I love it when music bloggers say an artist is "on the rise" or "on the cusp" of stardom. Often times, it's just a way to move their story along. Um, I'll be damned if I'm not about to do that myself. Courtesy of forces unknown to me, I feel compelled to tell you that Malaysian-born singer/songwriter Yuna is on the rise, needs to be on your radar, and is about to burst like Pizza the Hut after an extra dose of pepperoni. Ever since she dropped her respective debut EP and full-length albums a few years back (mind you she's been doing this for ages in her homeland to much success), she's been receiving praise from everyone and their mother. Quite literally. My mother phoned her yesterday. I'll stop, um, stop.
Following her first works, she appeared on TV, NPR, countless magazines, and played notable gigs like Lollapalooza. Last summer, she gained even more traction with a song off The Croods' soundtrack with Owl City, and finally - burying the lede - her album Nocturnal dropped last fall. The album, like her previous efforts, puts her talent and true indie artistry on display. With a tour in motion, and recent appearances on Conan, Kimmel, Carson, and other hosts to far bigger shows than mine, it's clear 2014 will be the year of Yuna. Earlier this month, she performed two tracks off the new album and took part in a brief chat for A-Sides. Lucky me. Watch. Listen. Love.
"I Want You Back"
"Falling"
Interview:
A-Sides "Delve Into Twelve" Countdown
Each week A-Sides unleashes its Top 12 tracks of the week AKA the "Delve Into Twelve"based on the following contributing factors: songs I'm playing out that particular week NO MATTER WHEN THEY WERE RELEASED (think overlooked songs, unreleased tracks, and old favorites), songs various publicists are trying to get me to listen to that I did and dug a bunch, posts and trends I've noticed on my friends' Facebook walls, and - most importantly - the songs my two-year-old son gravitates toward by stomping his feet in approval. Yeah, you read that right. This weeks follows below (LW= last week's rank).
12. "High Hopes" - Bruce Springsteen
11. "Chamakay" (LW-8) - Blood Orange
10. "Pendulum" (LW-6) - Pure Bathing Culture
9. "Cardiac Arrest" - Bad Suns (Coming soon to A-Sides!)
8. "Electric" (LW-3) - Atlas Genius
7. "It's About Time" - Young The Giant
6. "Bad Blood" - Bastille
5. "Tiptoe" - Imagine Dragons
4. "The Moon Song" - Karen O.
3. "XO" - Beyonce
2. "Lost Boys and Girls Club" (LW-2)- The Dum Dum Girls
1. "Shark Attack" (LW-1) - Grouplove
About A-Sides Music
Jon Chattman's "A-Sides Music" series was established in August 2011 and usually features artists (established or not) from all genres performing a track, and discussing what it means to them. This informal series focuses on the artist making art in a low-threatening, extremely informal (sometimes humorous) way. No bells, no whistles -- just the music performed in a random, low-key setting followed by an unrehearsed chat. In an industry where everything often gets overblown and over manufactured, I'm hoping this is refreshing. Thus far artists who have appeared on the series include: fun, American Authors, Imagine Dragons (interview only), Jake Miller, Gary Clark Jr., Sleigh Bells (interview only), Dispatch, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, San Fermin, and more!