- Words Notion Staff
- Photography Christina Ebenezer for Notion
In Notion Now: Week 40, hear music from Headie One, RAY BLK, AK Tracey and Mahalia, Everyone You Know, Potter Payper, Sam Fender, twst, Samm Henshaw, Swindle, Jelani Blackman and more.
"Baggage" by RAY BLK
Lagos-born, south London-raised RAY BLK shows that sometimes, the best things come to those who wait with new album 'Access Denied'. Her debut project, it more than lives up to the hype, giving listeners a snapshot of where she is now. "'Access Denied' is for those who like myself, know disappointment too well and have learned to create boundaries as a coping mechanism for self-protection... I want people to listen to this record and value themselves enough to deny access to those who are undeserving, and to also value themselves enough to keep believing in themselves when they’re denied access to certain spaces and say yes to themselves when the world tells them no”, RAY explained.
"Cry" by Headie One
Headie One has shared a no-features mixtape, 'Too Loyal For My Own Good', packed with 13 tracks (11 of which are brand new - a rarity in today's release cycle). The new project allows listeners to focus on Headie's lyricism from start to finish, and shows that he's been experimenting in the studio, working with a range of producers, such as BURNS, Cage Beats, Ghosty, TSB, JAE5 and M1onTheBeat.
"Roadside (feat. AJ Tracey)" by Mahalia
Mahalia and AJ Tracey connect on this head-bopping break-up track about moving on from heartbreak and lies. Produced by British duo The Elements, it's Mahalia's third single this year, following on from "Jealous" with Rico Nasty, and then her solo single "Whenever You're Ready". Here's hoping another album is in the works.
"There for You" by Everyone You Know
Sibling duo, Everyone You Know, release their 13-track EP, 'Just for the Times', along with a whole bunch of new songs. Fusing everything from hip-hop and garage to punk and pop, it's a joyous tour through genre as the pair hone their signature sound.
"Plain Clothes" by Potter Payper & NSG
Barking rapper Potter Payper packs a punch on his major-label debut. New album 'Thanks For Waiting' is sprinkled with collabs, name-checking everyone on the UK scene from NSG and Digga D to M Huncho, Tiggs Da Author, Unknown T and more. Signalling a new era, it seems like the rapper is done waiting, it's time to step back into the limelight.
"Tokyo" by Finn Askew
20-year-old Somerset native Finn Askew has announced his upcoming debut EP, 'Tokyo', and shared the title track. The rock-pop track is instantly replay-able and is sure to ride the airwaves for weeks to come. Finn shared: “Like many of my songs I came up with the title Tokyo before I’d even wrote it. The main lyric being “she’s in Tokyo again” in reality I’m talking about a girl who’s disconnected from the world, she’s out of touch”.
"Spit Of You" by Sam Fender
Geordie rocker Sam Fender is back with another moving, personal tale from his upcoming album, 'Seventeen Going Under', due for release on 8th October. This time, Sam has penned a stirring reflection on his relationship with his father.
"Chandeliers, Bullets and Guns" by twst
Welsh musical innovator, twst, shows that she's coming for Charli XCX's crown with the electro-pop single, "Chandeliers, Bullets and Guns". It marks the beginning of twst's second musical chapter (or “TWST0002”), where she takes on a more brutalist style of songwriting.
"Chicken Wings" by Samm Henshaw
Soulful songmaker Samm Henshaw's new single "Chicken Wings" is packed full of playful food innuendoes. While it features a golden hip-hop beat, the track has an underlining message that we should enjoy the simple things in life, not to take life too seriously and to give the heart what it wants.
"Gorgeous" by Jelani Blackman & Jords
Notion's One to Watch for 2021, Jelani Blackman shares another Spanish guitar-infused single, "Gorgeous", featuring Jords. Jelani explains: "Jords is one of my favourite artists and someone I've wanted to link up with for a while. The energy is 10/10; legit love listening to it and then hearing Jords on it makes it even better". Jelani's debut full length project, 'Unlimited Mixtape', is set for release on 29th October.
"NO BLACK, NO IRISH (feat. Maverick Sabre & Joel Culpepper)" by Swindle
Swindle shares the fourth track taken from his forthcoming album 'THE NEW WORLD'. This time, "NO BLACK, NO IRISH" calls on the soulful sounds of Maverick Sabre and the jazzy edge of Joel Culpepper for a sparse and melodic social commentary on race and discrimination in Britain.
"Someone Else" by Dylan
The rising pop star is rapidly climbing the charts with her new tune that's all about falling in love with someone who loves someone else. Posting on Instagram, Dylan shared: "I made this song with @kinged (you rule Ed) and it happened v quickly over text and became more and more psycho per second. It is my favourite song to play live also so I can’t wait to dance and scream with you all soon".
"Grade A" by spill tab & JAWNY
spill tab's new single is the first feature request JAWNY has accepted in over two years, so you know from the off that it's going to be pretty special. spill tab shared: “This track really came together over the course of several months, I started it with Spencer over a Zoom session we had where we laid down the drums, bass and vocals. It made its way to JAWNY's camp and he ended up wanting to hop on which was absolutely unreal for me 'cause I'd been a huge fan for a while. He gave this song a whole new life and energy and his verse goes so crazy".
"A.D.H.D." by Glowie
Icelandic pop princess, Glowie, reveals her battle with ADHD in a new single. The dreamy yet empowering track aims to give those like Glowie a confidence boost when they might need it most. "This song is my anthem! It’s everything I needed to hear growing up but never did, so now I’ve created it for myself and others with ADHD”, explains Glowie.
"Sentimental" by GRAACE
Sydney-based singer and songwriter GRAACE returns with her brand new single "Sentimental", her first release in over a year. Written as a letter to her "past self", GRAACE says she "spent the past two years hibernating from most people, moving on from my old life and growing up. I needed to break out of the mental jail that I put myself in: accept my flaws, not give up on myself, and let myself grow”, she expplained.
"Dat It" by Blue Lab Beats & Kiefer
Blue Lab Beats' new single is modern jazz jam brimming with feelgood energy, with Stones Throw affiliate Kiefer fresh off featuring on "Knife Talk" on Drake's buzzed-about album ‘Certified Lover Boy’. "Dat It" will feature on Blue Lab Beats' forthcoming album, which is set for release in February 2022.
"Mamacita" by Havelock
Penned during the second lockdown (we lost count of how many there were), Havelock felt his passion for music bloom once again, and wrote a song about his love affair with it. Writing ‘Mamacita’ was my way of re-igniting that fiery passion I had for music. The song acts as an honest love-letter to my art, my ‘first true love’ - personifying it as a figurative woman that I’m serenading”, he explained.