It’s the final New Music Monday of January 2021 and if you’re reading this now, congratulations on making it through what has been a particularly grizzly start to the year. It’s time to celebrate with some spectacular new music.
This week we’ve got tracks from Joe T Johnson, Billy Nomates, Rose Gray, Rainn Byrns and Rachel Chinouriri on the speakers.
Tune in below.
Joe T. Johnson - Friends
Ahead of the release of his debut EP English Elegance, Bristol-native Joe T. Johnson released Friends; a slice of guitar-laden gorgeousness that ticks all the right boxes.
The track itself actually came out back in September, but the newly released video features a pair of OAP besties living their best lives on a beach and they’re making our hearts sing. A pandemic will do that to you.
Joe T. Johnson may only be a couple of singles into his solo career, but he’s already performed at Glastonbury, graced the 6 Music airwaves courtesy of Mr Steve Lamacq and sold out live shows across Bristol, so we’re officially watching this space.
English Elegance is available everywhere March 2021.
Billy Nomates – Heels
Following the success of her debut album, released last year, Billy Nomates has announced she’s working on a new EP Emergency Telephone and shared the first track from it.
‘Heels is about knowing who we are,’ the Bristol and Bournemouth artist told NME. She continued: ‘It’s about acknowledging strength under scrutiny and pressure. It’s also about how playtime feels over. Stuff’s serious. We don’t know how any of what’s happening ends yet.’
We can expect to see the new EP arrive on 5 March.
Rose Gray – Easy
East London artist Rose Gray released her debut mixtape dancing, drinking, talking, thinking on Friday along visuals for the unfathomably summery Easy.
Balearic in its bones, Easy will transport you from lockdown lull to Ibiza balcony, and that’s exactly the kind of music we need in 2021.
Speaking on the video Rose said: ‘I wanted the Easy video to be a trip. It’s kinda mad, we shot most of it on greenscreen. I danced, I cried. Stylistically it’s pretty out there, and we didn’t really know how it would look till we got into the edit. I co-directed and came up with the concept, I’m a little bit of a control freak but I think it truly captures my vision- being inside my head.’
Rainn Byrns – Same Shit Different Year
South London’s own Rainn Byrns released Same Shit Different Year at the end of last week; a cheery little ode to absolutely nothing changing as the clock strikes 12 on 31 December. Perfectly fitting as we approach the end of January and the world’s one-year pandemic anniversary.
‘I wrote ‘Same Shit Different Year’ on New Year’s Day with a hangover’ Rainn admits. ‘The vibe is definitely gritting your teeth through Zoom cocktails and trying to learn French but only getting as far as ‘voulez-vous coucher avec moi’ - who doesn’t know that line? Though I actually didn’t know what it meant until somebody told me after hearing the song!’
Rachel Chinouriri – Darker Place
Rachel Chinouriri is back with her latest release Darker Place, with an accompanying video shot by UKVMA Best Newcomer nominee Milo Blake.
‘Darker Place is about the battle between light and darkness,’ she explains. ‘I don’t fear darkness and believe that in the right circumstances, every human being has the potential to do anything.
‘I wrote this about a person who follows someone around but is conflicted on whether to act on impulse or hold their urges – that battle that this person has in their head.’