Tag: RADAR

Spotify’s Latest U.S. RADAR Artist girl in red Turns the Volume Up Ahead of Her First Album Release

March 3, 2021

Marie Ulven, the 22-year-old Norwegian singer-songwriter better known as girl in red, was walking her dog Luna in her Oslo neighborhood when a group of teenage girls started singing at her. Marie started dancing while continuing to walk—they were singing her 2018 song “i wanna be your girlfriend,” one of her two standout tracks that have now accumulated over 150 million streams on Spotify. “I’m in love with you!” one called. 

Since the release of “i wanna be your girlfriend” and “we fell in love in october,” girl in red has continued putting out melodic, dreamy tracks about mental health and romance at a rapid pace, with several singles and two EPs over the last two years. Fans have flocked to her Spotify profile by way of social media, where she’s become something of a queer icon. Her music has landed on several Spotify playlists, including Lorem, Bedroom Pop, New Music Friday, and Out Now. And now, as Spotify’s fifth U.S. RADAR artist, girl in red will also be discoverable to new fans through the genre- and globe-crossing emerging artists program. 

Spotify created RADAR to help artists across all stages of their careers use the strength of our platform to deepen connections to their audiences. As Spotify’s latest RADAR artist, girl in red will be featured in the RADAR playlist, create a Spotify Singles recording, and release a forthcoming biographical mini documentary. She’ll also receive promotional support for her upcoming releases, including today’s billboards in NYC and Oslo, plus a full suite of marketing  and social promotion. 

“We’ve been closely watching girl in red’s steady ascent over the past few years—she’s built a tight-knit community of devoted fans in a remarkably organic way, based on her self-assured songwriting and deeply personal lyrics—all as an independent artist,” says Ned Monahan, Spotify’s Head of Global Hits. “We’re beyond excited for her debut full-length, and look forward to helping with her global ascent via RADAR.”

girl in red’s RADAR spotlight comes at an opportune time. As she announced today, girl in red will release her first full-length studio album, if i could make it go quiet, on April 30. After several years of bedroom production, the songwriter is now looking forward to the beginnings of a lifelong career in music. “I’ve had a little bit of a realization making this record. I just gained so much respect for people who’ve dropped their eighth studio album. I want to be like that artist—one day—who has eight records because they just love making music.” 

For the Record caught up with Marie after a busy day in which she reviewed the music video for her newest single (and FINNEAS collaboration), “Serotonin.” Read on to hear her thoughts on dabbling in rap, covering Maggie Rogers for Spotify’s Studio Oyster program, and Spotify Canvases. 

Meet Flo Milli, the Alabama Rapper Speaking to Gen Z—and Spotify’s Fourth U.S. RADAR Artist

January 15, 2021

Stream rapper Flo Milli’s mixtape and you’ll hear simultaneously bubbly and assertive tracks covering the 21-year-old’s take on money, men, self-empowerment, and jealousy. The Atlanta-based Alabama native, who grew up singing in her church choir, has been using her voice for some time. “It was mandatory for me to be in the choir,” Flo told For the Record. “My mom used to sing all the time, so did my sister. I guess I was the only one who wanted to rap, though.”

Today Flo was named Spotify’s newest U.S. RADAR artist. Spotify created RADAR to help artists across all stages of their careers use the strength of our platform to deepen connections to their audiences. Now listeners can stream the 175 RADAR-affiliated emerging artists around the world in one palace on the RADAR Global Hub. 

As the latest RADAR artist, Flo will be featured in the RADAR playlist and create a Spotify Singles recording. She’ll also receive promotional support for her upcoming releases, a full suite of marketing, and social promotion. Flo Milli’s campaign will furthermore include a forthcoming mini-documentary to premiere later this year. Also out today is Flo’s glamorous new single “Roaring 20s,” which shows off the star power of the RADAR artist.

Flo’s long-standing musical aspirations were fueled by R&B TV show 106 & Park and the work of Nicki Minaj. These propelled Flo to record her own tracks as a high schooler. Her first two, “Beef FloMix” and “In the Party,” went viral among Gen Zers on social media and enabled Flo to release her first mixtape, Ho, why is you here? in 2020. It has now seen over 192 million streams on Spotify.

“Since the release of ‘Beef FloMix’ on Spotify in 2019, we’ve watched Flo Milli’s exponential growth with excitement,” says Ned Monahan, Spotify’s Head of Global Hits. “Her magnetism is indisputable, and she’s one of the most exciting new rappers in the game right now. We are beyond thrilled to partner with Flo as our next RADAR artist and can’t wait to see what’s next.”

For the Record chatted with Flo about her inspirations, accomplishments, and recommendations to young women looking to do what they love. 

Both your music and fashion have been compared to that of ’90s rappers. What about that decade excites or inspires you?

I think it’s interesting. As I’ve been going in my career, I’ve started to discover how times were back then. I didn’t, of course, grow up around that time. But I see clips all the time of the ’90s and how the music industry was just different. And I do admire it because I think it’s cool to see how everything has changed and how social media plays a big part into today’s music industry. But I wouldn’t have minded coming up in that era either. 

In the past two years, female artists have sung shamelessly about money or wealth in their songs, examples including Cardi B, Arianna Grande, and you. Why do you think it’s important to bring this topic into conversation?

I believe that whatever you put out into the universe, that’s what you’re going to get. So if you’re speaking about these things, you’re conjuring them up. Who doesn’t want to live a lavish lifestyle, especially when you come from nothing? 

Those things are power, and I think it’s important to make it a habit to speak the things that we want and let everybody know, especially young girls, that they can have those things. You can reach your goals and you can be great. You can get anything you want if you put your mind to it. 

Tell us a little bit about your creative process. 

It took me a long time to really learn my best process for making music. It was hard trying to find my niche. So I like to have fun. I just need to be in a space where I’m alone and I’ve got a variety of beats. I like to be myself and free and have my own space. That’s how I create. 

Your single “Beef FloMix” had success on social media before hitting the number two spot on Spotify’s Viral 50 in April 2019. What changes did you observe after being featured on the playlist?

I think my streams went up even more, of course. I got more fans and just a lot of added traction towards my music and videos, everything. So I think it helped a lot. It’s dope to be put on those playlists, because a lot of like youth of course have Spotify and they listen on the app, and those playlists influence them. 

What would you say to aspiring young female rappers who aren’t sure where to begin?

I would encourage them to always follow what they feel strongly about. Don’t let anybody come in between your opinions about your craft and what you create and build. Stick to what you think is cool, because only you know what’s good. Surround yourself with people who have your best interests and never give up.

It’s a unique time for everyone. How have you stayed positive in spite of everything the year has thrown at us?

I just started to learn how food can affect you and your mood. I’ve also been going to sleep saying positive affirmations. There’s hella videos where you could just play them while you’re going to sleep. And like all those affirmations go into your subconscious mind. And before you know it, you’re going to have all these affirmations in your head. I would just encourage everybody to do that with everything going on in the world. 

What are you looking forward to as Spotify’s current U.S. RADAR artist?

I’m looking forward to just my hard work being highlighted. My goal is to get the messages of the songs across in the best way and to keep the ball rolling the entire year. 

Stream Flo Milli’s mixtape, Ho, why is you here? below. 

Meet DORA, the RADAR Teen Rewriting What It Means to Be a Global Pop Star

December 22, 2020

Spanish singer-songwriter DORA has had a busy year—and that’s putting it lightly. At just 16, she’s already graced the cover of Vogue España and appeared on the soundtrack for Élite, a popular Netflix show. Now the Madrid-based artist can add another item to the list: she’s a part of Spotify’s global emerging-artist program, RADAR.

Launched in March 2020, the program features artists from over 50 markets worldwide and helps performers at early stages of their careers broaden their fan bases through Spotify’s social channels, curated playlists, and tailored marketing initiatives.

DORA is the sole author behind many of her genre-bending tracks. She shifts between English and Spanish with ease, singing over tracks influenced in equal measure by 2000s bubblegum pop, moody indie rock, and pulsing EDM. Since the launch of RADAR, DORA has released three singles, some of which were even recorded in her school uniform: the twinkly discoteca-ready “Oxena,” acoustic-driven “Hoy,” and infectious English-language “Stay.” 

We sat down with the RADAR artist to learn more about how she got here—and where she’s planning on going next.

You’ve had a pretty meteoric rise in the past year. What’s it been like to see your career take off?

It’s a blessing to see my music reach a wider audience throughout the years, and seeing the different people that follow me into this journey is amazing. For me, it’s like watching my newborn baby getting older—I accompany my music’s steps. I put work into it, and my music gives me a lot of other beautiful things in exchange.

Meet The Kid LAROI, Spotify’s Third U.S. RADAR Artist

October 21, 2020

In March, Spotify launched our global emerging-artist program, RADAR, to help artists across all stages of their career use the strength of our platform to deepen connections to their audiences. We recently doubled down on that commitment by launching the RADAR Global Hub, and today we’re continuing to expand RADAR in the U.S. through our newest partnership with teenage hip-hop artist The Kid LAROI.

The 17-year-old rapper, born Charlton Howard, is proving that for the rising generation filled with promising talent, yesterday’s borders are no longer barriers. LAROI was born in Sydney to a mother of Aboriginal descent and a French father, and grew up with his mother and uncle. He was always listening to America’s adored exports (e.g., hip-hop and R&B) and was especially passionate about icons like Tupac, Erykah Badu, The Fugees, Lil Wayne, and Kanye West.

After the tragic death of his uncle in 2015, LAROI and his mother moved into a housing project. To overcome his despair, LAROI honed his music, filling notebooks with rhymes and fine-tuning his lyricism and flow. It wasn’t until he started uploading freestyle videos did he begin to amass an audience to tell his stories to.

Now LA-based, The Kid LAROI has a staggering 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and his name adorns some of Spotify’s most popular playlists, including RapCaviar, Pop Rising, Most Necessary, Internet People, Tear Drop, Hot Rhythmic, and more. LAROI has also cultivated collaborations with leading artists across all genres, including Marshmello, Lil Tecca, Lil Tjay, Lil Mosey, Internet Money, and the late Juice WRLD. His steady stream of hallmark tracks this year are just the beginning, with highly anticipated projects set to release this fall.

“The Kid LAROI is an artist we’ve been watching closely for the last eighteen months,” says Ned Monahan, Spotify’s Head of Global Hits. “LAROI developed a rabid fan base in Australia and then translated it to an even bigger audience in the U.S., which is incredibly rare and speaks to his potential as a global hit maker. The vulnerability and boldness of his music places him at the heart of young music audiences across the world. We can’t wait to see LAROI break on a superstar level.”

As a RADAR artist, LAROI will be featured on our RADAR playlist, he’ll create a Spotify Singles recording, and he’ll receive promotional support for his upcoming releases. The Kid LAROI’s campaign will also include a forthcoming mini-documentary to premiere later this November.

We caught up with the newly anointed RADAR U.S. artist for an inside look at his plans for 2020 and beyond. 

At what point in your life did you realize you wanted to pursue a musical career? What was your first step in making it happen?

Right from the start, honestly. Some of my earliest memories involve music. The first step is actually doing it. You can only do so much planning before it’s time to execute. I was already writing and recording when I could, so getting that studio experience early on was pivotal.

You have been very open about Juice WRLD’s being your mentor. How did that relationship influence your creative process? What memories do you have from touring together?

My biggest memories from Juice is how he always went all out for his fans no matter what while on tour. Regardless of how he was feeling that day or if he wasn’t having the best day, you couldn’t tell once he got onstage, and that’s how I want to be. You have to put the fans first because we wouldn’t be here without them. Working with him definitely expanded my creativity and increased my love for making music.

What are you looking forward to as Spotify’s new U.S. RADAR artist?

Everything. Looking forward to seeing how the fans receive everything. The family’s growing stronger and stronger every day.

How has growing up in Australia influenced your perspective and work ethic as an artist? What has that journey been like transitioning into (and now gaining recognition in) the U.S. market? 

My upbringing really just made me a go-getter. It implanted the work ethic that got me to where I am now. The journey has been fun and challenging so far. Quarantine has kind of slowed things down a bit as far as going out and actually doing shows, but even so it’s been worth it. The transition was made much easier because of my team around me. They make sure I’m always comfortable and at home.

What’s one thing you’d want aspiring artists to know?

Things might not go according to plan to start off, but never give up chasing your dreams.

Stream “This is The Kid LAROI” below. Then get to know other RADAR artists Alaina Castillo, Agnes Nunes, Lous & The Yakuza, CHAII, and more.

This Week on the ‘Spotify: For the Record’ Podcast, Hear From the Artists on Our RADAR

October 1, 2020

September marked six months since the launch of our global emerging-artist program, RADAR. Now, with this week’s episode of Spotify: For the Record, we go on a journey of discovery with Andy Sloan-Vincent from Spotify’s International Music Team to learn more about RADAR and the commitment to spotlighting rising talent.

The episode also dives into the music and backstories of five RADAR artists. Tune in to get to know: 

  • Japan-born, U.K.-based Rina Sawayama, who talks about navigating her Asian and queer identities in music and life.
  • Australian merci, mercy, an introspective, self-aware singer-songwriter who has released two singles since working with Spotify.
  • Young T & Bugsey, Londoners whose song “Don’t Rush” became the soundtrack to a social media sensation and propelled them to their own streaming success.
  • NYC-based J.I the Prince of N.Y, who overcame getting booed off the stage at age 15 to become a national hit, with billboards around the U.S.
  • Lous and the Yakuza, a Belgian-Congolese singer and songwriter who can record in every language from French to Spanish to Congolese—and now has an international fan base to match.  

Listen to “On the RADAR: Emerging Artists Find their Voice” here.

Celebrate Six Months of RADAR Around the World

September 17, 2020

In March, we announced RADAR, our emerging-artist program spotlighting rising talent from around the globe—from Brazil to Japan to Germany to New Zealand and beyond. Now, six months and more than 2 billion streams later, we’re excited to share the debut of our on-platform RADAR hub, home to extensive, original, and exclusive RADAR content.

The launch of this emerging-artist program has propelled the growth of RADAR artists around the world—and fans are listening. Take a look at how much they’ve streamed these rising artists:

Spotify’s RADAR Program Launches Second US Artist, J.I The Prince of N.Y Alongside New Content

July 15, 2020

RADAR, Spotify’s global emerging artist program that launched in March 2020, represents Spotify’s commitment to supporting artists across all genres and stages of their development. We created RADAR, along with its 20 global sister programs, to harness the strength of our platform to deepen new artist connections to their audiences. Today, in the next step of the RADAR journey, we are excited to announce our newest partnership with NYC-based rapper J.I The Prince of N.Y. 

“Our team is excited to announce its partnership with J.I The Prince of N.Y for its RADAR program,” says Carl Chery, Spotify’s Head of Urban. “We look forward to helping develop the career of one of the most promising new rappers in the game.” Ned Monahan, Spotify’s Head of Global Hits, continues, “We’re proud to be championing world-class talent through our global marketing and editorial teams with RADAR. J.I has built a devoted fan base that is ready to support him as he continues to grow and attain a broader audience. We couldn’t be more excited to be a part of this development.”

J.I The Prince of N.Y is the second 2020 U.S. RADAR artist. He’s already made waves in the rap community and is known for his melodic flow, infectious charisma, and powerfully honest lyrics. “I used to write short stories in school,” says J.I The Prince of N.Y.  “English was my favorite subject and it inspired me to try and write music at 12. And then at the age of 14, I went for it and put myself out there.”

At 14, the Puerto Rican-native—by way of Crown Heights, Brooklyn—began posting his freestyles on Instagram and soon caught the attention of legendary rapper-producer-executive Jermaine Dupri.

“I used to create videos of myself rapping and would upload them and tag the show, production, and Jermaine Dupri,” the rapper explained. “He started following me on social media, and then they reached out and finally flew me out to record [The Rap Game]. This show gave me a platform and it’s exactly what I needed.”

As the rapper’s star continues to rise, Spotify is propelling J.I The Prince of N.Y’s further success through the RADAR program’s wide universe of original content. That includes the forthcoming mini-documentary premiering on HotNewHipHop with a trailer out today, third-party partnerships, features in On Our Radar and RapCaviar playlists, a Spotify Singles recording, support on his album release, and marketing and social promotion across each tentpole initiative.

“I want to stress to all aspiring artists that a solid team behind you is what you need. When I started my career I had my family working with me,” J.I The Prince of N.Y explained. But “the reality is that they were not industry connected.”

J.I The Prince of N.Y has captured the attention of artists such as Jadakiss, Cardi B, and Drake, who recently sang along to his track “Used To” on Instagram Live. His music continues to be shared with his fan base, which includes over 1.4 million followers.

J.I The Prince of N.Y’s single “Need Me” is now climbing past the 89 million stream mark, and “Love Scars” and “Proud of Me” total over 300 million streams on Spotify. The East Coast rapper, who has cemented his place as a rising star to look out for, is set to release his new EP, Welcome To G Starr Vol. 1, on July 17, which is only the tip of the iceberg. He has a wave of music in store for his fans and a new approach to changing the game.

“Some of the artists that I am listening to include Novani, a rapper from Brooklyn who stays true to himself; and Toosie—he is blowing up and I am planning on working with him,” he said. “We need inspiring artists. We are in a weird gap in the music industry and we need more artists to make an impact in a positive way.” 

Since RADAR launched, Spotify has supported and helped spotlight breakthrough artists such as the first U.S. RADAR artist, Alaina Castillo, as well as Agnes Nunes (Brazil), Lous & The Yakuza (Belgium), CHAII (Iran), and more. With RADAR, Spotify uses its strength in discovery to support artists of all levels and genres globally so they can be heard and supported in every way throughout their careers.

“I am excited to be presented with this global opportunity . . . with all of Spotify’s support, it’s just adding fuel to our jet pack,” J.I The Prince of N.Y said. “I don’t plan on going anywhere and people will need to get used to me.”

Stream J.I The Prince of N.Y’s top hits below.

Germany’s Zoe Wees Owns Her Journey on Powerful Debut Single

July 6, 2020

Photo credit: Svenja Blobel

Every artist dreams of penning a breakthrough track—one that opens all the right doors. The 18-year-old German singer-songwriter Zoe Wees hit that benchmark with her very first single, “Control,” a vulnerable ballad centered on plaintive piano and a powerhouse vocal performance.

Since its release in March, the song has charted on Spotify’s Viral 50 in dozens of countries, and between “Control” and her guest feature on Hamburg duo Moonbootica’s 2019 single “Hibernating,” Zoe has already secured more than 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify. 

“It feels like I’m dreaming,” Zoe tells For the Record. “It’s unbelievable how much feedback I get every day.”

And now, Zoe has been picked to represent Germany in Spotify’s global emerging artist program, RADAR. The program features artists from over 50 markets worldwide and helps performers at early stages of their careers broaden their fan bases. Awareness of the artists is built through Spotify’s social channels, RADAR playlists curated by Spotify’s editors, and bespoke marketing initiatives.

“It’s a great honor for me to be part of the program,” Zoe says. “Spotify helped me to build my fan base from scratch and helped me reach people from all over the world who can relate with my story. They discover me on Spotify and reach out to me on my social media channels to tell me how much they like it. That’s magical, and I’m very grateful for that.”

Part of Zoe’s success lies with her ability to connect with listeners. “Control” is a deeply emotional song with lyrics that are relatable to anyone who’s ever struggled with anxiety and the feeling of not being in control. The lyrics actually draw from something much more specific in Zoe’s life: her prolonged struggle with benign rolandic epilepsy (BRE), a condition in some children that causes nighttime seizures strong enough to wake them. Though BRE often resolves itself during puberty, its formative effects on a child can linger well into adulthood.

“This disease had me fighting for years with problems like helplessness and exclusion from a very young age,” Zoe explains. “The sickness was stronger than me and left scars that have become part of my life. Accepting them has taken so much time, but they make me what I am today: a fighter. ‘Control’ is not only the story of the end of a long struggle for me, but also the beginning of leaving my past behind.”

Dedicated to a teacher who helped her through the darkest times of her condition, “Control” finds Zoe taking ownership of her story in a way that allows her to move on. “I’m so happy that I can finally tell the story of the most important and also the most difficult phase of my life,” she says. “Even though it was painful to write, it was also very healing. The whole process was therapeutic, giving me an opportunity to contain the fear and to deal with the pain.” 

As “Control” continues to wow new listeners, Zoe will be working on a follow-up track. And while the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the touring she had planned for this year, it hasn’t slowed the song’s prodigious rise online—especially on Spotify.

Listen to Zoe’s single, “Control.”

South African Rapper Willy Cardiac Is a Global Star in the Making

July 2, 2020

Willy Cardiac may have just turned 19, but the rapper has been a breakout talent in South Africa for several years. And now the Pretoria-based teen has leveled up with his new single “Fan of Me,” featuring a guest turn from Grammy-winning R&B singer-songwriter Eric Bellinger (who has co-penned tracks for Usher and Justin Bieber). The AutoTune-glossed earworm came to him following a quick trip to California.

“I recorded the song right after I got back from LA,” he told For the Record, beaming. “I thought it was fire and sent it to my manager the next morning. My manager sent the song to Eric’s team and he sent his verse back in less than 24 hours. Insane, right?”

This track isn’t the only thing Willy has going on right now. He was recently chosen to represent South Africa for Spotify’s global emerging artist program, RADAR. The program features artists from over 50 markets worldwide and helps performers at all stages of their careers strengthen their connection to audiences via Spotify’s social channels, RADAR playlists curated by Spotify’s editors, and bespoke marketing initiatives.

“It definitely feels great to be a part of it,” says Willy. “Spotify is helping me get my music out to a wider crowd and get a bigger fan base. I’m honored.”

It’s no surprise Willy’s talent has led him to RADAR. Last year, he had a career-making run of singles. Take “Sippy Dippy,” which applies relentless come-ons and put-downs over darkly coiled production. It confirms Willy’s knack for smooth, mantra-like refrains that contrast perfectly with the spiky urgency of his verses. “Blicky” on the other hand is more overtly grime in tone, while “No Percs” showcases a softer vocal delivery over clean, melodic electronics and low-slung bass swells.

After releasing six singles in little more than a year’s time, it’s no surprise that Willy is now focused on his debut album. “I’m working on new songs and tapping into a lot of genres, trying to show people the more versatile side of me,” he says. “It’s gonna be crazy when people hear this new music. They’re not gonna believe it.”

Willy has been writing music since age 10 and started recording himself rapping on his phone a few years after that. He traces his lifelong passion for hip-hop back to discovering Lil Wayne as a child. “He caught my attention the first time I saw him on a music video,” recalls Willy. “I knew right there that I wanted to be just like him.”

Despite the small rap scene in Pretoria, a sprawling mountainside city with a population under 3 million, Willy says he’s always felt like he was speaking to people through his music. “You have to start somewhere, right?” he says. “I officially recorded my first song when I was 16. I just blew up from there. I never stopped from then on.”

By early 2020 Willy was performing live at South African rap icon Riky Rick’s stacked Cotton Fest in Johannesburg and was included on several media platforms’ lists of MCs to look out for in the coming year.

Now, with the help of RADAR, Willy’s music will reach an ever-greater audience. “My mission has always been to blow up globally, [so] it’s great to see that things are finally falling into place,” says Willy. “I can’t wait for what the future holds.”

Check out some of Willy’s top hits.

India’s Sanjeeta Bhattacharya Dabbles Freely Across Styles

July 2, 2020

Sanjeeta Bhattacharya may have studied overseas at Boston’s famed Berklee College of Music, but the Delhi-based singer-songwriter is really a lifelong student of music. Growing up in an artistic family, she embarked on taking piano lessons and learning classical dance when she was just five. Fast-forward to today, and at age 24 she plays Balkan music and flamenco as readily as she plays jazz, pop, and folk.

“A lot of my learning was based on ear training,” Bhattacharya tells For the Record, referring to the fundamental method of identifying pitches and other musical elements by hearing alone. “As a result, I still relate to and lean toward eastern harmony, and the melodies I write incorporate these inflections. It has made me open to ideas, and I often find myself drawing parallels in what I hear and see around the world with my own roots.”

That global perspective is what makes Bhattacharya a great fit for India in Spotify’s global emerging artist program, RADAR. The program features artists from over 50 markets worldwide and helps performers at all stages of their careers strengthen their connection to audiences via Spotify’s social channels, RADAR playlists curated by Spotify’s editors, and bespoke marketing initiatives. 

“I feel very humbled and grateful,” Bhattacharya says of her inclusion in the RADAR program. “I love the concept and am thankful they’ve chosen to amplify my music through this initiative. It warms me to know that the music I write truthfully, and the stories I want to share, are able to reach a global audience.”

At Berklee, Bhattacharya had the chance to watch artists like Esperanza Spalding and Herbie Hancock play live. “You have access to music from the world over on the internet, but to experience it in person is very different,” she says. “The one thing I took away from college is humility—to recognize that one of the greatest gifts we have is the power to communicate, and to use that power responsibly.” 

Emotional communication through lyrics is one of Bhattacharya’s obvious strengths, whether she’s duetting with Susmit Bose on the American folk standard “Wayfaring Stranger” for the soundtrack of the 2016 movie M Cream or tenderly plucking heartstrings against plaintive violin and cello on 2017’s “I Will Wait.” Her singing rises and flutters beautifully while remaining controlled and emotionally grounded, even when making a jazzier turn on 2018’s “Natsukashii” or stripping down to smoldering folk balladry for “Watercolour” featuring New Delhi singer-guitarist Dhruv Visvanath.

Though she primarily sings in English, which she grew up speaking, along with Hindi and Bengali, Bhattacharya has sung in Spanish and other languages, too. Inspired by “the divine friendship” between philosophical poets Rumi and Shams-i-Tabrīzī around the turn of the 13th century, her 2018 single “Shams” includes lyrics in both Hindi and Urdu, while “Natsukashii” takes its name from a Japanese word for nostalgia.

“I have always had a fascination for languages,” she says. “They connect me in some way to the history of the places where those languages were born. I like to explore these languages and see how best I can relate them with experiences in my own life.”

Following her studies at Berklee, where one highlight was performing at a live tribute to iconic Indian composer A.R. Rahman at the Boston Symphony Hall, Bhattacharya returned to India, balancing close-quarters gigs with large-scale festivals.

She has toured much of the country, though she has yet to play in Madhya Pradesh, a large state in central India. While that’s very much on her list, she has been limited this year by the impacts of COVID-19. But rather than let that sideline her, Bhattacharya has been hosting live-streamed concerts and donating all proceeds to nonprofit organizations. 

“I love playing unplugged, rather than singing into microphones; it’s very liberating to me,” she says of the live-streaming experience. “That being said, I do miss the energy of an audience that surrounds you. Seeing faces react, hearing their voices, feeling the warmth in the room makes a huge difference to me. I hope we are able to cope and recoup soon, and share our stories at least with an intimate gathering.”

Check Sanjeeta’s top tracks on Spotify.

New Zealand’s CHAII Brings Persian Flair to Hip-Hop

June 17, 2020

Soon after migrating to New Zealand at age eight, the Iranian artist CHAII heard Eminem and felt “instantly hooked.” Three years later she was making music herself. Fast-forward to today, and her swaggering, pop-friendly hybrid of Western hip-hop and Persian musical touchstones is making a massive splash, leading her to being included in Spotify’s global emerging artist program, RADAR.

The program features artists from over 50 markets worldwide and helps performers at early stages of their careers broaden their fan bases. Awareness of the artists is built through Spotify’s social channels, RADAR playlists curated by Spotify’s editors, and bespoke marketing initiatives.

Originally from Ahwaz, Iran, CHAII paid tribute to the region with her debut single, 2019’s “South.” The song incorporates sounds from southern Iran, which is home to a deeply rhythmic style of traditional dance music called Bandari. This style of music combines Persian instruments like the tombak and daf with Afro-Cuban instruments like conga and talking drums. 

“It’s very inspiring, especially the drums and percussion in the 6/8 time signature,” CHAII tells For the Record. “Persians love dancing, and 6/8 gets you moving no matter where you are in the world.” She also credits modern classics from Persian artists like Googoosh and Siavash Ghomayshi for reminding her of her native country’s musical offerings during her rap-heavy teen years. 

Those mingling global influences inform her own music today: her breakthrough track “Digebasse” sees her rapping in both English and Farsi alongside an equally international guest in B Wise, an Australian rapper with Nigerian heritage.

“Rapping in Farsi came naturally for me,” she says. “It also helped me practice my native tongue. Incorporating traditional Persian music into the hip-hop world [has been] a very long but fun process. I’m still experimenting with it and feel I’ve only just scratched the surface.”

Her punchy, continent-jumping sound recalls the similarly worldly hip-hop of artists like M.I.A. and Tkay Maidza, especially on her new single “Lightswitch.” Produced by Frank Eliesa of the genre-bending New Zealand ensemble Yoko-Zuna, the song packs CHAII’s nonchalant lyrical takedown into a brisk three minutes of catchy hip-hop.

“‘Lightswitch’ reflects on my journey in music so far, working hard to get to every stage,” says CHAII. “Coming to the conclusion that you can’t please everyone and have to own what you do. To live with no regrets and be bold.” She also connects the song to some of the Iranian artists now based in Los Angeles who similarly have brought their country’s music to wider audiences. Like so many artists at the moment, CHAII watched her year’s plans dissipate somewhat in the wake of the pandemic. She was slated to make her debut at SXSW this year, for example, before the festival was cancelled due to COVID-19. Yet she remains upbeat, using this time to reflect and work ahead.

“I’m used to having to adapt to change, especially from being in the music industry,” she says. “Even though it’s a crazy time, I see it as a time to refocus and write more music. [And] to make a bigger and better show for when the time comes to resume our shows overseas.” 

For now, CHAII’s already considerable international reach will get a serious boost thanks to her inclusion in RADAR. “I was truly surprised to be chosen,” says CHAII. “It’s a partnership I’m hugely looking forward to. Spotify has been a big part of getting my music to a wider audience, regardless of not fitting [into any one] box. My music is an example and a reflection of cultures morphing, and I feel the world needs to see, hear, and experience more of that.”

Check out more of the artists selected for Spotify’s global RADAR program.

Agnes Nunes Is Brazil’s New Go-To Collaborator

May 27, 2020

When Agnes Nunes was 12, she asked her mother for a cell phone. She got a keyboard instead, a twist of fate that would reshape the Brazilian singer’s entire future. And so, in the mountain-flanked city of Campina Grande, she began teaching herself how to play the instrument that had slipped quietly into her life.

“I started inside my mother’s apartment,” she told For the Record. “I used to play my keyboard in front of the window. I started recording myself and that’s how it all started.”

Her recordings grew into videos of herself performing cover songs that she would post online, showcasing the soulful poise and sensitivity of her vocals as well as her progressing keyboard work. Those covers snagged the attention of Rio de Janeiro rapper-singer Xamã (“Shaman” in English), and last year the pair enjoyed a breakthrough collaboration with “Cida,” a romantic duet that unfolds over wispy keys and gentle acoustic guitar.

Besides earning herself an instant calling card with that heartbreaking song, her association with Xamã led to her first record deal with the São Paulo label Bagua. “Xamã is kind of a godfather to me,” said Nunes. “He was the one who introduced me to my label, [which] now is a family to me.”

Their seamless pairing also yielded the four-song EP Elas Por Elas (“They For They”), produced by Nunes’s repeat collaborator CMK. Featuring “Cida,” the EP further illuminates her versatility, thanks to the spectral piano ballad “Dolores” and the samba-kissed “Sônia.” There’s also “Rose,” which pivots from a jazzy slow burn to funky disco pop, with Nunes gliding over the upbeat dance-floor summons with heavenly finesse.

Influenced by vocalists as diverse as Nina Simone, SZA, and Rihanna, Nunes brings a smoldering intimacy to everything she sings. That includes her debut single, “Segredo” (“Secret”), which pairs a skeletal keyboard hook with electronic beats and flourishes, and the more swaggering, R&B-shaded “100 por Hora” (“100 per Hour”), which references both iconic criminal couple Bonnie and Clyde and northeastern Brazil’s popular genre and dance, forró.

Singing in her native Portuguese, Nunes has found that her music travels well across other countries and cultures, transcending any would-be language barrier. “I think Brazilian music is well accepted in the whole world,” she said. “We had masters that opened this door for my generation. I receive a lot of messages from people from all kinds of countries, but especially where Portuguese is the mother language, like Portugal and Angola.”

Nunes’s varied run of singles and collaborations—in 2019 she also released a track with acclaimed Brazilian songwriter Tiago Iorc entitled “Pode Se Achegar” and appeared on Chico César’s orchestral yet funky “De Peito Alberto”—has already established the young artist as a rare singer who can slot into practically any setting while retaining her delicate phrasing and distinctive accent. This flexibility made her a fitting candidate for Spotify’s global emerging artist program, RADAR. The program features artists from over 50 markets worldwide and helps performers at all stages of their careers strengthen their connection to audiences via Spotify’s social channels, RADAR playlists curated by Spotify’s editors, and bespoke marketing initiatives.

Such an opportunity is definitely a step in the right direction for Nunes, who has grown by leaps and bounds from when she was that curious 12-year-old teaching herself keyboard in her mom’s apartment. When asked about her goals for the future, she answers simply, “Music. Music is my plan and goal for life.”

Check out more of the artists selected for Spotify’s global RADAR program.