Music

Dreamville Highlights A Truly Revolutionary Artist In The First Episode Of Its ‘The Messenger’ Podcast

Dreamville artist Bas narrates the story of a Ugandan musician who is challenging the nation’s 30-year dictator in a pivotal election. …

As more and more artists get into podcasting as an alternative outlet and become the subjects of narrative podcasts like the Tekashi 69 podcast Infamous, it was only a matter of time until an artist took on the challenge of reporting for their own documentary-style show. Now, Dreamville and Bas are partnering with Spotify for The Messenger, a podcast telling the story of Ugandan pop star Bobi Wine, who is running for president in his country’s upcoming general election — and risking his life to do so.

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Bas will narrate the podcast, amplifying Bobi Wine’s social justice struggle as he challenges Ugandan dictator Yoweri Museveni, who’s been the nation’s president since 1986. Under Museveni, Ugandan leadership has suppressed dissent, threatened to punish homosexuality with the death penalty, removed term and age limits on the presidency, and oversaw multiple humanitarian crises, including involvement in Congo’s civil war and the insurgency of the Lord’s Resistance Army in Northern Uganda.

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Bobi Wine, who led multiple humanitarian aid projects throughout his tenure as both a musician and a member of Uganda’s Parliament, was banned from radio for speaking out against the government’s policies, arrested after his nomination for president, and allegedly mistreated while in police custody. The Messenger seeks to bring light to this artist’s struggle ahead of his challenging Museveni this year, spearheaded by Bas, who is also of African descent, although he hails from Sudan rather than Uganda.

Listen to the podcast on Spotify and check out its theme song, “Smoke From Fire,” above.

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Artist Spotlight

“Summer Is Gone” by Anjalts is an ode to fading romance”

“Summer Is Gone,” a pop song by Anjalts, is thoughtful and emotionally very clear, and it feels like the last golden hour before fall truly sets in. The song is a melancholy reflection on the changing seasons and a fading romance. It has both a sting and warmth, drawing you toward some space of reflection that feels cinematic.

The production of “Summer Is Gone” sounds bright like a half-forgotten memory you can almost reach out and touch, but can never fully revive. Anjalts, a solid producer and storyteller, delivers quiet emotion, and the performance allows you to attach your own memories while maintaining its specific roots.

The song, the production, and the mood all connect so well that it feels like the seasons are changing. But beneath that ease is a deeper emotional current, a quiet awareness that something beautiful has stopped. As a prolific songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, Anjalts continues to prove versatility with diverse styles and artistic vision. “Summer Is Gone” also touches on growth, reflection, and memories that follow us. It waits to remind us, touch us, that there is still ugliness or beauty to remember in the ending.

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Artist Spotlight

Luke Panayiotou crafts intimacy and discovers love and purpose on “Am I In Love Again?” EP

“Am I In Love Again?” by Luke Panayiotou arrives as a quiet confession after years of silence, an intimate, self-made EP that’s his first release after a five-year hiatus, and it sounds so honest. This 3-song, 12-minute project is a reintroduction, and everything was written, performed, and arranged by the artist.

And since the EP combines acoustic, folk, rock, and ambient singer-songwriter sounds, it has a natural, personal feel. The recording was done at Oscillate Recording Studios in Knutsford/ Manchester with a warmth that allows Panayiotou’s vocals to shine through. The most emotional song on the EP is the title track, “Am I in Love Again.” It quietly examines falling back in love, the short bursts of overwhelming emotion that help you remember why you fell for someone in the first place.

“Back Around” tells a more contemplative story of perseverance. It’s about setbacks and the quiet resolve to continue, even when it feels like you’re on the verge of success. “Wherever I Go” is a triumphant end to the EP. Its upbeat, unifying energy celebrates connection, romantic, platonic, or otherwise. It accomplishes this by casting loyalty and presence in a more favorable light.

Panayiotou defines every aspect of “Am I In Love Again?,” from the songs to the cover art. This lends the work a cohesive artistic vision that feels both personal and enveloping. This EP shows that sometimes you need to take a step back to step forward with clarity and purpose.