Jeeni Blog

Helping the next generation of talent to build a global fanbase

Maple Sky, ‘Vision’ Single Review

/ By Doug Phillips
Maple Sky, ‘Vision’ Single Review

The already multi-faceted smooth jazz outfit, Maple Sky broaden their sound once more with this explosive, brand-new funk banger, named ‘Vision’.  

Maple Sky have been a key component of Jeeni’s jazz channel (https://jeeni.com/channel/all-channels/jazz/) since last September and after a few different iterations, it seems that the group have found their most effective formula of members and mindsets.  

Maple Sky have evolved. Their sweet lounge jazz tracks have their place and are performed and written superbly however, the control and dare I say, vision contained in this piece is so far, unparalleled in their work. Each instrument expresses individuality and flows with different breathes and personalities, yet they still exist solely in the context of each other and act as a part of a dynamic and expressive synergy.  

Maple Sky told Jeeni that drummer, Ed Jordan handles the production of the group’s latest work and he’s done a fantastic job handling all of the energy that Joel, Olivia, Christian and of course, himself brings to this track. Ed gives more space to the instruments via natural-feeling reverb which creates physical dimensions and atmosphere to the funky soundtrack.

Keyboardist, Joel Bamigboye also has a hand in production and produced the entirety of the group’s self-titled EP from 2020. The group’s consistent musicianship has meant that this change-up of producers has so far not created any kind of conflict or contradictions in their tone and sound. 

Following ‘Free Her’, their new EP, set to be released later this year is shaping up to be their strongest yet. 

‘Vision’ is set to be released on Saturday, the 5th of February. 

Follow Maple Sky on socials: 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mapleskyband  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MapleSkyBand/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapleskyband/  

Check out Maple Sky’s showcase on Jeeni here: https://jeeni.com/showcase/maple-sky/  

How can Jeeni support artists like Maple Sky?  

JEENI is a multi-channel platform for original entertainment on demand. We’re a direct service between creatives and the global audience.  

• We give creatives, independent artists and performers a showcase for their talent and services. And they keep 100% of everything they make.  
• We empower our audience and reward them every step of the way.  
• We promise to treat our members ethically, fairly, honestly and with respect.  
• Access to artist liaison and a supportive marketing team. 

26
Mar

Jeeni Live Music Festival

By Kelli Richards: Jeeni USA MD I’ve decided that I’m going to write blogs periodically about some of the cool clients I’m fortunate enough to work with.  One of them is a UK-based venture called JEENI  run by long-time client, colleague and friend — Mel Croucher; a legend in the UK games industry.   Simply put, JEENI is a multi-channel streaming service for independent musicians and performers, providing a unique showcase to put undiscovered talent in front of a global audience. JEENI artists get to keep 100% of everything they earn from the sale of their music and merchandise. JEENI audiences are given the power to vote, donate and be rewarded too. JEENI treats its members ethically, fairly, honestly and with respect. Their numbers have been growing steadily over the past year or so, and this past weekend they ran a Live Music Festival featuring some of the amazing musicians in the global community.  As an homage to my former A&R role at EMI, I was really impressed with the talent of several of the featured artists.  The highlights reel runs about an hour, and that’s time well spent to discover some wonderful talent and be entertained by artists you others might not hear about — not yet anyway.  It’s quite an eclectic line-up but some of my personal favorites from this festival include:  red-headed wunderkind Harvie Joy, teen guitar virtuoso Toby Lee, vocalist Jem Cooke who appears to be channeling Adele, multi-instrumentalist Daniel Gerendas, and a spine-tingling track from Zeeteeah Massiah. I promise if you invest an hour in watching this online music festival, you’ll be very pleasantly rewarded.  And consider joining JEENI as well! The incredible talented Zeeteah Massiah who starred in the Festival will be playing at The Crazy Cogs on Thursday the 8th of October 2020, if you fancy seeing her gig live. https://www.brasseriezedel.com/crazy-coqs/

02
Feb

I K 8OY - ‘Let You Know’, single review

Stirring together afroswing with tuneful rapping, the first official release from Nigerian/British rapper, I K 8OY is a shimmering and glossy UK hip-hop achievement.   A new addition to Jeeni, I K 8OY began creating music back in Nigeria as a part of a band and moved to the UK to study. He began writing and recording music more centered around rap in 2018 however, like many artists, the pandemic caused a change in creative direction and I K began to take more inspiration from home and incorporated afrobeat ideas into his work. Jeeni is looking forward to propelling I K 8OY and increasing his outreach with our global platform.  The smooth, silky nature of 'Let You Know' is reminiscent of J Hus’s debut album, ‘Common Sense’. This likeness is particularly due to a grand approach to production and the luxurious electronic keyboard which warbles the jazzy chords across the syncopated beats. A jazz-scaling saxophone is positioned in the distant right of the stereo space and does an incredible job in advancing the suaveness and confidence of the track.  The tuning of percussive instruments, heard clearest in the intro, is archetypal of traditional Nigerian instrumentation such as the Dùndún or ‘Talking Drum’. A plucking palm-muted guitar then joins the tuned percussion and creates an ingenious polyrhythm that sits underneath the main beat. Although subtle, this attention given to the beat is such an effective device and really separates this track from other progressions in UK hip-hop genres.   I K’s voice is gravely, authoritative and demands your attention, so it’s certainly not coincidental that I K 8OY has named Rick Ross as one of his main influences. His rushed and unique rap delivery is catching to the ear and contrasts with the easygoing instrumental accompaniment. Stay tuned, because if ‘Let You Know’ is anything to go by, I K 8OY is just getting warmed up.  Album review Check out I K 8OY’s Jeeni Showcase here: https://jeeni.com/showcase/zhgeii1xjlpg/   How can Jeeni support artists like I K 8OY?   JEENI is a multi-channel platform for original entertainment on demand. We’re a direct service between creatives and the global audience.   • We give creatives, independent artists and performers a showcase for their talent and services. And they keep 100% of everything they make.  • We empower our audience and reward them every step of the way.  • We promise to treat our members ethically, fairly, honestly and with respect.  • Access to artist liaison and a supportive marketing team. 

18
Jul

LOCKDOWN OPERA GOES GLOBAL

Ten years ago Pete Wyer won the Best Composer Award for his work with the English National Ballet and London Symphony Orchestra. When his celebration concert was performed in Liverpool, it drew crowds of 60,000. But today, because of Covid restrictions, he can't find a venue anywhere in the world to stage his latest work. SPRING STREET is a new opera, composed, rehearsed and performed during lockdown. The multinational stars and musicians have never even met, except on Zoom. But now they are turning the whole situation to their advantage, and Wyer has decided to release everything for free globally, using social media.  He says, "It's been a very happy experience, and we're reaching out to a world-wide audience far bigger than any performance any of us have ever achieved before." Pete Wyer has teamed up with the Jeeni network, who specialise in putting performers in direct contact with their fans. "If a performer sells one T-shirt to a fan on Jeeni, they can make more in a minute than most performers make in a month from streaming services like Spotify and the rest. Jeeni is run by the artists themselves, and that's what appeals to me."  SPRING STREET stars Japanese Netflix heartthrob Heday Inoue as The Caretaker, and triple-GRAMMY-Award-Winner Maren Montalbano as The Watcher. SPRING STREET will be premièred throughout the day on Saturday 24th July 2021 on jeeni.com/springstreet and simultaneously released across all social media by a network of thirty-four thousand fans of opera, jazz, poetry and rock music. contact: Shena Mitchell FOUNDING DIRECTOR, JEENI t: +44 7703 567 196e: shena@jeeni.com