Tuesday Tracks: Konyikeh, Naima Bock and Fantastic Negrito
Konyikeh, courtesy.
London soul by Konyikeh, a soft acoustic ballad by Naima Bock, Bay Area blues from our very own Fantastic Negrito, a glitch-pop tune by re6ce, alt-rock by the U.K.’s Delta Sleep, garage rock by Kylie V and Punjabi rock and roll—a first for Tuesday Tracks—by Sonny Singh.
Konyikeh,”Sit Down” — London soul artist Konyikeh McLaren is beginning to make her presence felt after wrapping up a tour opening for Sam Smith. It’s hard to ignore her deep, textured vocals. They have the power to captivate any room, especially alongside the smooth arrangement of “Sit Down.” Konyikeh, whose music is also influenced by her Cameroonian and Jamaican heritage, has said she was inspired by romantic comedies, writing from three perspectives: a girlfriend feeling out of place, a mother comparing her to an ex, and a boyfriend caught in between.
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Naima Bock, “Feed My Release” — Slow guitar strumming accompanies Naima Bock’s delicate, pained voice on “Feed My Release.” Her storytelling and the song’s slower pace make the song feel like a memory. She’s said the song is “mostly about regret,” and while the tone is somber, it’s not entirely sad. Violinist Oliver Hamilton joins in on vocals, harmonizing with her. The song also features Holly Whitaker, Cassidy Hansen, Clem Appleby and Meitar Wegman. Maybe it’s the many hands coming together that gives this song about regret a little bit of hope.
Fantastic Negrito, “California Loner” — Oakland’s Fantastic Negrito was abandoned by his dad when he was 12. “I never saw him again and he ended up dying while I was in foster care. This is me talking to him and telling him what I’ve done with my life,” Xavier Dphrepaulezz wrote about the song.
Fantastic Negrito’s upcoming album, Son of a Broken Man, facilitates a conversation he never got to have with his dad. “California Loner” shows how he coped with abandonment. His sky wailing vocals, expressive guitar licks and complementary string embellishments fill this blues track with emotion. He shows his vulnerable side, while still maintaining his cool sound. RIFF loves this artist, which is why we’ve written about him a lot.
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re6ce, “ZOMBIE” — Eighteen-year-old bedroom pop artist re6ce’s popularity has spread rapidly for their ability to blend genres and create an individualistic sound. “ZOMBIE,” which follows May debut EP grey europe, is no exception. It tackles drug addiction. The dopamine release is represented by re6ce’s clear vocals and a pulsing bass line. The uncomfortable synth tone and re6ce’s distorted vocals on the chorus represent the pain of addiction. The song falls somewhere between the alt-rock and glitch-pop neighborhoods. Re6ce will join Riovaz on tour this fall, stopping at August Hall in San Francisco on Oct. 11.
Delta Sleep, “Glow” — The second single from U.K. band Delta Sleep’s forthcoming album, Blue Garden, “Glow” is a soft rock song with some heavy subject matter.
“This one is written from the perspective of someone living in a refugee tent, while chaos, bombs and destruction is happening all around them,” frontman Devin Yüceil said in a news release. The muted sound does make it feel like you’re somewhat “sheltered.” A fuzzy guitar solo represents the horrors of war. It’s both gentle and tension-filled. Delta Sleep draws attention to millions of displaced refugees worldwide. The band is touring the U.S. this fall, playing Cornerstone Berkeley on Nov. 4 and The Ritz in San Jose on Nov. 5.
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Kylie V, “Wish I Was In Bed” — Kylie Van Slyke’s new single is an honest take on life and just how she goes through it. She wrote it show show love to friends. But Kylie V doesn’t stop there. She sings of tough lessons learned, and acknowledges how life can be a lot.
“I get overwhelmed like everyday,” she sings. She also pokes fun at her deep thoughts: “And when I die maybe I’ll change my mind about what happens when you die.” The causal nature of how she lays it all out is helped along by the garage-y arrangement. The driving rhythms section sets the stage for the tasteful guitar riffs.
Sonny Singh, “Anand Sahib” — Blending the sounds of different cultures is Sonny Singh’s speciality, which can be heard all over his just-released album, Sage Warrior. On “Anand Sahib,” Singh uses Latin-sounding hand-drumming alongside a trumpet and fingerpicked electric guitar. Lyrics in Punjabi create a powerful effect on this fascinating cultural mix. The guitar builds toward the end of “Anand Sahib” and adds some real weight to its finale. Sonny Singh is an activist as well as musician, and will be touring the U.S. this fall with activist and author Valarie Kaur. Almost every show—including in San Francisco and San Jose this month—are free to attend. Get tickets here.
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Peter’s pick: From the smooth instrumentals to the clever lyrics and her jaw-dropping voice, “Sit Down” by Konyikeh is an easy and captivating listen. Konyikeh’s voice floored me. The soulful tune is also irresistible. The rhythm section is infectious, and the light keys and strings are a cherry on top.