ayrtn, if this is goodbye, thank you for the good times
full disclosure. i have no idea if ayrtn is actually retired or not. apparently he was on live mixing the other day. there’s a very good chance he is in fact, not retired. me, if i’m taking that tweet at face value, and accepting that one of my favourite artists since 2021 is hanging his boots up, it seems i only have one course of action: to stand up and applaud.
let me take you back to 18-year-old me. cardiff. 2021. freezing cold. rocking atrocious clobber. boohoo man lightning print jeans. horrific. i’m walking down queen street, skipping through my recommendations, and i come across alone. lads. when i tell you that song genuinely altered my brain chemistry, i’m not exaggerating. had me doing up a little head not at the zebra crossing. drivers beeping. allow it. to this day, i struggle to think of a rap song to have come from the uk that matches it. lyrically and sonically, it’s in a league of its own. the way the beat chops and changes, the little vocal sample, the bars. “mr fundamental like i play for the spurs.” i was moved then, and i’m moved now. unreal.
ayrtn has kept that form up ever since. as recently as february, he was giving it socks with ashbeck and sam wise on brand new stuff. what a lineup btw. stuff of dreams. across features, production, and his own projects, ayrtn has never let standards drop. i’m talking ghost… i’m talking too awesome. i’m talking step. i’m talking edgar davids. the lot. a discography to be proud of. i hope to hear from ayrtn again, but if not, it’s been a blast. i’m going pub now. alone in the airpods. that’ll do.
cheers.
what i’ve been thinking about today
imagine making slazenger cool again? herculean effort. alexei hamblin’s done it. he’s turned one of the uk’s most iconic brands on its head. that jacket is something special. an absolute belter. inspiring stuff. alexei has been one of the most creative minds in british fashion for a hot minute. his rebranding series birthed some of my favourite tiktoks. canny wait to get my eyes on the collection in person. quality.
i’m still new to slayr. been aware of him for a minute, but now i’m deep diving. rolling loud performance looked phenomenal. count dragons music video has been on repeat. reduciano’s direction combined with the creative mind that is svbih is a match made in heaven. i can sense i might be about to find my new favourite artist. great stuff.
mate, when are they turn cody rhodes heel? i’m so tired of his schtick. especially given his 2011 heel run was top tier. deformed cody rhodes. nowt wrong with him, mind you. was just cutting about with a protective face shield, having great matches with rey mysterio, and putting bags on kids’ heads. fair. come on cody. turn. you know it’s right.
been back on my film grind. letterboxd is seeing me again. watched the devil wears prada for the first time last night. i fear their lives are similar to the one i aspire to lead. get me in paris. in some couture. always a pint of cider in hand, though. keep your champagne. i’ll have a thatchers gold. that’ll do. classy. liquid gold. anyway, boss film. loved it. 4.5 stars from me.
ted childish is him. i’m predisposed to rating what he does. i’ve seen it firsthand. the passion radiating from him before, during, and after yapsule was infectious. a fantastic day. now, he’s working with kareem. subway takes has had fyp’s the world over sat for years. now, we’re in the cabs. extortionate rates, no doubt. first two episodes are out. that’s this evening’s viewing sorted. immensely happy for ted and his team. congrats : )
lush.
oh, to be young, fly, and listening to 63og
nothing quite sharpens the senses like wandering round a different country. new sights. new sounds. anything seems possible. me though? i’m a simple man. i’m quite content to set up on a street corner with a pint and decent music. that suits me down to a tee. been thinking about booking a trip to mainland europe soon. clear blue skies and narrow, oven-like side streets. only one man is making music that fits the vibes i’m looking for. meet 63og.
of course, 63og is no unknown entity. lad is one of the most exciting rappers on the continent. raised in bordeaux, this french rapper fascinates me. the blend of influences, both stylistically and sonically, is rich. chief keef springs to mind immediately, not only because he’s such a stark reference point in 63og’s music, down to the album cover on 6tr9c9 de luxe, but because sonically, they orbit each other. 63og is making music for the functions. for the street parties. music your old-timey neighbours will disapprove of. i’m loving it.
it seems the music world writ large is loving it too. 63og has collaborated with a plethora of britain’s best and brightest, like yt, len, s5, and kare just to name a few. cochise been tapped in. so’s yung fazo. only a matter of time before new york and cali are being turned on their heads by 63og. i’m excited. they say sun’s out, guns out. i have no guns, physically or literally. but this summer, it’s flip flops on, 63og on. you get my point. 63og is golden.
nice one.
i really like the sound chalk makes
london constantly surprises me. it’s only really been within the last six months that i’ve been able to explore the city properly. hadn’t been to fabric in yonks, but i recently found myself back there for sophia stel’s headline show. had totally forgotten the layout. once i was in, it all fell into place. i’ve made no secret of the fact i love sophia stel’s music, but that night, i left mesmerised by the sound chalk makes. consider my interest piqued.
in many ways, there couldn’t have been a better setting for me to discover the sound chalk makes. dark room, flashing lights, a rabid crowd. scenes. it’s hard to nail down where the sound chalk makes, real name kabir’s music sits. the london-based, mumbai-raised artist is a law unto himself. tracks like 4wheelpharmacy real exemplify what makes him special. what starts as an indie ballad slowly morphs into a head-banging, manic ode to club nights spent heartbroken, sampling the chainsmokers’ (undeniable) banger closer. manmade manmaid also sticks in the memory. its mix of hyperpop, indie, and electronic has me throwing shapes. it is experimentation and imagination running wild in all the best ways. it’s exciting. it’s fun. it’s new. it’s the sound.
truth be told, i was always going to be a fan when i found out kabir originally wanted to call himself hiraeth, a welsh word for a nostalgia that never happened. my guy. cymru am fyth. expect to hear so much more about the sound chalk makes very soon. opening for the hellp and sophia stel should be all the evidence you need that this lad has something special. i-d profile makes for great reading. we need more of the sound chalk makes in the club. until then, i’ll be banging the drum for him.
good night.
anjeli’s music sounds like the winds settling
i don’t want to yuck anyone’s yum, but if the wind isn’t your least favourite type of weather, i can never fully trust you. wind sucks. what do you mean my hairline’s exposed? what do you mean my fit has been compromised? shambles. hate it. despite all that, i always feel a sense of relief when it calms. those interludes are to be savoured. anjeli’s music fills that space beautifully.
i’m so intrigued by anjeli’s music. it’s early doors, but i’m captivated by her sound. her’s is a true ‘child of the internet’ smorgasbord of influences, ranging from drum and bass, to rap, to r&b, to bedroom pop. to compare anjeli to other artists would be to do her a disservice, because right now, no one sounds like her. at the moment, i’m loving life i never had. the softly sung vocals over those keys and that beat is beautiful. much like her sister’s music, there’s an implacable quality to it that i absolutely love. not eerie-ness. but a tension. it’s wonderful.
the stage is set for anjeli. eyes are on her right now. if you’re heading to her sister ledbyher’s show this evening, there’s a strong chance you’ll be seeing her. their songs together are the stuff of dreams. quality. her latest single, so sick, is a treat. featured on bbc introducing recently. go on. i’m so excited to see what anjeli does next. i’ll be there.
go support her.
moses ideka’s music breaks and heals my heart all at once
i miss wales a lot. i go home fairly regularly, and i’m never shy about pointing out its shortcomings, but it’s always in my mind and in my heart. the rolling hills, the rivers, the remnants of the mining industry, the endless rows of terraced houses dappled across the valleys. it’s home. there are lots of artists that feel like home, but at the moment, nobody is topping moses ideka.
if you’re familiar with his work, that shouldn’t be surprising. a quick recap. moses ideka is a south london-based artist who, over the past few years, has cemented himself as one of the most promising musicians in the uk. lad is ludicrously talent. i don’t have the technical nous to articulate why he’s such a fantastic vocalist, but the proof is in the pudding. just listen to him. powerful. he’s been working with some of the artist’s laying the ground work for generational greatness. we’ll be telling our kids about them-level artists. dexter in the newsagent. kwes e. sahn. sampled by untiljapan. candlelit set for always do what you should do. moving me.
moses ideka’s music is soul crushing in the most life affirming way possible. as i mentioned, i associate a lot of his music with the complicated relationship i have with wales, which, given that his recent ep was inspired by his memories of cornwall, is unsurprising. what is consistently surprising is the breadth of emotions i feel when i listen to him. take beast of bodmin moor. the first two minutes of the song are serene. they are the rolling hills. they are the rushing rivers. as the song develops and the vocals build, it overwhelms the senses. i want home. bless my heart indeed. it’s a lot on little old me. i put myself through it daily. very few songs have touched me like that.
i could make similar cases for most of moses’ discography. but i leave that to you. go find the song that breaks and heals you. moses ideka is one of the greats in waiting. well played.
go support him.
skiifuego’s music makes me want to dance like i’m in singin’ in the rain
i’m feeling jovial today. wore shorts outside for the first time this year. brand new pair of 95s on. the pink foams, if anyone’s interested. my second pair in that colourway. sun shining. took myself off to a coffee shop with a book in my hand and a song in my heart. what was that song, i hear you ask? well, it was skiifuego’s eirebby. what a tune.
skiifuego’s potential is mind-boggling. every artist that bursts onto the scene has a lot of potential. but in this case, it’s hard to envision a timeline where skiifuego’s isn’t at the forefront of the next generation. his sound is so addictive, in large part due to its cacophony of influences. it draws from elements of bubblegum pop, hyperpop, rap, and pluggnb, which, coupled with his melodic vocals, make for exceptional listening. skiifuego’s music is for sunshine and a canned cocktail.
this is unrelated to his output, but i’m also incredibly impressed by how articulate skiifuego is. he was recently interviewed by upper nostril, and the confidence and knowledge with which he discussed his influences and his journey as an artist really shone through to me. as a journalist, it’s always so refreshing to hear an artist talk about their craft with such conviction. skiifuego knows his stuff. i’m very excited about him. gonna spin eirebby again, i’ll chat to you later.
nice one.
i like to drink pepsi max and listen to bloody shield
i feel like i’m so late to bloody shield. picture the scene. i’m sat in the office, pepsi max in hand. discovery playlist on. lots of great music playing. then 3 by bloody shield comes on. lads. when i tell you i had to stop what i was doing. took a minute. went on a walk. what is he cooking, and why is it one of the best songs i’ve heard in ages?
the deeper i dove into his discography, the more my intrigue grew. bloody shield has something special. i spoke yesterday about the uk being fertile ground for new stars, and bloody shield feels as if he’s at the cusp of that stardom. his sound is so current, stylistically similar to the cloud-influenced sound that shot esdeekid and rico ace to the top of the musical world, yet distinct enough to stand entirely separately. the drums. the monstrous production. the energy. it’s all there. another colourful addition to the growing tapestry of trailblazing artists dotted across the country. beautiful to see scottish artists continuing to blossom on the world stage.
bloody shield is a star in waiting. he was recently part of the nike x victory lap tour, opening for jawnino. featured on vlap too. shelled it. been performing with post party. these are all beautiful things. glasgow’s next star is upon us. i’m so excited. i might’ve been late, but i’m onboard now. bloody shield made my week. go on son.
go support him.
lauzzaview is going to be a very special night
lauzza’s doing live shows again. we are so back. in some ways, this event couldn’t have come at a greater time. i’m not going to retread old ground here. if you’re already here, you know the uk scene is on fire. despite our wealth of talent beginning to burgeon internationally, the scene feels more fertile than ever. now’s the time to make your mark. all eyes are on. who better to put you on than one of the most influential tastemakers in britain?
lauzza’s run has been special. not only is he one of the uk music world’s most established directors, he’s easily one of the most important tastemakers. i don’t think he gets enough credit for that. look at who he’s worked with. jim legxacy. nia archives. bxks. natanya. he was on yt for early. events wise: same thing. look at the lauzzaview 2 line up from late 2024. esdeekid. fimiguerrero. teebofg. don’t wind me up. bro knows ball like few others. take heed of this lineup. there are stars on there. everyone on that lineup has already earned their stripes. now it’s time to see them shine.
class venue too. outernet is one of my favourites in london. screening burner munde too? i’m clapping my hands excitedly rn. this is an event made for the ones drinking in all that’s good about the uk right. there’s something for everyone. don’t be a mug. make sure you’re there.
nice one.
lancey foux’s music changed my life. here’s how.
if i hadn’t found lancey foux’s music, my life would like very different. i say that with absolute certainty and without hyperbole. during the pandemic, i knew that i wanted to start writing about music, but at the time, i only really listened to artists you’d consider mainstream. no one was gonna read about a 16-year-old welsh kid’s thoughts on kanye. one day, youtube recommended me the india music video. it opened my eyes and ears to a sound and culture i had no idea existed. more than five years on, here we are. he is comfortably one of my favourite artists of all time.
all too often on this app, i read posts and see conversations about where his legacy ranks against this person, or whether that person is having a better career than him. fuck that. i don’t care to have those conversations. the impact he’s had on me, and british music at large, is immeasurable. i often think about life in hell and its rollout. i don’t think anything i’ve seen since tops it. the makeup and prosthetics. the new york pop-up. the london headline shows. the music. oh my days, the music. that project hops from techno-soul piano ballads, to rage, to rock, and back to rap without ever missing a beat. one of the greatest projects in british music history. it’s that good. you could probably make a similar case for all of lancey’s albums. first degree 2 has the potential to be his defining work, culturally speaking. a pulsing, energetic fuck you to label constraints and industry politicking, with proceeds donated to charities supporting independent musicians. this, my friends, is using your platform the right way.
i don’t claim to know what the future holds for lancey foux. only that once his next project arrives, there’s not a doubt in my mind that it will shake the foundations of this scene. true to form for an artist who for nearly a decade, has proved to be at the cutting edge of what makes british music beautiful. innovation. style. raw talent. that’s something to be celebrated. he will forever be one of the greats. don’t let no one tell you different.
cheers.
no one is making music like wesley joseph.
wesley joseph has just released his debut studio album. half a decade in the making. to fully articulate why this album has hit for me the way it has, let me give you a history lesson. the first time i went to produce anything content related in london was in may 2022. i was offered guestlist for wesley joseph’s headline show at xoyo. i was a fan before. i left a super fan. the energy of that crowd and the power of his music in the flesh rocked me to my core. a year later, i was at his headline at koko. photo pass this time. to this day, the best photos i’ve ever taken. sun was setting over london in the early summer warmth, and wesley joseph matched that beauty perfectly. we’re already at legend status. fast forward nearly three years. here we are. forever ends someday.
when i say no one is making music like wesley joseph, that’s not me making some sensationalist statement to get you to listen to his music. that’s not me overdoing it. i listen to a lot of music. he’s one of one. his fusion of rap, r&b, electro and alt-pop is a totally unique. there’s a quality to his music i adore that you so rarely hear now: the distance. what i mean by that is his music is his own to the point that sonic analysis is futile. when i listen to overjoyed by stevie wonder, i’m not sat there thinking about it. i’m in awe. when i listen to purple rain, i’m in awe. when i listen to wesley joseph, i’m in awe.
this new album will feed generations. his fans have been living off two excellent ep’s for years, so this is christmas. it goes without saying that i think it’s fantastic. from the bedroom-pop influence on if time could talk, to the haunting violins on peace of mind, to july’s victory lap with jorja smith. that’s the one that’s sticking with me. two kids from walsall come good. vocally exquisite. narratively rich. it’s a hit, basically. buzzing that this record exists. do yourself a favour. put your mates on. wesley joseph is back.
enjoy your friday night.
rian brazil’s music sounds like british adolescence
what do you define as your formative period? the time when you truly started to grow up? for some people, it’s their gcse’s. others, it’s uni. some lads hit that stage during their mid life crisis. no shade. we’ll all be there at some point. for me, it was my first couple of years at uni. not an ideal period, but i learned a lot. if i could bottle that period and express it through music, it would sound a little like rian brazil.
i’m still on a journey with rian brazil. i’m trying to figure him out. his music is mad. truly crazy. in the best possible way. the brighton-born artist is toying with seemingly every genre, and he’s making magic. his discography to this point is stuffed with inventive production, captivating visuals, and truly earnest artistry. lad is having a crack. to my ears, his influences range from 100 gecs to mike skinner to idles, to even motown acts like the jackson five. his newest single, things 2 make u smile, takes me back to the upbeat, soulful pop music of the 70s. to find an artist this versatile this early in their career is a rarity. i’m loving it.
the world is rian brazil’s oyster. as i mentioned, it’s still early days for him. he’s building a fanbase. gathering steam. but he’s got the tools. his versatility alone makes him a class act. he’s speaking to my adolescence. mock tudor gaffs and dark trees with no leaves. seeing your breath in april. that’s the one. intrigued to see what’s next for him. ep in may. we will be there. i hope you will be too.
go support him.
