In the fifth issue (can’t believe it’s still going) of this infantile blog, I will be dissecting the music of Lorde’s buddy, a former Game of Thrones actor and one of the leaders of California’s emerging hip-hop scene. Hopefully there’s something in this week’s issue for everyone J

G Eazy

Gerard Earl Gillum, or G Eazy as you may know him, is one of the few leading the embryonic hip hop scene in California. With a huge loyal fan base to his name already, it won’t be long before instead of being the opening act for big stars such as Drake and Lil Wayne, that he becomes one of them in his own right. Highlights from his large compilation include the doo-wop sampling ‘Runaway Sue’ and the mature sound of ‘Marilyn’, a song about a broken relationship, where the tender melody sang by Dominique LeJeune is intertwined with Eazy’s commercially ready form of rap. This formula is used again in recent tune ‘Let’s Get Lost’. This makes G Eazy heavily comparable to the likes of Macklemore, in the simplistic piano backed tunes that they both pull off. G Eazy can also make more conventional, ego-boasting songs, albeit with significantly less effect. ‘Lotta That’, where Eazy teams up with A$ap Ferg and Danny Seth over a trap beat befits only one word of description. Terrible. Littered with rap cliches such as ‘yeah I have a lot of sex’, (I’m like me you are astounded by the creativity), this is clearly a path Eazy should avoid. Fans of more marketable rappers such as Macklemore, Big Sean or Wiz Khalifa will heavily appreciate his work.

Raleigh Ritchie

Part time Grey Worm from Game of Thrones but nowadays full time singer, Jacob Anderson goes by the moniker of Raleigh Ritchie producing gritty and honest alternative hip-hop enthused r&b. Songs such as ‘Bloodsport’ from his ‘Black and Blue’ EP, released earlier this year, are full of grit and pain, baring everything in the genuine delivery. It’s the perfect song for a miserable day.  While male stars in r&b nowadays are often twerking fanatics making shirt off music videos, as a welcome breath of fresh air, Ritchie (perhaps due to his past in the acting world) makes more raw, artistic ones as seen in the touching music video for ‘Stronger Than Ever’, as watching you choke back the tears. Fans of L Marshall and the UK Grime Scene will find Ritchie fits well into their playlists.

Lo-Fang

Lorde’s tourmate, Lo Fang, is a classically trained musician with expertise in playing 6 different instruments. After many years spent homing in his talent, Lo-Fang has released his debut album, Blue Film, where he expertly blends orchestral symphonies with complex electronic production. #88 assembles a fragile section of violin strings with tantalising synths and Lo Fang’s serene falsetto. Despite the vast array of rich sounds brought to the table, the ending effect is one of simplicity; his classical training coming through as every instrument is brought in for precise effect. ‘Where We’re Fire’ a more upbeat piece of indie electropop speaks of sexual frustration, a theme in the overwhelming majority of his songs. 2014 is Lo-Fang’s year, as he aims to reach a similar level of respect to fellow experimenters such as James Blake and with a start like this; it’s looking likely that he will.

 Best Song(s) of the Week:

So High by Doja Cat

So High, a track by LA based singer/rapper Doja Cat, already a renowned celebrity on Soundcloud, mixes slick production with her elegant voice resulting in a rather ambient feel, as you dive into the ocean of delight.

Beware the Dog by The Griswolds

Australian indie rockers the Griswolds (459,340,304 times better than fellow Australians 5 Seconds of Summer, cook up self-proclaimed ‘tequila-inspired party pop’. Beware the Dog a charming perk of a song one of the highlights from their quirky collection, ideal for a barbecue, talks about the pains of losing a friend to a drug addiction. The sound is disturbingly reminiscent to the Lion King with the colourful guitar lines and a few splashes of sunlight on top but nonetheless a definite summer tune.