Tag: RADAR

New Zealand’s CHAII Brings Persian Flair to Hip-Hop

June 17, 2020

Soon after migrating to New Zealand at age eight, the Iranian artist CHAII heard Eminem and felt “instantly hooked.” Three years later she was making music herself. Fast-forward to today, and her swaggering, pop-friendly hybrid of Western hip-hop and Persian musical touchstones is making a massive splash, leading her to being included in Spotify’s global emerging artist program, RADAR.

The program features artists from over 50 markets worldwide and helps performers at early stages of their careers broaden their fan bases. Awareness of the artists is built through Spotify’s social channels, RADAR playlists curated by Spotify’s editors, and bespoke marketing initiatives.

Originally from Ahwaz, Iran, CHAII paid tribute to the region with her debut single, 2019’s “South.” The song incorporates sounds from southern Iran, which is home to a deeply rhythmic style of traditional dance music called Bandari. This style of music combines Persian instruments like the tombak and daf with Afro-Cuban instruments like conga and talking drums. 

“It’s very inspiring, especially the drums and percussion in the 6/8 time signature,” CHAII tells For the Record. “Persians love dancing, and 6/8 gets you moving no matter where you are in the world.” She also credits modern classics from Persian artists like Googoosh and Siavash Ghomayshi for reminding her of her native country’s musical offerings during her rap-heavy teen years. 

Those mingling global influences inform her own music today: her breakthrough track “Digebasse” sees her rapping in both English and Farsi alongside an equally international guest in B Wise, an Australian rapper with Nigerian heritage.

“Rapping in Farsi came naturally for me,” she says. “It also helped me practice my native tongue. Incorporating traditional Persian music into the hip-hop world [has been] a very long but fun process. I’m still experimenting with it and feel I’ve only just scratched the surface.”

Her punchy, continent-jumping sound recalls the similarly worldly hip-hop of artists like M.I.A. and Tkay Maidza, especially on her new single “Lightswitch.” Produced by Frank Eliesa of the genre-bending New Zealand ensemble Yoko-Zuna, the song packs CHAII’s nonchalant lyrical takedown into a brisk three minutes of catchy hip-hop.

“‘Lightswitch’ reflects on my journey in music so far, working hard to get to every stage,” says CHAII. “Coming to the conclusion that you can’t please everyone and have to own what you do. To live with no regrets and be bold.” She also connects the song to some of the Iranian artists now based in Los Angeles who similarly have brought their country’s music to wider audiences. Like so many artists at the moment, CHAII watched her year’s plans dissipate somewhat in the wake of the pandemic. She was slated to make her debut at SXSW this year, for example, before the festival was cancelled due to COVID-19. Yet she remains upbeat, using this time to reflect and work ahead.

“I’m used to having to adapt to change, especially from being in the music industry,” she says. “Even though it’s a crazy time, I see it as a time to refocus and write more music. [And] to make a bigger and better show for when the time comes to resume our shows overseas.” 

For now, CHAII’s already considerable international reach will get a serious boost thanks to her inclusion in RADAR. “I was truly surprised to be chosen,” says CHAII. “It’s a partnership I’m hugely looking forward to. Spotify has been a big part of getting my music to a wider audience, regardless of not fitting [into any one] box. My music is an example and a reflection of cultures morphing, and I feel the world needs to see, hear, and experience more of that.”

Check out more of the artists selected for Spotify’s global RADAR program.

Agnes Nunes Is Brazil’s New Go-To Collaborator

May 27, 2020

When Agnes Nunes was 12, she asked her mother for a cell phone. She got a keyboard instead, a twist of fate that would reshape the Brazilian singer’s entire future. And so, in the mountain-flanked city of Campina Grande, she began teaching herself how to play the instrument that had slipped quietly into her life.

“I started inside my mother’s apartment,” she told For the Record. “I used to play my keyboard in front of the window. I started recording myself and that’s how it all started.”

Her recordings grew into videos of herself performing cover songs that she would post online, showcasing the soulful poise and sensitivity of her vocals as well as her progressing keyboard work. Those covers snagged the attention of Rio de Janeiro rapper-singer Xamã (“Shaman” in English), and last year the pair enjoyed a breakthrough collaboration with “Cida,” a romantic duet that unfolds over wispy keys and gentle acoustic guitar.

Besides earning herself an instant calling card with that heartbreaking song, her association with Xamã led to her first record deal with the São Paulo label Bagua. “Xamã is kind of a godfather to me,” said Nunes. “He was the one who introduced me to my label, [which] now is a family to me.”

Their seamless pairing also yielded the four-song EP Elas Por Elas (“They For They”), produced by Nunes’s repeat collaborator CMK. Featuring “Cida,” the EP further illuminates her versatility, thanks to the spectral piano ballad “Dolores” and the samba-kissed “Sônia.” There’s also “Rose,” which pivots from a jazzy slow burn to funky disco pop, with Nunes gliding over the upbeat dance-floor summons with heavenly finesse.

Influenced by vocalists as diverse as Nina Simone, SZA, and Rihanna, Nunes brings a smoldering intimacy to everything she sings. That includes her debut single, “Segredo” (“Secret”), which pairs a skeletal keyboard hook with electronic beats and flourishes, and the more swaggering, R&B-shaded “100 por Hora” (“100 per Hour”), which references both iconic criminal couple Bonnie and Clyde and northeastern Brazil’s popular genre and dance, forró.

Singing in her native Portuguese, Nunes has found that her music travels well across other countries and cultures, transcending any would-be language barrier. “I think Brazilian music is well accepted in the whole world,” she said. “We had masters that opened this door for my generation. I receive a lot of messages from people from all kinds of countries, but especially where Portuguese is the mother language, like Portugal and Angola.”

Nunes’s varied run of singles and collaborations—in 2019 she also released a track with acclaimed Brazilian songwriter Tiago Iorc entitled “Pode Se Achegar” and appeared on Chico César’s orchestral yet funky “De Peito Alberto”—has already established the young artist as a rare singer who can slot into practically any setting while retaining her delicate phrasing and distinctive accent. This flexibility made her a fitting candidate for Spotify’s global emerging artist program, RADAR. The program features artists from over 50 markets worldwide and helps performers at all stages of their careers strengthen their connection to audiences via Spotify’s social channels, RADAR playlists curated by Spotify’s editors, and bespoke marketing initiatives.

Such an opportunity is definitely a step in the right direction for Nunes, who has grown by leaps and bounds from when she was that curious 12-year-old teaching herself keyboard in her mom’s apartment. When asked about her goals for the future, she answers simply, “Music. Music is my plan and goal for life.”

Check out more of the artists selected for Spotify’s global RADAR program.

 

Meet Lous and the Yakuza, the Belgian Artist Who Can Sing in Any Language

May 22, 2020

A subtle assortment of styles swirl together in the music of Lous and the Yakuza, the stage name of Marie Pierra-Kakoma. Across her first three singles, Pierra-Kakoma leans into snappy, minimalistic R&B (“Dilemme“), slinky, melodic trap (“Tout est gore”), and nuanced, introspective pop (“Solo”), all of which she sings in French with equal parts age-old poise and modern swagger.

Having penned her very first songs at the same time as she learned how to read and write—around age 6 or 7—Pierra-Kakoma found her calling early on and hasn’t doubted herself since. “I started writing and never really stopped. I was writing until my wrist hurt, but now I’m more relaxed about it,” she said to For the Record.

Australian Newcomer Merci, Mercy Discusses Her Big Break

May 4, 2020

As far as career goals go, the 19-year-old Australian singer-songwriter merci, mercy told For the Record that she aims to be “brutally honest” above all else in her songs, celebrating her weirdness in a way that makes others follow suit. Her commitment to smashing taboos comes alive on the rising artist’s debut single, which is the rare kind of debut that feels assured and fully formed. 

The strength of that song, “F*cked Myself Up,” recently led to merci, mercy being handpicked as Australia’s representative in Spotify’s global emerging-artist program, RADAR. The program features artists at all stages of their careers from over 50 markets worldwide and helps them strengthen their connection to audiences via Spotify’s social channels, RADAR playlists curated by Spotify’s editors, and bespoke marketing initiatives. 

On her lead single, merci, mercy sounds self-aware as she sings about heavy issues like substance abuse and alcohol dependency above a deceptively slinky groove flecked with electronic flourishes. The entire track exudes a nonchalant lightness despite lyrics detailing the powerful temptation to overindulge; the song is topped off with pop-bright vocals as charismatic as they are matter-of-fact.

If merci, mercy sounds wise beyond her years, it may be a result of her having lived abroad with her mother, splitting her childhood and subsequent years between Beijing, Thailand, Sydney, and smaller towns in Australia. “It definitely made me who I am today,” she told For the Record. “Being able to live in other countries and experience the way other people live really opens your mind. I feel really grateful I had the opportunity to do that.”

It’s no wonder, then, that the teenage artist is already working with top-flight producers like Edwin White (Vance Joy, Fergus James) and Joel Quartermain (G Flip, Meg Mac), who co-wrote the track. In fact, she had already signed with a management company, a booking agency, and veteran Aussie label Liberation Records before the song even came out in March, all thanks to the strength of an earlier tune called “Be” that she quietly uploaded in 2018.

Her stage name, meanwhile, was suggested by a friend when she couldn’t decide between Merci (French for “thank you”) or Mercy. And though she’s only just released her first worldwide single, she has been writing songs—“in my bedroom, car, shower, and every other good place to procrastinate—since the age of 16, when she realized that singing other people’s material wasn’t for her.

“I started to use it as an excuse to avoid responsibilities such as schoolwork and cleaning my bedroom,” she admitted. “Nothing has changed, apart from the schoolwork and being way better at writing songs.”

What has changed, of course, is working with producers like White and Quartermain to perfect her songs in the studio. “It felt like home, like I was meant to be there,” recounted merci, mercy. “I was obviously nervous each and every time, but I just loved being with such amazing people creating such innovative music.”

As for her inclusion in Spotify’s RADAR program, merci, mercy said it’s been a welcome vote of confidence: “It leaves me in a constant state of empowerment, humbleness, and excitement. It confirms for me that my dreams are indeed coming true. I feel validated in the most wondrous of ways.”

Check out merci,mercy and more of the artists selected for Spotify’s worldwide RADAR program on the On Our Radar playlist. 

Meet Alaina Castillo — Bilingual Singer-Songwriter and Featured U.S. RADAR Artist

March 30, 2020

Recently, Spotify launched RADAR, a global development program for emerging artists around the world. RADAR allows us to deepen our commitment to young talent at all stages and strengthen their connections to their audiences. One such young talent we’re excited to support is U.S.-based singer-songwriter Alaina Castillo.

Prior to her junior year of high school, Alaina’s musical career revolved around singing in the church choir. Then, she began posting original songs, covers, and ASMR content on her video channel. In a matter of months, the Houston native had accumulated nearly 800,000 subscribers and made a fan of RØMANS — a producer known for churning out hits from pop stars like Demi Levato, John Legend, and Clean Bandit. From there, her career took off. 

RØMANS went on to produce Alaina’s debut EP in 2019, Antisocial Butterfly, which showcased her ability to weave beautifully between her two languages, English and Spanish. The album’s hit single, “i don’t think i love you anymore,” raked in more than 3 million streams on Spotify and paved the way for her sophomore single, “Valentine’s Day.” Most recently, she released two new singles, “ocean waves” and “just a boy,” and two Spotify Singles recordings.

We caught up with the RADAR U.S. representative for an inside look at her EP Antisocial Butterfly, what it was like to collaborate with RØMANS, and life on Spotify’s RADAR.

36 New Artists Around the World That Are on Spotify’s RADAR

March 9, 2020

Lauv. The Blaze. King Princess. Lil Baby. Official HIGE DANdism. Jorja Smith. These are undeniably prominent artists in today’s global musical landscape. They’ve been making their way onto Wrapped cards and festival headliner slots—but not so long ago they were just starting out, working their way up for a chance in the spotlight. Each was assisted in this journey by Spotify’s commitment to bringing up-and-coming artists to your attention—something we’re excited to continue with the launch of RADAR.

Through RADAR, our global emerging-artist program, we’re deepening our commitment to emerging artists at all stages of their development and strengthening their connection to audiences. With this global launch, we’ll continue to build on Spotify’s history of working with emerging artists through 19 sister programs featuring up-and-coming creators from more than 50 markets worldwide, all focused on helping artists from around the world reach the next stage in their careers.

“Spotify is a major reason why I’m able to be an independent artist,” says American singer-songwriter/producer Lauv, who was featured through Spotify’s developing artist program a few years ago. “Having their support from day one in making my music accessible to millions of users around the world has allowed me to grow as an artist and share music on my terms over the past five years. To have fans, whether in the Philippines, Peru, or Philadelphia know the words to songs all before I ever toured there speaks to Spotify’s global reach and ability to speak directly to fans with music that resonates around the globe.”

The launch of the program brings a mixture of Spotify’s best-in-class editorial and marketing abilities. Our playlists feature new and emerging talent around the world, and our marketing campaigns provide fans with the opportunity to get to know their new favorite artists.

“Spotify is thrilled to announce the launch of RADAR this year with an incredible group of emerging artists from across the globe,” said Ned Monahan, Spotify’s Head of Global Hits. “RADAR will become an influential program for up-and-coming artists across all genres worldwide and a great way for our global marketing and editorial teams to support the next generation of international superstars.”