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Mieko Shimizu releases intense glitchy ‘Phenomena Of The Mind’ video New EP out now on Street Furniture Records

Mieko Shimizu

‘Phenomena of the Mind’ is a re-mastered EP of selected tracks from the album of the same name released by Mieko Shimizu in 2006, the year after the London terror attacks. Something dispirited and unexplainable lay heavy in the air of the sprawling city we lived and breathed. In the title song, ‘Phenomena of the Mind’, her intense Japanese rap echoes the deafening noise of the chaotic streets we walk each day. “Visualise”, she said, try to imagine a way to fight your way out of this ominous, dystopian world.

In the track ‘Signal Found’, the theme continues to shattered Dance Hall beats that reverberate to the “twisted sound of broken down London town.” “Have you lost the plot? Are you ok?” she asks?

In the track ‘Black Salt’, a dark melancholic theme floats over fragmented, glitchy beats, compounded by the repetition of “black” which hammers the constant bombardment of racism prescient of the call for freedom that Black Lives Matter. Wonderland Magazine has described Mieko’s music as, “beautiful poetic verses and stunning musical arrangements” and Mark Taylor of Record Collector as “An avant-garde artist pushing boundaries.

Mieko Shimizu is a London-based Japanese singer, songwriter, composer, and producer. Mieko first erupted onto the UK electronic scene as Apache 61; her searing alters ego. The self-titled album garnered plays by John Peel and she quickly build a name across the London & Berlin underground scenes. Previously she had released 2 albums in her own name, ‘Totem’ & ‘Road of Shells’, then the album ‘Minimal Dance’ as Mekon Zoo, and in 2020 she released her latest album ‘I Bloom’.

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Watch Mieko Shimizu – Phenomena Of The Mind music video:

 

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Artist Spotlight

BluntBrad Jr. finds calm ambition in the laid-back shine of “It’s All Good”

BluntBrad Jr.

BluntBrad Jr.’s new single, “It’s All Good,” sounds like a steady handshake and a deep breath. It’s warm, honest, and not trying to be cool. There isn’t any fancy production hiding behind layers of polish here. Instead, the song is all about being honest. The song is laid-back and offers up the shine of a studio recording for the feeling of a candid introduction, a musical “hello” from someone who wants to be heard for who they are.

“It’s All Good” is a very human way to be hopeful at its core. The feeling is simple and real, like someone who won’t let little things stand in the way of their goals. The words to the song sound like friends talking to each other. They discuss their goals, their drive, and their need for attention in a way that is honest and not needy.

The production backs this up by making sure that everything is open and airy. The instruments are simple and easy to understand, so BluntBrad Jr.’s voice and message come through clearly. The song feels real because it doesn’t have a lot of extra stuff in it. You’re not hearing a heavily constructed persona; you’re hearing someone at the start of a journey, eager to make their mark.

The song’s rough edges make it captivating, which is better than polish, which would have smoothed it out. This way of thinking fits with the theme: hope isn’t naive here; it’s realistic and steady. It speaks to people who like simple songs and value honesty over artifice.

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“It’s All Good” is an engaging and approachable phrase that offers context for an artist who is confident and clear about their artistic vision. This is the kind of song you listen to when you need some honest encouragement to remember that just being human can help you move forward. This is only the first chapter of something serious, so expect more from him.

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Artist Spotlight

SweetCandy! declares self-love and defiance on “UGLY”

SweetCandy!

SweetCandy!’s single “UGLY” is a candid and succinct revolution: concise, straightforward, and subtly transformative in its acceptance. The song conveys a fundamental truth: the acceptance of all aspects of oneself, including those previously deemed shameful, and asserts this claim with confidence. For an independent artist subjected to considerable criticism, the track functions as both a resolute retort and a comforting embrace of self-affirmation.

There exists a unique bravery in composing a song that explicitly declares, “This is me,” and SweetCandy! achieves this effectively. “UGLY” constitutes neither an apology nor a request; it is a declaration. The lyrics and performance express a sense of familiarity, illustrating the perspective of an individual who has transcended the necessity for external validation and now experiences liberation in authenticity. This emotional clarity endows the song with its potency: the relief in the delivery is palpable, a steadiness more compelling than any intricate production could attain.

The track musically reinforces this message with an aesthetic that is congruent: arrangements that do not eclipse the sentiment, production that appears authentic rather than superficial, and phrasing that enables the chorus to resonate as a personal vow. The song’s timeless perspective is noteworthy: it implies that autonomy in later life can be accompanied by acute awareness and gentle acceptance.

“UGLY” is successful due to its refusal to sanitize experience. It recognizes judgment, the pain of criticism, and the arduous path to self-acceptance, ultimately arriving at a state of tranquility. For listeners burdened by expectations or fatigued from performance, SweetCandy!’s single provides a straightforward, poignant remedy: embracing one’s true self is frequently the most courageous and exquisite decision. Embrace it, join in the singing, and allow the term “ugly” to evolve into a symbol of resilience and elegance today.

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