ONE TO WATCH: HABLOT BROWN

Our One To Watch radar is tingling this week as we excitedly present to you RnB and Neo-Soul artists, Hablot Brown - an all-male group consisting of Linus Hablot and brothers Austin & John Brown. These guys are full of funky freshness and we were more than happy to uncover the many layers to their music.

What started simply as a hobby whereby three musicians sent one another tracks and dabbled in live performances, led to a decision to drop out of college and dedicate everything to the formation and establishment of ‘Hablot Brown’. A decision that we, for one, are most definitely on board with.

Since their debut singles "Gone" and "Just Called" were released in 2017, the band have managed to secure over 7 million streams on Spotify as well as landing a gig as the opening act for fellow soul brother, Tom Misch.

Much of the group’s success lies in their ability to flaunt a musical maturity that demands respect while also rocking a down-to-earth style that keeps them raw and relatable. Clear from the band’s work to date, is an impressive group dynamic where lyrical insights are greatly complemented by soulful rhythm and refined melodies. With a sound that is clean and polished, the young trio succeed in blending some vastly different genres and proving their worth as unique and credible artists.

We'll be right behind them with open ears as they continue this musical journey, and if the last 12 months are anything to go by, we are too enthused to hear what's next.

Written by Aoife Chaney

ONE TO WATCH: JOY CROOKES

Born and raised in South London with an eclectic musical upbringing, Joy Crookes boasts a sophisticated voice with mature lyrics that will leave you questioning how on earth she is just 19 years old. With a level of sophistication that screams musical knowledge and experience, Joy is complemented nicely by a youthful attitude that brings to the party some welcomed fun and necessary girl power.

'Power', from her debut EP 'Influence' can be described only as a work of beautifully articulated and cleverly-current poetry. She invites us in with a sultry voice, intriguing us with her almost-ominious tone and captivating us further with mellow instrumentation and lyrics that are packed with wisdom and truth. This deliverance is typical of the singer's soulful style, and it's got us feeling all kinds of emotions.

Then there's feel-good track, 'Bad Feeling' (some clever contradiction) which reflects the young artists playful style, bursting with catchy lyrics and bopping beats that will leave you dancing and singing along.

Imagine Lana Del Rey's beautifully dark and powerful presence along with Eliza Doolittles sweet and upbeat groove. Combine the two and you can tap into an aspect of what this London beauty has got to offer. The diversity in tone, mood, and deliverance is evident from all angles of Crookes’ work, and her obsession with music shines through her striking talent. We believe this is the very diversity and passion that will carry the songstress moving up the modern music ladder.

PICK OF THE WEEK: JAEL

JAEL is a singer-songwriter and UK-based wordsmith with a soulful voice amongst jazzy and Afro-beat instrumentation. Her music is a mixture of soft and upbeat, intertwined with a clear and soothing voice which makes Jael an artist suited as 'anytime music'.

Here is a snippet of her performing a version of Bob Marley’s ‘Is This Love’ which played at the We Welcome Party back in March earlier this year.

Jael can also be found featuring on Boadi’s track, ‘Grow’ which is well worth a listen. 

Her debut EP ‘ODYSSEY’ will be out on all platform in the coming days! For more, follow JAEL at @jaelthevoice.

PICK OF THE WEEK: BISHOP BRIGGS - 'RIVER'

This Monday, Oíche’s ‘pick of the week’ comes to you in the form of a bold and demanding ballad called ‘RIVER’ by British, Indie-pop and alternative rock songstress, Bishop Briggs.

‘River’ is that kind of song that gets easily stuck on the brain, not because it has a superficial melody or a campy hook, but because the sound smacks you right in the face. It starts off with a whipping percussion, transitioning into an explosive chorus and highlights Briggs's fierce and soulful-rocker vocals. Imagine a sound like Florence Welch, a vocal range like Adele and then for rawness, throw in a hint of Cat Turner. This track has been lingering all over our replay button and it looks like it is here to stay!

PICK OF THE WEEK: CLEO SOL - 'WHY DON'T YOU'

Having experienced some success in the music industry as a teen, West London soul singer Cleo Sol returns from her hiatus with a newfound maturity which shines through her comeback track "Why Don't You", proving to us that her time is, without a doubt, now.

Beautifully crafted and flawlessly executed, "Why Don't You" introduces the listener to an ultimate chill vibe the second the first drum beats. The instrumentation unfolds to become nothing short of an orchestrated masterpiece, with the introduction of a sweet and almost eerie string sound that soothes while it chills.

Cleo's lyrics are beautifully downbeat and painfully real, softened by some sweet harmonies dancing in the background. The mood is lifted a little into the second half of the track when she picks up the pace and educates us with her words-

"So I try every day and I grow a little bit

Read a little more so I can educate my fears

Reap for my soul and cleanse my spirit

Pray cus I'm ready for the bloom of the sea

Peace and serenity is all that I need"

A track packed with life lessons and the rawest of honesty, "Why Don't You” is tangible proof of Cleo Sol's growth as a credible artist. Every single listen provokes a heartfelt experience which stays with us after the final beats have faded away.

Written by Aoife Chaney

PICK OF THE WEEK: TOM MISCH

 "You can’t take this away from me

Oh the way I hit the melody

The waves bring clarity

Running through me"

Tom Misch's debut album 'Geography' was released last Friday, and we have had it on replay ever since. The 13-track work of art😏 is the perfect balance of funky instrumentals and stripped back soul ballads that will leave you melted in the mellow.

Amongst the electronica theme which succeeds in giving the album an overall uplifting feel, you'll find jazz, disco & hip-hop combinations that blend together in perfect harmony to create a finished product that is ear-ticklingly authentic.

One thing that remains a constant is Misch's undeniably soothing voice, throughout a dynamic record that jumps from a collaboration with quirky alternative hip-hop group, De La Soul to one with the more chill & elequent, Loyle Carner. This sweet tone paired with clever and current lyrics over a jaw-dropping display of multi-instrumentalism, is what makes 'Geography' an album that you'll listen to from start to finish without even dreaming of hitting pause.

And again. And again. And again...

We may only be easing our way into a rainy April, but our summer soundtrack is already on full blast in preparation for the pending sunny vibes. 😎🌞✨ Catch Tom Misch @ the Olympia on the 14th of May as he brings 'Geography' to life in a magical display of talent. Witness his ability to join the dots between musical genres, daring you not to fall deeper in love with him.

Written by Aoife Chaney

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: BOADI - 'THE FEELING'

Oíche's 'pick of the week' is yet another product of London's creative community. British-Ghanaian producer, BOADI is tickling our musical tastebuds this week with his soulful tune, "The Feeling". The track displays his talents and knowledge of instrumentation, through the incorporation of brass, synth and bass like only Boadi (and maybe Earth, Wind & Fire😊) know how.

A standout tune from his second EP, "The Feeling" is a fusion of soul, jazz & RnB, lifted by a burst of bouncy afrobeat and just some good vibrations.

Co-produced & wonderfully complemented by Aaron London, the aptly named track is a perfect balance of traditional & modern musical settings. It takes us to a smoky New Orleans jazz bar in the early 1900's while somehow simultaneously launching us forward into a futuristic London cocktail club - and we are more than buzzed to embark on this journey.

Through Boadi's sultry repetition of "floating" & "dreaming", we find ourselves effortlessly afloat silky smooth waves and into to the heavier, and even funkier second half, at which point we turn up the volume and by now have lost ourselves entirely in a musical dream.

Written by Aoife Chaney