Aga Ujma

345

345 is a collection of experimental pop songs by aga ujma, written singing out loudly while: (1)riding on motorcycles, (2)cycling on lime bikes, (3)hiking in Polish mountains and Indonesian volcanoes. Aga accompanies herself with: (1)a prepared harp, (2)toys, (3)a ship-like East Indonesian zither called a sasando, and (4)a percussive brassy shimmer of a xylophone called a gender barung that belongs in the gamelan ensemble. Aga’s vocal experiments extend from (1)pop runs to (2)whistle tones, from (3)whispering into your ears to (4)screaming from the top of her chest, all garnished with (5)stacked harmonies. Lyrics, written while falling in and out of sleep, examine: (1)dancing with ghosts, (2)courage, (3)cowards, (4)finding and losing homes, (5)wet dreams, (6)Tarkovsky, (7)spending time with your inner child, (8)desperately and unsuccessfully trying to follow the thread of your own dreams, (9)dealing with snake people, (10)paying invoices, (11)waking up in unexpected places, (12)peas.

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Uma

Nothing Without You

Catalonian-born vocalist/producer Uma is pleased to share her first new single of 2024, ‘Nothing Without You’, in collaboration with Slow Dance Recordings. Recorded in Uma’s home studio in the rural town of Catalunya, near Barcelona, ‘Nothing Without You’ pairs hypnotic R&B percussion with understated vocals: a beguiling introduction to a year in which we’ll hear plenty more form Uma. “’Nothing Without You’ is about going through the highs and lows of loving someone,” Uma says of the track. “Feeling happy by yourself but choosing them every time.” Having relocated to York from her Spanish village to study contemporary classical music, Uma – who is of Thai/British descent - parted ways with the genre in the pursuit of more “free” avenues through which to exercise her creativity. “If you’re gonna do something that’s creative and unpredictable and has no financial security, then you might as well enjoy it,” she reasoned. Eschewing traditional genre boundaries in favour of freedom has remained something of a theme throughout Uma’s output, with stripped-back Spanish folk, electronic beats and sweet, earworm melodies all leaving fingerprints upon the artist’s treasure chest of tracks. Also central to her ethos is collaboration. Uma’s Can Obert home studio (or ‘open house’, in English) has grown into a hub of creative activity since her mother purchased the then-dilapidated building decades ago. Artists including Puma Blue, Nilüfer Yanya and Rosie Lowe have spent time at Can Obert, with Uma contributing writing credits to the latter’s new album during her stay. Today, Can Obert is a haven where artists from all backgrounds can sleep, eat and, crucially, make music in the sleepy Catalan countryside.

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Sarah Meth

Save It For The Rave / Computer Love

From forthcoming Midnight Snacks Vol. 2, Save it for the Rave explores the whole mixtapes theme of friendship. Specifically how the differences between two people can be the very things that draw them together, and how those differences can create a tension that causes friendships to grow and also fall apart.‍

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The New Eves

Astrolabe

Drawing inspiration from lovers across the centuries; from the love letters between Heloise and Abelard in medieval France to Bonnie and Clyde's romantic partnership in crime in 1930s America, the New Eves bring you something that feels both modern and ancient. The songs’ refrain, ‘Many are the stars I see, but in my eyes no star like thee’ can be found on a 17th golden ‘poesy’ ring that is housed in the British museum, once given as a love token. The line embodies the feeling of the song, of a love that is both fated and cosmic.

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Slow Dance '23

Now into its 8th edition, the release of the Slow Dance-curated compilation at the start of each year is usually an indicator of what's to come. Uncovering the best new lo-fi, experimental and alternative music from London and beyond, the compilation predicts new avenues, and key artists from various scenes and spaces outside the industry. Alumni of the compilation have gone on to sign and release with a plethora of labels from Ninja Tune, So Young, 4AD and Rough Trade. Its notably given the first outings to bands and solo projects from black midi to Black Country, New Road;, from Otta, Goat Girl and Martha Skye Murphy to Drug Store Romeos, Sorryand Folly Group. Receiving press praise from the likes of BBC Radio 6 Music ("Compilation of the Month") The Quietus and Hard of Hearing, Cillian Murphy is also a fan. The actor spun The Guest's debut single (AKA Isaac Wood, BC,NR) on his BBC show back in October, as featured in Slow Dance '18 This year's edition represents the label's longest and most ambitious yet. Spanning 18 tracks, Slow Dance '23 returns to the ethos of bedroom recordings, whether that bedroom is on the stage, or cucooned in flats around the globe. Featured here come the lo-fi experiments from London live-circuit mainstays Cuckoo Spit, Plutoz Beach and Hank; baroque Gothic theatrics come from Velvetine and Jesus and The Zealots. There's intimate watery vocal productions from FLOCO and feeo, which take the compilation deeper into ambient electronics. LIPWORMS' acidic electro-punk drills the tempo towards the club, while Suzy Clue band-member HORNET’s shoegaze impresses with washed out urgency. Nukuluk founder Luke Kulunukis and GG Skips of Glows and Sorry also release new solo material on the compilation.

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n.o Art Ensemble

Kolosseum / War n.d

n.o. Art Ensemble is a recording and performance collective based in London. Their debut release, Death and Entrances, started as a lockdown project, after which they have organised a series of gigs performing their music. They hosted a 50th anniversary concert commemorating Tony Conrad’s legendary Outside the Dream Syndicate, as well as staging an experimental opera they wrote, boasting a 50-piece orchestra. Their newest record E V ER Y RU N G O N TH I S L AD D E R TO G OD, featuring Charlemagne Palestine (a close collaborator of Conrad), was recorded over the last year in different bedrooms and studios in London and Glasgow and is rooted in exploring the possibilities of drone-based music.

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Sarah Meth

Steps

STEPS EP is set for release 14th November 2023 via Slow Dance. The EP co produced with Louis O Bryen - member of the London band Sorry, as his debut production role. Following her previous EP ‘Leak Your Own Blues’ and accompanying film & mixtape under the ‘Midnight Snacks’ monkier, Sarah steps out of the blue to face the wind. STEPS is the 23 year old Londoner’s third EP and features six new tracks that recollect her personal experiences of sexual trauma, albeit painted and portrayed with unexpected splashes of colour, character, and Sarah’s ability to own those experiences through her own strength and power. She explains further, “STEPS EP is about moving forward into the unknown. I never intended to create a project around sexual trauma, but making these songs at the time played a big role in helping me process a way of accepting and taking ownership over some things that have happened. I hope it brings a distinct vulnerability and perspective to the subject matter….Steps is ultimately about ‘making it through’ to define new versions of ourselves after such experiences. “I initially thought it was going to be a self-produced project but ended up taking about half of the songs to my friend Louis [O Bryen], who I feel very grateful for providing a space to elevate those songs in the way we did. My production and recording style for this EP was similar to my Midnight Snacks’ project of demos - made singing into my laptop microphone tucked up in bed. However, it felt necessary to have some of these songs, such as ‘Fucktoy’ ‘Sister You Said’ and ‘Red Hands’, production elevated in a way that could explore new sounds whilst also making these songs feel less discreet, in a “saying them with my chest” sort of way. I hope this project can make people feel seen in what they can relate to from it, or in a non-threatening way, gauge people to ask questions of themselves upon listening.” Musically, STEPS EP dips colour into the noirish, shadowy hues of her Leak Your Own Blues EP. It recalls, in part, the instinctive rawness of early Cat Power recordings, with a loose, lo-fi charm that portrays Sarah’s words with emphasis, feeling and meaning. An important, impressive release by a smart, tactile young songwriter.

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Sarah Meth

Steps

Steps, the new single from the forthcoming EP of the same name, is about moving forward into the unknown. "I never intended to create a project around sexual trauma, but making these songs at the time played a big role in helping me process a way of accepting and taking ownership over some things that have happened. I hope it brings a distinct vulnerability and perspective to the subject matter….Steps is ultimately about ‘making it through’ to define new versions of ourselves after such experiences." STEPS EP is set for release 14th November 2023 via Slow Dance. The EP co produced with Louis O Bryen - member of the London band Sorry, as his debut production role. Following her previous EP ‘Leak Your Own Blues’ and accompanying film & mixtape under the ‘Midnight Snacks’ monkier, Sarah steps out of the blue to face the wind. STEPS is the 23 year old Londoner’s third EP and features six new tracks that recollect her personal experiences of sexual trauma, albeit painted and portrayed with unexpected splashes of colour, character, and Sarah’s ability to own those experiences through her own strength and power.

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Saint Jude

Missing June

‘Missing June’, which is to be Jude’s only release of 2023, represents another left-turn for the mercurial songwriter. Built upon atmospheric synths and shoegazed-drenched guitar chords, the slow-burning track comes in a just over two minutes. Low Loudly (Drug Store Romeos’ singer Sarah Downie) joins on guest vocals. A very different version of ‘Missing June’ was going to be on Jude’s debut album, Signal, before it was omitted and re-written in January as a retrospective piece on the year that had just passed. “I want ‘Missing June’ to have different meanings for whoever is listening,” Jude says, when pressed for context on the track. “But, for me, I was writing as a means of finding meaning from things that happened to me last year.”

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Uma

Jai

Uma is a boundary-pushing musician hailing from Catalonia, Spain, whose upbringing in an environment of creativity and open-mindedness has deeply influenced her captivating sound. With a diverse range of musical influences and a passion for collaboration, Uma's music is an intimate exploration of emotions, blending genres and creating a unique sonic experience that resonates with listeners worldwide. Raised in a household known as "The Open House," Uma was immersed in a world of artists and writers from an early age. Surrounded by individuals who encouraged self-expression and embraced the freedom of creative exploration, Uma's musical journey took shape. Drawing inspiration from her multicultural background and travels, Uma's music reflects her deep connection to different cultures and their rich musical traditions. Uma has garnered substantial recognition for her distinct sound, with over 7.5 million Spotify streams to date. Her music has received early support from prominent platforms and radio stations, including BBC Radio 1, 6 , Anthony Fantano The Line of Best Fit, and So Young. Uma's growing presence in the music industry attests to her unique artistic vision and her ability to captivate audiences with her emotive and genre-defying compositions.

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