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Live Review: SG Lewis, Kira Puru, KYVA: Best Songs of The Week

24 April 2020 | 11:09 am | Emma Jones

Ten new releases from the last week you need to hear right now including singles from SG Lewis, Kira Puru, KYVA and more!

Each week, we receive countless submissions of exciting new music, so we’ll be taking you through a weekly wrap up of all our favourite new tunes every Friday called #TrustedForTaste. Follow our Spotify playlist to never miss our updates!

For more new music and news, head to the Purple Sneakers website. Read on for new music from SG LEWISKIRA PURUKYVADOOLIENICOLE MILLARGUS DAPPERTONNOOKYMIDNIGHT POOL PARTYMXMTOON and YIBBY.

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SG LEWIS - Chemicals

The incredible SG LEWIS has a whole stack of good news for fans this week. Not only has he released an out-of-this-world funky af new single, he's also confirmed his long-awaited debut album is finally on the cards. Titled 'Chemicals', this is the first taste we've got of SG LEWIS' album and what a taste it is. A soaring, bass-driven track that features heavenly vocals and a beat that will get you instantly grooving, it's a feel good bop that we can't get enough of. Teaming up with none other than Chad Hugo of N.E.R.D and The Neptunes fame for the synth line, 'Chemicals' is an undeniable jam. Speaking of his new single, SG Lewis said in a press statement, "'Chemicals' is about being convinced to try something new by someone you are infatuated with, and the emotions that follow. It's about feeling helpless knowing the control that person has over you, but knowing that deep down you love that fact. The song is written about one specific night out I experienced in London a while back." We can't wait to hear more!

KIRA PURU - Idiot

Real life queen Kira Puru has released her first single for the year with the punchy 'Idiot'. Over a bouncing beat, Puru sounds as fierce as ever with her dgaf-no-time-for-your-shit lyrics and vocal swagger and I cannot get enough. Everything Kira Puru touches turns to gold in my mind, and 'Idiot' is another testament to just how talented and brilliant she is. Speaking of her new single, she said, “Idiot is about being powerless in your attachment to someone, indulging compulsive and destructive habits, feeling frustrated. It’s about being in love even when you don’t want to be." Also as if it couldn't get any better, Puru released the track alongside a lyric video created in Microsoft Paint by her pal, Celine Dore. Absolutely here for it.

KYVA - Dollar Sign

Sitting somewhere between The CureBlood Orange and Prince is KYVA, and with his latest single he's arrived on everyone's radars as one worth keeping both eyes firmly planted on. 'Dollar Sign' was co-produced by Vlossom/Cloud Control’s Alister Wright and the Jezabels’ Samuel Lockwood and mixed by Kllo’s Simon Lam, and with this trio of veritable hitmakers in their own rights, it's no wonder it's a brilliant new single. It's at once dark and brooding, but liberating with a hook that gets in under your skins. With hints of retro-futurism and a slight inspiration from the Blade Runner soundtrack (a key influence of Wright's Vlossom project as well), but drenched in seductive RnB flair, 'Dollar Sign' is as impressive as new singles come. Also serving as a commentary on late-stage capitalism, we're very excited to be on the KYVA train right now.

DOOLIE - Dark Waters

Gold Coast artist DOOLIE is a star on the rise, and with her latest single 'Dark Waters', that star is only set to get higher. Taken from her forthcoming debut mixtape, aptly titled hope u like my mixtape out next month, DOOLIE's 'Dark Waters' is like a futuristic slice of BANKS' music with its playful infusion of light and dark. Her brilliant vocals shine so brightly, even when they're drenched in heaving vocal effects, and when paired with a beat this hard-hitting, DOOLIE proves she's absolutely one to watch this year. Explaining the empowering meaning behind the new single, DOOLIE said, “I wanted to make an analogy kinda like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Not caring about someone else’s thoughts and speaking my truth; finally letting my feelings and my emotions be my priority and have their light. It doesn’t matter how much you care about someone if you’re not taking care of yourself first.” YES!

NICOLE MILLAR - I should probably go to therapy

Written alongside regular collaborators MUKI and KILTERNicole Millar returns this week with the all-too-relatable 'I should probably go to therapy'. All about how crowded our heads can get when we're at low points in our lives and mental health, it's a darker and deeper sound from Millar that we can absolutely get behind. '...therapy' follows along from previous single 'Favours', with both new tracks showing a change in sonic direction for Millar - she's shaken off a few layers and become more real and raw, and we're loving what we've heard so far. Talking about the concept behind the song, Millar shared, "There is such a stigma behind going to therapy but I believe everyone should give it a go it’s nice to talk to someone that won’t judge how you are feeling or even tell anyone. This song is one of favorites because it touches on a meaningful subject but is also playful at the same time. I wanted to put Therapy out next because I think it will shed some light on everything that is going on now.”

GUS DAPPERTON - First Aid

You might already be familiar with Gus Dapperton thanks to the viral sensation that is his BENEE collab, 'Supalonely', or from his own lengthy catalogue of music dating back to his debut back in 2016. Now it's time for us to get to know Gus even better with a whole new side he's ready to share with us. Announcing this week that a new album is on the way later this year, Dapperton has released a heartfelt and emotional new single titled 'First Aid'. What will undoubtedly serve as a lifeline for many right now during the time of COVID-19 and all the isolation and mental anguish that can bring, 'First Aid' is a raw and real take on how tough isolation can be on a person while also serving as a reminder to appreciate the ones who we love and who love us. Featuring his sister, Amadelle, 'First Aid' is a very special single indeed. Tell someone you love 'em after listening to this one.

NOOKY - ERE LAH

Sydney-via-Nowra rapper NOOKY surprised fans this week with a brand new single and video, 'ERE LAH'. Out now on Bad Apples Music, 'ERE LAH' does not mess around. Clocking in at just under three minutes, Nooky flexes both his technical rap skills and rapid rhymes as he floats over the hard-hitting beat before the track is flipped on its head with a big, booming breakdown to finish courtesy of producer i.amsolo (OneFour, B Wise, Anfa Rose). Speaking of his new single -a taste of his forthcoming Lyrebird Park EP- Nooky said, "Ere Lah is Aboriginal slang that is widely used throughout Australia but predominantly up and down the east coast. The song is just about taking some pride in our language, it’s used when giving something or telling someone something, addressing someone plus a mix of other things, it literally means whatever you want it to mean in that moment.”

MIDNIGHT POOL PARTY - Nonchalant

For fans of Hayden JamesKaytranada or DisclosureMidnight Pool Party have just the track for you this week with the insatiably groovy 'Nonchalant'. Aptly sounding effortless in how easy and breezy it is, 'Nonchalant' will have you feel like you're being whisked away to a midnight pool party indeed thanks to its disco roots and hip-hop/RnB flair. Complete with an infectious hook and a rapped verse to round things off nicely, 'Nonchalant' is a nearly-4-minute groove we're more than happy to escape into. The first of a collection of songs slated for release this year, Midnight Pool Party said of their new single, “I wrote this song because I found myself deep in a social situation that I shouldn't have involved myself in, and all I could do was relax and try and stay cool. So this was my way of expressing that situation in my life. We hope this song brings a little bit of happiness into the world which is so full of fear and anxiety right now. We hope it makes you smile."

MXMTOON - no faker

mxmtoon might be one of the most hyped artists in the world right now, and for very good reason. Entirely relatable and authentic, the 19-year-old superstar-in-the-making is an expert storyteller and with her latest EP, dawn, out this week she hits another home run. dawn is the first instalment of a two-part EP series, and 'no faker' is a highlight off the record with its gentle call-to-arms to be 100% yourself. Sitting on hundreds of millions of streams, mxmtoon (real name maia) said of her new EP and its timely release, "I wanted to remind people that things will be okay and even on the darkest day, the sun still rises. I want to lift people up. I still love making sad songs, but I wanted to make something that felt refreshing to me this time."

YIBBY - No Sweat

Ethiopian-born, South Sydney-raised rapper YIBBY makes his return this week with 'No Sweat'. All about not sweating the small stuff, 'No Sweat' is a a thoughtful slice of conscious rap that sees YIBBY once again flex his technical skills on the mic, effortlessly riding an eclectic beat courtesy of dynamic producing duo Clockwork Odyssey. It's an impressive level up from YIBBY and one we're very excited about. Speaking of his latest release, YIBBY said, "No Sweat is about not stressing while going through adversity or dealing with things and still celebrating the wins." A message we all need right now, 'No Sweat' will be on repeat for a long time to come.

Words by Emma Jones

Images (L-R): SG Lewis - Supplied; Kira Puru by Nelly Skoufatoglou; KYVA - Supplied

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