Born and raised in Philly, crash landed in Charleston, Kevin and John Shields are breaking into previously uncharted waters with their quirky indie hip-hop group, Little Stranger. Between John’s melodic singer-songwriter magnetism, Kevin’s in-your-face delivery, and an overall undeniable groove, this duo is sure to get any audience up and moving. Stylistically reminiscent of Gorillaz and Odelay-era Beck, Little Stranger delivers a fresh take on melodic hip-hop. Every track brings the uniqueness and strangeness that their name implies.
For the past few years, the duo has perfected their live performance by playing over 100 shows per year prior to the coronavirus shutdown. The group also puts a big focus on creating arresting visual experiences through their music videos, their own eccentric television program (LSTV), and in-house graphics. Between their out-of-the-box creative endeavors and an ever-increasing arsenal of new tunes, Little Stranger is poised to make 2023 another slam dunk.
Calimossa
Calimossa’s addictive blend of old-school funk and hip-hop with a modern electronic spin is sure to get anyone up on their feet, and we can’t get enough of it. Growing up, Calimossa learned the ropes of the guitar in his childhood garage band. In an interview with Off The Cassette, the artist named the Red Hot Chili Peppers as his muse – deepening his desire to master the art of groove. His first EP ‘Habaneros’ released in January of 2018, and his track ‘Planet X’ quickly soared. Since its initial release, ‘Planet X’ has reached over 2.2 million streams on Spotify alone and has even made its way into a MasterClass trailer and an episode of Silicon Valley. Each of the artist’s tracks are carefully crafted, paying homage to his many rhythmic influences. Calimossa’s Latin roots can be heard across his discography, capturing the richness of traditional Argentinian music while allowing his smooth, captivating soundscape to shine through. We can’t wait to see what comes next for Calimossa. But in the meantime, we’ll keep his three EPs and several hypnotizing singles on repeat.
