Born in Dublin, Ireland, Darragh J Brady – AKA Dar.Ra has been in the music industry for a while with hits in the UK and Australia, signed to EMI, Festival and various dance labels over the years, remixing Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Tears 4 Fears, Savage Garden, and writing for Rachel Brown (Faithless, Groove Armada) plus having music on various Hollywood films like ‘Snakes on Planes’ films starring Hilary Duff on ABC TV, Match Of Day (BBC TV) and US Documentary City Of Hope.
He grew up in Brighton and London and his first solo album Soul Hours was released in 2010 made album of the week of Spain’s Heart FM, as well as receiving support from BBC Radio, playing to over 1 million people on air within one live show.
Also an author, Dar.Ra has a book available called ‘Road Tales’ which has been getting brilliant reviews and is based on people Dar.Ra met while being the road from the late 1990’s to 2008.
LINKS:
https://facebook.com/Dar.Ra7
https://youtube.com/kushadeep7
https://twitter.com/kushadeepmusic
https://instagram.com/dar.ra.brady
-
Kepa Lehtinen – Face Plant
A new musical excursion from Kepa Lehtinen …Face Plant is a six-track mini-album of original contemporary classical music written for piano, contrabass, and theremin. . The theremin is a century-old electronic instrument that’s played by hand gestures rather than direct contact.
Nobody uses theremin like I do. It is not a solo instrument anymore. Because theremin responds to even the slightest movement (even to the player’s breath) it has become the organic sonic cornerstone of my music. It is the element that makes the soundscape really come to life ”
Face Plant “I am 50 years old skateboarder. I have always loved the expression ”Face Plant” (an instance of falling face-first into or onto something.) If you skate on the limits of your skills you are going to fall at some point. It is going to hurt.”
Kontula Kontula (2018) is my most beloved composition. (740 000 streams on Spotify) ”Kontula ” is a new solo remake of the piano version of the theme.
”The mix of classical and retro electronic music makes ideas escape easily and appreciate the changing season. Beautiful, very, very beautiful.”
Mika Roth/desibeli.netNowhere”Kepa gives an original instrument a new voice and expression in a center stage manner that merges electronic with a future indie classic. ”
Ryan Martin/JammerzineLockdown…Arpeggios on a broken piano – the sound of a pandemic.
It is ok to be a computer… Chiptune version of my track ”It is ok to be sad and dark” The last track on all my solo records is the Commodore 64 version of some previous song. The Spotify algorithm will punish me – lol.
Kepa Lehtinen has written music for many films, commercials, and TV productions. He plays the piano, synthesizers, theremin. He released his first solo album, Playing Theremin, in 2018. In 2019 he released Helsinki in November and 2020 It is ok to be sad and dark. Last year Kepa was chosen as the composer of the week on the prestigious moving classics tv.
About Kepa Lehtinen
The theremin comes to life under the direction of the rising Finnish composer, Kepa Lehtinen on his new dark andante Nowhere.
‘The way I use the theremin is quite unique. Together with double bass, the theremin completes the piano like cello and violin does in a classical piano trio.” The theremin is an electronic instrument that produces sound when your hands interact with the electromagnetic field it emits without actually touching the device itself. It was invented in the labs of KGB by Russian engineer Leon Theremin in the early 1920s.’
‘Strumming through the invisible electronic waves the Tonality play is unnoticeable. While harmonies are modern and complex; the overall feel seems to be nonetheless easily approachable and primitively hypnotic. Insight to the world of the Theremin from Kepa….On the sound ”Retro but ultra HiFi sound has been my goal at the studio. Sound of sadness and past.’
Everybody wonders at my instrument,” ”but after all, it is the most organic musical instrument there is. The sound is in direct contact with my breathing and the slightest movements of my body. I played the theremin part with a sore hand that I had hurt in a small skate accident I can feel the pain in my hand every time I listen to this track – lol.’
Kepa Lehtinen is a native of Helsinki, Finland. He began to study music as a child and eventually went on to study Sound Design at Finland’s Aalto University and has since written music for many films, commercials, and TV productions. He plays the piano, synthesizers, theremin, After college Kepa continued his work as a composer, sound editor, and sound designer. His music has appeared in award-winning Finnish titles such as Kimmo (TV series), Almost 18 (feature film), and A Stone LeftUnturned (short film).
He released his first solo album, Playing Theremin, in 2018. In 2019 he released Helsinki in November and 2020 It is ok to be sad and dark. Kepa is also an avid skateboarder and also runs a sound studio for film and tv. This fall Kepa was chosen as the composer of the week on the prestigious moving classics tv.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/kepalehtinenartist
https://twitter.com/KepaLehtinen -
Otis Mensah – Sanctified
Otis Mensah is “a young story-teller-rapper-poet with a talent for drawing the poetic from the everyday happenings in his life.” The alternative hip-hop artist has risen from a new wave; age and era, embodying a contemporary, poetic take on hip-hop music. The music he creates sheds light on existential commonalities discovered through introspection with often off-kilter lyrics, accompanied by a sentimental vibe.
As an emerging artist, Otis has been independently releasing music, booking shows and has played around the UK & Europe including his debut performance at Glastonbury Music Festival on the BBC Introducing stage. Otis has also played as support for the likes of Killah Priest, Open Mike Eagle, Brother Ali, Lowkey, Milo, Arrested Development, The Sugarhill Gang, P.O.S, Abstract Orchestra, The Mouse Outfit, iTCH (The King Blues), and The Skints.
‘Sanctified is the stirring new release from experimental hip-hop prodigy Otis Mensah. It speaks of his restless striving to convey his truth through artistic self-expression, tempered by the burden of self-doubt and depression. Drawing deeply on the spiritual imagery of his youth, Mensah describes his obsessive yearning to realize his own potential, and face down his demons ‘in the lunar light dancing by the river.’ Produced by Elijah Bane, with music visuals from GRIT multimedia, Sanctified sees Mensah shift up another gear on his continual quest to connect with his audience through his vulnerable and honest form of experimental hip-hop’ Pink Wafer.
As an artist he perseveres in, connecting to an audience that relates to his writing and shares a mutual interest for thought-provoking lyricism and expressionism.
LINKS:
https://otismensah.bandcamp.com
https://twitter.com/otismensah
https://www.instagram.com/otismensah
https://soundcloud.com/otismensah/oh-jane-prod-the-intern
https://www.facebook.com/itsOtisMensah -
Earthset – Flush & In the Pendant (Live Studio Sessions)
After a demo EP in 2013 and two years spent playing ’round northern Italy, Earthset have released their debut album “In a State of Altered Unconsciousness”. The album was recorded live in three days at Fonoprint Studios by Enrico Capalbo and produced by Carlo Marrone and Earthset. The first single “So What?” is an energetic, melodic number backed by an infectious beat and a crunchy guitar attack making it one of the most promising tracks to come out of the Italian indie rock scene.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/Earthset
https://twitter.com/EarthsetBand
https://earthset.bandcamp.com