Live concert photography of MSPAINT with DAZY and AMI at Baby’s All Right last month.
New Video: Alain Void Shares 80s Synth Pop-Inspired “Roba de pecore”
Italian electronic musician and producer Alain Void emerged into the synthwave/electro pop scene back in 2022 with his solo recording project, Empty Essence, which meshed elements of post-punk, electro pop and darkwave with lyrics that tackle philosophical themes.
Over the past year, Void stepped out into the spotlight as a solo artist, writing and recording under his own name. He was inspired by the need to spread awareness and awaken consciences through music.
His latest single “Roba de pecore” brings Violator-era Depeche Mode to mind with Void’s Dave Gahan-like vocal being paired with glistening synth arpeggios, thumping beats and some remarkably catchy hooks.
The accompanying video is a gorgeously cinematic shot, black and white fever dream.
Throwback: Happy Black History Month: Billie Holiday
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Black History Month — and pays tribute to Billie Holiday.
New Video: Adrian Jean Shares Sultry Bop “Cachaça”
Adrian Jean is an American-born, Brazilian-based R&B and pop singer/songwriter and producer, who currently splits his time between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Influenced by Stevie Wonder, Frank Ocean and Teena Marie, he quickly established a sound that blends old school with contemporary sounds with the release of his debut single, 2019’s “See The Stars,” which lead to his being named as a Bandsintown Big Break Artist. Jean has become a TikTok sensation with his work amassing over 25 million streams on the platform.
Since relocating to Brazil, Jean has built a strong connection with the country, collaborating with renowned local artists like Carol Biazin, MC Du Black, Ebony and YOUN, as well as production teams like Los Brasileros and Htimaker. Here in the States, Jean has collaborated with Jimmy Burney and Janette Sewell, best known as the co-writer of the Grammy Award-winning, smash hit “Empire State of Mind.“
The American-born, Brazilian-based artist’s highly anticipated EP King Size, which is slated for a May 2025 release. The EP’s first single is The Hitmaker — the production team of Andre Vieira, Wallace Vianna, and Breder — produced, show-stopping “Cachaça,” a seamless synthesis of contemporary pop and R&B, trap and Brazilian funk paired with Jean’s soulful crooning describing a universal sentiment — the desire to drink and dance away your heartache.
“Cachaça” can trace its origins back to a wildly successful songwriting camp hosted by Jean in Petrópolis, Brazil in 2021. He gathered a team that included Jimmy Burney, Carol Biazin, DAY, Limns and Hitmaker
Cachaça” was born during a songwriting camp hosted by Adrian in Petrópolis in 2021, and it continues to deliver hits today. For this track, he gathered an impressive team: Jimmy Burney, Carol Biazin, DAY Limns, and Hitmaker. “I didn’t sit in the studio thinking ‘today we’re going to make funk,'” Adrian Jean says. “My approach was: ‘today we’re going to create good music.'”
“The result was a song that, to me, sounds like a major label release; something I could hear on the radio,” he adds. “That made me feel great, knowing I produced this record. After working in Brazil for four years and immersing myself in the culture, I feel this is an inevitable reflection of my musical journey here.”
Directed by Junior Scoz and choreographed by Flávio Verne and Nayane Fernandes, the accompanying video for “Cachaça” was filmed in a bar in São Paulo emphasizes the song’s sultry, buzzing energy — while capturing the narrator’s desire to obliterate his pain with booze and dancing.
“Cachaça” was also part of the soundtrack for the Raphael Montes-written soap opera Beleza Fatal, which premiered on HBO last month.
Throwback: Happy Black History Month: Aretha Franklin
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Black History Month — and pays tribute to Aretha Franklin.
Throwback: Happy 51st Birthday, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates French touch pioneer Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo’s 51st birthday.
Throwback: Happy 64th Birthday, Vince Neil!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Vince Neil’s 64th birthday.
New Video: Maga Córdova Shares Sultry “Lluvia (LIKE YOU)”
María Gracia Córdova, best known as Maga Córdova is a Guayaquil, Ecuador-born singer/songwriter, who can trace the origins of her career to her childhood: Her parents taught her that music was arguably the most genuine form of human expression.
Back in 2016, Córdova was a participant on La Voz Ecuador, where she acquired a number of valuable tools both professionally and personally, which helped her to start a solo career, which led to signing with a local record company.
Córdova released a handful of singles, including 2018’s “No Me Dejes Sola,” “Te Lo Buscaste,” “Amor Camuflado,” her hit “Error Tras Error,” and the 2021 international collaboration with Martina La Peligrosa “Cuando Nos Encontremos,” have helped her win a dedicated fanbase in Ecuador. Adding to a growing profile, she has shared stages with Morat, Greeicy, Gian Marco, Noel Schajris, Piso 21, Sebastián Yatra, Mau y Ricky and Luis Miguel.
After a years’ long hiatus, the Ecuadorian artist released three singles last year “Mil Gracias (KARMA),” “Vuelvo a Volar (HIGHLIGHTER)” and “Soy Otra,” which reflected her own evolution as a person and artist, while highlighting female empowerment. Those three tracks topped the Ecuadorian charts, demonstrating both her talent and the connection she has with her fans.
This year, the Ecuadorian artist plans to release a batch of new material that includes her latest single “Lluvia (LIKE YOU),” a slick, dance floor friendly synthesis of Larry Levan-like house, Latin music and Afrobeats anchored around the Ecuadorian artist’s sultry delivery.
The single is accompanied by a gorgeous visual shot at lakefront party that features some incredibly sexy dancing.
New Audio: Amira Jazeera Shares Flirty “Luv U Down”
Amira Jazeera is a queer Palestinian-American artist and producer, who currently splits her time between Chicago and Los Angeles. Raised with a fervent love for pop music, Jazeera’s work sees her pairing powerhouse vocals, catchy melodies and contemporary R&B and pop production with 80s and 2000s influences, 00s Arabic music samples.
Her work is often characterized by an emotional depth uncommon in most contemporary pop, sultry undertones — but anchored in empowerment.
Jazeera’s latest single “Luv U Down” is a fun, flirty electro pop tune along the lines of Janet Jackson‘s “When I Think Of You,” Madonna‘s “Dress You Up” and contemporary Finnish pop act Beverly Girl that evokes the thrill of finally having an intimate moment with that person you’ve longed forever for, or that lover, who knows how to touch you in the right spots. It’s an expression of the playful yet knowing level of lust, obsession and anticipation that are the best — and most fun — part of romantic affairs.
New Audio: Club 8 Shares Breakneck, Smiths-like “None Of This Will Matter When You’re Dead”
Last year, Stockhom-based JOVM mainstays Club 8 — Karolina Komstedt (vocals) and electronic music producer, artist and Labrador Records founder and label boss Johan Angergård — released their 11th album, A Year With Club 8, which featured the Joy Division/New Order-meets-The Raveonettes-like “Something’s Wrong With My Head,” a woozily blissful and escapist song that continued a run of material dabbling in 80s New Wave nostalgia.
The Swedish duo began the year with “ooo,” which continued where A Year With Club 8 left off — breezy and escapist, New Wave-inspired pop featuring shimmering guitars and driving grooves paired with ethereal yet expressive vocals.
Clocking in at 83 seconds, the duo’s second and latest single of the year “None of This Will Matter If You’re Dead” is a breakneck bit of Smiths-inspired guitar pop, anchored around shimmering guitars, a motorik groove, big catchy hook and choruses paired with Komstedt’s ethereal delivery expressing swooning heartbreak and defiance simultaneously.
Throwback: Happy Black History Month/Happy 51st Birthday, J. Dilla!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Black History Month and the 51st anniversary of the birth of J. Dilla.
New Audio: The Knocks and Dragonette Shares Slick, 80s Synth-Inspired “Revelation”
New York-based electronic music duo The Knocks — James Patterson and Ben Ruttner — are a prolific, Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum selling electronic dance music production and artist duo known for crafting a carefree and fun, deeply New York-inspired sound that draws from disco, house, hip-hop, soul. funk, indie and pop.
Their three full-length albums. five EPs and multiple smash hit singles have amassed over 2.5 billion streams globally. Adding to a global profile, the duo have played DJ sets and live sets at venues, clubs and festivals globally, while making a run of the domestic, late night TV circuit with performances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Tonight Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and Late Night with Seth Meyers. Adding to a rising global platform, the New York-based duo have collaborated with an eclectic array of artists across the musical spectrum including Foster The People, MGMT, MUNA, Cam’ron, Wyclef, Method Man, Purple Disco Machine, ODESZA, JOVM mainstays SOFI TUKKER and pop superstars Billie Eilish, Carly Rare Jepsen and Charli XCX.
Martina Sorbara, is a Juno Award-winning, Toronto-based singer/songwriter and pop artist, best known as Dragonette has managed to live multiple musical lifetimes over the past 15 years. A highly sought-after songwriter, Sorbara has scored numerous global hits, including “Pick Up the Phone,” “Let It Go,” and the chart-topping “Hello” with Martin Solveig.
Sorbara has collaborated with some of the world’s biggest DJs, including Basement Jaxx, Kaskade and Galantis while releasing four critically acclaimed albums, including 2009’s Juno Award-nominated Fixin to Thrill and 2012’s Bodyparts. Along the way, the Canadian artist has headlined shows across the globe. Adding to a global profile, she has opened for Duran Duran, New Order, Ke$sha and Miike Snow while playing at some of the biggest festivals across the global scene, including Coachella, Electric Daisy Carnival, Glastonbury and Lollapalooza.
A longtime priority songwriter with Sony/ATV Publishing, Sorbara has regularly worked with acts on UMG, Warner Music, Syco and Spinnin.‘ Her musically diverse credits include songs for Keith Urban, Cyndi Lauper, Pretty Sister, Mike Mago and Carly Rae Jepsen.
The Knocks and Dragonette first collaborated on 2019’s Grammy-nominated single “Slow Song.” They continue their successful collaboration with “Revelation,” a slick, hook-driven, 80s synth pop-inspired bop centered around glistening and arpeggio synths that brings Stevie Nicks‘ “Stand Back” to mind paired with Sorbara’s yearning, pop starlet delivery. The song is an effortless club and lounge friendly bop.
The accompanying visualizer s set in a 1980s corporate lineal space at the fictional company Revelation Technologies and features RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Aquaria, the muse behind the song.