MUSIC ROUNDUP: March Releases 2020

As the world goes into lockdown from COVID-19 music is a great place to turn too! Over the recent weeks we have seen increased live streams, new releases and communities come together in these difficult times we live in. Sadly COVID-19 has forced many SAMA’s plans to be on hold for the time being, however it has not stopped our monthly Music Roundup. We’ve picked out ten exciting tracks which have been keeping us going, they range from Psychedelic, to Rap, Techno and more.

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Enjoy! Stay safe. Team SAMA’s x

Cara Rose - Learn To Speak

Having played around Scotland for a few years now, singer/songwriter Cara Rose has gifted us with her debut single. ‘Learn To Speak’ is a sparse and somber track with an enchanting vocal performance. With a chorus melody that goes straight for the heart, it would make the toughest crack a tear.

Empress - Yasss

Coming in over the hook, the thumping drums ground Glasgow-based rapper Empress’s new track ‘Yasss’ in a gritty reality. With sparse pockets of additional instruments throughout, the impressive lyrics and steady drums drive the song at its core.

Fauves - Bathe

Coming back with the first release since their debut EP in 2018, Glasgow’s Fauves new single ‘Bathe’ is a wonderful pocket of psychedelic magic. Underpinned by a slick bass line the track takes you down the rabbit hole filled with a dreamy wall of atmospheric guitar melodies, involving droning synths and saxophone solos.

Paque - Problems On Sight

Congolese born, Glasgow based rapper/producer Paque has returned with his new single ‘Problems on Sight’. The minimalist instrumental combined with the artists commanding vocal presence makes for a track worthy to stand its own against the UK’s rap scene.

Kelora -X24

Emerging in late 2016 with the debut ‘Boy’ EP, Kelora have been melding pop-folk songs with experimental production. The latest single ‘X24’ utilises the base vocal/guitar sections to build an enthralling mix of auto-tuned vocals and cranked bass. This added layer of sonic mastery intertwines so expertly through the instantly catchy vocal melodies.

st.martiins - Holly’s House

Dundee two-piece st.martiins, following the release of a run of singles, have released their second EP. ‘hoping for the worst’. A short and sweet number, ‘Holly’s House’ is a swooning and glorious track that provides a brief escape into something a little less maddening and more luscious.

Quail, AISHA - The Fall

Vertan DJ and member of the Animal Farm collective Quail has collaborated with AISHA to bring ‘The Fall’ EP. Creating a dark and hypnotic soundscape ‘The Fall’’s title track is a perfect example of the industrial-infused techno coming from Glasgow.

Ghostbaby - Catatonic

Originating in Paisley, newcomers Ghostbaby bring their scuzzy sound into the forefront with ‘Catatonic’. Coming from their debut EP ‘Long Live Ghostbaby’, ‘Catatonic’ is a mix of abrasive guitars with a brazen vocal performance make for a refreshing listen. The sheer joy that this track exudes leaps out of the speakers from the start. It is a track destined to have a room full of people jumping along to it.

Withered Hand - New Dawn

Based in Edinburgh and a veteran of many bands in the late-’90’s/early-2000’s, Dan Wilson AKA Withered Hand has celebrated ten years since the release of his 2009 album ‘Good News’ with new versions of four tracks. Evoking a sense of nostalgia with the flurries of string instruments, ‘New Dawn’ is a superb choice to include in this release. Bringing sounds akin to Belle and Sebastian and Sufjan Stevens, Wilson has crafted a beautiful new look for this track.

Zac Scott - Frostbitten

After the release of his debut EP, singer/songwriter Zac Scott has been self-releasing singles in the run up to his debut album ‘For The Love Of…’. The latest track, ‘Frostbitten’ is a stunning slow burn. With the theme of the album being a dedication to the north of Scotland and the south of Iceland, the track perfectly encapsulates the chilling winds of these coasts with the sparse instrumentation it hangs on.