TOP Artists of the Week – Series 5

Hi Everyone

Here is another Week of the MONTH of October 2022, we are presenting our Top Artists of the Week Series 5 for your entertainment and fun. There are lessons to learn from each other as you look and listen to one another’s tracks. The selections are simply our opinion. All artists are great and super professionals in their calling.

How we select top artists.

Indeed, there are many interesting things that my job involves listening to live concerts by solo artists and ensembles whom we might showcase on a weekly series.  You can learn a lot from watching their video or audio recording of course, but not everything.  In fact, the most important thing you can learn from these commercial or demo recordings is that a particular musician or ensemble is probably not destined for the priority list.

In recent weeks we have found ourselves with the opportunity to hear quite a few concerts, live bands, and recorded works from different artists.  It got us thinking about what criteria are we going to rank and prioritize each artist. We have narrowed it down to 3 areas: technique, interest (substance), and communication.

Technical ability is probably the least important, simply because there’s such a high level of proficiency among professional soloists and ensembles these days.  Indeed, it’s probably fair to say that if you ever get the impression at a concert that a piece of music is really difficult and pushing the performer(s) to their limit, then it’s probably more a reflection on the limitations of the artist than the technical problems of a piece of music.  Great performances usually transcend technical difficulties.

So, the more important question is whether a performance is interesting, meaning does it capture people’s attention, and unlocks their imagination? That comes down to choices a musician makes around musical colors and textures, variation, consistency of approach, creating tension, the overall shape of a piece, tastefulness, and context.  Much of this is subjective, which is why it’s okay, indeed healthy, for people to disagree after a video, or live stage watch – whether they liked it or not.

Thirdly, there’s the issue of communication. Unlike a recording, an artist or ensemble on stage with a live audience has to acknowledge the audience is there and perform for them. Singers maybe have the advantage of words to articulate, but instrumental music is a language too, and the live concert experience is about communicating.

The most memorable concerts we have attended are those at which that communication has been strong and convincing. There are many, many musicians and ensembles across the world who deliver at the highest level.  Our lives are more enriched by having exposure to them.

 

Here are the TOP ARTISTS of the Week – Series 5

 

Psychic Distance – Why Can’t I Have You?

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DistancePsychic

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/12XqH32VlseCHmdGMxaoqU

Psychic Distance is a philosophical term that today means aesthetic distance. It is the subjective perception of either rejection or acceptance of things or people at an aesthetic level.

In this case, Psychic Distance is Justin Beck from the Bay Area, California whom today is based in Leipzig, Germany. His first production was in ambient electronica for Silent Records in San Francisco with former Psychic TV member Alaura titled “Sacred Dreams”.

This is (ta da) “Why Can’t I Have You” Genre: Alternative R & B, Electronica Completely rewired Cover of a hit song by The Cars (Description: neo-trip-hop as in Massive Attack, grey-tinged electronic).

Now, in the second decade of the 21st century, Justin produces Progressive Trance, Alternative R & B, and Ambient. He also works for the environmental technology company ARTi. Link. His digital collage artwork has been featured in It’s Not Random Art Magazine.

 

Seigfried – UNI

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seigfriedmk/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1IiTA1vfUqWYx4hauTDQ5P

Siegfried Klopsch is a 21-year-old self-produced rapper from South Germany. Growing up in Freiburg, he was in the school orchestra, satisfying his lifelong need for music. At around 12 years of age, he started making his own music from free software and the public library computer. Unfortunately, life came in the way and he stopped.

Siegfried is a self-producing rapper currently living in Germany and goes by the artist name “Seigfried“.

About 7 years later, he started following his passion again after enduring life’s turmoil. Now in Munich, he is devoting all his high-quality products and unique flows, he released 2 Eps while always working on the next project.

The “UNI” is a track from my new EP View Iridescent. Hope the moody/emotional vibe is a good fit for your consideration. So far, this may be his own favorite track to date. From the feedback, he has received thus far a lot of people resonate with the lyrics which should make for great placement potential.

 

Smokerface Chris Clay – Live It Up

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Smokerface-Chris-Clay-100802389459579/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3ZWpoO4p57dvdbvoeE4QBQ

Smokerface Chris Clay is an artist based in the USA.

Honestly, one of the most exciting things to hear in music is an artist going for it. That daring energy that comes through majorly in the music, as you hear them go for gold in every way to be something great for the world to pay witness to. When an artist is fearless in their approach it really makes for an exciting listen and excitement is what you get from Smokerface Chris Clay on his new project “Live It Up”.

 

Santos Silva – Rewind

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamsantossilva/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3Lrt9f8jrHBq33gftga9Fr?si=zw1zUQhmRp6Fm-L2vfq5DA

Santos Silva is an artist based in the USA. Santos Silva is Singer/Songwriter and Santos Silva has had a long road traveled that has finally brought him to this point.

“Rewind” marks the beginning of a new chapter for Santos who enters the pop/R&B airwaves this fall 2022 with this eclectic and catchy vibe. Moving on from the past is hard when all you want to do is “rewind”, which is the synopsis of the struggle Santos depicts in this classic.

When all you can do is replay memories of your past mistake that caused you to lose something that you cared for deeply, emotions rise, and uncertainty sets in. Santos’ clear and buttery vocal tone gels perfectly over the mid-tempo but climactic melodies throughout the record. “Rewind” is now available under VMG/LOUD Muzik / Sony Orchard.

 

Bex & Bright – Run It Up (feat. ILIL)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bexandbright/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2xgO9fldx4YgFP1NYBtAoF?si=75vhq2KFQIC0BKSLaRiUUg

Bex & Bright is an artist based in Baltimore in USA. For Bex & Bright, the future is so Bright. The Baltimore-based duo of eclectic musicians melds experimental sounds to create the wildest beats you have ever heard.

Capturing the dichotomy of knowing one’s potential and being trapped by the shortchanging expectations of others, “Run It Up” is a powerful encapsulation of life in modern society.

Similar to the nail-biting tension of living under the gun, the lyrical prowess is a stark reminder not to ever underestimate the downtrodden. The first single off the upcoming debut album by Bex & Bright showcases their emotional and melodic range offset by the featured rapper 1L1L’s knife’s edge seething delivery.

By infusing drilling percussion, thundering bass, and haunting choral elements “Run It Up” is a perfect candidate for placement in your blog or playlist.

 

The Process – Purgatory

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/r_hawk24/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1rXkymRQRS2aSAJBhyw95o?si=MJM7eszpRj2904EhW5aHbQ

The Process is an artist based in the USA. The Process started in 2018 with his first single “Cradle 2 The Grave” Process entered the music world to make a statement blending creative flows and schemes all the while telling a personal story.

Downfall Admissions, the first EP released by the Brooklyn artist, continues on this trend. The project entails the artist’s journey through grief and trauma after being cheated on by the woman he saw his future with. The process takes the listener on an emotive journey through pain, frustration, hopelessness, and finally triumph. The project opens with the lead single “My Soul” which works as an introduction to the project summarizing and chronicling the root cause for the narrative that is carried forward.

In “River Styx” the artist speaks on the immense frustration that came with isolation, a world shattered, and depression taking over starts the first verse asks “Tell me how to look all my friends in the face?” The manic and intense energy on the first two tracks, mirroring the whirlwind ups and downs in the first phase of grief and trauma, simmers down and slows on the aptly titled middle track “Purgatory”.

Placed in the center with two tracks before and two tracks to follow, Process uses the empty landscape between hell (My Soul, River Styx) and heaven (Reincarnation, Prevail) to tell of the story of numbness and exasperation that overtakes after experiencing intense emotions for so long, relenting to the demons that he had spent month fighting.

 

Cybando – Rookie of the Year

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cybandoo/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7K3om33bFWcjIc2vF4Itay?si=g393KxgUTjWc69ultnQzhw

Cybando, AKA Cyrus Anderson, is a talented up-and-coming artist from New York City, born and raised in the home of Hip Hop, the Boogie Down Bronx. He started off making music on his phone while in elementary school, then slowly built his own studio in his bedroom during the pandemic.

It took him countless days and hours, to learn and master the craft of engineering while sheltered during the early days of the Coronavirus pandemic. Cybando and his peers were tirelessly making music, pouring out their pent-up feelings in their music. They would all have big studio sessions in his small room, so you could say Cybando is a rapper/engineer, a voice of his peers emerging from the dark days of the pandemic.

Cybando dropped his first project, “Endless Scars” in 2021 and racked up one hundred thousand streams across all platforms, His number one song on the album “Scared to Love” is still racking up streams with twenty thousand streams to date. Cybando recently dropped a new project and identified himself as the “ROTY” (Rookie of the Year) during the summer of 2022, which did not let down his fans with over fifty thousand streams on all platforms. He had a couple of collabs on this project, featuring Jay Turbo and Yung Ferro, his childhood buddies, who bonded around the same dream of making music.

What’s next for Cybando? It has been announced he’s working on a couple of new projects with a few collaborations with artists like Dirty Promethazine and Tyswervo. As far as single projects go, he’s working on “Endless Scars 2” but he has yet to announce the date of its release. Cybando is definitely one artist to look out for in the future. He has that NYC touch to him mixed with emo rap. Every lyric is meaningful and hits; every beat is energetic and powerful. Look out for Cybando, he’s the up and coming artist from the Boogie Down Bronx!

 

RCC – Stuck

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/introducercc/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0v6wSzwqAo6Ola6zLafv2w?si=jvqaDXIHQ8ac_sAVykf6_w

RCC is an artist based in the USA. RCC started this project as a hip-hop song that we are excited to share. It really means a lot to us. We hope that this music reaches a broad audience through great playlists and media coverage.

RCC brings a dark emotive sound that makes for a powerful display of music to the new song “Stuck”. The slow gritty approach to the sound sends chills down your spine, as you feel the music taking over you to stop time to take it all in. As the music builds RCC’s commanding vocals shine through to make sure his presence is felt, as well as the soul put into the music to bring that extra level of emotion to make the writing come to life to make every intricacy of the record stand out in its entirety.

 

KSPOOK – KPOP

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_kspook/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7bDjyoPxZfOnA0QA4uKgYP?si=tRHGclm4R2-03KAgwAhqiA

KSPOOK is an artist and a 19-year-old rapper from Dayton, Ohio in the USA. KSPOOK is looking to be managed/ shared across the UK/US.

KSPOOK’s main goal in the music business is to find his true calling. Every time he listens to his songs; he sees people living in the moment, females dancing, dudes turning up; it makes him feel good, it’s good to listen to when you’re trying to forget life’s problems in the moment.

These are KSPOOK’s personal expressions: I wouldn’t say the lyrics are completely relatable for people outside of me but it sets the mood at parties and provides people with unforgettable musical memories. I love making people feel good through music and hope my sound can help you find a moment to let go of life problems; even if it’s for a second or two. To give people a second to dance, live, and laugh I’d say it’s one of the 5 reasons I wake up in the morning honestly, music keeps my heart beating and I mean that, life is damn near meaningless without it. It resonates through everything living. hope to reach many clubs around the world to bring the same energy my song gives me in a way that can last forever.

I think the “rap/hip hop” category of today is failing honestly. It’s losing its true value; people just want to sound like someone else and it sucks, I’m tired of these yet/summer sounding people; it’s hella corny in my opinion, and mainstream has completely jumped ship, to be honest, nothing worth listening to nowadays; nothing that’s going to last.

I have trouble in the studio trying to remind myself that I have to be my individual; I’m not doing this music stuff for anyone but myself, but you gotta catch waves to stay relevant for the most part, I want to create my own though.

 

Ace Truen – Desperado

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AceTruen/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/57RiGafSKJKYvvQfihfew4

Ace Truen is an artist based in the USA. Ace Truen was born and raised in Atlanta, Ga. A songwriter, Artist, and producer since the early 2000s. Music became a passion at a very early age.

Inspired by Michael Jackson, Al Green, Marvin Gay, Tupac, Pimp C, and OutKast. These artists helped him become a very passionate storyteller. Each song is an invitation to a real-life situation. Good bad and indifferent. Everybody has a story. Travel on this journey through the eyes of Ace Truen.

Ace Truen is the youngest of 12. His mother is a Christian Pastor and his father was a soldier. Ace Truen grew up with a diverse introduction to music. He began to express himself musically at an early age. Formulating ideas into rhymes came easy for him.

As a community advocate, Ace Truen has performed and fed the hungry at the “Hosea William Feed The Hungry” event at the Atlanta Braves Stadium in 2006. He performed in N. Carolina at the prestigious Shirley Caesar conference with Adien Hill & Smokey Norful in 2007. His music covers all aspects of his own life.

 

 

Which is your favorite song? Drop a comment below in the comment section