NEW MUSIC: Doe Paoro

There's nothing I like more on this blog than posting about new talents, especially ones of the female singer-songwriter variety. One person who knows this, is my good friend Dave Morrisey, a former music blogger who is now solely responsible for the brilliant online music show, Below and Beyond. Yesterday Dave posted a video for a song from newcomer Doe Paoro on my blog's Facebook page, and I was instantly transfixed.

Before I continue harping on about Doe Paoro, I feel I should warn you that this lady's music is going to seep inside your brain and force you stop whatever you are doing. Yes, she is that special.

Doe Paoro, aka Sonia Kreitzer, has been garnering much praise in her native Brooklyn for a while now, but her incredible sound has, of late, been slowly creeping through the internet machine and onto our earwaves over this side of the world. Paoro's dark, haunting, yet completely infectious music is brimming with originality and inventiveness, and her sparse piano laments and stunning vocals are utterly captivating.

Paoro's album, Slow to Love, is out now through Bandcamp (see here) and is a collection of songs that should be placed on repeat and treasured. She herself calls it "banshee soul"; I call it [expletive] incredible.

For the best examples of Paoro's sheer talent, check out the tracks below. For more on Doe Paoro, stalk her on Facebook. I will be.

Tweet

NEW MUSIC: Mahalia

I can't pinpoint exactly what I was doing at 13, but I imagine it was something to do with superheroes and comic books, and maybe even an A-Team van. I'm pretty confident I wasn't the talk of music heads all over the UK, with my stunning, heartfelt and mature lyrics, and delectable vocal talents. I'll double-check with my Dad, but I'm pretty sure I wasn't.

There have been some very fine female singer-songwriters emerging out of the UK in the last number of years (just take Amy Winehouse and Adele as an example), and this new face is certainly no less talented. Mahalia is just 13 years old, but her musical capabilities are – both vocally and lyrically – far, far, far beyond her years. This is another little lady who, along with the likes of Birdy and Gabrielle Aplin, proves that you’re never too young to crack the music industry nowadays.

Mahalia's songs, particularly the noteworthy 'Let the World See the Light', exhibit a sincerityand maturity that many people twice her age only wish they had. Her acousitc tracks are brimming with beauty and grace, and her stunning, raspy vocals would melt the iciest of hearts.

Intrigued? Hooked? You should be...

Find out more about Mahalia by following her on Facebook or Twitter on the internet machine.

Tweet

NEW MUSIC: Of Monsters and Men

Here's a gang who haven't been featured on Rarities before. Of Monsters and Men are a six-piece indie-folk band from lovely Iceland, who in 2010 won Músikilraunir, the country's annual music competition.

Of Monsters and Men have already had major success in the United States since their song 'Little Talks' was recorded live over the 2010 Iceland Airwaves festival by Seattle-based radio station KEXP. In August 2011, the song was also debuted on Philadelphia station Radio 104.5, and quickly went into heavy rotation due to an overwhelmingly positive response by music listeners. This led to the band picking up a record deal with Universal Republic Records.

The mild-mannered six pack released their EP, Into the Woods, on December 2011 and are currently putting the finishing touches to their debut album, set for release later this year. 'Little Talk' is the first official single from Of Monsters and Men and is available to download now on iTunes. Check out the stunning new video below.

Follow Of Monsters and Men on Facebook here.

Tweet