‘Education Kills’, the new video for the track of the same name by the U.K. juggernaut know as The Vex, contains three of my personal guilty pleasures. A gnarly, gritty, dirty bass, buzzsaw attacking guitars, and a penchant for rebellion. The Vex not only combines these very guilty pleasures in such a sublime and cheeky way as to make an anthem for the angst but conveys the musical attitude that they live that angst. By doing that, they show that they are at the heart of indie music.
Whether these guys get signed or not, they will be huge. You heard it here first. As a matter of fact, I put that in here so we show up first on Google when it happens. No shame in my game. And no shame in the future of The Vex. Education kills, but take the risk in learning that.
About ‘Education Kills’
An electrifying injection of no-holds-barred punk rock, ‘Education Kills’ is a tribute to the extraordinary bravery of Malala Yousafzai, shot in the head by the Pakistan Taliban while campaigning for women’s rights to education. With this now Nobel Laureate in mind, The Vex’s treatise on the evil that men do is set to overdriven punky-reggae riffage and a fiercely anthemic chorus.
About The Vex
Though hailing from London’s outer fringes, where the capital unceremoniously bleeds into Kent, The Vex actually came into being some 1,500 miles away, with an Eighties pop superstar playing his part. While on tour in Moscow with a previous band, the schisms in the group were made apparent by an offer of management from one Adam Ant. The faction that opposed the deal broke away to form The Vex, playing their debut gig at Moscow’s BlastFest, where the only thing that wasn’t ice-cold was, typically, the band’s beer rider.
Back in the UK, Josh (guitar/vox), Jacko (guitar/vox), Andrew (bass) and Joshua (drums) soon honed a sound inspired by the classic roots and rock of both Kingston, Jamaica, and London, England. Dealing in dirty guitars and big beats, played with passion and precision, the quartet’s heavy rocksteady sonics became a draw on both sides of the Thames, their ferocious shows earning them a rep as one of the best live bands on the circuit. The Vex hit hard and they cut deep. Spin this EP and hear for yourself.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/thevexofficial
https://soundcloud.com/thevexofficial
https://www.instagram.com/the.vex
https://twitter.com/thevexofficial
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Just Tommy – Playing for Likes
Just Tommy has dropped his new video for the track titled ‘Playing for Likes’. Social media has defined us long ago, so its more than fitting to have that definition captured in music by a member of that generation that bests utilizes social media. Having said that, this song is catchy. I mean really catchy. And that is the best way to capture that audience and get the message out.
ABOUT JUST TOMMY
Just Tommy, from Tempe, AZ., has a new video for his kick-ass single, “Playing for Likes”. The song and video have a message that highlights avid users of all social media platforms.
The song, “Playing for Likes” is loosely about social media and the role it plays in our lives today, but it could be applied to other aspects of life as well” says Just Tommy, and “The concept started with a question: What drives us to share the things we do on social media with our friends, family, followers, strangers, and the world?
Just Tommy says, “The inspiration behind the video for “Playing for Likes” is in the name. Originally, I’d planned on having a bunch of people submit tiktok-style videos, and then my dude would stitch them together and make a sick video. Because people are people, that plan zero percent worked, so I went to plan B and just shot a music video and had some fun with my family. The kids in the video are my cousins.”
The “Playing for Likes” video was shot in Phoenix, AZ. The single was produced by super Producer/Engineer Chuck Alkazian (Pop Evil, Soundgarden, Tantric) at legendary Pearl Sound Studios (Asking Alexandria, Eminem, Filter).
LINKS:
http://www.iamjusttommy.com
https://twitter.com/iamjusttommy
https://www.facebook.com/imjusttommy
https://www.instagram.com/imjusttommy -
Felixity – Twisted Love
Amy Winehouse-inspired pop/neo-soul artist Felixity releases her debut album ‘Love Sick’ on May 1 via Komplex Recordings. The latest single ‘Twisted Love’ also gets a swank powerhouse video featuring (and jointly choreographed by) Felixity herself with dancer Joshua Jung, who has performed with Mabel at The Brit Awards and appeared on ITV’s The Greatest Dancer.
Felixity recently released the Oberkon Remix of her debut single ‘You&Me’, created by a trio of heavy hitters: Andy Spaceland (a.k.a. Andy Jenks), part of Alpha and 5 Billion in Diamonds, together with Butch Vig; Jay Reynolds, notable mixer for the likes of Dua Lipa, Liam Gallagher, MIST, Fred Again, Gabrielle, Paloma Faith, and Pixie Lott; and producer David Francolini.
This collection of 10 deeply personal songs is part confessional, part exorcism, and all infused with her extraordinary voice and street smart lyrics. These songs, which were written at the very end of last year, taking the listener on a poetic journey to the heart of the singer. Felixity’s music is also influenced by The Weeknd (Trilogy), Etta Bond, J Cole, Anderson Paak, KAYTRANADA, and Jhene Aiko.
“On the whole, ‘Love Sick’ is a full stop on a part of my life. Written about personal experiences and laid over heavy drums and lots of strings, I wanted people to know that we all feel the same things and the hardest stuff never lasts. I wrote this about my past and the things that have happened. Sex, drugs love and addiction, it’s all in there,” says Felixity.
This album was recorded in London, Bristol, Brighton, Berlin and Geneva. Mixed by Cenzo Townsend (U2, Ash, The Strangers, The Wedding Present) at Decoy Sound and mastered by Brian Lucey (Katy Perry, Shania Twain, Liam Gallagher, Hatchie, Green Day) at Magic Garden Mastering, this album was produced and engineered at Komplex Studio by David Francolini, drummer for Levitation, Dark Star and Dragons. Francolini has been operating Komplex studios out of Bristol, UK but has now moved operations to the French Alps.
“Given the confessional nature of Felixity’s lyrics, it was important to create a dramatic soundscape; a cinematic and lush harmonic bed on top of which her wonderful voice could sit and her stories’ meanings are amplified. I have shapeshifted the feel of the songs throughout the record so it feels like the emotional journey that the lyrics portray. All quite conceptual really, but always keeping it uncluttered, funky, simple, and the groove deep,” says producer David Francolini.
“Fusing old school soul music with more contemporary textures, color, rhythms, and tone, I brought in some of the best musicians I have had the pleasure to have met for the album recording: Dekel Shula Adin (bass), Dean Frechtman (guitar), Ziv Sobelman-Yamin (Rhodes piano) and Adam Coombes (piano). We also have guest guitar from Angelo Bruschini (Massive Attack) and Alex Lee (Goldfrapp). The strings were worked on together with the soulmaster Martin Eden. I played all the drums and percussion myself and also myriad other synths etc. Was a fukkin labour of love!”
This collection of songs of love and loss is just the tip of the iceberg of what is to come for Felixity, who has several albums planned for 2020. The ambitious songwriter is already in the studio completing the second one. As for many artists, live shows planned in support of this album have been postponed. Nonetheless, Felixity is hoping to perform again later in the summer, current environmental permitting.
Featured image by Steve Gullick.
CREDITS
Written and performed by Felixity and David Francolini
Produced and engineered by David Francolini
Recorded at Komplex Studio in November/December 2019
Mixed by Cenzo Townsend at Decoy Sound
Mastered by Brian Lucey at Magic Garden Mastering.
All songs were written by F. Abbott and D. Francolini, except ‘You&Me’, written by F. Abbott, D. Francolini and S. Clines
‘Twisted Love’ video directed, produced and edited by Alex Rozerot KirkwoodLINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/Felixityx
https://twitter.com/felixity_x
https://www.instagram.com/felixity_x
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtqvgVRDF_xKKzWNNYnRVmA
https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/felixity/1497518825
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0rrpwcxiKQNAtpsU3e4q7V -
Evidence – Bad Publicity feat. Krondon
As both a solo artist and one-third of Dilated Peoples, Evidence has established himself as one of hip-hop’s most accomplished rappers and producers, working with Domo Genesis, Linkin Park, Beastie Boys, Defari, Madchild, and Krondon, amongst others.
His production work has already earned him a Grammy Award for co-production on Kanye West’s College Dropout, and two JUNO Awards for his work with Canadian hip-hop group Swollen Members.
As fans would expect, “Weather or Not” embodies the very heart of the hip-hop culture; clever wordplay laid over heavy boom-bap production, but Evidence also exhibits his gift for weaving moments of personal and introspective reflection into his writing, whilst remaining true to his hardcore hip-hop sonic and lyrical sensibility.
The album features an array of exciting collaborations including the likes of Slug (Atmosphere), Rakaa (Dilated Peoples) and Jonwayne, plus production from Evidence himself, Alchemist, Nottz, and DJ Premier.
After an array of spellbinding videos to compliment the album, his latest outing is for the track Bad Publicity featuring Krondon.
Directed by Todd Angkasuwan the video showcases many prominent locations of Los Angeles where it appears the whole city has been shut down with all the roadways clear of cars and people. The Nottz produced track features Strong Arm Stready rapper Krondon with his deep voice on the chorus, who has recently found new fame by playing the key villain Tobias Whale on DC series Black Lightning.
LINKS:
http://rhymesayers.com/evidence
http://facebook.com/misterevidence
http://twitter.com/evidence
http://instagram.com/evidence
http://youtube.com/rhymesayers