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Focus Beats, produced by Reform Radio, broadcasts weekly through the night, initially on Saturdays aired on BBC Radio 6 and repeated on BBC Radio 1 every Wednesday.

The world renowned station has recently scheduled various programmes of a similar nature, mirroring the phenomenon which has grown exponentially in recent years on Youtube and Spotify playlists. Typically playing a mix of instrumental lo-fi hip hop, chill, and ambient electronica, all designed to assist with relaxation, stress relief, meditation and in particular there is extensive usage by students using these sounds to help with focusing on stud. It is the musical extension of ASMR.

This week’s programme can be streamed for the next six weeks on BBC Sounds and you can listen back HERE

It includes tracks affiliated to New Dawn Records’ releases by three different artists

Brelstaff – “Fine Line (instrumental)” Taken from Urban Testimony [The Instrumentals]” released earlier this year, the original version appears on the vocal version of the album, a collaboration with Brooklyn rapper Justo the MC which drops on November 3rd. The first single “High” will be made available on August 1st.

Urban Testimony [The Instrumentals] on Spotify

Urban Testimony – Official Album Video Trailer on Youtube

Frost Gamble “Long Ride (instrumental)”. This is the instrumental of the track appearing on the album “Cautionary Tales”, another collaborative project this time between the producer originally from Binghamton NY and now resident in Canada, and award winning upstate NY rapper Anthony Kannon

Releasing on October 20th, the first single “Pitfalls” dropped in June with the new single “Make It Rain” ready to make its appearance next week on Tuesday July 18th.

Pitfalls is available on all digital platforms including Bandcamp, Apple, Tidal, Deezer, Amazon and here on Spotify

Cautionary Tales – Official Album Video Trailer on Youtube

Phoenix da Icefire & Husky Brown “Veganite (instrumental)”. The instrumental of the track which appeared on “Panacea”, released by us in 2020 and which was nominated for “Best Independent Album” at the AIM Awards that year.

It remains an immense piece of work by the London duo, with Husky fusing hip hop, funk, soul, dub, electronic and lo-fi sounds as a soundtrack to a narrative by Phoenix addressing prominent issues such as institutional racism, mental health, physical well being, spirituality, climate change, knife crime and aspirations, all delivered with the underlying message of empathy and hope for the future.

A remarkable album that will continue to stand the test of time which you can hear on all digital platforms including Bandcamp, Apple, Tidal and here on Spotify

All the artists we work with have their own page designated for them on this website which includes background information and all of their social media links, so simply go to the ARTISTS section in the Menu for further details.

All international media and DJ enquries about any of our releases can be sent to our in house promotional division, UrbanElite PR. Their contact details are HERE

Our thanks again to Reform Radio for the support

TEAM NDR

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New Dawn Records are proud to announce the upcoming release of the new album “Urban Testimony” by Brooklyn rapper Justo the MC and Edinburgh producer Brelstaff on November 3rd 2023 distributed digitally by Ingrooves / Universal.

Justo first emerged in 2010 while working with his cousin and producer DJ Vic Black of Gangstarr Foundation.  The video for their joint “It’s Our Year” released in 2011 featured DJ Premier, and after several years of mixtape releases, the pair would hook up again in 2017 on Justo’s album “Black Ops” produced entirely by DITC’s Showbiz, executively produced and curated by Vic assisted by DJ Premier. 

Since then there has been prolific output through worldwide collaborations including Canadian production team The Lost Info, Brooklyn’s Maticulous, Italy’s Bboy Enea, Nova Scotian DK, the UK’s Remulak and for the first time in 2021 with Brelstaff on their joint “Swagu”.

In  2014 while performing under his born name Daryl Donald, Brel released his debut EP “Kept” and the collaborative album “The Clockwork” with south London emcee Cutta Chase.  The release of his instrumental album “Solitude” in 2017 followed in 2019 by “Behold the Spirit” and “Full Circle” built up his reputation as one of the most respected new emerging underground lo fi hip hop producers from these shores, attracting a total of 450,000 listeners and a million streams on Spotify.

Subsequently having adopted the new pseudonym, he released the self titled “Brelstaff” in 2020, and returned to the public arena in February 2023 with the new joint “Cursive” featuring the legendary Fashawn, followed in April by the release of the instrumental version of the “Urban Testimony” through New Dawn, securing play on the BBC Radio 1 & Radio 6 show “Focus Beats” in the process.

The new album documents what Justo  describes as the “arrival at a crossroads from a life defining year”.  A deeply personal narrative which provides a fascinating insight depicting events leading up to and during his curtailed stay at Clark Atlanta University, and he has again turned to Brelstaff to accompany him on his journey.    Beautifully crafted, fuelled by skilful lyricism addressing the core messages of mental health, hedonism, loss of faith, redemption and renewed focus all set to the perfect musical score. The perfect partnership.  

The album can be pre-ordered from various store with effect from September 8th HERE

     

A series of singles will precede the album release beginning on August 1st with “High”.  All will be available to download and stream from major digital platforms including Spotify, Bandcamp, Apple Music, Tidal and Amazon.  Videos for all tracks will appear on our official Youtube channel @newdawnrecords where you can now watch the video trailer.

All international press and DJ enquiries can be addressed to our in house promotional division UrbanElite PR. Their contact details are HERE and the full official album press release can be read HERE

Again we’d encourage everyone to connect with the artists directly on their social media platforms. Just like everyone we work with, they always got a lot going on & they’ll holla back!

Justo on Twitter @MC_Justo IG @JustoTheMC FB @JustoTheMC

Brelstaff on Twitter @BrelstaffMusic IG @BrelstaffMusic FB @BrelstaffMusic

Thanks again to everyone for supporting not just what we do, but more importantly, what these talented artists do.

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TEAM NDR

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New Dawn Records are pleased to announce the release today of the new album “Urban Testimony [The Instrumentals]” by Edinburgh producer Brelstaff.

Ten titles fusing chilled, soulful lofi hip hop with downtempo jazz and ambient electronica in an ethereal soundtrack that rests easy on the senses. Music to soothe the soul and help focus with work and study in equal measure.

Originally operating under his born name Daryl Donald, his reputation as one of the most respected emerging beatmakers in this genre grew from 2017 through a series of projects which generated over a million streams on Spotify, and since adopting the new pseudonym has continued to flourish, most notably earlier this year with the single “Cursive” featuring renowned west coast rapper Fashawn.

The instrumental album is the pre-cursor to the full vocal version which we will release later in the year.  A collaborative project with Brooklyn rapper Justo the MC which acts as a narrative documenting his curtailed and turbulent time at Clark Atlanta University, including a fascinating insight and depiction of the trials and tribulations of student life he witnessed there which ultimately led to the crossroads of his life. 

Now available to stream and download at APPLE, AMAZON & TIDAL

Also on Bandcamp & Spotify

In addition there is a full video playlist for every track now on our official Youtube channel.

All media enquiries can be directed to our in house promotional division UrbanElite PR, contact details HERE

You can connect with Brelstaff on Twitter @BrelstaffMusic and Instagram @BrelstaffMusic

As ever we appreciate the support and enjoy the music !

TEAM NDR

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Our first release of 2023 comes courtesy of Edinburgh producer Brelstaff who laces us with his trademark concoction of chilled, soulful, lofi hip hop vibes with further influences of progressive rock, jazz fusion and ambient electronica fused together effortlessly in an ethereal soundtrack that focuses minds and soothes souls in equal measure. 

“Urban Testimony [The Instrumentals]” drops Friday April 28th, while the full vocal version, a collaborative project with Brooklyn rapper Justo the MC will be released by us in the autumn, preceded by several singles.

Videos for every track will appear on our official Youtube Channel upon the album’s release next month, and of course it will also be available to download and stream at all major digital platforms including Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple, Amazon & Tidal.

Meantime we have just published the album Video Trailer and Audio Teaser.

Thanks to the team at UrbanElite Productions for both the artwork and video trailer. All media enquiries about our releases can be addressed to our in house promotional division, UrbanElite PR whose contact information is HERE

You can connect with Brelstaff on his social media platforms. Twitter @BrelstaffMusic Instagram @BrelstaffMusic and Facebook @BrelstaffMusic

Our thanks again to everyone for your support, enjoy !

TEAM NDR