The month of May in music has seen some big artist collaborations and new releases. Lady Gaga unveiled her new album 'Chromatica' with surprising featured singers Ariana Grande, BLACKPINK and Elton John. Agust D known as SUGA (a member of a KPOP band BTS) going solo uncovering a darker side with an outstanding music video and album to follow.
With a lot of time and listening, I have put together a personal list of the best new music and appreciations in May.
At the very top of my list is AURORA - Exist for love. Welcoming a new chapter into her journey with music, AURORA is venturing into the subject of love. As her music has been highly focused on environmental issues and mental health, she tells us this is a big step for her. In love with her surroundings and fighting for what she believes in through the power of her music, experiencing being in love with a person was a whole new emotion for her.
'Exist for love' is a truly beautiful and delicate song. Embedding all the emotions we have when we are smitten with love.
The track seems to take inspiration from the 1920's with Hollywood movie romance instrumentation, symbolic feathers and pearls for her body jewellery and that this time period marked a big change for young women and romantic relationships in general.
The set design created for the music video has used clear elements from the infamous painting, 'The birth of Venus', by Sandro Botticelli. Showing the arrival of the goddess of love and beauty in a scallop pearl like shell.
AURORA is probably my most played artist. I am in love with the music her and her team create and I'm extremely excited to see where this new chapter takes her.
For those times in need of easy listening I'd recommend:
The Pheels
RCA Record label
Columbia Records
Polydor Records
Some tracks with a few interesting elements and are a little more mellow:
Composer, Lyricist: Gerald Gillum Producer: Jesse Ack
Producer: Austin Ward
Composer, Lyricist: Jesse Ackerman Composer, Lyricist: Austin Ward Sherman Recording Engineer: Dakari Gwitira Mixing Engineer: Michael Freeman
Producer: Holly LÃ¥psley Fletcher
Mixer: Lexxx
Producer: Theo Brown
Music Publisher: Copyright Control Composer: Holly LÃ¥psley Fletcher
Lyricist: Holly LÃ¥psley Fletcher
Composer: Theo Brown
Music Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
Music Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Ltd.
Bass, Drums, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Vocal, Composer, Lyricist, Programmer: Dan Bartlett
Piano, Composer, Lyricist: Patrick James Pearson Mixing Engineer: Jamie Snell Mastering Engineer: Joe La Porta
Times when we need to take a step back and listen to some music which connects us to ourselves or emotions of others can be really healing. Whether that means a moment of tears, smiles or feeling downhearted. These are some to get lost in emotion with:
Recorded by Brothersbrothers production
Director: Noah Sterling
Production Co: dreambear
EP: Evan BrownÂ
Character Design & Animation: Dalton Brown Background Design: Monica Paola Rodriguez Compositing & VFX: Noah Sterling
Agency/Rep: Reveur / Emily Sanders
Interscope Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
These last one's are all a little different. Whether that be unique, powerful, political or musically cultured. Some may not be to everyone's liking yet there's something to take away from it nonetheless. The songs listed are more intense and definitely have to be in the correct mood to listen too. There's individual elements to each that I'm personally drawn too and I hope they make for an interesting listen (plus I love BTS' SUGA). So, here is the final list of appreciations:
Director: Mooch
Executive Producer: Nolan Riddle Producer: No Crdntls
Animation: Hello.World & Offgod
Mix & Mastered: H4LFTIME
Director: Yong Seok Choi (Lumpens)
Producer: Emma Sungeun Kim (GE Production)
Director of Photography: Hyunwoo Nam (GDW)
Costume Designer: Kyeongmi Kim
For full list of credits visit here.
ByStorm Entertainment/RCA Records)
Directors: Glenn Michael & Christo (Kid. Studio)
Producer: Ryan Hahn
Cinematographer: Ben Mullen
Editor: Red Barbaza
VFX: Common Good
Production Company: HPLA
Video Commissioner: Kevin Kloecker
Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande released a Track called,'Rain on me'. Now, I'm not crazy about the song, it's nothing particularly new sounding yet it doesn't make for a bad listen. It's uplifting, catchy and engaging. So, as a hit song with two major artists coming together, it's done it job. My eye however, pays close attention to the costumes and make-up in the music video. The costumes were designed by Laura Pulice of Vex clothing; a latex fetish fashion brand whom have previously worked with Lady Gaga many times. The visuals are stunning. I'd recommend watching the music video just for the aesthetic and hard work that's been put into it.
