Tag: dance

Day 18: 7 rings by Ariana Grande

New James Blake? New Future? Obviously not, today we’re focusing on arguably the biggest star on the planet right now (minus a certain Instagram egg of course), Ariana Grande. Who would’ve thought the best friend on Nickelodeon’s Victorius would turn into the this multi-faceted, strong female icon (it was my sister that watched it. Not me. Promise).

As has been the case with her most recent string of hits (her album Sweetener and her last singles thank u, next and imagine), 7 rings has had a lot of hype surrounding it. She has been teasing it on her Instagram and Twitter for weeks now and is yet again an unapologetically fierce anthem aimed at empowering successful young women.

It revolves around the true story of returning her engagement ring after she split with fiance Pete Davidson less than two months after the death of ex-boyfriend Mac Miller from overdosing. Having had a traumatic few months, she went with her friends to return the ring to Tiffany’s, only to buy 7 rings and give one to everyone that was with her. The video that was released earlier this morning features those friends and is a decadent, neon-lit visualisation of the freedom that Ariana’ssuccess has given her.

The song opens with a perfectly fitting sample of The Sound of Music’s song, My Favourite Things. It seems so simple and obvious when you first hear Ariana singing her extravagant wishlist, and it really sets the tone of the whole song, with the melody being used repeatedly through the song too.

This is a sassier, sharper side to the Ariana that we heard on thank u, next. Littered with expletives, it doesn’t ask for permission and clearly shows her desires and wishes (she described the song as “a flex” on her Twitter). Where thank u, next looked to the past and was an ode to her ex-boyfriends, 7 rings lives in the moment. It’s an impulse buy, a snap decision of a song with no regrets. It feels reminiscent of Beyonce’s earlier work, and the role model that Ariana is becoming for young women everywhere isn’t a million miles away from how Queen Bee is viewed.

Sweetener was a great album and seemed to showcase just how good a singer Ariana was. The singles since then have felt more timeless and iconic (despite being written in a specific, highly publicised era of her life) and this follows suit. Ariana is leading up to a new album and if the numbers across all platforms for thank u, next, imagine and 7 rings are anything to go by, I certainly wouldn’t want to be releasing music on the same day as her.

Spotify Playlist Link: https://spoti.fi/2CKuVex

Day 17: Good Thing by Kideko

My first experience of Kideko came through the single Good Thing, a solo track that was released in April last year on Ministry of Sound Recordings. Upbeat and tailor-made for mainstream dance music enthusiasts and radio spins, it showcases a desire from Kideko to create more of a household name for himself. Other tracks include breakout single The Jam, which sampled Technotronic’s 1989 Pump Up The Jam, Jalisco and latest single Gonna Be, and these are all more targeted at true dance music fans rather than audiences who encounter dance music and it’s tropes through mainstream radio and national charts. Having collaborated with Tinie Tempah, amongst others, in the past, this is a sign that Kideko is trying to cover a few bases with his work.

Good Thing features a really infectious bassline that never becomes too heavy and gorgeous female vocals that are a perfect fit for the niche this project is trying to sit within. There aren’t many instances where these vocals aren’t being delivered over the beat, making it much more palatable for a potential new fan to ease themselves into.

Kideko is a Brighton based DJ/producer who, when he’s not in the studio or behind the decks, goes by Ryan Hurley. Previously a drummer, his love for electronic and dance music came later in life as he studied music production and his drumming roots shine through in his work, with the unmistakable drum beat running through Good Thing and a unique short burst to open the track. With a lot of love shown from the likes of Pete Tong and Annie Mac on BBC Radio 1, Kideko’s career looks to go from strength to strength in 2019 and beyond.

 

Spotify Playlist Link: https://spoti.fi/2CKuVex