Iggy Pop – “Gardenia”:
Superstar Iggy Pop last released music in 2012 with Après, an album that was made up of mostly French covers, and was initally rejected by Virgin EMI Records. Now, four years later, Iggy Pop has announced the release of a brand new studio album called Post Pop Depression. It will be his seventeenth studio album to date.
The album is produced by Josh Homme, and was secretly recorded along with Dean Fertita of Queens of the Stone Age and Arctic Monkeys’ Matt Helders, and is said to be an attempt to pick up from where Iggy Pop left off with his 1977 albums, The Idiot and Lust For Life. As an initial taste for the release on March 18, a new track has been dropped called “Gardenia”. Listen below.
Punch – “Gone”:
TDE’s elusive president Punch is somewhat of a secret weapon in the TDE camp. Rarely in the spotlight with Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q hogging most of it he can hold his own with them also as an MC, over Eryka Badu’s classic “Gone” Punch lets his emotions out and his feelings known on this nostalgic feeling track off of an album (My Project Window) that we may never get to hear. So instead we have to make do with this new track along with the others his released on his soundcloud.
Grimes – “Kill V. Maim”:
Claire Elise Boucher, better known by her stage name, Grimes, released her fourth studio album, Art Angels, last year in November. It received an innumerable number of positive and favourable reviews, and is on everyone’s list of 2015’s best albums.
A month before Art Angels was due for release, Grimes released the first single off of it, “Flesh Without Blood”, and has now released the second single from this album, called “Kill V. Maim“. The music video for this song is just as fascinating and well put together as the song and the rest of the album. Watch below.
Hoodie Allen + Meghan Tonjes – “Are U Having Any Fun?”:
Steven Adam Markowitz, better known by his stage name, Hoodie Allen, is due to release a brand new EP, Happy Camper, in a matter of days, on January 22. It will be the follow up to his debut studio album, People Keep Talking, that was released in 2014, along with an alternative European release called All About It EP.
Just like all of his previous music, Happy Camper will also be self-released. In anticipation for the EP, Hoodie Allen has released a brand new single off of Happy Camper, called “Are U Having Any Fun?” The song and music video also feature Meghan Tonjes. Watch below.
Zedd + Julia Michaels – “Daisy”:
Anton Zaslavski, better known by his stage name, Zedd, released his second studio album, True Colours, last year in May. This was a follow up to his debut studio album, Clarity, in 2012, so this album was an obvious gift for many of his fans.
So far, Zedd has released three singles off of True Colours: “I Want You To Know”, “Beautiful Now” and “Papercut”. Now, he has gone ahead and released a new single for the album, “Daisy“, along with a music video that is equally abstract and flowery as the song and the rest of the album, and what’s more, it also features Julia Michaels. Watch below.
Brian Fallon – “Nobody Wins”:
After American rock band, The Gaslight Anthem, announced a hiatus last year in July, lead singer Brian Fallon announced that he would be releasing a solo album in 2016. Now, already a month into the year, Fallon is releasing the second single off of the album, “Nobody Wins” – the first one was “A Wonderful Life”. His solo debut studio album, Painkillers, is due for release on March 11, and if The Gaslight Anthem’s popularity is taken into account, this is bound to be a rather impressive album. Listen to “Nobody Wins” below:
Daniel Haaksman – “Rename The Streets”:
Berlin-based based producer Daniel Haaksman has released the new visuals for his single “Rename The Streets”. The video has been premiered via Thump’s YouTube channel, and you can watch it below.
The video is directed by Daniel himself and has a strong political meaning, Daniel says of the video: “In this video I´m trying to show how deep racism is rooted in Germany´s public consciousness. These streets that I show are named after questionable colonial figures since the late 19th century and though it has become known what these guys have committed, these street names are still around”.
OB Flamez – “Race”:
Introducing emerging Nigerian rapper, vocalist and producer OB Flamez – real name Amaobi Neache – with his brand new single titled “Race”, and accompanying music video, for your viewing pleasure. Taken from his forthcoming EP which is to be released later this year, “Race” comes on the back of OB Flamez introductory single ‘HalfLove’ which was released in 2015 to rave reviews.
Co-produced by OB Flamez and Francoblvck, and written by OB Flamez, “Race” is a really conscious effort from the multi-talented London-based artist, which according to OB, was “inspired by my journey through life, everyone has a purpose in life and sometimes we meet roadblocks on our journey, but regardless of these, we’ve gotta keep pushing hard and pray to God to guide us through”.
Directed by Fli5 Star Vision, the video for “Race”, which was shot on location in Leicester Square, is an excellently crafted black and white POV visual affair, which sees OB Flamez soaking in the atmosphere at the renowned Leicester Square, as he reminisces about all he’s been through on his race to making music. Enjoy the visuals for “Race” below.
Words by Qurat-ul-Anne Sikander, Aliriza Kutlu, Kira Knight and Ayo Adepoju
