- Words Notion Staff
In Notion Now: Week 16, we're blessed with music from Easy Life, AJ Tracey, Fred again..., girl in red, Olivia Dean, MARINA, Baby Queen, Dave and more.
"skeletons" by easy life
Leicester band easy life treat us to another cut from their forthcoming debut album 'life's a beach' in the form of "skeletons". An instantly groovable tune, frontman Murray says it "plays with the idea of a slightly mysterious and potentially terrifying past. Everyone has baggage and everyone has skeletons. Falling head over heels with somebody who may be bad news, we’ve all been there.”
"Purge The Poison" by MARINA
MARINA has dropped a rousing reflection on the patriarchy, capitalism, and representation, alongside announcing her self-written fifth album, ‘Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land’, due 11th June.
"Mercury" by Dave & Kamal
Mercury award-winning rapper, Dave, makes an impactful return with a double single, 'Titanium & Mercury'. While the former is a piano-led, simply-produced yet hard-hitting track, "Mercury" is the standout of the two, thanks to Kamal's angelic feature
"Be My Own Boyfriend" by Olivia Dean
Olivia Dean shares self-love anthem "Be My Own Boyfriend" - her first single of 2021 - a soft and slow, soulful number. "I realised that I’m actually my own boyfriend. I don’t need someone else to complete me, I don’t need an other half, I’m whole, so I really wanted to write a song capturing that essence", she shared.
"You Stupid Bitch" by girl in red
"You let the wrong people love you/ But you don't see that, do you?" girl in red sings frustratedly on new single "You Stupid Bitch". Inspired by a quote from the movie 'Perks of Being a Wallflower', the new song speaks on an experience of unrequited love. It's the latest preview of girl in red's forthcoming album, 'If I Could Make It Go Quiet', due for release on 30th April.
"Dermot (See Yourself In My Eyes)" by Fred again..
Producer Fred again.. has spent the majority of 2020 (April 14 - December 17 to be precise) working on a candid, contemplative electronic journey through the pandemic and multiple lockdowns, using samples of recorded conversations from his friends and family in the tracks.
"Dover Beach" by Baby Queen
Pop's new anti-hero continues to cement herself as a beacon of talent and one to watch despite having only appeared on the scene last year. New single "Dover Beach" features classic euphoric, crashing Baby Queen choruses and instant sing-a-long energy. Inspired by a Matthew Arnold poem of the same name, Baby Queen wrote the tune during a writing trip there last year, and channelled her infatuation with someone into the song. "It's another internal struggle with my own insecurities and a sort of acceptance of the fact that I can't escape my daydreams of this person, even if I go to a different place," she explained.
"Little More Love" by AJ Tracey
AJ Tracey fans can finally rejoice as the rapper has dropped his highly-anticipated sophomore album, 'Flu Game', including the catchy-as-hell song "Little More Love". A sonic ode the the noughties, the tune is a love song in theory, but can be interpreted as both a letter to a loved one, and to himself for his success.
"Doomsday" by Matilda Man
Matila Mann does what she does best in new single "Doomsday". It's a gorgeous, soothing track that's further testament to her natural storytelling ability. Inspired by the third UK lockdown in December 2020, the song "was written to help people feel, that during the worst times, things are going to get better. We have each other and the small things that make life good", Matilda shared.
"Hard 4 Me 2 Love You" by Sinead Harnett
A heartfelt, minimalist offering, Sinead's new single lets her vocals take centre stage as she sings about a lover who's been keeping their walls up. The song will feature on Sinead’s forthcoming album, 'Ready Is Always Too Late', our 21st May.
"Little Space For Me" by Josie Man
Josie's delicate, candyfloss vocals take on a lullaby-like form in this stripped-back, piano-led ballad about her parents. Josie sings tenderly about the love her parents share and how they made space in their life to love Josie and her siblings. We're not crying, you're crying!
"You" by Regard, Troye Sive & Tate McRae
A house-infused pop banger from Regard, Troye Sivan and Tate McRae has landed, telling two sides of a breakup story, with Troye and Tate each playing the part of a hurt, pining ex-lover. The trio's individual sounds complement each other perfectly here. *Hits repeat*
"Kali V2" by Greentea Peng
A hazy trip of a tune from Greentea Peng, known for her political yet meditative and medicinal music. Greentea has also announced her debut album 'MAN MADE' slated for release on 4th June. The record is set to be "an ULTRA SONIC TRIP" she promises.
"Hourglass" by James Vickery
James Vickery delivers a sultry R&B track in the form of "Hourglass", which he says "details a lustful relationship with a past significant other, and serves as an ode to her incredible physique”.
"Intertwined" by Eloise
A romantic, delicate new single from 21-year-old singer-songwriter Eloise, whose debut mini album, ‘Somewhere In-Between’, is set for 18th June. ‘Intertwined’ is really a love letter to the one that got away. It’s about reflecting on all the things you should or shouldn’t have done or said…And having an inappropriate amount of faith in it still all working out," Eloise shares.
"Teenager - Live From Melbourne" by George Alice
George Alice gives her popular track "Teenager" an official acoustic version with this live session, recorded in Melbourne. It deftly showcases her stunning vocals with just a guitar for backing.
"juno" by anaiis
Multi-linguist anaiis sings in both French and English on her ethereal new single, "juno". Her clear-as-glass vocals glisten on his stripped-back, self-reflective number. “I wrote about being okay with not being okay, it’s not always easy to make space for ourselves when we are feeling so very low", anaiis said.
"Bad Bitch" by Charlotte OC
Charlotte OC gives us another taste of her forthcoming 'Here Comes Trouble' album with new single "Bad Bitch". Born out of a horrendous A&R meeting, " was fascinated by the way I could be so flippant with my emotions, one moment I’d feel so confident then all of a sudden I’d think I was the worst person on the planet or feel so self-conscious", Charlotte told Notion.
"Karma & Friends" by Cautious Clay
Songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist, Cautious Clay, continues to drop songs from his upcoming album, 'Deadpan Love', which he says was "born out of a need to identify the compassion and cynicism that has empowered me to express myself through this medium”.
"TESSELLATIONS" by Jaguar Jonze
Providing an ominous opening to her new 'ANTIHERO' EP, Jaguar Jonze incredibly began to create the project when she was struck with Covid in March 2020 and hospitalised for 40 days. "TESSELATIONS" is about "knowing that we can't erase the past, but we continue to try for the other person, to ask them to put their defenses down and work together on one side".
"shots in the dark" by iann dior & Trippie Redd
Self-proclaimed 'sad boy', iann dior, gives us another dose of his rap x punk sound with two-song package 'Still Here'. "shots in the dark" sees him team up with Trippie Redd again.