As music lovers, we can all agree that 2020 has been a rough year for artists, with live performances and concerts being, for the most part, put on hold. While social distancing measures were put in place, the creativity from our distributed artists allowed the show to go on. Some artists, like Sophie Ellis-Bextor, even pulled all her live-streams together to create a full-length album. Read on to find out what new releases are out today, and how our artists around the world used creativity to change the format of live performances.
O. Torvald – Ракамакафо (BEST MUSIC)
Ukranian rock band O. Torvald is back with a new EP, Ракамакафо. The EP consists of three variations of the New Year’s song “Ракамакафо” and a bonus track “Новий день.” With a rock version, acoustic version, and a remix, O. Torvald gives listeners the opportunity to enjoy “Ракамакафо” for any style and occasion! What we can already tell you about O. Torvald is that they are creatives by definition. Earlier this year during social distancing measures, the band figured out how to safely host a concert for fans: they simply flipped the concert on its axis. Read more about the band’s awesome social distancing concert here and listen to their new EP Ракамакафо out now.
Darkovibes – The Cornerstone (Paul Nii Amu Andrew Darko pka Darkovibes)
Ghanian artist Darkovibes has been making big waves not just in Ghana, but around the world. Earlier this year, his single “Inna Song (Gin & Lime)” reached #1 on YouTube’s trending videos in Ghana and #1 on the Apple Music Ghana Top 100 chart. While he’s a member of the Acra collective La Même Gang, Darkovibes has been exploring his solo career – the latest form is his new EP The Cornerstone. If his earlier 2020 release Kpanlogo explored Darkovibes’ musical heritage & roots, The Cornerstone shows the diversity of a true artiste who spans many genres, and whose influence knows no international boundaries. The 8-track EP sees special features from Sarkodie, Humble Dis, DJ Vision, and RJZ. Check out The Cornerstone now on all streaming platforms.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor Songs from the Kitchen Disco: Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Greatest Hits (Cooking Vinyl Limited)
British artist Sophie Ellis-Bextor, known for hit singles such as Murder on the Dancefloor and her recently released single Crying at the Discotheque, releases her new album Songs from the Kitchen Disco: Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Greatest Hits. During the lockdown measures, Sophie live-streamed performances from her home with her family, providing virtual escapism for hundreds of thousands of fans and listeners tuning in. The album pulls those live performances together into one full collection, now available to listen to everywhere! As Sophie says, “So here we are… an album called Songs from the Kitchen Disco inspired by one of the strangest times any of us have ever lived through. 2020 has been a crazy year.”
