2021: The Year Of Yebba

2021 has not been kind to us. There’s been all sorts of mayhem going on around the world however for me personally, there’s been a shining light at the end of the tunnel, in the form of the queen herself aka Abbey Smith aka Yebba.

After a couple years in relative, intentional obscurity, making herself available for only a pocket full of people willing to search, Yebba has so far graced us with not one, not two, not three, not even four but five incredible singles in the lead up to her album drop this month on the 10th. Literally this week.

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I’d easily put Yebba up there with some of my favourite artists of all time. Top Ten easily. Without a doubt. She’s insane.

October Sky, Louis Bag, Boomerang and finally a Spotify version of My Mind were gifted to us this year and each one is incredibly beautiful in its own way.

I’ve already once touched on how beautiful and moving her song My Mind is and how her guttural and raw performance on Sofar’s YouTube channel regularly brings me to tears so I won’t repeat myself and waste your time. I mean it’s currently got over 18 million views so I’ll let you make your mind up for yourself HERE.

October Sky was the first single she released in the lead up to her first album, Dawn and it’s such a beautiful, quintessentially ‘Yebba’ song. Cathartic songwriting, insane runs and vocal control and this God-given talent of making you feel all sorts of emotions. I think it’s a combination of her tone, her writing style and the emotion she manages to convey through her recordings that really just hit you in the gut. She doesn’t have to be screaming or soaring on super high notes for you to feel what she wants you to feel.

October Sky has this beautiful guitar that lies in the background of the entire song, and it compliments her voice so well, especially in the first half of the song. I always find this song randomly popping into my head at the most random of times.

She also released a cover of The Past and Pending by The Shins which is just another notch on her belt, so haunting in this super simple and rustic way.

Louie Bag featuring Smino followed, released in July.

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Here’s the thing. I wouldn’t say that Louie Bag is my favourite, but I wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s not??? Does that make sense? I mean, you’ve got Yebba, that’s a given. But Smino?? Slowly becoming one of my favourite musicians too. It’s hauntingly rhythmic and her voice just floats amongst it all. Then Smino’s bridge comes in and it drives the message home super hard.

The chorus on this track is super catchy. Again, really rhythmic and percussive, though there’s only really a muted drum kit, some light strings and synth and a few added effects to fill in the space, however it just works. This song slaps. That’s all. Highly recommend. 10/10.

Boomerang is her latest release, coming towards the end of August. It’s gritty and raw and introduces this side of Yebba that I’m so excited to see more. There’s this super groovy bass line in there that just chugs along like a steady train and keeps the song really moving and her voice just dance all over this track. She doesn’t really try and show off too much in terms of vocals and trills and runs but she still manages to leave you in awe. I think it’s her delivery. There’s just so much intention and emotion in every line she sings. It’s so effortless.

Honourable mention just HAS to go to a track by Lucky Daye, How Much Can A Heart Take which our girl features on.

The way this song has me by the neck. Choke hold. Captive. I could play this song on repeat all day, everyday. I forced myself to learn new, super hard big-girl guitar chords specifically so I could play this song and sing along because at this point I’ve got this song running through my veins keeping me going. Lucky Daye has been one of my favourite artists this year. His album Table For Two is ridiculously good, popping with incredible features and beautifully written songs that get stuck in your head for hours. Obviously, for clear enough reasons, this song is my favourite on the entire track.

Ever since it was released, ever since they performed it live on Jimmy Kimmel, it’s run my entire life. But we’re here to talk about Yebba. About Abbey. Unless it’s somehow escaped you so far, girl can sing. This song is insane and credits to Lucky Daye but honest to God it’s her verse and chorus that completely make this song. At least for me. Make your own choices here.

Here’s hoping I don’t go AWOL again and I make it back in time to give y’all a full review of Yebba’s album Dawn when it releases on the 10th of September! Let’s see.

x

Priya

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Hello Certified Lover Boy

So Drake dropped an album. To those who don’t always keep on top of Drake, like myself, it seemed to come out of nowhere but I’m sure those of you who are bigger fans probably saw it coming. Did it have something to do with the release of Donda and Drake’s long-standing ‘feud’ with Kanye? I don’t know.

Certified Lover Boy dropped on the 3rd of September, and honestly, I jumped on Spotify to listen to it and it was like my entire Friend Activity bar was also listening to CLB. I’ve already seen polls comparing Drake and Yes albums, seeing which one is more popular, trying to draw a line in the sand between who’s Team Drake and who’s Team Kanye.

I’ll be honest. This time round I’m staunchly Team Drake. One of my friends said said it pretty bang on over Instagram; “CLB is just so much easier to consume“. Now that’s not to say it’s a lazy album or it’s ‘basic’. The way I see it, with so much going on all the time in the world and all of our lives in a bit of turmoil, I didn’t really have the energy to pretend to be a genius and try and decipher all of Kanye’s tracks and piece it all together. If that makes me a lazy listener, that’s on me, but listening to Certified Lover Boy was infinitely easier and more enjoyable than listening to Donda so that’s my opinion on that.

But let’s get into CLB hey?

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I mean, it kicks off with a Masego sample, straight away with Track 1, Champagne Poetry, a monster 6 minute track. It’s pretty hypnotic to listen to if you ask me and I didn’t even catch how long it actually was because of how easy it was to listen to.

Girls Want Girls with Lil Baby is the first song to introduce a feature artist on the album, the first of many, and if we’re being real, the feature artists really come in clutch throughout the album. Lil Durk, Giveon, JAY-Z, Travis Scott, Future, Young Thug, Yebba, 21 Savage, Project Pat, Tems, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross and Kid Cudi all dance around this project and all of them seem to find a track that welcomes them perfectly if you ask me.

Love All which features JAY-Z is a track I was super excited to listen to when I saw the track list. It’s super laid-back and true to a really smooth RnB heritage. Then you’ve got JAY-Z’s feature verse. There’s just something about his tone and his voice when he’s on a track, I love it. His delivery and everything about his verse got me so excited to listen to every word he said. Great track.

Fair Trade sounds exactly like what you’d expect when you’re combining Drake and Travis Scott and the switch up in TSU sent me for a real one. Unexpected but incredibly appreciated. So many different moods in one song.

Pipe Down made me feel super nostalgic, like 2016 Drake in 2021 form if that makes sense. Super sensual and ethereal in some of the sounds that he’s got on there. Then came Yebba’s Heartbreak. The way my jaw dropped when I saw the title of the song on his Instagram.

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It’s a super simple song lyrics wise, arrangement wise, Drake doesn’t even feature on it, but it makes for a beautiful interlude type of song, nestled in the middle of the album. Obviously Yebba delivers everything and more.

No Friends In The Industry is just begging for a Kendrick Lamar feature if you ask me but Drake carries it well enough, for now, and 7am On The Bridle Path was a good track for a really focused listen. Had me really intently wanting to hear what he said and understanding each line.

Fountains featuring Tems scratched my ever present dancehall itch with a really muted jam that carried the track. Tems’ verses are so satisfying to listen to and her voice contrasts the lower frequencies to really tie the song together.

I’m always a fan of any Ty Dolla $ign feature, and I don’t know if Drake was trying to keep up with Ty’s impressive pipes but I really appreciated his vocals on Get Along Better. Both of them deliver really solid vocal performances and because there’s not a lot going on instrumentation wise to detract from the vocals they really carry the track.

IMY2 featuring Kid Cudi is probably my low point on the album though it’s not horrible. Just feels a bit predictable, what we’ve come to expect from Drake. Cudi’s verse is fun I guess, very Kid Cudi, but the rest of the track doesn’t really do much dynamically.

I like Certified Lover Boy. A lot. I don’t know if it’s partially fuelled by timing, the release of Donda and how much I don’t like that latest release but I’ve listened to CLB more than a few times since it’s come out. It’s a genuinely enjoyable album to listen to in my opinion.

People I could imagine on this album?

Snoh Aalegra, Anderson .Paak, GoldLink, Kendrick like mentioned before, maybe an actual Masego feature, Kehlani or Syd would have sounded beautiful if they were given a verse on Race My Mind but for an album that had a little more than a week of promoted hype, this album has kept me very well fed.

Have you heard Certified Lover Boy? Do you care? Would love to hear your opinions on this record because I definitely enjoyed it a lot more than I anticipated.

x

Priya

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drivers license // olivia rodrigo

I don’t think I’ve ever become obsessed with a song or an artist as quickly as I did with Olivia Rodrigo and her single, drivers license. Once again, TikTok is to blame.

The only things I’d ever heard about Olivia in the past was through my sister blasting her song All I Want, from the High School Musical: The Musical series. Can’t say I got behind the show as much as my little sister, but you cannot say the girl can’t sing. She’s go a pair of lungs on her, but more so, her songwriting is incredible.

Enter, drivers license.

I became aware of it’s release very quickly on TikTok, and in less than 24 hours it was charting and currently, it sits at No.1. Insane. If you’re a fan of Taylor Swift, I’d highly recommend you give the song a listen.

It’s a beautifully anthem-ic heartbreak song, and the songwriting had me in awe the first time I listened. That said, every time I listen to it, I find something new to love about it. The lyrics are so raw and intentional and the entire song is filled with beautiful dynamics.

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The bridge is a personal favourite of mine, the way it builds and rides out is such a perfect release. I’ve already added it to a bunch of my playlists; you can find it on kaleidoscope, vibe or die and the newly created 365 playlist for 2021.

The song is an emotional punch to the gut in the best way possible. It’s dramatic, tumultuous and cathartic and makes for such a stunning single, one that has everyone who listens to it flipping out as far as I can tell.

Listen to drivers license HERE.

Let me know what you think of the single in the comments below! As always, follow me on Spotify HERE, to suss out what I’m listening to and find yourself some new playlists before I share them here!

x

Priya

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Featuring Ty Dolla $ign // An Album By Ty Dolla $ign

This album title is so fitting, isn’t it? Because I’ll be honest with you, up until this year, for the most part of it, the only time I ever listened to Ty Dolla $ign was when he was a featured artist on another musician’s song. The first time I really stopped and listened to the man’s voice was when he featured on Jacob Collier’s track All I Need, alongside out girl Mahalia. The man can sing.

I mean if you scroll all the way to the bottom of his Spotify profile, you get one of the longest ‘Appears On’ list I have ever seen. He’s appeared on some of my favourite releases in the last few years and so many more. Post Malone, Ariana, Roddy Rich, Drake, Migos, Jhene, Dreamville, Chance The Rapper, Mac Miller, Sza, Thundercat, Kehlani, Kanye, Jacob Collier, Amine, Ella Mai, KAYTRANADA, Chris Brown, Christina Aguilera – they’ve all got Ty on their tracks and that’s not even half of it.

He’s literally everywhere and he has been for years, and so for his third studio album to be called, Featuring Ty Dolla $ign? Love it. I’m so about it.

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I mean, even the first track, Intro, touches on the fact that he’s been working so much with other artists, yet he’s so talented as a solo act. He covers genuinely all aspects of music creation from writing the music, doing some of the instrumentation and even mixing and mastering. His track LA features on the Netflix series Song Exploder which delves into the entire creative process behind individual tracks, and it’s one of my favourite episodes that really showcases how talented he is.

That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of features on this record; the switch being they’re featuring on Ty Dolla $ign’s album and not the other way around. You’ve got Kehlani, Nicki Minaj, Anderson .Paak, Mustard, Roddy Rich, Jhene Aiko, Gunna, Musiq Soulchild, Kanye, FKA Twigs, Skrillex and plenty more – it’s a golden standard feature list for a hip hop/RnB album, if you ask me.

One of my favourite things is how seamlessly a lot of the songs blend into each other. I didn’t realise my favourite song when I first listened to it, was actually two seperate songs, Status and Temptations, because of how smoothly they blend into each other. Something I love about all of Ty’s songs are how melodic they are, whether it’s the music or his rapping and singing, there’s so much musicality and so many little pockets in his songs.

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I really enjoy the little interludes sprinkled throughout the album too, specifically the Burna Boy Interlude, which is super calming and relaxed. It’s another example of beautifully constructed and arranged music that just bleeds from one track to another.

It wouldn’t be a blog post of mine if I didn’t highlight Kehlani’s feature track, Universe. That said, it’s also just generally one of my favourite songs on the album. It’s got this super smooth guitar riff throughout the whole thing, and I’ve come to really love how well Ty layers and stacks harmonies and vocals, which he does really tastefully on this song. Between him and Kehlani, they both have a amazing raspy tones and it just matches so perfectly, especially in contrast to that guitar.

Your Turn features 6LACK, Musiq Soulchild and Tish Hyman, and it’s just so smooth. It’s the epitome of smooth and sits perfectly as a little taste of some old school RnB. It’s straight out of the late 90’s/early 2000’s and it builds and grows beautifully over the track. It’s super lazy and laidback in the best possible way.

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I have to mention Ego Death featuring Kanye, FKA Twigs and Skrillex. Such a strong beat, very unexpected, but very much appreciated.

I couldn’t have predicted that in 2020 Ty Dolla $ign would be one of my most listened to artists or that I would be rinsing his album as much as I am, but here we are. Let me know if you’ve listened to it already or if you want to give it a listen in the future.

x

Priya

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Kissing Ariana Grande’s Butt For An Entire Post

Hello and welcome back friends! I know what you’re thinking if you’re checking this out on the blog rather than the reader – “Priya…why’s the blog changed? Again?”. To that I have to admit – I’ve gone back to yee old Free plan on this lil platform because I’m having to divert all of my attention, time and money towards a project that I’ve been working my lil butt off on, so I hope you don’t mind. More on that relatively soon…

On to tonight’s post. Are we obtuse? We can read the title right? No explaining necessary. We’re talking about Ariana’s latest album, Positions and just straight gassing her up for an entire post.

I’m gonna be real with you – I’m not going through the entire album for you because that’s your job.

What I am gonna do is give you the rundown and share some of my favourite tracks from the record and I highly suggest you listen to the album, back to back, in order, on shuffle, beginning to end, for yourself, and allow yourself to find your own favourites, when I’m done.

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When Ariana popped up, like she does, I genuinely found myself bursting at the seams with excitement. I don’t think I’ve been as excited for an album from this woman, as I was with this one. I’ve always been in awe of her voice and her as an individual, but it seems like she’s at the peak of her performance right now. Her branding is sublime like entirely ‘baddie in Disneyland; right now, her songs just get better and better, I can’t think of one that I don’t love and it feels like she can’t put a foot wrong.

Visuals? Perfect. Production? Perfect. The range??? Perfect. Such a range on this album and she does it flawlessly. When the track list was release, everyone I knew was talking about it. For good reason, clearly.

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There’s a real childish element to this album that I love, yet at the same time it’s beautifully mature and sultry, in a way that only Ariana Grande can do. It’s like Disneyland grown-up. That’s all I can think of to describe this album in my mind. Not like Hannah Montana Disney either, but like Magic Kingdom and the Castle, Disney. I have many thoughts… but let’s get into my favourite tracks.

shut up
Find me a stronger opening track. You can’t. Are you kidding me? The instrumentation on this track is gorgeous, but then it’s gets to the chorus and her damn vocals kick in. I’ve never appreciated being told to ‘shut up’ as much as I did when I listened to this song for the first time. Personally this is one of those times where I would pay to go back to my first listen of this track. The violins, the harmonies, the plucked strings, I’m all about it.

motive ft Doja Cat
I mean. I mean. This is my favourite song on the entire album. It’s so me, it’s a joke. I mean you got that Loleatta Holloway disco sample that’s pulled straight from You Little Beauty by my man FISHER, you got Doja who has really grown on me over the last year, it’s got a four-to-the-floor beat and Ariana just swims all over this track. This has been my go-to driving song since the album dropped, I’m going out with friends for the first time since March with some friends and I wholeheartedly plan on getting ready to this track on repeat, and I’d happily listen to this song again and again. Ariana Grande over a house beat? Yes please.

safety net ft Ty Dolla $ign
This song really came at an ideal moment for me when I’m really stepping into a time of appreciating Ty Dolla $ign and his musicality and his voice. More to come on his latest album soon hopefully. Such a perfect match, vocally and I’m not sure why this wasn’t done sooner. I really like this song a lot, it’s a perfect driving song, a little bit of RnB, and I think it’s just the vibes for me.

my hair
Let’s not lie, this song is probably on par with motive for me. I don’t know why I carried on like that before when this song was coming up. I got sent this song by four seperate people telling me how much I’d love it and I feel like that kinda says enough. I mean, what’s not to love? The vocals, my gosh. Her voice is one of the strongest voices of this generation, hands down, she just can’t be stopped and I feel like if this song doesn’t say that enough I don’t know what does. There’s so much in this track I could ramble on about; the offensive bass line, the strings that just throw you into like, Golden era Hollywood, her vocals, given, the immaculate guitar and these keys that are just so tastefully sprinkled over the entire track, the trumpet. I give up. Catch me throwing up a poor attempt to cover this song on Instagram, I can feel it coming.

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love language
Look, I know it’s only been 2 years since Sweetener was released but this song makes me instantly think that we’re overdue for a Ariana x Pharrell collaboration. That’s the first thing I thought when I heard this song, and then the next thing was that this was a bloody good song. The strings all over this record are so punchy and carry so much energy, especially in this song. I can’t wait for more of the visuals for this record to come out because I’m so positive they’re gonna hit.

positions
I feel like it would be rude, frankly, to not include this title track on the list of faves. I mean, it’s not a stretch for me considering this song is genuinely stuck in my head 24 hours of the day. Don’t get me started on the absolute art people are creating on TikTok with this song. This song is magic. It’s what we needed. Hard to elaborate on it really. It’s gold. The music video, is also gold. That’s all.

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Miss Grande really just came in peace to pop in and take her crown.
Please, by all means, feel free to share your favourite tracks from the album below, it’ll be hard for me to disagree with you. This track slaps.
That’s all.

x

Priya

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Wonder // A Shawn Mendes Special

He really knows how to make a return right?

Of course, I’m taking about Shawn Mendes, and the absolute scene he’s made with his latest single, Wonder.

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The song itself, is beautiful. It’s so cinematic and full, with so many different elements that bring it all together. Absolutely perfect driving through a tunnel kind of music if you ask me. The music, combined with genuinely emotionally weighted lyrics, come together to create, what I believe to be one of Shawn’s greatest songs to date.

That said, the true gift here, obviously aside from the existence of the song itself, is the music video. I never thought I’d ever see Shawn Mendes do choreography in my life, yet here we are, and it just fits so perfectly .The scenery, the story-telling, the movement and flow and how everything seems to blend together in this cinematic universe he’s created. You’ve got Polar Express, he’s giving you Harry Potter, there’s some Twilight.

It all fits.

I’m just super impressed. I’ve always enjoyed Shawn’s music, his concert was a highlight of mine last year, and if this is any sort of hint towards the things he’s set to deliver us in the future, I’m hyped.

Have you watched the music video or heard the song? I’d love to know your thoughts! Let me know in the comments.

x

Priya

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Duckwrth // SUPERGOOD

Hello everyone!

I hope you’re well and thriving and if you’re not, I hope you are soon. 

Today I wanted to drop in to share with you an album I’ve been thoroughly enjoying, and that is Duckwrth’s SuperGood album. 

I can’t say I’ve always paid a ton of attention to Duckwrth and what he’s up to, and other than adding a couple singles to some of my playlists, he’s not an artist I always have on my radar. So how did I come across this album and why has it become a staple to get me through the week?

The visual teaser for one of the tracks, Kiss U Right Now, appeared on my recommended on YouTube. I loved the aesthetic of it, how much of a teaser it actually was and the song itself was beautiful and super sultry and smooth. Had me hooked straight away. So obviously I ran to Spotify like I always do and checked out the whole song, which led me to finding the SuperGood album. Praise be!

Now of all of Duckwrth’s songs, the one I listen to the most is a track called MICHUUL., which I love for it’s groove and rhythm, and that’s only readily available throughout this album. 

It also comes along with a few notable features, including EARTHGANG, Australia’s very own KIAN, Julia Romana and Kyle Dion to name a few. It’s a good selection of artists to add to what’s already shaping up to be one of my favourite albums of 2020. 

The opening track, New Long Song, is such a perfect debut for the album, mixing in some old school sounds with beautiful vocals and super smooth lyrics. I love Duckwrth’s rapping voice. Then add onto that how much I love his singing voice and you’ve got this perfect mix. The song is also incredibly dynamic. Take’s you to church a bit. 

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Quick, which features our boy KIAN, is another favourite of mine. Super percussive and rhythmic, which I really enjoy. It’s really different for KIAN, and he and Duckwrth melt together perfectly on this track. It’s a collaboration I wouldn’t have seen coming, but I’m entirely here for it. 

Super Bounce, which features EARTHGANG is super smooth. It’s one of my other highlights from this record. I get a few D’Angelo vibes from this tune, but it’s also just beautifully intricate in all the sounds and rhythms that are combined throughout the track. In particular, the keys and the synths in this song really come together beautifully, and everything just floats so seamlessly together. 

If you’re looking for some new music to listen through, a new album to put on and work your way through, or some new tracks to add to your playlists, I highly recommend SuperGood. I’m clearly very enthusiastic about it, and I’m gonna be keeping a closer eye on Duckwrth from here on out and you should too. 

x

Priya

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The Vinyl Records // Round Two

Hi friends!

Hope you’re all well and thriving. Today’s post is gonna be Round Two of my Vinyl Series!

The record I wanna share today is one of the first ones I actually bought for myself as soon as I got my record player, I mean after I got sick of my Jim Reeves op shop vinyl, and that is Rainbow Valley by old mate, Matt Corby.

This is honestly one of my all time favourite records I own, purely because of how incredibly beautiful this album sounds translated on vinyl.

As I did with Round One of the The Vinyl Records, which you can read HERE, I’m just gonna share a few of my favourite tracks from the record, instead of going on a bit of a ramble about every single track!

No Ordinary Life This song is sublime. The piano, the strings in the background, the layered harmonies, it all comes together so seamlessly, this song is genuinely such a trip to listen to. Add in the drums and how they just drive the song along with such a steady chug, and it’s so easy to get lost in this song. I find it ten times more beautiful when listening to it on vinyl. This album in my mind, was made to be listened to on vinyl. Hands down. This song is probably one of the best indicators of that.

All That I Say This song is such a groovy track. The vocals in this are a great mix of flowing and ebbing drawls and short, snappy backing vocals, and it all works together so nicely. The bass in this track is also probably my favourite part, it definitely carries the song for me.

Get With The Times I have to refrain from including literally every song on the album in this list, but I had to throw this one in there. This one is my favourite in terms of Matt Corby’s vocal performance. It’s another song that features a really tasteful electric guitar groove, nestled in amongst the piano and backing vocals, and the lead vocals are so sweet and beautiful.

All Fired Up Beautiful song. Beautiful arrangement, beautiful singing, I can’t say much else for this track.

Miracle Love  I always wait to reach this song when I’m making my way through the record. So much emotion packed into one song and I think for me, this is Corby’s best vocal performance on the entire track. So impactful and raw, and it truly shows off just how talented he is as a singer and musician.

That brings us to the end of our second Vinyl Records! Hopefully you enjoyed this post, I sure loved getting the opportunity to lay down in bed and listen to the vinyl on repeat while I wrote up this post.

x

Priya

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Dua Lipa // The Blessed Madonna Remix…

I wanted to like this so badly. I really, really did. I know what you’re thinking … Priya? A negative review? Really? Me too. 

Levitating has been one of my favourite songs of the year, I’ve loved it ever since it was released, and it really set the tone for my personal obsession with the Future Nostalgia album. So when I heard that this disco-pop wave Dua’s currently riding was gonna be joined by not only Missy Elliott, but also Madonna, who as much as I’m not a fan, is the undeniable queen of the 80’s?

I was so excited.

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Let’s preface this by saying that this was kinda slated as a ‘club’ release, which I think on the surface level, it meets. It serves it’s purpose. But as a track? I’d take the original any day. I feel like if I were to personally hear this in a club, I’d be so fine if it was a quick little blender track, or a nice transition into the actual tune, but it just feels so disjointed and lost.

I get what they wanted to do, I really do, but I don’t feel like it worked. 

I love Dua Lipa, and I love that she brought two icons together on this track, but I think it could have been better. A lot better. Personally, Missy Elliott’s verse is a highlight, which I know some people don’t love. It’s one of the only highlights of the song for me, and that’s probably down to me loving Missy herself. The breakdown after her verse? I mean it’s decent.

With how hard-hitting and punchy the original song is, the remix should only have enhanced it. Rather, it feels like it’s been stripped of a bunch of things that made it such a track to begin with.

I think the tempo of the original song is perfection. It seems like such a little think to pick at, but tempo is a game changer when it comes to how easy a song is to enjoy and move to, and I think the remix just tries too hard to be a club mix, and the tempo is a huge factor in that. Then those wavy synths that are present throughout the entire track, and play a vital part in how well the original version flows…they’re gone? The new synths are pretty aggressive, they’re there, they just…don’t hit like the original ones, which for a club remix, I’m expecting them to. They aren’t as heavy and you don’t feel compelled to move the way you do with the original synths. Just like the tempo, the bass has been shifted to this really stock-standard club bass rhythm and melody that does nothing for the track. 

I’ll be real honest. If Melbournians were allowed to leave their houses and I was a few drinks in, hearing this at a bar, I’d probably wouldn’t care at all to pick at it the way I’m doing, so like I mentioned, it serves it’s purpose. But for such a phenomenal track like Levitating, to go out of your way to release a remix like this, with absolute icons like Madonna and Missy Elliott, it’s a bit of a missed opportunity. 

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I don’t know if I’m in a majority or minority with my opinion, as I haven’t see too many reviews for the single, so I’d love to know what you’re thoughts are! I know a few of you love Dua Lipa just as much as I do, so please share your thoughts and opinions in the comments! 

x

Priya

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Paige // Always Growing

I hope y’all remember Paige.

I’ve featured her several times here on the blog. She’s been one of my favourite musicians since I first discovered her in 2018, and she’s just gone from strength to strength. Opening for Ruel in New Zealand, releasing a number of successful singles, and now an EP.

If you’re keen to get up to speed, you can read my last couple of posts about here HERE and HERE. You’ll also definitely find her generously sprinkled over my Monthly Tunes.

Way back in 2018, I interviewed the New Zealand singer/songwriter, and spoke about her latest music as well as her plans for the future. One of the tracks she was super excited for was a song called Waves, the music video for which, dropped very recently.

You can watch it below!

 

 

 

Paige released her debut EP, Always Growing on the 31st of July, and since then, it’s been on repeat.

 

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The seven-track EP includes a mix of those previously released singles I mentioned earlier, as well as some tasty new tracks to sink your teeth into, starting off with the opening track, Cold Blooded, a bass heavy groove that Paige released earlier in 2020.

I think Hit n Run, the second track on the album, may be one of my favourites. It’s got such a good mix of sounds and blends, from the backing vocals, the acoustic guitar, a hard hitting drum beat and Paige’s strong voice pulling everything all together. Super catchy. Big vibes, big vibes.

A handful of singles make up the next few songs on the tracklist, all of which are beautifully nostalgic bangers, if that makes any sense whatsoever. Too Much to H8, my personal favourite Waves, another favourite of mine, Bloom, Yellow and then final track Make Room. 

Make Room is a new freshie, and I love how gently anthemic it is. It builds and grows beautifully, and it’s a song I’ve found myself going back. I also think it’s one of the best songs on the album in terms of showing off just how subtle and strong Paige’s voice and songwriting is combined. Such a delicate song lyrically, but such a confident delivery. I love everything about this song.

 

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To be fair, I love everything about the entire EP. There’s just something so authentic and raw about it, but it’s still so polished and well crafted. From the variety of the songs, to how consistently impressive the songwriting is on every track, Paige has more than delivered on her debut EP, and what a way to kick off what’s sure to be an amazing career.

x

Priya

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