Category: Indie MP3s

Drawing from musical influences of popular artists like Lana Del Rey, Amy Winehouse, indie bands like Low and Evanescence, and overseas artists such as Ayumi Hamasaki, CL, and Utada Hikaru, Queens‘ native XCORPIIIO (pronounced ‘Scorpio’) drop his debut E.P. recently.

Titled Summerset, the E.P. showcases XCORPIIIO’s eclectic style that draws from his diverse range of influences and genres. Pinning down his genre, or sub-genre, may be a little tricky, but he considers himself an ‘alternative indie hiphop artist.’

There’s no question that his music is an exercise in fusing genres, such as on his fan favorites such as the “Like That,” “Fake L***,” and “Ride,” a track that has some potential. The E.P. gained tens of thousands of streams online in a few months’ time.

One of his newer tracks, “Flower Girl,” is a story about “a girl that I knew in my youth.. my first love.. whom died when we were about 11-12.”

Some of the love XCORPIIIO has been receiving of late includes nods from important industry folks like engineer Ann Mincieli (Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Mariah Carey); producers Kerry Krucial Brothers (Alicia Keys, Keyshia Cole, Nas), and engineer Stuart White (Beyonce, Jay-Z).

“I gained over 30,000 streams in its first month out (proof of streams below). The purpose of the majority of my first EP was just to show my abilities as an artist. I wrote, sang, rapped, produced, and engineered
the entire EP on my own, in my bedroom.”

“”Flower Girk” and “Ride” (a song about pressing on; even in the hardest times) are the two songs that I have released that really reflect who I am as an artist, and the kind of music that people can really expect from me. I believe in authenticity and substance in music. ”

I create music, from my own life, so that people can relate to it, learn from it, and feel everything that they need to feel to make it through whatever they’re going through.”

He also has another solo project with the moniker The Singularity.

Born in the Canadian capital city of Ottawa, the four member band, The Lionyls, belt out American-style blues, rock, funk, and soul into a sonic brew that is unique nowadays. They just dropped their new E.P., The Lionyls II.

The band has created their own branded organic sound, with infusions of musical elements that are timeless and modern, raw and refined, and transcend social and cultural barriers to connect with all kinds of music lovers.

The album showcases a new level of musical innovation, incorporating elements from afrobeat, jazz and hip hop seamlessly with their funk, soul, and rock and roll roots.

A good example of this is the high-energy single, “Keep On Moving,” from the E.P.

From start to finish, “Keep on Moving” fills the listener with energy and encourages them to keep progressing towards their goal no matter what difficulties they may face.

Other tracks like the more soul-inspired brassy grooves of “Pocket,” which also has a recent music video drop, plus the funky “Keep Tomorrow Alive” and a couple of cool interludes.

The message is simple yet powerful. It moves classic rock and other ‘older’ genres into the modern era. These young guys have a strong rock and roll verve that can also be heard on songs like the brass and rhythm-driven, “Trillion Dollar Man” and “Steppin Out” .

The song builds into a blistering guitar solo, atop a tasty Latin-esque groove that will have everyone bobbing their heads.

A few years back the band was crowned the winners of the Big Money Shot competition held by Ottawa radio station, Live 88.5 FM.

Right away, the band gained regional popularity, touring and performing their singles and debut album while opening for well-known Canadian artists like Sam Roberts, Serena Ryder, and The Trews.

Early in 2018, they returned to the studio with a set of new songs to record. For more than a year the band worked effortlessly to get the songs just right.

According to the band, their new album is a “concept album that encourages the listener to question contemporary pop culture values.”

We largely agree. These guys are very talented and not willing to lower their values and standards to appeal to a certain mainstream appeal. We only wish they had their E.P. on Soundcloud or Bandcamp for streaming without having to go to Spotify. (For the anti-Spotify folk, which there are many)

As their fans know, The Lionyls music truly comes to life during live performances where their skillful musicianship, charismatic presence, and raw energy invite the audience to join them deep in the groove.

https://thelionyls.com/