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OCULATE UK - DIGITAL COVER 003 - DECEMBER 2024
The Music Industry – Meritocracy or Daddy’s Walletocracy?
I’m sure many saw Sam Fender’s recent comments. The three-time Brit winner has had an incredibly impressive career so far; his debut album soared to the top of UK charts, with his most recent also enjoying similar success.
Loyle Carner Is Back With New Music, a Glastonbury Headline Slot, And His Acting Debut
Loyle Carner is back with his just dropped a double single, 'all i need / in my mind’ and it hits different.
We Take A Look Back On Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp A Butterfly' To Mark 10 Year Since It's Release
10 years of Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly is a moment to look back at an album that changed the conversation in hip hop.
UK RAP RISER MARNZ MALONE LAUNCHES HIGHLY ANTICIPATED MIXTAPE ‘SABR’
UK rap riser Marnz Malone marks his progress with the release of his mixtape Sabr. If you've been following you already know that Malone’s j
IT’S A UK LOVE AFFAIR AS AJ TRACEY AND JORJA SMITH GO BACK AND FORTH ON ‘CRUSH’
Smiley faces and beans, a caff and a cuppa, AJ Tracey and Jorja Smith, ‘Crush’ is quintessentially British through and through, especially
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Anna Lunoe Teams Up With Yiigaa to Rework Pearl Into Club Music With A Soft Centre
Anna Lunoe teams up with South London’s Yiigaa to rework Pearl, the title track from her 2024 debut album. ‘Pearl (Find My Way)’ strips the original to its emotional core, letting space, softness, and vulnerability guide the dancefloor.
MRCY's ‘Wandering Attention’ Comes In Bold
London duo MRCY return with ‘Wandering Attention’, a punchy, emotionally-charged track that sets the tone for VOLUME 2. It’s confident, heavy with meaning, and builds on their rising status as one of the UK’s most exciting new live acts.
Charlotte Plank Cuts Through The Noise With The Unfiltered 'Candy Stores'
‘Candy stores’ is unfiltered, messy, loud - and that’s the point. Charlotte Plank cuts through the noise with a track built on jungle-leaning production and a hook that doesn’t let go.
Oculate UK: This Week In Music
Oculate UK's round-up of all the highlights in new music releases from the past week. Featuring Anime, hard life, Kwn, Loyle Carner & more.
Jim Legxacy’s ‘stick’ Builds On The Hype For 'Black British Music'
Jim Legxacy doesn’t waste a second on ‘stick' as the track lands fast, with compressed vocals, a sliding melody, and no filler.
Kidwild Offers A Gritty Snapshot Of The Come-Up On 'Rock Bottom'
Kidwild has stripped things back but still hits hard. It's not dressed up or dressed down, it just is how it is.
Loyle Carner Is Back With New Music, a Glastonbury Headline Slot, And His Acting Debut
Loyle Carner is back with his just dropped a double single, 'all i need / in my mind’ and it hits different.
Is It Really Goodnight? A Witty and Heart-Wrenching Studio Debut from Celeste Madden
Musician/songwriter Celeste Madden releases a re-worked version of 'Is It Really Goodnight?', her witty and heart-wrenching studio debut EP
Mychelle Returns With Delightful New Single 'You Don't Care About Me'
Hackney singer-songwriter Mychelle returns with 'You Don’t Care About Me', alongside exciting news that she’ll join Jorja Smith on tour
Tim Lyre and BINA. are an open book in ‘Storytime’
London and Lagos collide as Tim Lyre links up with BINA. to tell both sides of a fractured romance ahead of his new album SPIRALS
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GET TO KNOW: KOJ
When we think of the UK rap scene, we might assume that our attention is best left exclusively to the genre’s nucleus, London. But, we would argue that only having eyes for this portion of the scene is like watching just the first five minutes of your favorite film on its 50th rewatch; you know it's great, but can you really say you've experienced the whole thing?
While there’s been a steady stream of names rising from the North over the last few years, notably Nemzzz, Aitch, Meekz, and Aystar, it’s been left to a few legacy names - think Bugzy Malone - to switch the full beams on their cities rather than on their output alone.
While rap fans are gradually evolving, and their priorities with them, it doesn’t change the fact that, at its core, rap has always been about rebellion and highlighting the gritty realities of UK cities. Now enter Liverpool-hailing rapper KOJ, an artist wearing his city like the proudest of sportsmen and on a mission to tell both his own story and that of his hometown. On his ascent, KOJ has brandished a stark and slick pen, one that allows him to blend deep emotional storytelling with a level of lyrical dexterity fit for the UK’s main stage.
Now, releasing his debut EP, Villain With A Conscience, we caught up with KOJ to discuss the story behind the project, the importance of emotional vulnerability in LY, and the rising Liverpool rap scene he’s hoping to spearhead.
While there’s been a steady stream of names rising from the North over the last few years, notably Nemzzz, Aitch, Meekz, and Aystar, it’s been left to a few legacy names - think Bugzy Malone - to switch the full beams on their cities rather than on their output alone.
While rap fans are gradually evolving, and their priorities with them, it doesn’t change the fact that, at its core, rap has always been about rebellion and highlighting the gritty realities of UK cities. Now enter Liverpool-hailing rapper KOJ, an artist wearing his city like the proudest of sportsmen and on a mission to tell both his own story and that of his hometown. On his ascent, KOJ has brandished a stark and slick pen, one that allows him to blend deep emotional storytelling with a level of lyrical dexterity fit for the UK’s main stage.
Now, releasing his debut EP, Villain With A Conscience, we caught up with KOJ to discuss the story behind the project, the importance of emotional vulnerability in LY, and the rising Liverpool rap scene he’s hoping to spearhead.
GET TO KNOW: ATRIP
Once cultivating his current sound during the 2020 lockdown, ATRIP has gained recognition with high-profile collaborations and remixes, including work with Disclosure and Poté. Fostering community through pub meet-ups before gigs, with a busy tour schedule, ATRIP is set to become a dancefloor staple.
We caught up with ATRIP to delve deeper into his influences, his musical career, and more...
We caught up with ATRIP to delve deeper into his influences, his musical career, and more...
GET TO KNOW: MACKWOOD
Mackwood, the multifaceted drummer, producer, and bandleader, is making waves in the UK jazz scene with the release of his debut album, Master Changes. His genre-blurring sound merges modern electronic production with live instrumentation, creating a dynamic and unpredictable listening experience. Having already captivated audiences at festivals like Cross The Tracks and Wilderness, Mackwood is set to bring his vision to life with a headline show at Peckham Audio on October 22nd. This marks a significant moment in his career as he steps into the spotlight with his unique approach to jazz and electronic fusion.
GET TO KNOW: HUMANE THE MOON
Rising East London artist Humane The Moon returned with Debris Joice, his eagerly awaited second EP, showcasing the new singles “The Curb” and “Humane Error.” This project marked a milestone in Humane The Moon's journey, pushing his genre-blurring sound into fresh sonic landscapes while retaining the intense, alternative energy that fans love. From raw, angsty grunge elements to pop-infused beats, Debris Joice balances familiarity with bold innovation
| UP AND COMING ACTS |
Anna Lunoe Teams Up With Yiigaa to Rework Pearl Into Club Music With A Soft Centre
Anna Lunoe teams up with South London’s Yiigaa to rework Pearl, the title track from her 2024 debut album. ‘Pearl (Find My Way)’ strips the original to its emotional core, letting space, softness, and vulnerability guide the dancefloor.
MRCY's ‘Wandering Attention’ Comes In Bold
London duo MRCY return with ‘Wandering Attention’, a punchy, emotionally-charged track that sets the tone for VOLUME 2. It’s confident, heavy with meaning, and builds on their rising status as one of the UK’s most exciting new live acts.
Julia Wolf & Badger's ‘In My Room (Remix)’ Is Garage Pop Done Right
Julia Wolf teams up with UK producer Badger for a garage-fuelled rework of her viral hit ‘In My Room’. It’s a shift in tone but not in impact, this remix turns internal tension into dancefloor catharsis.
Charlotte Plank Cuts Through The Noise With The Unfiltered 'Candy Stores'
‘Candy stores’ is unfiltered, messy, loud - and that’s the point. Charlotte Plank cuts through the noise with a track built on jungle-leaning production and a hook that doesn’t let go.
Jim Legxacy’s ‘stick’ Builds On The Hype For 'Black British Music'
Jim Legxacy doesn’t waste a second on ‘stick' as the track lands fast, with compressed vocals, a sliding melody, and no filler.
Kidwild Offers A Gritty Snapshot Of The Come-Up On 'Rock Bottom'
Kidwild has stripped things back but still hits hard. It's not dressed up or dressed down, it just is how it is.
Is It Really Goodnight? A Witty and Heart-Wrenching Studio Debut from Celeste Madden
Musician/songwriter Celeste Madden releases a re-worked version of 'Is It Really Goodnight?', her witty and heart-wrenching studio debut EP
Confessions of a Lover Boy: No Guidnce Steal Our Hearts Again
British R&B group No Guidnce triumphantly return with their latest EP, Confessions of a Lover Boy
West London's Olympia Vitalis Drops Reflective New Soul Single ‘Younger’
Crafting a track that’s both uplifting and soothing, Olympia Vitalis delivers vibrant soulful energy on 'Younger'
Ellie Dixon and piri Team Up for 'Guts' Remix Offering A Fresh Take on an Anthem of Anxiety
Ellie Dixon has just dropped a new remix of ‘Guts’, and this time, she’s teamed up with piri, one half of the duo piri & tommy.
| INTERNATIONAL ACTS |
Oculate UK: This Week In Music
Oculate UK's round-up of all the highlights in new music releases from the past week. Featuring Anime, hard life, Kwn, Loyle Carner & more.
Bunky Becky Birthday Boy: An Absurdly Fun Pop-Metal Triumph from Sleigh Bells
Whether you love them, hate them or never even heard of them: Sleigh Bells are something else. They return with new album, Bunky Becky Boy.
A Chaotic 34-Track Goodbye to OWSLA - ‘F*CK U SKRILLEX YOU THINK UR ANDY WARHOL BUT UR NOT!! <3'
Skrillex doesn’t do things by the book. Instead of a carefully planned rollout, he leaked his own album, sending a Dropbox link to fans
Self Indulgent, Audacious and at Times, Infuriatingly Glorious - 'MUSIC' is Here
Playboi Carti's new album 'MUSIC' has finally been released, and it's been five very long years to get to this point...
Agency, Identity, and Imposter Syndrome Scrutinised in Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso’s New Album 'PAPOTA'
The musically brilliant Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso ride the wave of their summertime success from NPR’s Tiny Desk with new album, PAPOTA.
| PLAYLIST UPDATES |
| LATEST POSTS |
Anna Lunoe Teams Up With Yiigaa to Rework Pearl Into Club Music With A Soft Centre
Anna Lunoe teams up with South London’s Yiigaa to rework Pearl, the title track from her 2024 debut album. ‘Pearl (Find My Way)’ strips the original to its emotional core, letting space, softness, and vulnerability guide the dancefloor.
MRCY's ‘Wandering Attention’ Comes In Bold
London duo MRCY return with ‘Wandering Attention’, a punchy, emotionally-charged track that sets the tone for VOLUME 2. It’s confident, heavy with meaning, and builds on their rising status as one of the UK’s most exciting new live acts.
Julia Wolf & Badger's ‘In My Room (Remix)’ Is Garage Pop Done Right
Julia Wolf teams up with UK producer Badger for a garage-fuelled rework of her viral hit ‘In My Room’. It’s a shift in tone but not in impact, this remix turns internal tension into dancefloor catharsis.
The Music Industry – Meritocracy or Daddy’s Walletocracy?
I’m sure many saw Sam Fender’s recent comments. The three-time Brit winner has had an incredibly impressive career so far; his debut album soared to the top of UK charts, with his most recent also enjoying similar success.
Charlotte Plank Cuts Through The Noise With The Unfiltered 'Candy Stores'
‘Candy stores’ is unfiltered, messy, loud - and that’s the point. Charlotte Plank cuts through the noise with a track built on jungle-leaning production and a hook that doesn’t let go.
Oculate UK: This Week In Music
Oculate UK's round-up of all the highlights in new music releases from the past week. Featuring Anime, hard life, Kwn, Loyle Carner & more.
Jim Legxacy’s ‘stick’ Builds On The Hype For 'Black British Music'
Jim Legxacy doesn’t waste a second on ‘stick' as the track lands fast, with compressed vocals, a sliding melody, and no filler.
Kidwild Offers A Gritty Snapshot Of The Come-Up On 'Rock Bottom'
Kidwild has stripped things back but still hits hard. It's not dressed up or dressed down, it just is how it is.
Loyle Carner Is Back With New Music, a Glastonbury Headline Slot, And His Acting Debut
Loyle Carner is back with his just dropped a double single, 'all i need / in my mind’ and it hits different.
Oculate UK: This Week In Music
Oculate UK's round-up of all the highlights in new music releases from the past week, featuring: Chy Cartier, PinkPantheress, Wet Leg & more
Bunky Becky Birthday Boy: An Absurdly Fun Pop-Metal Triumph from Sleigh Bells
Whether you love them, hate them or never even heard of them: Sleigh Bells are something else. They return with new album, Bunky Becky Boy.
Little Simz Announces Her Biggest Shows Ever
Little Simz has stepped up a level - with her first ever arena shows at London's O2 Arena and Manchester's Co-Op Live later this year.
A Chaotic 34-Track Goodbye to OWSLA - ‘F*CK U SKRILLEX YOU THINK UR ANDY WARHOL BUT UR NOT!! <3'
Skrillex doesn’t do things by the book. Instead of a carefully planned rollout, he leaked his own album, sending a Dropbox link to fans
Dancing, Connection, Electronic Music & The Science Behind Why We Need Them All
Filmed over the span of two years, We Become One is an inspiring and affirming new documentary journey from Alpha Theta.
OCULATE UK: This Week In Music
Oculate UK's round-up of all the highlights in new music releases from the past week.
Is It Really Goodnight? A Witty and Heart-Wrenching Studio Debut from Celeste Madden
Musician/songwriter Celeste Madden releases a re-worked version of 'Is It Really Goodnight?', her witty and heart-wrenching studio debut EP
Mychelle Returns With Delightful New Single 'You Don't Care About Me'
Hackney singer-songwriter Mychelle returns with 'You Don’t Care About Me', alongside exciting news that she’ll join Jorja Smith on tour
Tim Lyre and BINA. are an open book in ‘Storytime’
London and Lagos collide as Tim Lyre links up with BINA. to tell both sides of a fractured romance ahead of his new album SPIRALS
Confessions of a Lover Boy: No Guidnce Steal Our Hearts Again
British R&B group No Guidnce triumphantly return with their latest EP, Confessions of a Lover Boy
Fera Unveil The Urban Fly Capsule Blending The Two Contrasting Worlds Of Fashion And Fly Fishing
Fera’s Urban Fly Capsule launches as a new chapter in outdoor-inspired fashion that speaks directly to young urban adventurers.
West London's Olympia Vitalis Drops Reflective New Soul Single ‘Younger’
Crafting a track that’s both uplifting and soothing, Olympia Vitalis delivers vibrant soulful energy on 'Younger'
Wretch 32 Announces Highly-Anticipated New Album, 'Home?'
Alongside the announcement, Wretch 32 also treated fans to a new single, 'Like Home' with Teni this past week.
Self Indulgent, Audacious and at Times, Infuriatingly Glorious - 'MUSIC' is Here
Playboi Carti's new album 'MUSIC' has finally been released, and it's been five very long years to get to this point...
Ellie Dixon and piri Team Up for 'Guts' Remix Offering A Fresh Take on an Anthem of Anxiety
Ellie Dixon has just dropped a new remix of ‘Guts’, and this time, she’s teamed up with piri, one half of the duo piri & tommy.
We Take A Look Back On Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp A Butterfly' To Mark 10 Year Since It's Release
10 years of Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly is a moment to look back at an album that changed the conversation in hip hop.
Aminé Unveils His Buoyant 2025 Return, ‘Familiar’
The Portland-hailing rapper examines failed relationships in newest single, as he sets the stage for his forthcoming album set to release la
Clavish on D&B? New K Motionz Track 'H20' is a Certified Hit
New single 'H20' showcases the best of K Motionz D&B skill, along with Clavish's versatility.
Agency, Identity, and Imposter Syndrome Scrutinised in Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso’s New Album 'PAPOTA'
The musically brilliant Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso ride the wave of their summertime success from NPR’s Tiny Desk with new album, PAPOTA.
BXKS And Travy Link Up For The High Energy Collab ‘Guestlist’
BXKS and Travy have joined forces on a new track, ‘Guestlist’, bringing together two of the most distinct voices in alternative rap and grim
Léa Sen Announces Debut Album 'Levels' With New Single ‘Lvl 6 - Video Games’
Léa Sen is stepping into a new chapter with her debut album Levels, out 30th May via Partisan Records. Known for her unique blend of
ZABALA Unveil New Eyewear Collection Alongside polette
Menswear brand ZABALA has recently collaborated with sustainable optical brand polette to create ‘Seeds: The Beginning of a Vision'
Lancey Foux Steps Into the Rave Scene with Club Inspired Double Single: 'DANCE ON ME' & 'DANCE ON ME IN THE CLUB'
Lancey Foux's 'DANCE ON ME' and 'DANCE ON ME IN THE CLUB' blend commanding 808s with a dreamy bassline, blurring lines between dance and rap
Houghton Festival Announces its Second Wave of Acts: Joy Orbison, Samuel Deep, Budino, Doc Martin & More
Houghton Festival has released its second wave of acts to take over Houghton Hall in August, further adding to an already impressive line-up
Shivani Day is Back With Brooding ‘Know When You Call’
Blending Dancehall, Reggae, Trip-Hop, and Electronica on her latest single, Shivani Day delivers a space-age ode to ‘crying in the club.’
Soft Play Bring Punk Mayhem to BRITs Week 2025 in London
BRITs Week 2025 continued its run of exclusive, intimate gigs with a riotous performance from SOFT PLAY at Village Underground.
FORWARDS Festival Drops Incredible Line-up With Doechii, Jorja Smith, Ezra Collective, Barry Can't Swim & More...
Bristol's highly coveted FORWARDS Festival has announced it's line-up for the 2025 edition, and it's safe to say, they have delivered.
ARKA IS 'ALIVE' ON HIS LATEST SINGLE
Carving his own lane between indie and rap, Hastings multi-genre artist Arka has delivered 'Alive', his first single of 2025.
JORDS IS BACK WITH ‘THE REAL SURVIVE’
London rapper Jords returns with his first release of 2025 switching lanes between his signature flow, alt-R&B melodies and latin flavours.
KEN KAIO BOUNCES THROUGH THE WINTER BLUES WITH A CONFIDENT NEW TRACK '3D6'
The Hertfordshire born musician Ken Kaio has dropped his first track of 2025, the bouncy and confident, ‘3D6’
MATILDA MANN UNVEILS DEBUT ALBUM ‘ROXWELL’
Delicately crafted ‘Roxwell’, the debut album from British singer-songwriter Matilda Mann, is an irrefutable masterpiece.
COMING OUT SWINGING, LOU PHELPS DROPS A KAYTRANADA PRODUCED BANGER AHEAD OF NEW ALBUM
Bring on the bounce, Haitian-Canadian rapper Lou Phelps is thundering into this new album rollout with his new single titled ‘WHAT NOW’.
ANTONY SZMIEREK RELEASES DEBUT ALBUM ‘SERVICE STATION AT THE END OF THE UNIVERSE’
Following a festival-filled summer, Antony Szmierek has graced us with his first record, Service Station at the End of the Universe.
YOUNG KINGZ II: KREPT & KONAN'S TRIUMPHANT RETURN
After a five-year hiatus, the Croydon duo Krept & Konan are back with their long-anticipated second album, ‘Young Kingz II’.
IN THE CROWD: BRITS WEEK 25 CONTINUES WITH CLEAN BANDIT AT LONDON PALLADIUM
Clean Bandit showed out stronger than I was expecting, utilising the charity event setting to create a one-of-a-kind concert experience.
SLAWN MAKES HISTORY WITH NIKE AIR MAX 90 COLLABORATION
In a celebration of style and craftsmanship, Olaolu Slawn teams up with Nike for a standout collaboration on the legendary Air Max 90.
CRISTALE FLEXES HER VERSATILITY ON TODDLA T-PRODUCED ‘VOGUE’ & ‘OLIVE BRANCH’
Further showcasing their musical chemistry, Cristale and Toddla T strike again with two new singles, ‘Vogue’ and ‘Olive Branch'.
HACKNEY'S OWN MYCHELLE RETURNS WITH NEW SINGLE 'SWEET NOTHINGS'
A moment of creative serendipity, Mychelle's latest song, 'Sweet Nothings', came to her effortlessly during a cycle home.
RIZZLE KICKS, FLO, GIGGS & MORE AT THIS YEARS HUGE SOMERSET HOUSE SUMMER SERIES LINEUP
Somerset House is known for its diverse art exhibitions, various community projects and mainly, the huge summer series music event.
LITTLE SIMZ SHARES ‘FLOOD’ FROM INCOMING ALBUM ‘LOTUS’
The release of Little Simz' latest single ‘Flood’ further cements her status as an icon of the music scene.
JIM LEGXACY UNVEILS ‘FATHER’ AS A POWERFUL NEW CHAPTER IN BLACK BRITISH MUSIC 2025
Jim Legxacy kicks off his 2025 with father, a track that sets a bold tone for his upcoming project, black british music (2025).
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