British singer and songwriter, Sasha Keable released her single today along with BRIT Award Winner Jorja Smith. The song ‘Killing Me’ is a door to intimate mournings and sadness that captures the emotional-gist of failed relationships. Directed by Olivia Rose, Sasha and Jorja collaborate in this single, pairing their individual unparalleled vocals and deliver a heartbreaking video. “Jorja and I were long overdue to write together, so we met up at Ben’s (our guitarist) house who wrote ‘Killing Me’ with us, and in 4 incredible hours we had the song, it was mad how easily it came. We had both gone through difficult breakups and were clearly done with how we were feeling. Killing Me was the result of that and helped us both to move on”, says Sasha Keable.

The video gets you all welled up as it churns out imageries connecting to the emotions stacked behind the song. The new single unfurls the symbolic denotations of red, white, and black costumes that represent a sensation of evolving sentiments. The song proceeds from two ‘perfectly-manicured’ hands bejeweled in chunky chic gold rings meeting each other to various other moods of the story. In the beginning, the darkness, or rather a sense of mourning behind the song is manoeuvred through everything black from satin blazers, latex gloves, to fur fringed hats, signalling at the death of a relationship. Soon, the song transcends into a sense of realisation and awakening with ‘I started to take my advice….now I’m not worried ’bout fights, symbolic of light and a sense of positivity that has entered through, birthed out the tragic.

_{Photo Credits: Brand Di Petsa Worn by Sasha Keable & Jorja Smith in ‘Killing Me’ Directed by Olivia Rose}

The entire imagery is portrayed through a white ensemble paired with vibrant silver and gold pieces of jewelry. The duo can be seen donning Di Petsa’s famous Wetlook mini dress for this which drew a lot of attention in 2020. Maison Margiela was accused of plagiarising the ‘wet look’ design in his Fall/Winter 2020 Couture collection. Celebrities like FKA Twigs and Kylie Jenner since then have been responsible for jetting it off into global recognition. The ‘wet look’ has also been modeled and worn by various other celebs like Bella Hadid, Doja cat, Gigi Hadid, etc. During recurring moments in the video, Keable and Smith can also be seen dressed in red gowns respectively, the flares fluttering as if to represent ‘fuming with anger with an occasional rose-petal plucking throughout the video.

The new collaboration comes after her recent 2021 singles, “Exception” and  “Don’t Get Lost” and will feature alongside her upcoming EP Intermission at the end of the year.

“The song has healed me in more ways than you could ever know and now we are hoping that it can heal a few of you too.” said Keable in her Instagram post. The duo has a flair for  R&B which is neatly reflected through the single. Symbolisms and connotations aside, ‘Killing me’ is a reminder to pluck out those fleeting moments of sadness and love ourselves unconditionally.

Words by Manica Pathak

The post Sasha Keable teams up with Jorga Smith in her latest single ‘Killing Me’. appeared first on Voir Fashion.

To end the week on a good note we have come up with a list of our favourite music releases of the past week, from fresh new singles to their accompanying visuals.

Here are a few songs that you and add to your playlists this week:

Patience by Wesley Joseph feat. Jorja Smith

In anticipation of his upcoming debut project ULTRAMARINE the London-based artist, producer and director, Wesley Joseph, has just released his single “Patience” featuring Jorja Smith. For years, the two artists have known each other being both friends and collaborators under UK’s Horse Collective.

The artist and filmmaker also released an accompanying music video that did not disappoint and showcased the talent first exhibited in his previous productions, “Thrilla” and “Ultramarine”.

The minimal yet appealing video takes us on a car journey around the country, where the two artists can be seen vibing but also encountering challenges and tragedy along the way – questioning “how to be patient”.

Lumberjack by Tyler the creator

A song with a lot of anticipation. Tyler started by broadcasting the “Call Me If You Get Lost” message on billboards around Los Angeles, and then went on to release his “SIDE STREET” trailer to tease us about his upcoming album. But finally, the time has come, Flower Boy has just released his new single “LUMBERJACK.”

Tyler continues to amaze us, developing his peculiar style and artistic vision through a catchy, witty, and in true Tyler-style,out-of-the-common song. As we were impatiently expecting, alongside the track came a music video that got everyone talking. The video, directed by Wolf Haley (Tyler, in case you didn’t know) reminisces on the 70s colours, with various cultural references, the inclusion of futuristic elements, and juxtaposition of ideas and places.

And this seems to be only the begging, as Tyler announced the release of his new album Call Me If You Get Lost coming on June 25th.

No More Friends by Olivia O’Brien feat. Oli Sykes

A clash of genres or simply the improvement of one?

We’re talking about the collaboration between Olivia O’Brien and Bring Me The Horizon’s Oli Sykes, on the new song “No More Friends.”

This duo surprised us, the singer-songwriter Olivia O’Brien has just released her six-track Episodes: Season 1 EP, and we must say that this is one of our favourite productions of the project.

Between the blurring of genres, Olivia’s catchy voice, the energetic rhythm, relatable lyrics and 70’s inspired visuals we can’t stop talking about it, an immediate addition to the playlist of the week.

MY OWN by H.E.R.

H.E.R. official debut LP “Back of My Mind” has just been released. The project includes some of her previously released productions like “Damage,” “Come Through” feat. Chris Brown, “Hold On,” and “Slide” feat. YG, amongst others.

But before its release, the artist decided H.E.R has decided to share one final teaser. “My Own” is the latest song released by the singer and songwriter, where she discusses the need to be by herself, about knowing one’s limits and being able to stay on their own.

So if you love H.E.R’s voice or simply resonate with her lyrics, have a listen to “My Own” below.

Rollin Stone by Little Simz

The London rapper continues to take us on her journey of genre experimentation with her latest single “Rolling Stone”. Different from the previous ones if you ask us, but still characterised by up-beat music, powerful lyrics, and a confidence that is noticeable through every sound.

The song is magnetic, and that’s what we hope will remain consistent throughout all of her work and upcoming album “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert”, dropping on the 3rd of September.

Words By Chiara Ferrari

The post The Music Releases This Week That Is Staying On Our Minds And Playlists appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Now a quarter of the way into 2021, it’s safe to say that not even a global pandemic could stop the music industry from flourishing and thriving. Musicians across the world continue to surprise and impress, bringing a much-needed breath of fresh air to what has felt like an eternity indoors.

With new releases from the likes of Jorja Smith, Bebe Rexha, and Justin Bieber getting us back into the groove of normalcy, we thought we’d run through some of the music we can’t switch off this month.

So, grab your nearest pair of headphones, get your Spotify ready, and crank up the volume. We’ve got some music you’re going to want to hear.

Drake

Following the delay of his sixth studio album, Certified Lover Boy, Drake dropped the EP Scary Hours 2 on March 5^th. Set as a sequel to 2018’s Scary Hours, the EP highlights Drake’s ability to deliver punchy verses while riding a catchy a beat. Meant to give fans a taste of what Drake will deliver with his upcoming album, the three tracks that make up Scary Hours 2 are successful in hyping up those hungry for new music. The music video for the EP’s opening track, ‘What’s Next’, sees Drake dancing in an empty Toronto, reaffirming the musician’s affinity for the urban aesthetics of his hometown. Matching heavy trap beats and clever wordplay with Drake’s signature swagger, ‘What’s Next’ delivers a masterclass in commercial hip-hop that will have many fans eagerly awaiting the release of Certified Lover Boy.

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber started 2021 on a high with the release of ‘Anyone’, which later peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. With his newest album, Justice, just around the corner (mark March 19^th on your calendars), fans were more than excited when Bieber dropped ‘Hold On’ just weeks in advance. ‘Hold On’ plays to Bieber’s trademark hero image, as he croons to his fans “You know you can call me if you need someone” and reflects on the feeling of losing your sense of self. The music video, which sees Bieber on the run from police after getting into some shady business in order to pay for his partner’s hospital treatment, provides the perfect narrative for the dramaticism of ‘Hold On’.

Silk Sonic

The Bruno Mars x Anderson Paak collaboration we never knew we needed has finally dropped, taking on the title of R&B supergroup, Silk Sonic. Knowing that Mars and Paak have worked together on various projects in the past, including Chic’s 2018 album It’s About Time, many fans were excited to see their friendship and working relationship evolve further. They didn’t disappoint either. Following the announcement of their collaboration in late February, the duo dropped the single ‘Leave The Door Open’ just a week later on March 5^th. The R&B soul song builds on the pair’s affinity for jazz-inspired party music, creating a syrupy sound that emphasises the sultriness of the lyrics. Silk Sonic’s debut album, An Evening With Silk Sonic, is expected to be released later this year.

Madison Beer

Marking 2021 with the release of her debut studio album, Life Support, Madison Beer has entered our radar as a powerhouse to keep an eye on. Following the release of multiple hit singles last year, the singer announced she would release her first full-length album in February 2021 alongside the single ‘Boyshit’. The single itself is a guitar and bass driven track which pushes back on the manipulations of a male partner, with the focal line “I don’t speak boyshit” highlighting Beer’s determination to take back power in a relationship that has become undermined by the effects of toxic masculinity. The music video is a mishmash of romantic visuals inspired by cult films like Blue Velvet and The Heathers, that sits alongside scenes of a girls’ military-style bootcamp. Promoting a message of self-worth and female empowerment, ‘Boyshit’ is clear in its insinuation that no man is worth the emotional exertion.

Doja Cat

The queen of TikTok soundtracks is back with ‘Streets’, a revival of a track from Doja Cat’s 2019 album Hot Pink. The song gained attention earlier this year on TikTok through the Silhouette Challenge, which uses a red-light filter to block out silhouettes as the user poses naked. Paired with Paul Anka’s ‘Put Your Head On My Shoulder’, ‘Streets’ became synonymous with the viral trend of thirst trapping. With the #SilhouetteChallenge now at an impressive 17.8 million views, Doja Cat has launched herself back into the charts – and how better to celebrate than with a brand-new music video? Released on March 9^th, the music video depicts the singer in a game of cat and mouse with a New York cab driver (Kofi Siriboe). The video also pays homage to the song’s success on TikTok, as Doja Cat uses the opening of the song to perform the Silhouette Challenge from a shop window.

Bebe Rexha

Another release we’re loving this March is Bebe Rexha’s ‘Sacrifice’, a pop-infused house track intended to “give the gays everything they want” – and boy, did Rexha deliver. Dubbed an official ‘gay bop’ by fans, ‘Sacrifice’ references elements of queer music that have raised the likes of Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, and Madonna to icon status. However, it’s Rexha’s brand of pulsing club music and unabashed sexual intrigue that sets her apart as one to watch. ‘Sacrifice’ sees Rexha step into the role of badass vampire queen, putting on a show of leading unsavoury men to their inevitable doom. Whether rampaging through hospitals to steal her next meal or dancing in the bloody rain of a nightclub, Rexha proves she can play the rule-breaking femme fatale as well as any actress. The energetic rhythm of ‘Sacrifice’ is bound to be a clubbing staple when lockdown measures lift later this year, so we suggest you get to hit the dancefloor.

Jorja Smith

Rounding off our list is Jorja Smith, whose new single ‘Addicted’ dropped earlier today. The song marks Smith’s first release since October 2020, and fans were more than ready to welcome her back onto the music scene. ‘Addicted’ carries a slow and easy vibe that contrasts with the lyrical discussion of being unable to move on from a lover that has no interest in maintaining a relationship. But this contrast is what emphasises the cleverness of Smith’s lyricism, as the catchy beat makes ‘Addicted’ a song you will continue to sing long after it has ended – reinforcing the demand that “You should be addicted”. The accompanying music video is just as intriguing. Packed with stunning visuals that play on the luminosity of different textures, the music video sees Smith wandering around a lavish home she can’t seem to leave. While possibly a metaphor for the lyrics, the setting also echoes the current lockdown situation. In this respect, ‘Addicted’ extends Smith’s empathy for shared plight of the current times, allowing her to connect more directly with her fans. With so much to unpack in one song, we couldn’t agree more with Smith: we should be addicted.

Words by Charlie Colville

The post The Music We Can’t Switch Off This Month: Jorja Smith and More appeared first on Voir Fashion.

With powerful performance and overflowing emotion, Jorja Smith seeks justice with her new track ́By any means ́.

Between R&B rhythms and deep sounds, Jorja Smith transmits to us through her incredible voice and high vocal level, her strength, and her beauty. Not only external but also internal, with a hymn, a statement against social injustice, and a call to the unit.

Inspired by the Black Lives Matter protest, the Walsall singer brings us lyrics that really reach us. Tired of the white lies and the passage of time, the constant pain, and the headlines of injustice camouflaged by white lies and promises, Smith recognizes the heat of the rising fire and the incomprehension of the enemy. Breaking the silence, she reminds us of the power to join hands and fight for a change and a destiny.

Jorja Smith- By Any Means (Official Video)

The video directed by Otis Dominique and Ellington Hammond is her grain of sand to change the current reality, to stand in front of a problem, to show us that although we look different we are all human, united, and together for a change.

“We are here”, says the artist, empowering ourselves with a feeling of justice, creating a revolution of meanings and words that motivates us to stand side by side and fight in this revolution. Breaking chains together. Both feet on the line, standing our ground.

The video unites family and friends of the singer, members of the No Signal radio team, Wonderland editor-in-chief Toni-Blaze Ibekwe her mother, youth sports charity Street League Services, and figures from Escalate Inc and Football Beyond. All together with heads held high and powerful gazes, a mirror of their strength and beauty, empowerment, and hope, waiting for an answer on the streets of England.

This incredible song is the beginning of the Reprise project by Roc Nation, A musical protest by different artists who seek after their songs to raise their voices and raise awareness about police brutality, hate crimes, and other social injustices that violate civil rights. With the result of raising funds for The Gathering for Justice, NACDL Foundation For Criminal Justice, Equal Justice Initiative Mission, and Cop Accountability Project. And although it seems like a long road to freedom, Jorja has left an unmatched mark and will leave more prints through her towering talent and heart. Her implication in this piece and the power it transmits will prevail in our consciousness.

We will respond to their call for outrage and together we will raise our fists. By any means, we care and stand in the line with you Jorja.

Words by Cami Martinez

Graphics by Clare Stephenson

The post ‘By Any Means’: Jorja Smith Reveals her Newest Single Calling Justice for Black Lives Matter appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Surely we have all seen Jorja Smith’s latest music video ‘Be Honest’.

From glossy lids to dewy skin, the aesthetics on Smith’s first single since her 2018 album ‘Lost and Found’ screams Indian summer. Smith’s vibe on this track departs somewhat from her more serious and soulful demeanour surrounding her debut album and it’s refreshing to see.

By 22, Jorja Smith has accomplished much – collaborations with Drake, a Brit Award for Best British Female Artist and a critically acclaimed album. ‘Lost and Found’ beautifully touched upon political issues such as police brutality and minority experiences in Britain which generated admiration by all in the industry. ‘Be Honest’ adds to this already-rich discography but also gestures an evolution in her persona both in terms of aesthetics and song themes.

In ‘Be Honest’, Smith ventures to be different. Her video follows her enjoying (and trying to survive) a characteristically British-summer heatwave with her friends. The opening shot features her lounging on a plastic covered couch in a typically West-Indian fashioned front- room.

Family pictures hung on the wall, fringe lamps and lace covered cabinets are hard-to-miss symbols that suggest Jorja is kicking it back at her Grandma’s. It’s charming to see the video unapologetically paying homage to the artist’s Jamaican roots and romanticising British immigrant culture.

This reverence is continued throughout the video. The beat driving the song is reminiscent of cool calypso melodies divergent in pace from her first album. Smith even sings certain verses in a patois dialect, undeniably giving off RiRi vibes.

Smith’s outfits are also a striking element of the video. Her 60s pink and lime Maisie Wilen shift dress, her Louisa Ballou white swimsuit and her Chanel surf scarf worn as a tube top were all stand-outs. Each piece did justice to her ‘thick thighs’ and gave off an effortlessly chic vibe to compliment this summer soundtrack. I, for one, am definitely going to snatch up that clever idea of tying a scarf into a top.

Below: Stills from the music video ‘Be Honest’ by Jorja Smith

Though the outfits and video aesthetics were impressive, what particularly caught my eye (if I’m being honest) were the eye-looks adorning her lids throughout the video. Her glossy eyes would most definitely turn heads as well as the electric blue cat-wing (my personal favourite) worn as she nonchalantly jet-skis through London’s streets.

In fact, this look is getting some attention. You only have to scroll through Instagram to stumble across makeup artists like Sarah Feingold (@sarah.feingold) who incorporates this refreshing trend into their everyday look. Pat McGrath’s makeup looks gracing Valentino’s Fall 2019 runway also serves as creative stimulus. McGrath’s self-confessed ‘futuristic’ eye- looks encased the eye with violent purples and soft lavenders and pushes us to be unafraid to experiment, as does Jorja.

Overall, ‘Be Honest’ teaches us that there is no need to feel pressured to remain the same. Smith’s evolution and developments in her aesthetic and musical style highlights how she is unafraid to metamorphize and experiment with a different sound and look. She exhibited to her audience that their conception of ‘Jorja’ is not necessarily what should always be expected of her as an artist – Smith succeeds in keeping us on our toes, eagerly awaiting her next release and feeling endlessly inspired.

Written by Hena Sharma

Artwork by Katie Janes

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2017 has been a great year for music, both from established artists and fresh talent. As the year draws to a close, we are thinking ahead to 2018 and the artists that are shaking things up…….a lot.

Female empowerment is present, and here we feature the talented British music artists who will be achieving greater things in the year to come.

STEFFLON DON

Signing a huge record contract, creating her album, and working with some of the biggest names including Drake, it is fair to say 2017 has been a huge year for Stefflon Don. 2018 is also looking bright, and we are excited to see what this next great hip-hop star will release.

Take a look at Stefflon Don’s recent collaboration with Skepta below

NADIA ROSE

Shortlisted for BBC’s Sound of 2017, and the release of successful singles, Nadia Rose has started to rise in the UK rap scene. With 2017 heralding great beginnings, we are looking forward to new releases in 2018.

Check out Nadia Rose’s feature on Da BeatFreakz song, More Money

MABEL

With an impressive and international heritage, it is no surprise that Mabel also shares the talents of her double Brit-winning, Ivor Novello and Grammy-nominated mother, Neneh Cherry. But Mabel is making her own way in music, something we are excited to see continue in 2018.

MS BANKS

An artist who has brought her unique perspective to the Grime scene, Ms Banks has continued to remind us why she is a rising star. After a shout out from Nicki Minaj in 2017, we imagine 2018 could be the year Ms Banks’ popularity continues to grow.

RAYE

Our Issue 20 cover star for the female empowerment issue, Raye is not your average artist. Bending the rules, she is fast-becoming one of the hottest voices in pop and we believe her rise will continue into 2018.

JORJA SMITH

With charisma, skill and talent, we are not surprised Jorja Smith’s career has really picked up. After being shortlisted for BBC’S Sound of 2017, she has continued her musical growth, collaborating with some of the biggest names. Already beginning 2018 by winning the BRITS Critics Choice, we can’t wait to see what 2018 will bring.

IAMDDB

Up-and-coming in music, IAMDDB, is starting to make her name known in the industry. From song-writing to music videos, IAMDDB is in control, sharing experiences, life and empowerment within her music.

#2018

The post The Brit Pack: Female Artists to watch in 2018 appeared first on Voir Fashion.