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The Next 24 Songs You Need In Your Life - April 9th - Part One

Free Form Telephony

By Charlie Le FolPublished 3 years ago 11 min read
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Free Form Telephony is your premiere destination for music discovery.

Today we give our younger selves sage advice from Kailey Nicole, heal with the gentle resonance of Cujo Moon, send our wishes to the universe with Tania Saleh, and overcome our fears to fight for our dreams with Nubiyan Twist.

Be sure to check back on Friday for part 2 when we guide you through 12 more new songs and release the full 24 song playlist.

Kailey Nicole - "Aim a Little Higher"

Kailey Nicole started singing in musical theater at the age of 8, and began writing her own songs not long after she turned 14. She released her debut EP Nashville Stick-Up two years later gaining the attention of country music critics. Instead of delving into the music industry she decided to further her skillset by studying musical education at the University of Southern California. She's recently graduated and reemerged with her bold new eponymous EP, Kailey Nicole. Aim A Little Higher is a letter to her 16 year old self full of wisdom through a healthy heaping of cheekiness and charm.

I’m not sure there was a moment that I ever knew I was born to be a storyteller, matter of fact I still question it sometimes. However, I did realize that I love to tell stories pretty early on. I would always jump at any opportunity I saw to sing a song or even just tell a story. Whenever we’d have people over when I was young I would find any opportunity to hop up onto the table and start singing.

Tai Verdes - "we would have some cute kids"

Tai Verdes began playing piano when he 8 at his mother behest. He listened to a wide range of R&B, pop, blues, rock eventually combining them all to create a genreless sound. After being rejected from The Voice and American Idol for a grand total of seven times he began a rigorous training regimen in order to bring his vocal ability up to par with his writing skills. His hard work paid off when his song Stuck In The Middle went viral on TikTok gaining him over 60 millions global streams. His latest single we would have some cute kids is a playfully soulful ode to falling in love at first sight.

I just do what feels good. I don’t care what producer I’m working with or their style. As long as I feel good about the whole thing, I’m all in. Genreless, baby.

Sevana - "If You Only Knew"

Born Anna-Sharé Blake in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, Jamaica she formed the girl group SLR with two girls from her high school to enter a local music competition, Digicel Rising Stars. They finished in 3rd place, but broke up a year later. Taking a hiatus from music she worked several jobs as a customer service agent, social media coordinator, and waitress before she released her eponymous in 2016. That same year she played the lead role in the Television Jamaica mini web series, Losing Patience. If You Only Knew is the lead single off her 2020 release Be Somebody. It's a dreamy tune about the lengths she'll go to for the one she loves. Her sultry voice makes the blissful lyrics undeniably sweet.

Filming the video in Africa definitely added layers to its meaning for me. I became too ill at the end of the Senegal trip to shoot, so the scene where I’m in a boat was done in Portland, Jamaica. It worked out really well to cement the meaning of the song further by having the video shot in two countries. Crossing by air and sea, it celebrates the lengths people in love will go, particularly the expanse of love of Black people.

Nubiyan Twist feat. Soweto Kinch & Nick Richards -"Buckle Up"

A blend of virtuosic players, skilled producers and inspired composers join forces to create a unique, infectious sound drawing on jazz, hip-hop, afrobeat, latin, soul, reggae and dance music - expect ultra-tight musicianship and a powerful 10 piece, big band sound. Since the release of their debut, they've amassed an army of fans including David Byrne who chose the band to perform at Queen Elizabeth Hall for the South Bank’s Meltdown festival. Buckle Up is an intricate mix of demanding brass arrangements, a percussive groove, soft and soulful vocals exploring the need to keep moving forward to find your truest self.

It’s about finding a balance so you’re not just jumping genres every tune but having some cohesiveness to it. Let’s blend it altogether because their might be some that are more hip hop or more afrobeat but they’re still going to have the dub elements in it and still going to have the African elements in it whether it be the rhythms or percussion, whether it’s jazz harmony involved or something else.

Spiritbox - "Constance"

Husband and wife duo Courtney LaPlante and Mike Stringer founded Spiritbox in 2016. Before then they played together in the metal band iwrestledabearonce. They formed their new band as a labour of love born from the frustrations of not finding their true identity in their previous music. Named after a device that supposedly helps you contact ghosts – they unabashedly immerse themselves in all things unusual. Their latest single Constance has achieved no small feet by bringing tears to the eyes of many metalheads. The song grapples with horrific nature of one's mind turning against itself in the twilight of life. The song is dedicated to Constance, the grandmother of the video's director, Dylan Hryciuk, who is currently in the later stages of dementia.

I always promised my grandmother that I would sing at her memorial service, because she always requested a 'pretty song with none of that scary screaming.' I hoped writing this song with no 'scary screaming' in it would help me find a sense of closure.

Cujo Moon - "Watch You Shine"

After a 3 year stint in the Nashville based pysch-rock outfit The Wild Jays, lead singer/guitarist Trevor Willmott found himself at both a musical and spiritual crossroads after losing their close friend, and number one supporter, in a tragic car accident. This led to the birth of Cujo Moon ─ a revival of his songwriting roots in alternative folk. Trevor has been writing, recording, and producing new music in his home studio on the west side of Nashville, TN. The sounds coming out reflect an introspective artist at play in a familiar albeit isolated environment, drawing from a reflective and healing headspace. In Watch You Shine he allows for both hurt and healing in this gentle and unhurried atmosphere.

The lyrics were inspired by a TV show where a father is estranged from his son due to years of drug use. The song sat in my voice memos for months before I felt moved to produce it. Unfortunately, a super talented and long-time student of mine committed suicide at the age of 14, that December. It was a tragic event for everyone close to the family and I was completely torn up. Shortly after, I recorded this song as a sort of catharsis. I'd like to dedicate it to his family, in loving memory of Jaden.

Pale Blue - "Breathe (Lauren Flax Remix)"

Lauren Flax is a Detroit native and long time Brooklyn resident. She not only drew inspiration from the impressive list of local Detroit talent, both past and present, but was influenced by the many artist from Chicago who were filtering into town. She developed a dynamic sound and is able to not only exist in the underground world but has crossover experience working with pop culture tastemakers such as Sia, Little Boots and Tricky. Her remix of Pale Blue's Breathe focusses on crystal-clear icey chords with a deep note and implements selected bits of vocals producing an intriguing and meaningful song that radiates warmth in the icy cold.

I feel pretty lucky to have gotten my start in Detroit. At the time, of course, you don’t realize you’re in such a special place, rubbing elbows with the people that started it all, all while watching your neighbours houses burning down.

Clark - "Citrus"

Born Christopher Stephen Clark in 1979 in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England he began experimenting with music building his own primitive equipment, including a home-built stylus made out of a hook and some masking tape. While a student at Bristol University he first impressed staff at Warp Records playing under the moniker Chris From St Albans at their Nesh party in December 2000 eventually signing to the label. Citrus off of his 9th studio album, titled Playground In A Lake, is a beautifully apocalyptic sound where this experimental artists embraces acoustic, cinematic, and symphonic elements.

‘Citrus’ situates you in a concert hall at the end of the world. With the audience long expired, a lone ghostly musician plays on, his mournful tones filling the empty, crumbling void.

Tania Saleh - Ya Reit (I Wish)

Tania Saleh is a Lebanese singer/songwriter/visual artist. She mixed the traditional Arabic music she was raised on and the western sounds she chose to follow, and is considered one of the founders of the Arabic independent alternative musical scene. Her childhood was deeply affected by her parents divorce and the Lebanese civil war. At the age of 17 she was helping her single mother support the family by singing in various choirs, writing jingles for radio commercials and working as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer. Ya Reit (I Wish) is an alluring example of progressive style. She melds Arabic instrumentation with western style guitar to create an entrancing song about working hard to make ones dreams come true.

There is this perception that if you’re an artist you’re probably not intelligent enough to study science. And to be a woman and an artist? That’s even worse. I am from a place that is not used to female songwriters. It’s a male dominated society. I was working with one of the best musicians in the Arab world. He was a mentor and I was inspired by him, but I didn’t feel like I could write songs whilst he was around.

Pink Sweat$ ft. Kehlani - "At My Worst"

David Bowden, AKA Pink Sweat$, grew up in Philadelphia. His father was a minister and his mother a gospel singer. Growing up in a religious household he didn't listen to much secular music until he was 17. The first rappers he heard were 50 Cent and Kanye West. After a three year illness with Achalasia he decided to devout himself to music full time. He gained his stage name because of his inclination to always be comfortable in different pairs of pink sweats. At My Worst is an exquisite ode to the need to sow seeds of love and kindness that will eventually bloom into meaningful relationships.

Sticking to your guns. Usually when something is great, there’s gonna be a lot of backlash in the beginning because you’re doing something different. I learned that from Philly because I was always dreaming big and getting a little pushback from the older guys. Over time I realized it wasn’t because they didn’t like me, it’s just they didn’t see the vision.

Tiana Major9 - Same Space?

Tiana Major9 was born and raised in the London Borough of Newham, England and grew up in a Jamaican household, listening and singing gospel in church from the age of 5. She studied music at the City and Islington College before she started pursuing it as a career and gained local recognition in 2014 as a finalist in MOBO's UnSung competition. Same Space? is an emotional ballad that finds Tiana grappling with that eternal question: should I stay in this relationship or let it go.

I want longevity, and I feel like the only way for that to happen is for people to know who I am, rather than just listen to my music and like my songs. I feel like I really wanted to make my stamp.

Jungle - Keep Moving

Jungle was founded by Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland who had been friends since they were nine years old, where they lived next door to each other in Shepherds Bush, London. The duo choose to place the aesthetic emphasis on the music’s surrounding artwork and videos, and not on the pairs' own identity. The groups adrenaline filled electro-pop songs are backed with elaborately choreographed dance videos. Keep Moving is a prime example of this aesthetic. Filmed in one shot the video is an impressive work of dramatic, complex choreography fitting of the upbeat pulsating sound.

The world is still there and we’ll still create that world, but we’ve now got to own that and step into that world as narrators. One thing we’ve learned is there is no point in making art unless you’re accountable for it in some way.

Hurray! You've reached the end of Part 1!

Or, you simply scrolled down here...doesn't matter because here we are at the end.

And, as always, remember to check back on Friday when we guide you through the next 12 songs you need in your life and release this weeks playlist.

If you enjoyed this content and would like to see more please drop me a tip below. Much love from my family to yours!

Namaste,

Charlie Le Fol

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About the Creator

Charlie Le Fol

Bonjour! I'm Charlie Le Fol, a father of two wonderful daughters, and a lifelong enjoyer of music.

Isn't modern technology wonderful? I no longer have to push Play/Record on a Boombox to create mixtapes for you.

Profiter de la musique!

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