Diggin’ This: Jon Kennedy – “Heartbreaker”
Vibe: if early Bonobo featured a Hammond B3. Originally from Lancashire, England and counting Mark Rae‘s venerable Grand Central among the labels that have released his music, artist… Continue reading
Tag Archive: London
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Diggin’ This: Dina Ögon – “Orden Brann” (Playground Music)
Dreamy indie-pop-soul, equal parts retro and future. Beautiful soaring choral vocals, hand percussion in the pocket, and playful piano keys are all part of “Orden Brann” from Dina Ögon,… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Ruti – “Monster” (Mala Remix) (Big Family Music)
A pastoral folk-soul mechanization that becomes a metropolitan bass stepper. The rarefied vocals and acoustic guitar pluckings of Essex artist Ruti Olajugbagbe‘s latest track “Monster” meet the bass-heavy mind… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: SAULT – “Fulfil Your Spirit” (Forever Living Originals)
The best album of 2026 so far? The mysterious UK collective has returned with a brand new project, which, in addition to mainstays Inflo and Cleo Sol, counts Jack… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Anaiis – “Call Me (a) (B)” (Dream Sequence Recordings/5dB Records)
The moment those drums come in. Don’t be thrown by the song’s fragile and vulnerable start, “Call Me (a) (B)” by the London artist Anaiis, packs a powerful emotional… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Nubiyan Twist – “Azimuth” (Strut Records)
Featuring Eniola, the group’s new lead vocalist. Fusing Afrobeat with jazz to create a powerful groove imbued with humanity, “Azimuth” is a joyful and celebratory explosion of life and… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Nia Smith – “Limit” (Polydor Records)
Sampling James Blake’s “Limit to Your Love.” An inspired rework of one of 2010’s best tracks, itself a cover of a Feist original, “Limit” by the Brixton, London artist… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Kotoa – “Higher Being” (Wah Wah 45s)
Global rhythms from South East London. Loughborough Junction’s Kotoa are saxophonist and singer Maia Avery, guitarist and singer Memphis Koloi, bassist Frank Black, keyboard player Sam Hillier, and drummer… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Vimbai Mango – “Searching (Nzira)” (Produced by Footshooter) (Tru Thoughts)
“Searching (Nzira)” is a jazz-house-broken beat collaboration between the British-Zimbabwean artist Vimbai Mango and the South London producer Footshooter. Nzira is a Shona word from the Bantu language spoken… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Alfa Mist ft Tawiah – “All Time” (Sekito)
An otherworldly London soul-jazz dream. By teaming up with the prolific UK soul singer Tawiah for his latest single “All Time,” the London-based songwriter, pianist, MC, and producer Alfa… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Yazmin Lacey – “Ain’t I Good For You” (AMF Records) (Video)
Some UK jazz-infused R&B for the summertime. London-via-Nottingham singer-songwriter Yazmin Lacey‘s latest is a breezy yet confident, percussive modern soul number. Yazmin Lacey – “Ain’t I Good… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Yuuf – “Alma’s Cove” (Live in Preveli Gorge, Crete) (Video) (Technicolour Records)
A live session recorded during the London group’s recent trip to Greece. With members hailing from Switzerland, Denmark, France, and England, Yuuf‘s latest instrumental is a chilled and thoughtful… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: MRCY – “Man” (Dead Oceans)
Just like they said during their debut US radio interview on my weekly show for WNXP last year, MRCY are now readying the release of their new album VOLUME 2. … Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Thandii – “Past”
Is Future Blues a genre? It is now. Fresh from landing on the number 1 spot on my Top 30 Albums of 2024 list, Margate, UK duo Thandii… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: lavender – “lowlight:slowlight”
Music for deserts. London, UK duo lavender are childhood friends Adam Jackson and Oskar Rice. Sharing a love of Elliott Smith and J Dilla, one is in… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: anaiis & Grupo Cosmo – “B.P.E” (Dream Sequence Recordings/5dB Records) (Video)
As chosen by special guest Ego Ella May on episode 32 of my WNXP/NPR Music Nashville radio show. Co-written by Sessa and Biel Basile, “B.P.E” is a powerful alt-soul cut by… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: DARGZ – “Save You”
The London-via-NYC producer and engineer has previously worked with Moses Boyd and Poppy Ajudha. “Save You” by DARGZ is a gospel-tinged, heartwarming slice of soul. DARGZ –… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Kokoroko ft Azekel – “Three Piece Suit” (Brownswood)
A tribute to the Nigerian immigrant experience in London. “Three Piece Suit” is a steady, jazz-infused Afrobeat groove by Kokoroko (a word meaning “be strong” in the language of… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Nubiyan Twist – “Breeze” (Strut/!K7 Records)
The London collective‘s track “24/7” with Ego Ella May featured in my Top 100 Tracks of 2020 list. “Breeze,” the latest track from Nubiyan Twist, is a vigorous and… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Barnabas – “Go There”
A delightfully glitchy and unvarnished beat. “Go There” is a late-night and lo-fi soulful R&B meditation from London, UK artist Barnabas. Barnabas – “Go There” … Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Ben Böhmer ft Lykke Li – “Hiding” (Ninja Tune)
In love with this breakbeat dicing up those walls of synths. German electronic artist Ben Böhmer and Swedish indie mainstay Lykke Li have teamed up to create “Hiding,” a… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Oreglo – “Levels” (Brownswood)
That jazz-rock-reggae fusion. Definitely vibing to “Levels” by the London four-piece Oreglo, which features Linus Barry on guitar, c-sé on keys, Teigan Hastings on tuba, and Nico Rocco on… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Tendai – “Twin Flame” (0207 Def Jam) (Video)
A crisp UKG beat meets impassioned R&B. London’s Tendai delivers a standout vocal performance on new track “Twin Flame.” Tendai – “Twin Flame” … Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Bryony Jarman-Pinto – “Moving Forward” (Produced by Nostalgia 77) (Tru Thoughts)
Exactly what I need to start 2024. Can’t stop listening to this new one from Bryony Jarman-Pinto. Brimming with optimism, “Moving Forward” is a ray of piano-led… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: B-ahwe ft TAMBALA – “Ride 2 Nowhere”
Bruk. Garage. R&B. Neo-soul. Four of the greatest music genres. Produced by her collaborator and close friend TAMBALA while they were traveling together in Vietnam, “Ride 2 Nowhere”… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Halo Maud – “Terres Infinies” (Heavenly Recordings) (Video)
Parisian dream-pop that rocks. “Terres Infinies,” the new song from French musician Halo Maud, is a dreamy yet lightly rowdy indie-rock chanson en français. Halo Maud –… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Meelo – “Day” (One House)
An inspiring and exhortative new track from the London musician. “Day” is a spacey and leftfield R&B cut in the vein of Sampha (therefore I’m automatically a fan) from… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Mary In the Junkyard – “Tuesday” (AMF Records)
A sidewinding guitar riff straight out of OK Computer. “Tuesday” is the breakout hit and debut single from the soon-to-be-huge London, UK band Mary In the Junkyard, comprised of… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Papooz – “Don’t You Think It’d Be Nice” (Half Awake Records)
Think 1970s Paul McCartney as a 1950s lounge singer. Paris, France duo Papooz‘s latest tune is the sunny and easygoing “Don’t You Think It’d Be Nice.” Here… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Gan Gemi – “That Sound” (One House)
It’s all about those vocal harmonies. “That Sound” is a synth-driven experimental pop-R&B outing from London, UK’s Gan Gemi that reminds me of the sonic sensibilities of Photay and… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Ego Ella May – “Undone”
I first got switched on to the sound of London’s Ego Ella May back in 2015 when I heard “How Far” on her Zero EP. Her latest track, “Undone,”… Continue reading
Recommended Gem: A Day in the Life of Sam Gellaitry (Video)
A recommended gem of a production masterclass. The Scottish musician and producer chats with Lucid Monday at his studio in London about his process, switching from only making instrumentals… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Cleo Sol – “Self” (Forever Living Originals)
Forever thankful for a new Cleo Sol album. I really liked the direction in which Cleo Sol and Inflo were heading with their SAULT song, “Love Will Free Your… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: And Is Phi – “Working” (Albert’s Favourites)
An airy yet cloudy R&B cut that dissolves into a swirling psychedelic soul soup. “Working” is the latest from Andrea Isabelle Phillips, otherwise known as And Is Phi, a… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Leisure ft Night Tapes – “All The Good Times Never Die” (Nettwerk Music Group)
The Auckland, New Zealand production heavyweights join forces with the UK dream pop trio. The good times are rolling on this new nocturnal (listen out for the cricket chirps… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: L’Impératrice & Cuco – “Heartquake” (Microqlima Records)
The Parisian nu-disco troupe team up with the Hawthorne, California bedroom pop artist. After meeting backstage at Coachella in 2022, L’Impératrice and Cuco have now joined forces to create… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Sampha – “Spirit 2.0” (Young Records)
The first new single from Sampha in six years. Can’t believe it’s been that long. His debut album Process came out in 2017, which was my number 1 album of… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Delilah Holliday – “Silent Streets” (One Little Independent)
Into this impertinent and insouciant synth riff. Delilah Holliday was previously in the band Skinny Girl Diet that she formed with her sister Ursula and their cousin Amelia when… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Seb Wildblood ft Lawrence – “Don’t See This” (All My Thoughts/!K7 Records)
The latest from the London producer. New song “Don’t See This” is a new collaboration between producers Seb Wildblood and Lawrence. Featuring vocal reflections from Amanda Alexander,… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: SBTRKT ft Sampha & George Riley – “L.F.O.” (Save Yourself/AWAL)
A Low Frequency Oscillation theory. Over bouncing synth stabs and bass waves, SBTRKT and Sampha, responsible for some of the best collaborative tracks across the 2010s electronic soul spectrum,… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Gareth Donkin ft quickly, quickly & The Breathing Effect – “GEEK OUT!” (drink sum wtr)
An ode to late-night music-making sessions. London, UK musician Gareth Donkin has recruited DanDigs.com faves quickly, quickly and The Breathing Effect for his latest single, “GEEK OUT!,” a spacious… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Kay Young ft Ego Ella May – “Woe Is Me” (Video)
I first heard the voice of Kay Young featured on “Get Connected” by Sekrit back in 2017. Since then, between supporting Jay Electronica in London and appearing on the… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Jadu Heart – “There Is No Door” (VLF Records)
I’ve been a fan of Dina and Faro, also known as Diva-Sachy Jeffrey and Alex Headford, for nigh on nine-ish years now, ever since I first heard “Late Night” back in 2016.… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: DanDlion – “Knock Knock” (Official Video)
Featuring an eccentric and bee-centric video. London’s DanDlion will get you dancing with this Tom Misch-ish dance-pop bop. DanDlion – “Knock Knock” … Continue reading
Diggin’ This: bb sway – “Like Honey”
A buoyant dry beat that hops and skips around a rubbery bassline. “Like Honey” is a late-night bedroom-pop-meets-R&B soundtrack to a lonely cityscape from the Hong Kong-born, London-based artist… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Tendai – “Pressure” (Official Video) (0207 Def Jam)
Next-level R&B from Canning Town. Love the emotion-laden vocals and glossed beat bounce on “Pressure,” the fourth single from 22-year-old London artist Tendai. Tendai – “Pressure” (Official… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Carlos Truly – “Vessel” (Co-Produced by Nick Hakim) (Bayonet Records)
Rainy day indie-soul from NYC. Co-written and co-produced by Nick Hakim, “Vessel” by Carlos Truly is a watery piano-led ode soaked in gratitude. Carlos Truly – “Vessel” … Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Yunè Pinku – “DC Rot”
Shades of Yaeji and Disclosure. “DC Rot” is a nonchalant yet uplifting pop-house raver from the London-based 19-year-old Malaysian-Irish artist and producer. Yunè Pinku – “DC Rot”… Continue reading
Diggin’ This: Ben Marc – “Mustard” (Innovative Leisure)
Rich strings over steady meditative drums. Inspired by the “beat-driven production of artists like Four Tet, Bonobo, Machinedrum, DJ Shadow, and Madlib,” Ben Marc’s latest release, “Mustard,” is a… Continue reading
Listen to Arlo Parks in Conversation with Dan Digs for WNXP
One of my radio highlights of 2021 was talking with the wonderful Arlo Parks for WNXP Nashville. We talked about the genius of Frank Ocean, her Mercury Prize… Continue reading