ONE TO WATCH - BENE with 'EVIL SPIDER'

After capturing hearts last September with her hit ‘Soaked’, 19-year-old New Zealander, Bene returns to us in the form of ‘Evil Spider’, a brand new release which sees the singer embody herself as a spider trying to weave a web around somebody she’s into.

The track is just an inch of the signature sound Bene has crafted over the years, with playful bass lines, chilled soulful vocals and a bubbly guitar melody.

When asked about the song, Bene explained: ‘Evil Spider’, is about wanting someone that’s already taken. When writing the song, I didn’t wanna make the lyrics too obviously evil, so I thought I’d turn myself into the spider, making it a lil lighter and making the song revolve around me weaving webs to lure the person, catch ‘em like a spider then reel them in. I remember humming ‘Incy Wincy Spider’ in the studio, which inspired the playful vibe of the song.”

Bene released ‘Evil Spider’ with the announcement of debut EP, which is set to be released on 28th June 2019.

ONE TO WATCH: RAVEENA

All the way from New York and drifting innocently over our ‘one to watch’ is RnB singer-songwriter, Raveena. With a sweet sound that is as sensual as it is tender, the Indian-born beauty is picking up momentum in the contemporary soul style that we love so wildly here at Oíche.

Raveena's style portrays an outward expression of inward reflection, with lyrics that are deep-rooted and based on past experience. Every track is a story - an intriguing narrative to the artists own little universe as told so sweetly by soft vocals, backed gently by 90's inspired baselines. With a warm and soothing delivery, we are forced into an almost dreamlike state, a fantasy land, a musical trance.

A perfect example of this dreamy and ultra-chill vibe which is so prominent throughout her style can be found in her latest release, 'I Won't Mind'. With lyrics that speak softly of "freeing your mind" and "moonlight glow" and "California dream house on the coast" - all intertwined with an almost church organ-esque piano - we sail away into a daydream from which we seek no escape.

After all, music is just that - an escape. Raveena's silky smooth sounds provide an escape from the rush of everyday noise into pure, uninterrupted transcendence. And with much more to come from her if our 'one to watch' is anything to go by, we could get very comfortable here in the peaceful bliss.

Written by Aoife Chaney

PICK OF THE WEEK: TASH SULTANA - 'JUNGLE'

Oíche's 'pick of the week' is a track by Melbourne-born busker turned psychedelic rockstar, TASH SULTANA. Best enjoyed between some good quality earphones with pristine clarity, JUNGLE is a manic exploration and fusion of musical styles and emotion.

The almost 2-minute long intro is Tash's sonic form personified - a story without words, told by an electric guitar, with the slow addition of some loop pedaling & drum beats as the plot unfolds. And, impressively behind every instrument - is the multi-instrumentalist & one-woman show that is Sultana. The words enter in an unpredictable manner that carries us this far and keeps us guessing what the singer-songwriter's next display of talent will be.

In keeping with a jungle theme, her vocals are wild & the lyrics untamed, jumping from high octaves to a touch reggae, even complemented at times by some welcomed rap. We are warped in the sounds like a chaotic yet perfectly harmonised stampede until the electric guitar solo is calmed by a final drum beats. We are captivated but free, dancing in the jungle.

Here we have a live performance of 'Jungle' below by Tash Sultana, which truly depicts her diversity and abilities as we claim her to be, one of our generation's most talented multi-instrumentalists.

Written by Aoife Chaney