Of Note: ‘Love Over Everything’ by REMODY

Of Note: ‘Love Over Everything’ by REMODY

This week (time permitting) we’ll focus on that lovely blend of R&B empowered by soulful young women. It’s positive.  It’s nurturing.  It’s sensual and soothing.  And, currently, it’s not getting much attention, failing to find footing on the sales charts or the airwaves.

That’s a shame, because most of it, when not overtly sexual, tends to be rather healing to the psyche.

Bronx/Baltimore native REMODY has one such example. 

Having returned to New York when she was 19, over the years she’s collaborated with the likes of Rick Ross, Young Berg, and Fred The Godson and a host of top-shelf producers.  And in that time, for her, it has been “all about the love”.  In fact, her motto is #LOE (Love Over Everything).

‘Love Over Everything’ finds her in the silkiest of modes and I simply adore the chorus and the sentiment expressed.  It is a tad old-school, save for the rap, but that vintage feel is part of its charm.

Trivia: Her father, Roberto Pena Jr. and uncle, Ray Pena, are founding members of 4PM (For Positive Music).  Their single ‘Sukiayaki’ reached #8 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in 1995 and was a worldwide hit. 

Of Note: ‘Giving Up’ by HAERTS

Of Note: ‘Giving Up’ by HAERTS

If 'Til Tuesday and The Dream Academy had a love child, it would be HAERTS.

Formed in 2010, HAERTS is a quartet out of Brooklyn, New York, consisting of vocalist Nini Fabi, keyboardist Ben Gegert, guitarist Garrett Ienner, and bassist Derek McWilliams.  They all met while studying at the Iceland Academy of the Arts.  After a short stint as a trio under a different name, the four joined forces in Brooklyn and became HEARTS.

2012’s ‘Wings’ got quite a bit of airplay in the United States.  Their second single, 2013’s ‘All the Days’ was voted song of the summer by Elle Magazine.  On October 27, 2014, they released their self-titled debut album on Columbia Records.

Their latest single, ‘Giving Up’, is as atmospheric and ethereal as it is propulsive, sending my finger to the repeat button often.   Take a listen and hear why.

Of Note: All of the People by Panama Wedding

Of Note: 

All of the People 

by 

Panama Wedding

NYC’s own, Panama Wedding is a synth-pop quartet fronted by lead singer / songwriter, Peter Kirk.  Their song, “All of the People” received a lot of buzz on-line which led to a contract with Glassnote Records.  In 2014, they released an EP, ‘Parallel Play’.  It managed to hit the #22 spot on Billboard’s Top Heatseekers chart.

They were also chosen by Amazon Music as one of the artists to watch in 2015.

And ‘watch’, I will.

Playful, sunny, bright, and smart, ‘All of the People’ is a slice of pop perfection.  Chugging forth like the little engine that will, this lilting song won me over the moment I heard it.  It’s irresistible, calling to mind the first time I heard The New Radicals lone hit, ‘You Get What You Give’.

Let’s hope, unlike The New Radicals, there’s more to come from Panama Wedding.

  

Of Note: 'We Can't Ever Die' by White Arrows

Of Note:

'We Can't Ever Die'

by White Arrows

I'm still playing catch-up with 2014.  

‘We Can’t Ever Die’ is from White Arrows’ second full-length, ‘In Bardo’.  The group came into being after a song Mickey Church wrote in New York caught the attention of a lot of blogs, including Nylon magazine. 

After that, Mickey moved to Los Angeles and began gathering members.  Since then, they have been touring the world as the opening act for such luminaries as Cults, The Neighbourhood, and Santigold, among others.

This song has gotten a lot of spins in my car.  Love the lyrics.  Love the sound; propulsive fun, deep bass, eighties sheen, great vocals, snazzy production.

Of Note: 'Carousel Ride' by Rubblebucket

Of Note: 

'Carousel Ride' by Rubblebucket

Rubblebucket is an American indie-dance band out of Brooklyn, NY, featuring bandleader Alex Roth on trumpet and vocalist Kalmia Traver.  Theirs is an eclectic sound kept in check by an unerring sense of melody and inventive song structures and arrangements. 

‘Carousel Ride’, which can be found on 2014’s ‘Survival Sounds’, clicked with me, almost immediately.  And this group looks as if they would be incredibly entertaining in a live setting. I know I’m late to the party, but I didn’t want this one to go without a mention.