MUSIC: Laura Roy Self-Titled EP

From the first track Laura Roy had captured my attention and had me tapping away at my keyboard. That for me, is how I know it's a great release. Sometimes I'm sat at my keyboard wandering what to type about artists, though I might like the song they don't necessarily get me excited. Whereas Laura Roy's self titled EP wasn't one of those occasions for me. I couldn't wait to share her music with you.

The album sounds incredibly fun, it's the kind of EP that will get you up dancing just from the melodies alone. The R&B pop singer is incredible! It's not surprising that she has shared the stage with artists such as Jully Black, JRDN, Ludacris, Rakik and Freddy Gibbs and attended the prestigious Gordie Sampson Songcamp put on by the Grammy-winning writer in Nova Scotia for four years as well as being invited to participate in songwriting camps via The Songwriter's Association of Canada in Montreal and Toronto in 2015. It was here that Laura had the chance to write and connect with producers and writers like Rob Wells (Justin Bieber), Alex Greggs (Lady  Gaga) Caitlyn Smith (Meghan Trainor, John Legend) and Gordie Sampson himself (Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill). Reading her background it's not surprising that she had managed to create a fantastic self titled EP.

The six track EP is filled with potential hits which is why it got me so excited. The R&B singers music has synth pop sounds mixed with soulful melodies and catchy hooks. Her songs are incredibly catchy and makes you feel like getting up and dance and have fun. The opening track, 'Don't Chase The Feeling' is a prime example of this. The verses are understated but incredibly well written building to this crescendo of a chorus which is so catchy and playful. The bridge shows Laura Roy's more soulful and powerhouse of a voice. It's a brilliant opening track for the EP.

'Looking the Other Way' is next which is a bit more soulful and reminds me of 90s R&B. A song about a broken relationship with lyrics such as 'because you had it, then you lost it, now you're mad that I'm okay' something that most of us have experienced in our lives. Her songs are easy to relate to as well as positive and encouraging for you to get on with your own life. It's clear that she's taken everything she's learnt to create this brilliantly put together EP.

'Bright Lights' is definitely my favourite track off the EP. A song about 'trying to make it on my own' and chasing after your own dreams. I can imagine this in a movie - you know about a team or a star that lost their opportunity and by the end of the movie they get it all back a little bit like Disney movie Ice Princess (just me?). I just think it's so optimistic and encouraging. Laura's voice sounds incredible and you can see her music taking over the charts with this track.

'Full Moon' is a lot softer and definitely exploring her more soulful side whilst still keeping her pop and synth sounds. Again it's a beautiful track about love and 'holding it together'. A song about soul mates and 'finding our way through the dark'. It's romantic about holding on to the people you love through anything. It reminds me a little of Carly Rae Jepson with a little more soul in her voice.

'Take Me Down' has more fight to it, especially melody driven. Her voice takes a bit more of a blues tone to it, particularly in the beginning. It's a little bit more alluring and sultry. Again, Laura uses her powerful soulful voice at the beginning of the chorus. She's managed to find an amazing balance between her soul and R&B influence with a current pop and synth sound, which makes her incredibly unique.

'Plastic' is a little more darker. Definitely more of her soulful sound is coming out in this track, reminding me a little of Rihana's 'Unfaithful'. It definitely has that moody edge to it like that track had too. This track definitely shows off her vocal range and abilities, she's not hiding behind anything. Especially when you listen to her acoustic version you can hear what an incredible artist Laura Roy is. The EP is full of potential and I can't wait to see what Laura Roy has up her sleeve next. Incredibly underrated she is a rising star and one to watch out for. You can download her EP on iTunes now or listen on Spotify.

Check out Laura Roy's acoustic version of 'Plastic' below:

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MUSIC: Nicky Davey - Oxygen

Nicky Davey are back with their unique soulful pop sound with the first track off their upcoming album 'XXX' set to be released later this year. The single is called 'Oxygen' and sounds incredibly romantic. The track has a very sensual flow to it which is also depicted in the music video starring Tosha Eason.

Nick Green said 'I wanted to be honest to myself and others about the way I felt. I feel like as songwriters we all write songs in some shape or form about out love interest/inspiration'. This definitely shows in the track, like I said its incredibly romantic and perfectly describes the first stages of falling in love. It's exciting and fresh and new. With lyrics like 'I'm catching butterflies' it's clear to see that this a new relationship that they're nervous but excited about. The lyrics also, to me, shows that they're just enjoying their time with lyrics like 'head up in the sky' it's like nothing could bring them down from their high.

They have a very unique sound to their music. It's incredibly soulful due to Nick Green's voice. But they have a very cool R&B style to them too, the more old school sound of this genre. It's very cool and feels like they aren't trying. They would definitely be making your knees go weak with their slick sound.

Check out Nicky Davey's music video for 'Oxygen' below:

MUSIC: Joshua Luke Smith - Carry Me

Today's music comes in the form of a young male artist called Joshua Luke Smith with his new single 'Carry Me'. A song about coming home and being free to be who you are, Joshua has said,
'Along my own journey I've defined home as living as the person you were born to be, free from pressures of other perceptions and your own self-depreciation. 'Home' is a identity without illusion, without the confusion of trying to be someone we are not. We all get distracted, disappointed and at times disillusioned with who we are and where we're at but there's hope in knowing you can change direction, there's hope in knowing you can always return home'.

'Carry Me' is a song about appreciating the people who stand by you throughout. Using his beautiful soulful voice for the chorus to sing about being 'free' and 'walking in the wrong direction' we can hear how gorgeous Joshua's tone is. He then raps the verses, he's captured the right balance between the two and shows off how much talent he has. With a song that has a lot of depth behind it and has been so beautifully crafted its hard to believe that Joshua has never physically written a single line of his songs but has clearly not allowed his dyslexia hold him back when it comes to his poetry and artistry.

A song about peer pressure as a teenager the music video portrays this message beautifully. We see a group of teenagers out late at night getting drunk and fooling around until someone takes things too far and one of the boys can't handle the pressure to be someone he isn't even if it means fitting in. The video is beautifully shot showing clips of the boys mother crying at home looking at pictures of him as a  young boy before he returns home sitting on the door step visibly upset with the person he's become. It's an incredibly inspiring song and music video. I love that the message is powerful and something that we can all relate to. Joshua Luke Smith is definitely someone we should be keeping an eye one as he simply oozes talent.

Check out Joshua Luke Smith's music video for 'Carry Me' below:

MUSIC: Lánre - Human EP

Lánre a british singer songwriter is releasing her latest new EP on the 29th April and I have been fortunately asked to review the album before its release for you guys. The EP is called 'Human' and captures Lánre as an artist beautifully. Each song is incredibly uplifting and inspiring, they also have a dreamlike magical feel to them.

Lánre uses her Yoruba heritage to influence her soulful style, with captivating storytelling and an acoustic feel to her songs, she definitely stands out in a crowd of music. The opening and title track of the EP, Human sounds more synthesized than the rest of the EP probably with a lot more production. 'Making the same mistakes over and over again, hoping that somehow it'll work out in the end', is the opening lyrics and the rest of the song talks about the bad things happening to make things better, with 'we're all broken so that the light can come in' being sung almost like an anthem throughout the song. Though it's a very delicate song until the bridge Lánre has such a silky voice that you get enticed in with.

Fire is next - which is probably my favourite - it starts more acoustic and folky than the previous song which is definitely more my cup of tea, It just sounds more authentic and natural to me, and its more moody, with lyrics like 'nothing lasts forever' and 'I did my best 'til the very end' it's very encouraging for you to do the same. The song has a much more moodier feel like I said before with the beats that it uses and Lánre lower tone being used throughout.

Dreams is very much dreamlike in sound and sounds like a daydream with Lánre silky and soft voice, her tone is gorgeous and completely unique to what I'm used to listening to. The song is kept very acoustic until the bridge towards the end when you can hear what sounds almost like a heartbeat, the song gets a bit more intense and grittier.

Finally, the EP ends with My Soul, with what sounds like a choir to open the track, it's a little faster with an acoustic guitar being picked at. 'You can't break my soul' is sung throughout the song again inspiring her audiences to 'keep living' and pushing forward to what you want to achieve.

Though the EP is very different to what I would normally listen to, I would recommend to check it out. Each song is very inspiring and makes you want to accomplish something more. Check out Lánre's 'Human' below. You can also preorder the EP here with an instant download of Human.

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MUSIC: James Robb - Flamethrower

Today's music post, introduces British singer-songwriter James Robb to you with his single 'Flamethrower'. With a musical family, James Robb learnt from a young age to craft his song writing and musical style to what suits him best which is demonstrated beautifully in Flamethrower taken from his upcoming EP.

The song describes 'the horrible feeling when you know one of you cares more than the other' with lyrics such as 'you're love it hurts, why don't you want me now?' the song is heartbreakingly beautiful. Reminding me a little of Shawn Mendes but a little more broken hearted, James Robb's music has a pop/r'n'b feel and with his soulful voice he makes you feel everything that he's feeling too.

Having created a go to break up song with r'n'b beats which also has a soothing lullaby feel to it, James Robb 'Flamethrower' will help you through a tough breakup. With a topic that is so easy to relate to, be that being in a relationship where  you're being burned or dealing with unrequited love, this is definitely you're new go to song.

Check out James Robb's 'Flamethrower' below:

♥

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MUSIC: Mariella West - Sober

Mariella West, a Brighton based singer has released her first single 'Sober' and is bringing back the 60's/70's in her style of music, creating something that's very unique to what's currently being released.

Mariella West has that classic retro sound to her voice and can switch from being very soft to strengthening in her voice effortlessly. Her voice is very sultry and sexy. The song sounds very sweetly and coy at the start but progressively becomes more passionate with more attitude and punch to it. Keeping a playfulness to the track throughout. 'Sober' is undoubtedly very catchy and will get you dancing. It starts very mysterious about leaving their loved one and leaving their dramas behind before starting again on their own. She tells her story without making it too personal, which leaves the song easy to relate to for her fans but also adds to that mysteriousness of  the song. I like this about the song as it leaves you wanting to know more about these characters that she's singer about.

To me, she mixes a soul and jazzy with a little bit of disco in the track and made them cool once again, reminding me a little of Sophie Ellis Bextor, with influences from Jill Scott and Lianne La Havas. West is a modern day jazz singer, leaving songs to interpretation for her fans, the singer has managed to create the blend of jazz and soul with a modern twist so swiftly, I'm excited to see what she has to release next.

Check out Mariella West's live version of 'Sober' below:

♥

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MUSIC: Joy Oladokun - Shelter

After a half 5 start this morning, I've literally just got in from work which was followed by a coffee and shopping with my friend, and at twenty past 1 I've sat down to write this review on Joy Oladokun new single, 'Shelter', which has been taken from her upcoming debut album 'Carry' set to be released on the 29th April and I am completely blown away. With little enthusiasm for doing much, from the first note I heard of 'Shelter' I was caught up in her world and her music and couldn't wait to start tapping away at my keyboard to share this talented artist with you.

Starting with a piano and a background vocal, I was captured. Then Joy starts singing and the tone in her voice is smooth and gorgeous, there's no doubt in her ability of being able to take a song and command a room. Showing off her vocal range, Oladokun has one of those voices that make your day feel brighter, simply oozing talent with just her voice. Joy has a classic soulful voice, similar to Emeli Sande meets Tracy Chapman, with so much heart and honesty there it's nice to hear this voice taking on a whole new style of music.

The song is talking to her loved one about giving in and trusting her and promising not to hurt them like they've been hurt before. It's incredibly optimistic not only in lyrics but also the feel of the music, if it doesn't paint a smile instantly on your face then I'll be incredibly shocked. Describing the song, 'a song I wrote about learning how to receive love, and fighting to give it without reservation'.

She's taken elements from rock music with some of the beats within the song, but tells a story like you'd find in folk/country music with a soulful voice full of honesty, the blend of these three genres is what makes up Joy Oladokun sound. It works incredibly well, and I absolutely love it, with two of my favourite genres having this new link that I've never heard before creating a wonderful pop song. 'Shelter' is such a formidable song, in the way that it's been written, produced and sung, it's also very catchy which I love.

I'm completely in awe of Joy Oladokun and the amount of talent that this lady has, I'm looking forward to hearing the rest of her album now, which she funded herself through a kickstarter campaign. I only wish good things for Joy and the album.

Check out Joy Oladokun's 'Shelter' below:

♥

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MUSIC: Savannah Dumetz - Naked

Today's music post comes in the form of London vocalist Savannah Dumetz and 'Naked'. With a vintage sound to both her music and her voice she is completely vulnerable in the soulful track. The soulful singer has managed to create an open and honest debut single and a honest account of self loving. Its a beautifully written track and achieves what Savannah  has set out to do which is 'encourage empowerment' saying herself that she is 'a lady who has taken control of her dreams, I refuse to give up'. Something that we can all learn from Savannah and listening to Naked is definitely encouraging that.

The song has a very classic and old school / early r'n'b sound to it. Its very delicate and allows Savannah to show off her voice incredibly well using her entire range. With a voice that reminds me a little of Emeli Sande and Demi Lovato it's not a surprising that Savannah Dumetz has been creating such a buzz online. Telling her own stories in her music, Savannah is creating music that is universal and resonating with many people. Along with a classic sound, people young and old are able to appreciate her music. She is currently working on her album which will no doubt be a standout.

Check out Savannah Dumetz music video for 'Naked' below:

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MUSIC: Nicky Davey - Been Lovin' You

Nicky Davey are a rock soul duo from LA and have just released their single 'Been Lovin' You', After being contacted about the band and checking them out it's quite obvious why these guys are featured on the latest NOW 57 (American version) compilation album and are in the company of big names such as Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Ellie Goulding and more with the single.

'Been Lovin' You' has a very cool and effortless tone to it, with a voice that reminds me a little of Justin Timberlake meets Adam Levine maybe, they've created an incredibly catchy song which tells the story of someone falling in love and trying to get the girl. It's a very relatable song about loving someone and 'take our time' with growing their relationship. With a slick voice that's very soulful in a pop sound, the guys have created something very unique. It's definitely a pop song but with a unique twist that catches your attention and stands out from everything else available in the charts. The duo have managed to mix an old school sound with modern music to create a beautiful track that will have you singing and dancing along in no time. The duo are also working on new material for an EP set to be released in Spring 2016 which I'll definitely keeping an eye on. 

Check out Nicky Davey's music video for 'Been Lovin' You' below: 

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