Rocky Heron - "Nuffa Luv"

I've written about Rocky Heron's incredible gifts before. He's got a voice that smooth like velvet and drives like a train. In this newest incarnation of his music he brings his Jamaican roots to the front of the show, giving you tropical vibes that make you want to dance with the steel drums like you're on the beach at sunset. 

He's giving you a R&B vibe mixed with a repetitive tropical beat that makes impossible not to bounce your head and dance along. He has a rare combination of sex appeal and elevated musical talent, and he brings you just the kind of music we've been waiting for. If you wanted a queer Drake mixed with a male Rihanna, you've found your man.

His EP of the same title is due out soon, so stay tuned to this star to be as he starts what is sure to be a meteoric rise.

So today, with hips a-swivel and a smile creeping over my face, I choose Rocky Heron's - "Nuffa Luv" as my, beats like a drum, shakes like maraccas, eyes like searchlights, song for a, dancing makes everything better, with a little help from my friends, take me to the tropics Friday.

Broods - "Recovery"

Their music is both emotional and upbeat, a rare combo in today's musically disparate climate of melodramatic or froth. They strike an unusual balance that keeps bringing you back for more.

Broods is a music duo from Nelson, New Zealand, composed of Georgia Nott on lead vocals, with older brother and multi-instrumentalist Caleb Nott on production and backing vocals. They released the single "Bridges", which went to No. 8 on the New Zealand single chart, and signed with Capitol and Polydor Records. They released their self-titled début EP, Broods, on 30 January 2014, which was followed by a full-length album, Evergreen, on 22 August 2014. The band toured with Ellie Goulding, Haim, and Sam Smith, and have won ten New Zealand Music Awards. They released their second album, Conscious, on 24 June 2016.

Broods began writing material for a follow up album immediately after releasing their debut. They experimented with adding live instrumentation – guitar, organ and electric piano – to their synthesizer-based electronic sound. The duo released the first single, "Free", on 1 April 2016, working again with producer Joel Little, which has a heavier industrial style. Their second album, Conscious, was released on 24 June 2016, and includes collaborations with Lorde and Tove Lo.

Georgia married long-term partner, Jacob Wieblitz, in 2016. The couple honeymooned in Bali. Caleb and Georgia moved to Los Angeles in April 2016, and opened again for Ellie Goulding on the North American leg of her Delirium World Tour. Broods appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden in May, and featured on the Jarryd James single, "1000×", released on 17 June 2016. New Zealand actress Rose McIver appeared in the video for their song "Heartlines". Broods toured Australia, New Zealand, and North America through mid-2016, and were joined by Jarryd James in August. Their cousin, Jonathan Nott, played drums on the tour. Broods won five New Zealand Music Awards in November, and supported Two Door Cinema Club on tour. They will tour Europe with Tove Lo in March 2017.

So today, well on my walk, I choose "Recovery" by Broods, as my get to gettin', you do not walk alone, believe in yourself - right from the start, song for a, I can only promise what I am, I will try to be what you need, I will be your home, Thursday.

Dan Seals - "Bop"

Dan Seals was the younger brother of Seals & Crofts member Jim Seals, but he first gained fame as "England Dan", one half of the soft rock duo England Dan & John Ford Coley, which charted nine pop singles between 1976 and 1980, including the No. 2 Billboard Hot 100 hit "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight".

After the duo disbanded, Seals began a solo career in country music. Throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s, he released 16 studio albums and charted more than 20 singles on the country charts. Eleven of his singles reached Number One: "Meet Me in Montana" (with Marie Osmond), "Bop" (also a No. 42 pop hit), "Everything That Glitters (Is Not Gold)", "You Still Move Me", "I Will Be There", "Three Time Loser", "One Friend", "Addicted", "Big Wheels in the Moonlight", "Love on Arrival", and "Good Times". Five more of his singles also reached Top Ten on the same chart.

Sometimes you just need to have a little fun with it. 

So today, with a laugh and a wink to the past, I choose Dan Seals' "Bop" as my, all night long, til the break of dawn, on & on & on, song for a, take care of yourself, never stop believing, one blue tuesday you'll miss me too, Wednesday.

Dua Lipa - "New Rules"

I've written about British pop star Dua Lipa before. She's got a great vibe, a fun hook, and she looks like Gal Gadot ... so she'll be huge.  

Check out my previous article here: https://www.reidlee.com/song-and-soul/2017/9/5/dua-lipa-thinking-bout-you

Anyhow, this song has been with me since this weekend when I just wanted to play it on repeat. It's got that fun semi-tropic vibe, but also gives you a beat to shake your booty too. Dive in. 

So today, with rules made to be broken, I chose Dua Lipa's "New Rules" as my, break up with your earlier self, decide to rise & shine, wake up - this is not a drill, song for a, laughing all the way, today is the day you start, well -  go on, Tuesday.

Portugal. The Man - "Feel It Still" (Live)

Everyone is going bonkers for Portugal. The Man. Rightfully so, they are a super fun band with a great sound, but they aren't an overnight success. They've been working hard at this game since 2006 and they've had their ups and downs, but with their 8th album, "Woodstock" they've finally hit the money notes as their lead single "Feel It Still" has cracked the top 10 in the Billboard Hot 100, and reaching the #1 spot in the Billboard Alternative Charts! 

Personally I love the live version, but I'll give you both. 

So today, with a bumpin' beat in my feet and a sadness in my heart, I choose Portugal. The Man's "Feel It Still" as my, hold the feeling, love the moment, carry it with you, song for a, remember there is good, be awake to the wrong, make the change you want to see Monday.

Ella Vos - "You Don't Know About Me"

Los Angeles-based Ella Vos was discovered by Soundcloud surfers in early 2016. Her silky vocals were featured in "Rolling Dice," a glitchy EDM track produced by Australian DJ/producer Just a Gent, helping the track reach more than 430,000 spins. Gaining attention from the likes of Rolling Stones and The Line of Best Fit, among others, Ella Vos' online presence continues to grow. She has over 2.5m listeners a month on Spotify.

She released her debut single, "White Noise," in October of 2016. The song is a seductive, downtempo offering with enough pop to land on a big soundtrack. She followed "White Noise" with today's selection this spring, and it's been a heavy rotator on my iTunes ever since. 

So today, with mystery wrapped around me like a veil, I choose Ella Vos' "You Don't Know About Me" as my, take a crack at it, the book or the cover, dig a little deeper, song for a, sticks & stones, laughter & tears, dare to be dangerous, Thursday. 

Skylar Fri - "Man Is Strange"

Skylar Fri's voice echoes across a track filled with a gentle hum of synth, soft percussion and the languid slide of guitar. She's got a dream-pop filled sound that begs you to daydream yourself into a better place.

Growing up in a small picturesque town in Denmark, Skylar Fri has always longed for something better. Eventually moving to London, she found her own path, in not only just life but also her music. Finding her own distinct sound, Skylar is crafting her unique vision of pop music with captivating hooks and hypnotically beautiful vocals. 

So today, with eyes unshielded I choose Skylar Fri's "Man Is Strange" as my, break the illusion, live in the light of truth, understanding and knowledge are vastly difference, song for a, tethered through hearts, open in anger, alive in love, Wednesday. 

HoneyHoney - "Whatcha Gonna Do Now?"

Their high-lonesome hauntingly memorable sound makes you want to stand up and take notice. They have the kind of star quality rarely seen in today's plastic perfection pop stars that are constantly paraded in front of us. They are real, raw, tangible and true. 

HoneyHoney is an Americana group based in Los Angeles, California, United States. The band was formed in 2006 by musician Benjamin Jaffe and musician/model/actress Suzanne Santo. The two met at a costume party and signed a record deal a year later.[1] They originally performed under the name Zanzibar Lewis and were under that name when they signed with Ironworks record label.

Their debut album, First Rodeo, was released on November 4, 2008 under the now-defunct Ironworks record label, run by actor Kiefer Sutherland and friend Jude Cole. Sutherland directed and starred in the group's music video for their song "Little Toy Gun". HoneyHoney toured with Lifehouse, another Ironworks band, at the start of their career.  The band released their second studio album, Billy Jack, on Oct 24, 2011 under their own honeyhoney Records/Lost Highway label.

Their third album, "3" was produced by Dave Cobb and released June 9, 2015. The website American Songwriter reviewed it writing, "with a singer-songwriter that exudes the magnetic passion and swaggering star power of Santo, this is a group whose time has come."

And so it has, they are making small waves all around the country and people are taking notice. Thank goodness, because theirs is the music that we need right now. 
 

So today, with the stars spinning madly all around, I choose HoneyHoney's "Whatchya Gonna Do Now" as my, make your choices, stand your ground, accept what comes, song for a, belief and hope are two of the same, strength in the standing, love in the looking, Tuesday.