International Music: my favorite November 2022 releases

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Enjoy my favorite picks released in November 2022, in chronological order!

"STRONG FOR YOU" - Karen Harding - Melbourne, Australia (released on November 11th)

Karen Harding is a Melbourne, Australia based folk/pop singer-songwriter with a passion for sharing a relatable expression of human emotion and inner experience within her music. For Karen, music is a soul conversation, that allows the masks that we hide behind to fall away for a moment of sharing, a moment of mutual understanding, in a language that does not discriminate in any form. She says: "I love that "Strong For You" holds layers of meaning. The song can be translated as a declaration of love and a promise to be there with someone special, through the hard times, to say you’ll be there through thick and thin. I have been going through a period of a lot of self-exploration. For me, this song was born out of a desire to be there for the aspects of myself that I have previously rejected or disliked, to accept and to carry them through difficult feelings and emotions, even when it’s not comfortable to do so. It’s a song of healing". Produced by P&M Records in Argentina, "Strong For You" sets a scene of curiosity and mystery, played in a minor key, with the simplicity of the heartfelt tinkling of piano keys and then introduces a layer of fingerpicked guitar. As Karen Harding’s alluring vocals begin, you are immediately drawn into a melancholic story that leads the listener from a sense of heartbreak, to a build-up of hope and promise.

Instagram: @karenhardingmusic

"WHERE MY HEART IS" - Alice Pisano - London, UK (released on November 11th)

Introducing Italian-born, London-based, Alice Pisano, a rising star in the contemporary pop scene. Blessed with a uniquely warm and silky voice, Pisano has a natural ability for writing relatable, emotive songs that connect and since her debut in 2019, she has garnered a fantastic name for herself.  Her latest single “Where My Heart Is,” is the third single from her upcoming EP Shattered But Still Cool. Written and produced alongside Jez Ashurst (Little Mix, Maisie Peters, Tom Grennan), Pisano’s latest single encapsulates the vulnerability of falling in love with someone. Taking a slower, more intimate turn to its predecessors, "Where My Heart Is" forms a blissful ballad offering that flows with the emotion and honesty that makes Pisano’s roster so uniquely authentic. Pisano confides, "At the time we wrote it, I had been with someone for a few months and it scared me a little to realise how strong my feelings were. It’s about opening up to someone and letting them know you care about them, setting aside the fear of getting hurt. It's not always easy to let your guard down when dating, especially if you've been disappointed before".

Instagram: @alicepisanomusic

"OVERGROWN" - Dom Malin & Luna Keller - Birmingham, UK (released on November 18th)

English artist Dom Malin and German/Spanish artist Luna Keller released their hauntingly beautiful first collab "Overgrown" on the 18th of November. After meeting online in the Autumn of 2020 they started supporting each other and soon began song- writing remotely. "Overgrown" was one of the ideas from those sessions that felt like a culmination of both of their artistries. In November 2021 they met in person for the first time and finished writing the song in Dom’s home studio. The result is a duet of both their voices and stories coming together in one dreamy piece of music.

"CAFFEINE HIGH" - Sid Seth - NYC, Usa (released on November 18th)

Sid Seth is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who forms a blissful blend of soul and pop into his truly unique repertoire. Originally from India, he moved to New York five years ago to study at the Manhattan School of Music, and has been pursuing music in the city ever since. Working alongside producer Kris Crawford (Ariana Grande, Shawn Mendes, Josh Groban), and Grammy winning mastering engineer Alex Psaroudakis, his next single "Caffeine High" came to life. Exploring the vibrance of the city that never sleeps, Sid’s latest tune came to fruition with spontaneity and excitement at its core. He explains, "This was written in New York. Of course, it changes everything! This song is a happy vibe however the pre-story may not necessarily be. NY is quite challenging at times and the most bustling city in the world can be quite secluded and lonely sometimes. I call it the heart-attack life. The lows are crazy and so are the highs". Narrating chronicles from fun nights in the city, unexpected encounters, and the vibrancy of having fun, this funky, dance-inspired ode to New York overflows with euphoria. It’s Sid’s hope that listeners will feel the passion too. The tremendous energy he possesses makes him a trailblazer of this time, with resonance and humbling authenticity shining through every second of this next offering. 

Instagram: @sidsethsings

"APOLOGIES" - Thor Sigurdsson - San Diego, California (released on November 21st)

Half icelandic and half british, born and raised in Califonia artist Thor Sigurdsson shares about his latest release: "My new single Apologies will be my first release in 2 years. With my last releases I worked with what I had at the time. Which was basically just vocals and acoustic guitar. I had a specific vision for the music but didn’t know anything about mixing and mastering. So I ended up getting someone else to mix and master the music. Over the last two years I took full advantage of all of the free time I had at home. During that time I built a home studio, learned music theory, how to play piano, bass, electric guitar, and the drums. I also finally took the time to learn music production skills, specifically mix and mastering. This was made possible by some great mentors and teachers. Apologies is the accumulation all of these skills that I have acquired over the last two years. It is a song about love, loss, dreams, and a hopeful future. I am so excited to share and release this new song it is the first of many new releases to come"

"DON'T COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS" - Broadtree & Maddie Corinne - Canada (released on November 25th)

Canadian country artists Broadtree and Maddie Corinne have teamed up with a new, original Christmas single, "Don’t Come Home for Christmas". This sassy and feisty tune turns the traditional sentiment of longing for your loved one during the holidays on its head, serving as a warning of what happens when they’ve worn out their welcome. After the success of Corinne and Broadtree’s most recent singles, "Overrated" and "Meet Me At The Table" respectively (both released on October 14), the artists have created a bop filled with lush harmonies between Corinne and Broadtree’s Nicole McCafferty, complimented by clever country guitar and banjo melodies. "It’s the perfect mix of holiday cheer and country grit, this song shows that you can still be festive, even when confronting an unwanted ex", says Corinne. McCafferty adds "we wanted to write a fresh, fun twist on the Christmas love song cliché with something that encompasses the satisfaction of revenge with a wink behind it".

"WIN FIGHT DREAM LOSE" - Tanzos - Vienna, Austria (EP released on November 25th)

The new EP by the Austrian Tanzos is released via Commitment Records and available on all major digital platforms. Five tracks that - with a pop-rock attitude like the songwriter has already accustomed us with his previous works - take us on a path made up of successes, inner battles, dreams and losses.
Tanzos has a consolidated trademark: an unmistakable timbre and energy. Realistic and relatable themes, therefore: each of us is certainly living one of the situations that the singer-songwriter faces in the songs of this EP. Tanzos always focuses on the song and his insistent voice. These clarity and attention to the essential are typical of the Viennese artist: clear examples include title song "Win Fight Dream Lose", last single "Good Intentions" and the closing song "Nevermind", of which a new version is proposed here, completely transformed with a brilliant piano. "Win Fight Dream Lose" is a record with a strong emotional impact and pounding rhythms that they get into the listeners head and stay there for quite a while. 

Instagram: @tanzos_music

BONUS FROM OCTOBER 2022

 

"Naïve - Official Video" - Petra Jasmiina - NYC, Usa (YouTube video released on October 17th)

"Naïve" - Official Video, by Finnish-origin independent singer-songwriter Petra Jasmiina is an ode to independent artists' resilience. The satirical fairytale, written and directed by the artist herself, and filmed by Aleksei Postnikov (That Russian Guy Production), takes us around the city, from majestic Conservatory Gardens to gritty indie music stages, as seen through the lense of its stubbornly escapist characters - or “naïves”. "I want to give people permission to dream. To open their minds to wide-eyed wonder, infinite possibility, and the innate creativity and imagination often lost and forgotten in adulting. I want chasing your dreams to be the rule, not the exception, for romance to be put back on its pedestal and for believing the best in people to be a strength, not a weakness. Or, as the song puts it: 'I've been waiting for so long to dream with you". The extended music video, inspired by Marie Antoinette, Bridgerton, and Jane Austen, is set in New York City, where the Finnish artist has carved a career as an independent artist for the past decade. It reflects the brutal love story between the city and its wide-eyed dreamers. The music video is the winner of Europe Music Awards 2022 as Best Pop Music Video, so contratulations Petra!!

Instagram: @petrajasmiina

I hope you enjoyed all these beautiful releases as much as I did, I'm very curious to discover my favorites of December!!

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