With innovations like Apple Music Radio, Spotify Premium and the vast collection of the iTunes library, platforms such as SoundCloud are generally pushed into the shadows of the music industry. Often, those who neglect the service believe that SoundCloud is just full of music that 16-year-old Jaden Smith fans make in their basements on old turntables and post in hopes of having their songs found by the likes of Columbia Records one day.
That’s not what SoundCloud is. In fact, big names such as The Chainsmokers, Skrillex and even Kanye West often post new and exclusive music on this platform before releasing it to iTunes or other similar services. The website is full of millions of tracks compiled by talented artists of every age and expertise that often go unheard due to lack of exposure.
In an effort to rectify this critical absence in the general music-listening public, this week’s Push Play Monday features a small sample of the many hidden gems only available on SoundCloud. I took all the hard work out of mining for these guys; all you have to do is push play.
1) “Here” by Rebecca Pitchon
This 17-year-old Los Angeles native only has a few singles out on her profile, half covers and half original pieces. “Here” is her most played, and for good reason. This self-written, self-produced track is a strong introduction to the melodic sound Pitchon’s voice can effortlessly make.
2) “Tiger Blood” by graves and MYRNE
Graves has made quite a name for himself on this platform already, with nearly a dozen tracks well past the 100,000 plays mark. To make this piece, he worked with MYRNE, a 21-year-old who previously acquired a spot on Diplo’s Mad Decent roster. The intricacy of the track is what graves is really known for, a full sound with many individual layers.
3) “Feeling Alright” by dapurr feat. Vi
At only 16 years old, Jacob Taff (dapurr) has created a trademark sound for himself and the other Los Angeles-based artists he works with. Taff has only been producing since his he received mixing equipment for his 15th birthday. This track’s featured artist, Vi, is his friend Victoria Lamas, daughter of actor Lorenzo Lamas. Vi is a visual artist rising in popularity on Instagram.
4) “Airport Bar” by Noah
This Toronto native took the one song associated with every childhood, sampled it and turned it into modern-day R&B on a wavelength no one could have created better. This track is both nostalgic and eager. It is the perfect pace for the reflection it inspires in its listener.
5) “Ridin Round (Oshi Remix)” by Kali Uchis feat. Tory Lanez
17-year-old Oshi has a production quality well beyond his years. Joshua “Oshi” Brennan is just as likely to be running through the streets of London with hometown friends as producing top-notch tracks with artists like Blackbear and Josh Pan, who created a wildly popular remix of Keith Ape’s “It G Ma” with Anderson.Paak, Waka Flocka Flame, Father and more.
6) “Not Letting Go (TroyBoi Remix)” by Tinie Tempah feat. Jess Glynne
TroyBoi is a London-based producer who tags all of his songs as “#MyStyle” simply because his tracks are so individualized that it is difficult to place him in a category. Every track has such a broad variety of textures that shouldn’t go together, but somehow do once he weaves them into one another. This remix is the type of song you blast in your dorm when your roommate’s not there and you just want to dance.
7) “All I Need” by Noname feat. SPZRKT
Contrary to her name, rapper Noname is actually pretty well known in the music industry, even with just two tracks on her SoundCloud still available for listening. This track not only features SPZRKT, the very popular recording artist who split from the Christian hip-hop community last year, but it is also produced by Saba, the Chicago artist popularized by his work with artists like Chance the Rapper.
8) “Cheating On Me (Tom Misch Refix)” by Kwabs feat. Zak Abel
British recording artist Kwabs was the lead vocalist of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra for three years during his time in high school. Now signed with Atlantic Records, he occasionally creates rare genuine masterpieces such as this one for release only on SoundCloud. Tom Misch’s mastery of the song gives it the soul it is now famous for.
9) “Dimelo” by Esta.
Now touring with popular DMV rapper GoldLink, Esta. is an essential portion of any SoundCloud listener’s experience. He has more than a handful of bass-heavy tracks well past one million plays. He never lists his featuring artists in the titles, but music addicts usually work out the names in the comments of his tracks. That’s how it was discovered that the featuring artist of this intricate, smooth and dance-invoking song is Tory Lanez.
10) “Oceans” by stwo feat. Elhae
This 20-something is often described as an electronic music maker, but tags his own genre as nothing more than “?”. His sound is very dimensional and varies greatly from track to track, which warrants the lack of category. Elhae is an Atlanta recording artist who writes, mixes and produces all of his own music. The two artists tweeted each other nearly a year after this song’s release when they realized it had hit a million well-deserved plays.
SoundCloud might be stuck behind the music industry’s curtain for now, but with growing audience and artist contributions, it is well on its way to the forefront. I’ll be back next week with a whole new set of tracks to get you through your week.
