S4U aka Something For You is a London-based alt-R&B duo comprising Rosita Bonita and Prinz George. Last year, they gained our attention with the great singles “Too Much“, “Friends” and “Isle of Dogs” and we’re happy to welcome them back. On their first single and video of 2018, S4U have kept their somber and underground take on R&B and explore the themes of voyeurism and idolatry in a self-directed video. “Refrain” was co-produced with London producer JD. Reid. About the track and video which were premiered on The Fader, the duo stated:

[su_quote]The video is a study; a controlled social experiment exploring themes of voyeurism and our obsession with idolatry. The act of observing the observer, the world is an exhibition and we’re all works of art. The characters in the video represent a cross-section of the aforementioned themes, passing each other in a concrete jungle. A swansong to identity in the modern age.[/su_quote]

[su_youtube_advanced url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L2xyLKZb4o”]

VESCE, the duo consisting of Rafael Powell and Dan Jenkins, make their entrance into the electronic scene (actually they already released some tracks on Soundcloud before) with a melancholic, moody, and introspective debut track “Zender”. With their post-James Blake sound, VESCE – pronounced /vess/ – are revisiting classic R&B, soul, and gospel music by delivering a perfect electronica tune to get into the winter. On the piano-driven instrumentation, the autotuned vocals are depicting a sad, languorous, and complex soundscape which oscillates between intimate warmth and cold beauty.

“Zender” is taken from VESCE’s upcoming debut “Self Edit” EP out on December 1.

Keep it cold and warm with the duo by following them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Benin City is the trio comprised of vocalist and poet Joshua Idehen, vocalist Shanaz Dorsett and multi-instrumentalist Tom Leapers. On their new single and video “All Smoke, No Fire”, the collective wants to make a statement. For a year now, London has known a massive clubs, pubs, bars and social spaces shutdowns. Indeed, in 2015, 50% of those spaces were closed, preventing a lot of artists from playing, promoting their music, and living from their art. Their new Shaun James Grant-directed video, as well as the track itself, is a response to that phenomenon.

About the video, Benin City’s Joshua Idehen detailed:

[su_quote]We met up with Shaun Grant; we’d loved his work with Lemonade Money and Mikey Lightfoot. We ranted over pints about Passing Cloud’s demise and gentrification in general, the changes in our respective neighbourhoods and our helplessness. In him we found a twin creative spirit who shared our anger and visual ideas and knew how to present them on camera. It was shot on a single night. We asked our friends – poets, musicians, journalists – to meet us at various times, in front of closed clubs, Brixton Arches and libraries. There were too many. The last voice we got, Ben, was just someone who we’d met whilst filming in front of Carnegie Library. He’d organised a squat party to delay its closing down and he wanted to say something.[/su_quote]

[su_youtube_advanced url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkmf6xvuN24″ width=”200″ height=”200″]

Benin City‘s “All Smoke, No Fire” will be featured on their sophomore LP “Last Night” due to be released on via Moshi Moshi Records.

Connect with BENIN CITY via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

As they explained to us on a Highclouds live session, they have always been inspired by relationships and have taken music is a way to express all of the feelings around it, like a therapy. On a soothing way, they sing: “With you I’m not lonely, With you I’m secure, So what you want from me, Is this the cure?” as a way to calm down their lover.

“High” is taken from their debut EP that is actually on the works. You can for now follow Majik over Facebook, Twitter and Soundcloud.

Taken from this 4-track project, we already knew the excellent “1990”, “Blitz”, and “Somewhere Else“. Listen to the intense “Jaguar Spring” below.

[su_spacer]

[su_spacer]

You can stream JW Ridley‘s full EP via SoundCloud and Spotify.

The artist will also play some gigs very soon. Check the dates below:

The Lexington, London, supporting Eastern Barbers – 17 October
Huw Stephen’s SWM Festival, Cardiff – 21 October
Rich Mix, London, supporting Wovoka Gentle – 7 November
Sumday festival, Middlesborough – 25 November

A limited edition signed vinyl featuring “Blitz” and “1990″ is available on Bandcamp.

Stay in touch with JW Ridley via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

As a way to push further into that direction, we decided to join forces with other collectives who fight for women’s rights and human equality. Formed in London, the Femme collective was created by Grace Goslin and Dani Ran who are about to launch their first printed magazine. Grace Goslin shared with us the main goal of their zine, their upcoming party and future issues.

Femme aims to give both female musicians and other young creatives a chance to showcase their work.

Femme is a South London based collective dedicate to showcasing female and non-binary talent in the music industry. Founded by Dani Ran and myself, Femme started as a weekly radio show and is now growing in the form of club and gig nights and a printed Zine released at the end of September.

Inequality in the music industry, casual sexism and a genuine lack of a platform for female artists was the inspiration behind the collective, aiming to maximise equality and provide a solid platform for both emerging and established artists. Issue 1 features shoots and interviews with the likes of: Pixx, Yassassin, GIRLI, The Orielles and Onyda as well as including think pieces, art and photography by many other up and coming London creatives. Femme aims to give both female musicians and other young creatives a chance to showcase their work.

[su_spacer]

The main ethos of Femme is the notion of “girls supporting girls” a phrase which is often bounced around but sometimes fails in practice. The future for Femme will include new issues, collaborations with other collectives and lots more gig’s and nights across London.

The launch of issue 1 is being celebrated with a gig at the Victoria in Dalston on the 28th with the likes of Peach Club and GIRLI on the line-up. You can buy your tickets here.

Une publication partagée par FEMME (@femmecolllective) le 28 Sept. 2017 à 1h32 PDT

You can follow the Femme collective over Instagram and listen to their Spotify playlist below.

Une publication partagée par FEMME (@femmecolllective) le 13 Août 2017 à 2h38 PDT

A self-proclaimed auteur – Denzel Himself is seated firmly in the pilot’s seat when it comes to his art. Looking at his latest track and video, “BANGIN’”, for example, we see that Denzel has taken on the roles of producer, composer, director and, of course, performer. The result is an audiovisual assault, complete with dirt-stained teeth, drool, booming bass, and eerie lyrics, like, “Cult shit for the ones who ain’t follow one”. Or, put more simply, a badass track underlying some twisted-ass visuals.

Denzel Himself does everything but fuck around, successfully carrying out a litany of different roles all at once – especially that of the villain.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/313452665″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
[su_spacer]

Digging a little further back into Denzel’s work, it’s obvious that he’s been on his creative grind for a minute now. Tracks like “Thrasher” and “State Ya Claim/Cherry” are rife with charisma, and show a good measure of restraint to give you the chance to breathe after going on the thrill ride that’s “BANGIN’”.

[su_spacer]
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/308507423″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
[su_spacer]

It seems well-worth keeping an eye on this U.K. trailblazer, even if he incites the occasional urge to look away. A full-fledged artist disguised as a rapper, Denzel Himself avoids tedium like the plague; or considering the dirt in his teeth – like a toothbrush.

Keep it up with Denzel Himself via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

[su_spacer]

S4U, which is comprised of Prinz George and Rosita Bonita, have gained a well-deserved recognition since their 2016’s debut Ep ‘Brazil,’ by consistently releasing challenging and adventurous progressive R&B tracks. Now, the duo has signed to Bank Holiday Records and we take the gamble that their underground and fresh sound is going to break the glass ceiling and invade the dancefloors very soon.

S4U belong to this progressive R&B movement that draws inspiration from the 90s while bringing a modern and hybrid touch. On ‘Too Much,’ they keep the recipe of their previous single but they go further in the direction of club music. Crazy beats, frenzied vocal chops, and infectious synths and bass, the duo undoubtedly come from London and you can hear it more than ever with this new track. This new single is also brighter than what we used to hearing from them and we definitely like this other side too!

[su_spacer]
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/328369931″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
[su_spacer]

‘Too Much’ is out now via Bank Holiday Records and you can also stream it on our regularly refreshed Spotify’s playlist DAILY DOSE FOR MUSIC JUNKIES.

Keep it up with S4U via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

BONUS: Re-discover ‘Isle Of Dogs’ below

[su_spacer]
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/317521981″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]