactly what they're looking for and are willing to put in the time to find it.

A double 12" sampler in summer 2025 previewed the record's range. A bass-driven overhaul ofThe Brothers Johnson's "The Real Thing" and an extended mix of Philly legends Bell & James' "Livin' It Up (Friday Night)" showcased Lee's side, while an anthemic take on Inner Life's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and a tempo-lifted Light Of The World"London Town" flew the flag for Morales. Both drew strong early support ahead of the full LP.

Following the “immaculate and eternal soul” (The Guardian) of The Indications’ 2019 album, American Love Call, Private Space unlocks the door to a wider range of sounds, boldly launching the band into a world of synthy modern soul and disco beats dotted with strings. Anchored by the high-low harmonies of Aaron Frazer (drums/vocals) and Durand Jones (vocals), and rounded out by Blake Rhein (guitar), Steve Okonski (keys), and Mike Montgomery (bass), The Indications are true masters at melding revival sounds with a modern attitude. The ten tracks across Private Space provide for both an escapist fantasy and a much-needed recentering after a tumultuous 2020.In conjunction with today’s announcement, they share Private Space’s lead single/video “Witchoo.” Reflective of the track’s vibrant, playful energy, the Weird Life-directed video features the five band members and close friends, transitioning from a live performance 
to an electric backstage soirée.“At the end of the day, I just want people to close their eyes and forget where they are. Just the way a Stevie Wonder album does for me,” says Jones. Developed after being apart for much of the year, Private Space is creatively explosive and delights in upending expectations. Throughout, The Indications highlight a collective resiliency – as well as the power of a good song to be a light in the darkness. From an Indiana basement (where the band recorded their 2016 self-titled debut LP as college students), The Indications have catapulted into the soul limelight and an international stage. Following their sophomore album American Love Call
 — a dreamy but pensive record of big string arrangements and sweet soul stylings — The Indications became revered by vintage music fans, the lowrider community and late-night television.

“An amazing new project…” Tony Minvielle, Jazz FM

“A lush, heatwave-friendly piece of dancefloor innovation…” Clash Magazine


First Word Records is delighted to bring you the debut EP from Ships of the Pharaohs.


Ships of the Pharaohs are a London-based collective led by producer Last Nubian, who’s had releases in his own right on labels like CoOp Presents, Eglo Records & Touching Bass. Blending jazz, soul, bossa nova, d&b and house-influenced grooves, the band also consists of vocalist Achanté, keys player Goldbar & bassist, Dougan.

The 7-track EP kicks off with the high-energy, vitamin D-saturated lead single ‘Sun is Rising’, featuring the guest vocals of brilliant Berlin-based singer Red Bird, who appears on three tracks on this project (‘For You’ and ‘Seasons’). ‘Can’t Quit’ follows on a smooth soulful house/bruk tempo, and invites in the thought-provoking spoken word prose of AKEEM. ‘Seasons’, ‘For You’ and recent single ‘Joys’ add another element to the band’s eclectic take on fusion, leaning heavily into the bossa side of the quartet’s influences. The latter track sees Achanté’s soulful harmonies gracefully float across a warm bed of keys, percussion, guitar picks & synth strings. We take a short jazzy breather on the ‘Interlude’ cut, featuring the resplendent sax of multi-talented Norwegian artist, Bror Havnes, who also features on the outro cut ‘One’ - this one seeing the crew ride out with a sonic salute to jungle/d&b, closing this first opus from the group with the energy levels remaining high.

Tre Wright (aka Last Nubian) explains “Our debut EP is a reflection of who we are, both individually and as a collective. Drawing inspiration from jazz, jungle, bossa nova, house, r&b and the music that's shaped us, we've explored our own interpretation of these sounds and how they come together in a way that feels true to us. It gave us the space to experiment without boundaries, trust our instincts, and create something that genuinely reflects where we are creatively right now.”


Originally conceived to perform Last Nubian material live for a Touching Bass showcase at We Out Here festival in 2023, the project soon took on a life of its own, as the group effort unleashed a unique chemistry & sound of its own merit. Thereafter followed numerous sessions in a studio-converted bedroom of a Brixton flat, developing this new sound. The finishing touches were taken care of at the infamous Total Refreshment Centre in North London, resulting in the formation of captivating new original material, which appears across this first extended release.

Ships of the Pharaohs have additionally performed live across London at Brick Lane Jazz Festival, House of KOKO, Jazz on Wick Festival, Peckham Levels, 91 Living Room & GROW in Hackney. Developing their powerful stage presence has gone hand in hand with the creation of their own material.

The initial singles from this project received praise & support from a variety of DJs, press outlets & tastemakers from the worlds of jazz, soul and clubland, including Shy One (NTS), Tony Minvielle (Jazz FM), Rohan Rakhit (Worldwide FM), Somewhere Soul & Clash Magazine to name a few.


With sonics somewhat reminiscent of Acid Jazz legends Incognito, merged with the class of Nuyorican Soul, and the dynamic fluidity of 4Hero, the 4-piece have cooked up a set of style & flavours uniquely their own, fresh for modern dances, incorporating organic improvisation with more contemporary club sounds.

The Ships of the Pharaohs are about to set sail for what is sure to be an exciting journey ahead.

‘Part 1’ will be released on 12” vinyl & all digital platforms on September 18th 2026.

This is the 12" already immortalized by Gilles Peterson! Dub Souljah, with its classic Roots Reggae/Dub-styled horns and brilliant lead and backing vocals, comes in two versions when Ekowmania meets DJ Sotofett. The first version, in 1970s tradition, is a rocking dancefloor Disco Dub with extended and highlighted percussion parts. Then there's the Ultra Dub – a severely deep and reduced dub where horns and vocals surface only intermittently through constant echoed kicks, minimal hi-hats, and a two-tone bassline. The title track is from Ekowmania's Dr. Afrodub album, produced by Jimi Tenor, but this 12" also includes two non-album cuts: the psychedelic Afro twist of Afrolistic Rock & Roll, and the cosmic Latin-styled Kuusikasi Funk, featuring beautiful saxophone and flute by Jimi Tenor. THIS 12" IS CUT WITH LOUD VOLUME FOR EXCELLENT CLUB USE!

"Emergence of Shadow" (Mint Condition Records / Self Distribuzione)—the new album by Davide
Ghidoni, produced by Gianluca Pighi—is arriving: its digital release is set for Friday, September 11,
while the vinyl will be available starting Friday, September 18.
A trumpeter with a career marked by international collaborations, Ghidoni here signs his most
personal project to date. It is a predominantly instrumental record in which the trumpet becomes a
voice, a narrative, and an emotion. The only vocal track is "Come On Closer," performed by Heidi
Vogel (The Cinematic Orchestra), creating a moment of suspension and intensity within the project.
Davide Ghidoni’s passion for music and the trumpet was born in his childhood around the age of ten,
fueled also by Western films and Ennio Morricone’s soundtracks: those melodies, where the trumpet
played a central role in the duels of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, deeply shaped the artist's
imagination and sound.
Ghidoni has always maintained an open and curious approach, letting himself be inspired by different
genres, artists, and musical cultures. His projects naturally coexist with influences ranging from rock
to soul, jazz to blues, and other languages that have left a mark on his path. Rather than identifying
with a single genre, he prefers to view music as a guiding thread capable of uniting different styles
through emotion, sensitivity, and respect for artistic identity.
"Emergence of Shadow" represents a new chapter in his journey. After numerous collaborations with
various artists, the musician felt the urge to undertake a completely his own project, giving shape to
ideas he had nurtured for a long time.
The record is inspired by the 1970s soul, rock, and blues sounds, but the goal is not to faithfully
reproduce or imitate those genres: the atmospheres, themes, and arrangements recall that sonic
world, yet are reinterpreted through a personal and original sensibility. The trumpet remains the
primary narrative element, supported by meticulous arrangements and a solid rhythm section that
enhance its character and expressive intensity.
Alongside the sounds that distinguish his path, the album also explores deeper emotional
dimensions. Some tracks are fluid and atmospheric, born from the desire to recount vibrations
without rigid schemes, letting melodies and dynamics guide the listener on an inner journey. The aim
is to offer an engaging listening experience in which music communicates directly, beyond words.
The album encapsulates everything Davide Ghidoni wanted to express and fully represents his
artistic identity: a timeless instrument to communicate emotions and engage in dialogue with different
musical traditions, always keeping the pursuit of musical quality and sharing with the public at its
core.

From Berlin to Lagos: Jembaa Groove expand their sound on "Be A Lover"

Berlin-based outfit Jembaa Groove return with "Be A Lover", a four-track EP set for full release on 18 September via global soul imprint Agogo Records. Following two critically acclaimed albums and an intensive period of touring across Europe and the US — including a SXSW showcase and a widely acclaimed KEXP session — this latest release marks a new chapter in the band’s trajectory. Built around highlife rhythms and shaped by Afro-jazz and the more organic edges of Afrobeats, "Be A Lover" unfolds with a warm, languid and deeply soulful feel, capturing different strands of today’s multifaceted Afrofusion scene.

Here, the band strips back from a seven-piece ensemble to its two founding members, while at the same time opening outward into a deeply collaborative space. At its centre is a close creative partnership with celebrated Nigerian highlife revivalists The Cavemen., alongside contributions from London-based, Nigerian born soul artist Azekel, Lagos vocalist Tim Lyre, and Malian icon Fatoumata Diawara.

“This record has a different flavour,” says Owusu. “It’s really about collaboration — different feelings, different thoughts, different energies coming together.” While centred around the Lagos contemporary scene, the record is shaped by a wider diasporic network stretching across London, Lagos, Berlin and Amsterdam, cities producer and bass player Yannick Nolting describes as “the pillars where everything that is happening in today’s highlife and Afro-fusion scene.”

Formed in Berlin in 2020, Jembaa Groove began after a chance meeting between bassist, producer and composer Yannick Nolting and percussionist, vocalist and songwriter Eric Owusu. Drawing on their respective musical journeys — Nolting’s years working with Lusophone artists in Lisbon and Owusu’s deep roots in Ghana’s highlife tradition, including work with Pat Thomas and late highlife legend Ebo Taylor — the project quickly took shape: their debut album Susuma established a powerful, poly-rhythmic sound grounded in highlife, jazz and soul, while 2024’s "Ye Ankasa | We Ourselves" expanded that vision through collaborations with artists across Ghana and its diaspora, including UK based Ghanaian singer, rapper, percussionist, and arranger K.O.G and legendary Ghanaian highlife musician Gyedu-Blay Ambolley.

The collaborative spirit continues on "Be A Lover", most of which grew out of a meeting with sibling duo The Cavemen. at Supersonic Jazz Festival in Amsterdam in 2023, leading to a sustained exchange of ideas between Berlin and Lagos. With two acclaimed albums behind them, The Cavemen. have emerged as central figures in both Lagos’ alternative music scene and the wider contemporary highlife revival, bringing the genre to a new generation through a stripped-back, melody-driven sound. “There was some kind of magnetism towards Lagos,” says Nolting; for Owusu, who is Ghanaian but spent much of his life in Nigeria, the connection runs even deeper. “I feel lucky to be able to bring different cultures together and make something really beautiful,” he says. A key part of that process was a close working exchange between Nolting and The Cavemen.’s Kingsley Okorie, who effectively stepped into a co-producing role on three out of four of the tracks.

The one exception is opener No Pain No Gain, which features Nigerian-born, East London-based Azekel, whose smooth, R&B-leaning vocal moves through a slow-burning arrangement of bright keys, gently rising horns and atmospheric synths, anchored by Owusu’s organic percussion.

The title track Be A Lover, featuring Afro-fusion Lagos artist Tim Lyre, distills the EP’s central message into its most immediate form. Backed by syncopated percussion and a gently smouldering arrangement, Lyre’s voice moves with a laid-back, melodic ease, delivering a simple refrain: “be a lover, not a fighter.” “It’s a very simple message,” says Nolting, “It’s about showing more love, on a personal level but also more broadly… just show love.” That same sense of warmth runs throughout the record, reflecting its core idea.

On Obi, The Cavemen. take centre stage, with Kingsley Okorie leading through melancholic, plaintive vocals rooted in classic highlife. In contrast, his brother Benjamin James punctuates the track with high-pitched vocal interjections, heightening the emotional tension against a backdrop of slow, restrained instrumentation.

Waka follows with a more melodic, hook-led refrain from Eric Owusu, whose loose, almost conversational delivery creates a striking contrast with Fatoumata Diawara’s unmistakably powerful, raspy vocal. The collaboration grew out of a chance meeting while Owusu was on tour, with ideas exchanged quickly and Diawara returning a finished vocal within days. “We are so proud to have her. It’s a privilege” says Owusu. "Be A Lover" is a record shaped by connections like these — between people, scenes, and cities. “It was partly intention, partly destiny,” says Nolting. “We met these people along the way, and somehow Lagos was meant to come into our path.”

Ein Gespräch mit Thee Sinseers kurz vor der Veröffentlichung ihres neuen Albums ,Love Stories" bei Colemine Records macht eines ganz deutlich: Dies ist kein Album, das eine glatte und ordentliche Liebesgeschichte erzählt. Es geht hier nicht um das Happy End. Es geht um alles, was davor, danach und trotz allem passiert. Auf dieser LP hat sich die Band auf eine erdigere Instrumentierung konzentriert - Kontrabass, Gitarren, die durch Verstärker laufen, um einen wärmeren, an die Sechziger angelehnten Klang zu erzielen - und sich von allem inspirieren lassen, wo es sich bot, selbst an den unwahrscheinlichsten Orten. Es ist dieses genreübergreifende Denken, das Sänger Joey Quiñones als das bestimmende Merkmal der Platte ansieht. "Es fühlte sich zu keinem Zeitpunkt so an, als würden wir Soul-Musik machen", sagt er. ,Es fühlte sich an, als würden wir einfach unsere Musik machen." Die Band wollte etwas Ehrlicheres einfangen als nur die Höhepunkte - sie wollte die Höhen und Tiefen romantischer Beziehungen zeigen und gleichzeitig den Rahmen erweitern, um auch das Familiäre, das Komplizierte und das Ungelöste einzubeziehen. Die Eltern der Bandmitglieder sind auf dem Albumcover zu sehen, ihre eigenen Liebesgeschichten sind in die visuelle Identität der Platte eingewoben, manche dieser Geschichten bestehen noch, andere nicht. ,Jeder einzelne Songtitel führt dich auf einen anderen Weg der Liebe - egal, ob du gewinnst oder verlierst." Quiñones wollte, dass die Zuhörer sich auf diese Mehrdeutigkeit einlassen. ,Liebe ist unendlich", sagt er. ,Sie reicht über ein Leben hinaus. Ich möchte, dass die Leute immer noch verwirrt sind - ich möchte, dass es wie ein offenes Buch bleibt." Doch eines bleibt durchgehend konstant: das Bekenntnis von Thee Sinseers zu ihrer Herkunft. Diese East-LA-Identität stellt sich nicht zur Schau - sie existiert einfach, eingewoben in das Gewebe der Musik, ohne als Abzeichen getragen zu werden. Hier wird kein Liebeskummer vorgetäuscht, sondern es ist das Echte.

Ein Gespräch mit Thee Sinseers kurz vor der Veröffentlichung ihres neuen Albums ,Love Stories" bei Colemine Records macht eines ganz deutlich: Dies ist kein Album, das eine glatte und ordentliche Liebesgeschichte erzählt. Es geht hier nicht um das Happy End. Es geht um alles, was davor, danach und trotz allem passiert. Auf dieser LP hat sich die Band auf eine erdigere Instrumentierung konzentriert - Kontrabass, Gitarren, die durch Verstärker laufen, um einen wärmeren, an die Sechziger angelehnten Klang zu erzielen - und sich von allem inspirieren lassen, wo es sich bot, selbst an den unwahrscheinlichsten Orten. Es ist dieses genreübergreifende Denken, das Sänger Joey Quiñones als das bestimmende Merkmal der Platte ansieht. "Es fühlte sich zu keinem Zeitpunkt so an, als würden wir Soul-Musik machen", sagt er. ,Es fühlte sich an, als würden wir einfach unsere Musik machen." Die Band wollte etwas Ehrlicheres einfangen als nur die Höhepunkte - sie wollte die Höhen und Tiefen romantischer Beziehungen zeigen und gleichzeitig den Rahmen erweitern, um auch das Familiäre, das Komplizierte und das Ungelöste einzubeziehen. Die Eltern der Bandmitglieder sind auf dem Albumcover zu sehen, ihre eigenen Liebesgeschichten sind in die visuelle Identität der Platte eingewoben, manche dieser Geschichten bestehen noch, andere nicht. ,Jeder einzelne Songtitel führt dich auf einen anderen Weg der Liebe - egal, ob du gewinnst oder verlierst." Quiñones wollte, dass die Zuhörer sich auf diese Mehrdeutigkeit einlassen. ,Liebe ist unendlich", sagt er. ,Sie reicht über ein Leben hinaus. Ich möchte, dass die Leute immer noch verwirrt sind - ich möchte, dass es wie ein offenes Buch bleibt." Doch eines bleibt durchgehend konstant: das Bekenntnis von Thee Sinseers zu ihrer Herkunft. Diese East-LA-Identität stellt sich nicht zur Schau - sie existiert einfach, eingewoben in das Gewebe der Musik, ohne als Abzeichen getragen zu werden. Hier wird kein Liebeskummer vorgetäuscht, sondern es ist das Echte.

Houston’s premier street griot is stepping into his most profound chapter yet with his highly anticipated upcoming album, O.Y.N. Throughout a decorated career that spans over 1.2 billion global streams and a fiercely loyal fanbase, Maxo Kream—born Emekwane Ogugua Biosah, Jr.—has established himself as one of rap’s most authentic, uncompromising storytellers. From the raw trenches of Alief to the critically acclaimed triumphs of Punken, Brandon Banks, Weight of the World, and his triumphant 2024 independent pivot Personification, Maxo has long been celebrated by Pitchfork, NPR, and Complex for his cinematic, hyper-detailed world-building. Now, O.Y.N. finds the Houston icon turning his gaze inward, pairing his signature Texas grit with an expansive, global perspective that redefines his artistic boundaries.

If his previous work was about Maxo taking full creative control as an independent force, O.Y.N. is about him uncovering who he is at his core. Following the passing of his father, Maxo found himself searching deeper for his family origins, leading to a pivotal moment of artistic and personal rebirth. For the first time in his life, Maxo traveled to Lagos, Nigeria, anchoring his new music in a profound celebration of his Nigerian heritage. The emotional centerpiece of this journey is the JPEGMAFIA-produced single “Time Out,” an introspective track that moves away from the frantic energy of his past releases to offer a stripped-back look at love, loss, and legacy. Featuring a heavy, resonant drum presence on the outro, the song’s accompanying music video was filmed on location in Lagos, capturing Maxo navigating his ancestral roots in real-time.

While O.Y.N. reaches new emotional depths, it doesn't sacrifice the hard-hitting, volatile street persona that made Maxo a star. The album expertly balances soul-baring vulnerability with cutting-edge hip-hop experimentation, showcasing elite chemistry with some of the genre's most forward-thinking visionaries. Look no further than “Fake Jeezy,” a collaborative explosion featuring Denzel Curry and masterminded by JPEGMAFIA. The track is a masterclass in industrial chaos, combining sharp lyricism and early-2000s trap imagery with cold, surreal visual aesthetics. This duality highlights Maxo's unique positioning in the culture as a trusted street general who can effortlessly trade bars with rap's avant-garde elite.

From his early days flipping Kendrick Lamar's “Rigamortis” to sharing marquee tracks with the likes of A$AP Rocky, Travis Scott, and Tyler, The Creator on hits like “Big Persona,” “Cracc Era,” and “Cracc At 15,” Maxo Kream has always been a rapper's rapper. O.Y.N. represents the ultimate synthesis of this incredible journey. It is an album born from the soil of Alief but elevated by the spirit of Lagos—a raw, beautiful, and heavy-hitting testament to an artist who has survived his past, honored his losses, and fully embraced his destiny.