MARY J. BLIGE – RIGHT NOW

‘Telling you right now, no I won’t play this game with you’

This is potentially one of the most exciting things to happen this year right? Disclosure and Sam Smith seemed to have formed a genuine bromance with Mary J. Blige. Back in January she collaborated with Disclosure on an updated version of ‘F For You’ and more recently she’s duetted with Sam on his single ‘Stay With Me’.

Now however, comes the big one. Mary J. Blige’s comeback single, co-written by Disclosure, Sam Smith and Jimmy Napes and produced by Disclosure. Taken from her forthcoming album ‘The London Sessions’

 

TITO WUN – THE WAY U DO IT (DOC DANEEKA REMIX)

‘It ain’t what you do, it’s the way you do it’

Back from the 2013 vault, Tito Wun’s (AKA Twit Uno) ‘The Way U Do It’ has been given a fresh remix package and is hitting the shelves at the end of the month through Defected Records. My top choice of the remixes available comes from Doc Daneeka who stays true to the original disco formula but injects a deeper pulse into the mix. Not feeling your best? Hit play on this and it’ll cheer you right up!

SAM SURE – HUNGER

‘It was was a question, not an accusation, a play on words just to change your face’

I’m going to be bold here and tell you that you’ve probably just found your new favourite song. It’s called ‘Hunger’ and it’s by newcomer Sam Sure. You may recognise Sam’s vocal as he is the featured vocalist on ‘You’ from the latest TCTS EP, ‘Games’. This silky smooth production gets it’s official release in late October through the mighty Black Butter Records.

SHURA – JUST ONCE (HONNE REMIX)

‘Find a way to tell you that I want to let you go’

About a month ago, Shura unleashed her second track ‘Just Once’ and I fell in love and had my heartbroken all in one listen. This week, London duo Honne have reworked that exact track, managing somehow to keep hold of the magic of the original whilst injecting it with an optimistic and refreshing pulse. If ‘Just Once’ is your kind of jam, but you can’t handle the heartbreak it brings you every day, this is the perfect solution.

LAURA WELSH X ANG LOW – LIFELINE

‘Power, no one wants to give in, no one wants to lose’

To say I’m a little obsessed with Laura Welsh’s vocal is probably an understatement to be honest. Already having a great year after appearing on Gorgon City’s ‘Here For You’, her career seems set to positively explode. Her latest track is a breathtaking collaboration with Brooklyn producer Ang Low, if this is a taste of what to expect from Laura moving forward, then she’s probably one of the best emerging artists to back for 2015.

JULIO BASHMORE – SIMPLE LOVE (FEAT. J’DANNA)

‘This would be so simple, if only it were love’

Very rarely is there a return as welcome as that of Julio Bashmore last night. Premiered on Annie Mac’s Radio 1 show, new single ‘Simple Love’ is a tremendously soulful and smooth affair complimented by strong retro drumbeats, Bashmore’s signature sound you could say.  This is the first cut from his forthcoming LP, due through his own label Broadwalk in February 2015 so we’re told.

BLONDE – I LOVED YOU

‘I could walk away, turn my back, but I can’t do that, no I can’t do that’

Quite recently I said it was hard to find a stand out RNB sampled track as the modern music scene is littered with sub standard reworks. Well, it appears I spoke to soon as Blonde’s latest track, premiered as Mistajam’s Inbox fresh last night, absolutely kills it with a sample of Tamia’s ‘More’ (2004). Coming soon on Pete Tong’s FFRR Records, if Blonde haven’t entered your life in a big way yet, trust me, this is the track to make that happen.

BROODS – FOUR WALLS

‘And I’m trying hard to make you love me, but I don’t want to try hard’

I challenge anyone to listen to ‘Four Walls’ from New Zealand duo BROODS without getting a little pang in their heart. Lyrically stunning as always, Georgia’s breathy vocals cut through more than usual and the sentiment really hits hard. Their debut album ‘Evergreen’ is out in October (in the US – hopefully the UK won’t be far behind) and with the collection of stunning singles they’ve gifted us so far, you can be sure it will be a must buy.

KINDNESS – WORLD RESTART (FEAT. KELELA & ADE)

‘Old feelings hold you back again, restart and take my hand’

How this track dropped 2-3 weeks ago and I missed it, I have no idea, but better late than never, I’m just glad it didn’t pass me by completely. The new LP from Kindness drops on October 13th and for the first cut from it he brings in Kelela and Ade. Not a bad start hey? These won’t be the only well known guest vocals on new album ‘Otherness’ either, as we now know both Robyn and Devonté Hynes will also feature. Bringing in influences as broad as funk, RNB, jazz and soul, ‘World Restart’ is a stunning first taste of the forthcoming album with the stunning vocal interplay really shining through.

JESSIE WARE – SAY YOU LOVE ME (SHURA REMIX)

‘Don’t give me time, because that’s not the same’

I’ve heard mixed reviews about Jessie Ware’s latest single ‘Say You Love Me’. Personally I think it’s stunning, but others have expressed the view that it comes across a little simple and basic in comparison to Jessie’s usual unique style. Those people may not be fans of the original, but when faced with the remix by London artist Shura (making waves with her releases ‘Just Once’ and ‘Touch’) they will surely feel differently. Shura fills the empty gaps with an electronic, pitch shifted, glitchy landscape and turns it on its head, breathing new life into the track and claiming it as her own. It’s not often I believe a remix improves on the original track, but this time, it’s pretty clear.