The Best NEW & EMERGING Music – Week 6 & Week 7, 2012

TARA/KING – “DON’T EVEN”

From some California narcissistic rap music, we delve right into some California R&B/Pop music courtesy of new and emerging singer, songwriter and fashion designer TARA/KING brought to us by Protostar Entertainment – the good folks that introduced us to Toronto singer/songwriter Rochelle Jordan. Tara describes her music as a blend of Rock, Pop, Hip-Hop and R&B to create a style that is naturally her own. We could say that we’ve heard that rhetoric a million times and we have but there is just something uniquely intriguing about Tara/King that makes you believe her and pay attention. Her debut EP Kissed By A Bullet… Shot By Love is scheduled for release later this month and the first offerings from that is the amazingly dope and slow burning “Don’t Even”…

STACY BARTHE + JOHN LEGEND – “NO STRINGS ATTACHED”

For some strange reason or the other, Grammy Award-nominated singer/songwriter STACY BARTHE has yet to make an appearance on our Best New & Emerging Music series. This is strange because we love Stacy Barthe and we think she is an amazing artist but not only that, she has been releasing some pretty stellar music over the course of 2012 so far with the release of her latest project In The InBetween. Off of that project is this Reggae-infused opus and slightly cynical love song which features R&B stalwarth John Legend titled “No Strings Attached”. Produced by Jamaican-born producer Supa Dups who brings the Island-heavy tone and vibe to the song sublimely with lush guitar strings and drum arrangements, “No Strings Attached” sees Barthe and Legend gelling rather perfectly to convey this tale of promiscuity or a case of the “Mr. Right Now”.

JAGGA + DEVLIN – “KEEP ON THE LIGHT” (PRODUCED BY TMS)

West London production trio TMS unveiled this massive genre bending Dubstep-infused tune titled “Keep On The Light” a little under two weeks ago and while it showed us just how versatile and stellar TMS is as a production outfit, rather more importantly for us, it introduced us emerging East London artist, JAGGA. Recently signed to Sony Records after touring with Katy B and working with Odd Future’sMatt Martian, the Rock and Reggae-influenced singer, songwriter and producer can do NO wrong on “Keep On The Light” as he commands your attention from start to finish with his compelling vocals which have a certain “Je Ne Sais Quoi” and an unmistakable Reggae influence to it that just adds a different element to the song.

JESSIE WARE – “RUNNING”

Now for some British Soul but not quite in the somewhat “boring” (bar a select few) manner you might be used to already in 2012. Here is introducing you to South London singer and songwriter JESSIE WARE with her sophomore single titled “Running” which is superbly produced by UK House producer Julio Bashmore. Having gained a buzz surrounding her incredibly enchanting and commanding vocals on collaborations with SBTRKT and Joker in 2011, Jessie Ware released her debut single – the experimental and slightly moody “Strangest Feeling” – to even more critical acclaim and rave reviews. “Running” picks up sublimely where “Strangest Feeling” left off with Ware’s vocals captivating our ears and hearts over some experimental progressive musical milieu provided by Bashmore that is very reminiscent of the classic 80’s sounds of Sade.

EFYA – “BEST IN ME”

I knew there was one very special record I was forgetting to include in this installment of our Best New & Emerging Music series, that’s the only reason my subconscious was stalling on hitting the publish button for over thirty minutes. From West Africa and making a well deserved and long overdue appearance on We Plug GOOD Music is none other than Ghanaian soulstress EFYA with her latest single titled “Best In Me”. Released on Valentine’s Day and rumored to be on her forthcoming album, this tune right here does it for me and I am especially pleased that the Singer/Songwriter embraces and sings in her native language and fuses it in perfectly with her English.