Music Premiere : Makeshift Happiness, a new EP by Christa Vi
Inspired by origami and paper craft, Christa Vi’s new EP, Makeshift Happiness, creates something beautiful and bright out of the ordinary, futile optimism, and fragility of the existentialist everyday.
Photo by Jon Enoch. Origami by Papershake
Inspired by origami and paper craft, Christa Vi’s new EP, Makeshift Happiness, creates something beautiful and bright out of the ordinary, futile optimism, and fragility of the existentialist everyday. The record is resplendent with a peppy positivity as vibrant as the redhead the song lyrics were spurn from. Contemplative, reflective lyrics and Florence Welch wispy new romantic vocals hook onto a driving, electronic melody; reticent of Oh Land and the like. The moody Germanic undercurrent and Australian optimism of her two home countries have blended with the flux, grit and shift of new base London to create a unique brand of lyric-driven, synth-centric, electronic indie pop in a record preoccupied with making the best of life’s hard knocks.
Headed up with the eponymous title track, the EP also includes a radio edit and remixes by L.A. dweller Small Pyramids (Glasgow Underground) and renowned beat-master DJ AMTRAC who brings textured, sizzling and liquid layers to his evocative remix.
Released on her own record label, Tangelo Records, Vi often handpicks guest producers to pepper her music and has spent years honing her sound with Box of Wolves, Ben Salter and AIMES. This time she has teamed up to co-produce with the multi-instrumentalist mastermind Andrew McDonnell (Crystal FIghters, Petite Noir, Suns). This collaborative interest in crafting feeds into her video and album artwork with pastel-toned illustrative cover art by Erin Greer a video by Chris Turner / Favourite Colour Black.
It may be making music makeshift, but it is certainly not make do.
Makeshift Happiness, EP by Christa Vi, will be released 25th September on Tangelo Records. It can be preordered here:
5 up-and-coming artists to look out for in 2015
2015 has so far been a huge year for emerging artists and musicians. Jump on the hype train early and check out these five artists who are absolutely killing it this year.
2015 has so far been a huge year for emerging artists and musicians. Jump on the hype train early and check out these five artists who are absolutely killing it this year.
Source: YouTube Screengrab
London-based quartet BABEHEAVEN has only recently struck into the music scene – but what a bang they’ve made with their first single, Friday Sky. Lead Singer Nancy Anderson’s smooth soul vocals complement their ballad-like sound – dream-pop vibes meshed with trip-hop beats. Imagine the lovechild of The Durutti Column and Warpaint but with a 2015 spin on it.
Although we’ve only had a taster of BABEHEAVEN, we can be sure to expect big things from these Londoners this year. You can check out the music video for Friday Sky (directed by Raf Fellner, Tegen Williams and Frank Lebon) below:
Image via lilymercer.co.uk
With a career slowly beginning to blossom in his 30’s, Vic Spencer is a bit of a late bloomer in the Hip-Hop world. Hailing from Englewood, Chicago – the rapper is an emerging talent cited as the future of Chi-town’s rap scene despite fierce competition from his contemporaries born in the same city. That means you Lupe Fiasco, Chance the Rapper and Vic Mensa.
Listening to his music is sometimes rather like a lottery draw. You can listen to a cocky yet deeply lyrical track like Relapse and then find something entirely different in The Writers. This ability to diversify his style is a hallmark of his experience and we can only wait to see how he progresses from here. But for now, let the track below do the talking.
Source: Photo by Nate Ryan/MPR
Careers can also blossom prematurely. Corbin (formerly known as Spooky Black) has already developed a large cult following since his breakout single, Without U from the mixtape Black Silk. He has been taking the R&B world by storm and he’s not even 18 yet. His matured vocals juxtapose a youthful face – yet his sincerity always manages to shine through with the tenderness of his subject matter. Girls. Depression. And an all-round feeling of dejectedness.
Corbin has transmogrified R&B and made it his own and into something that is darker, more visceral and original. Those of you who can lend a sympathetic ear to lyrics that discuss the pangs of adolescence and heartbreak, definitely give this boy a listen. Or even listen to his work just because it’s so damn beautiful.
Source: Youtube Screengrab
My aural senses are tingling. Something that sounds like Tame Impala? Check. An artist from New Zealand? Check. Jamiroquoai-esque pop-funk? Check. A contemporary revival of rhythmic 60s soul? Check. LEISURE has all these boxes ticked and more.
Their (or his? Or her? We don’t quite know yet) debut single, Got It Bad, was initially intended to have a couple hundred views on soundcloud. Now it’s on 200,000. There’s no surprise as to why what with that smooth bassline and catchy repetition of “Girl you think you got it bad?” LEISURE’s music is a nod to the early days of funk – nothing too complex, just plain, unparalleled grooviness. Sit back, relax and soak in the song below.
Image via soulculture.com
And last but not least on our list we have Ben Khan. A UK artist reminiscent of a cheerier Jai Paul tinged with nuances of a young Prince. After his first successful EP, 1992 – Khan returns to 2015 with his 1000 EP – a similar yet more evolved sound than his debut work.
Khan’s music resonates with all things synth and all things snare. The blues-sounding guitars compliment the electro-funk feel to his music. Khan is another artist that is boldly experimental yet equally unassuming. To put it plainly, he’s not trying too hard to be alternative and thus always manages to churn out absolute bangers. But the greatest thing? His songs are accessible to all kinds of musical palettes and moods. Bump the track below at a party, a pre-gym pump up, at a picnic on your stereo or even (and especially) in the shower.