Swiss artist Delakeyz blends deep house, jazz & a touch of more modern indie beats on “Snapositive”. As a full piece, “Snapositive” succeeds on its wholeness; each counterrhythm, every pulse of kick drum is perfectly timed and skillfully connected into the broader instrumental. “Snapositive” is included on Delakeyz’s new “Organic & Smooth” EP.
Delakeyz 
(Official)
Rating 8.3
Ed Thomas, the songwriter behind Bondax’s “Giving It All”, reveals a new track in the form of the spare, rhythm-driven R&B-tinged pop of “Hurt”. Closely packed, condense, an efficient machine, “Hurt” succeeds on both its imagination (the nexus of vocal, beat and atmospherics created on the track is next level) and its simplicity (the track’s spaces are magnetic).
Ed Thomas 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.4
The mighty Marian Hill announce new EP “Play” with the excellent new single “One Time”. Neatly balancing jazz influences in the melody with modern arrangement and rhythmic elements all while tying up the track within a compact and cool Marian Hill minimalist frame. The path to successfully blending jazz and contemporary sounds is lined with seemingly endless traunches of hokey garbage (Email subject line: Hey! Check Our Band, We Blend Miles Davis w/ Radiohead!) but the Marian Hill (taste and adeptness at selecting for the right arrangement help) sound just really really works. “Play” is out March 4th.
Marian Hill
: (Facebook)
Rating 8.3
The stunningly-voiced George Maple debuts today new single “Began To Say”. Previewed from her forthcoming debut EP, “Began To Say” adeptly conveys the outstanding vocal tone and neatly executed diction that thusfar defined the George Maple sound; that and an excellent skill at picking instrumentals, as the slow motion R&B beat of “Began To Say” is a full on winner.
George Maple 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.8
The cooled late night R&B of “Breathe” is the debut track for UK singer Rubee Rayne. “Breathe” excels on its flawless mood and timbre adeptly accentuating in the track all its best intersections of vocal and melodic quality. Ace.
Rubee Rayne (Facebook)
Rating 8.4
Tinashe’s our B. The L.A.-based R&B songstress is joined on new track “2 On” by Black Hippy bro ScHoolBoy Q and producer DJ Mustard (Mustard on the beat ho, fyi). “2 On” is, with the proper push, R&B radio hit single material; so (looking up Tinashe’s label now) RCA get that promo sorted and get “2 On” in rotation. Thx, <3 B3SCI.
Tinashe 
(Twitter)
Rating 8.1
The easy textures and silky melodic quality of “Never Can Decide” is the latest from Brownswood Recordings’ duo Anushka. As catchy as it is subtle (producer Max Wheeler’s instrumental is particularly brilliant; with it’s understated but well-constructed to singer Victoria Port’s breezy alto rhythm structures) “Never Can Decide” is Anushka’s most accessible track to date (and maybe their best).
Anushka (Soundcloud)
Rating: 8.3
Photos and Words by Russ Ramos
Malaysian singer/songwriter Yuna made her way to Los Angeles during her recent North American tour on December 19th. There is no denying that this show at Bootleg Theater proved sold out for a reason. Yuna’s loyal fan base sang along with every song. A stable and strong voice, Yuna has come a long way to get to where she is. Climbing to the top of indie charts at a quick pace, her persona is still charming, still beautiful. Yuna’s debut full length album, Nocturnal is now available on iTunes and your local record shop. Pick up a copy! Photos and Words by Russ Ramos
Yuna 
(Facebook) (Purchase Nocturnal)
