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As the year draws to a close, here’s a little look back at our releases in 2023

BRELSTAFF – URBAN TESTIMONY [The Instrumentals]

In the Spring, we released “Urban Testimony [The Instrumentals]”. Produced by Edinburgh’s Brelstaff, this was the pre-cursor to the full version of the album he recorded with Brooklyn rapper Justo the MC which would follow later in the year.

Several from the album were used by “Focus Beats”, broadcast on both BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 6 over the summer months, beginning with “Is She” in June.

A mix of lofi hip hop, chilled out electronica and downtempo soulful vibes which is available to stream on Spotify, with full visuals on the album’s Youtube playlist

ANTHONY KANNON & FROST GAMBLE – CAUTIONARY TALES

Following a series of singles over the summer, “Cautionary Tales” by award winning New York State rapper Anthony Kannon and producer Frost Gamble released on October 20th.

An outstanding piece of work documenting the remarkable story of the young MC’s life to date, Bandcamp chose to feature it on the store’s front page “New and Notable” section.

Available of course from Bandcamp, Spotify and all other digital platforms including Apple / iTunes, Amazon, Deezer and Tidal, with a full video playlist also on Youtube.

JUSTO THE MC & BRELSTAFF – URBAN TESTIMONY

Again after a series of singles spanning the summer and autumn, “Urban Testimony” by Brooklyn rapper Justo the MC and Edinburgh producer Brelstaff was released on November 3rd.

Another to be afforded front page billing by Bandcamp on release, the entire album is themed around Justo’s time studying at Clark University Atlanta several years ago. A fascinating depiction of events leading up to, during and after his curtailed time spent there relayed in a brutally honest account of a conflicted mind on a potential escape route through academia straying rapidly on a path to hedonism, the regrets, lessons learned, and ultimately the strength to survive for better days.

In addition to Apple / iTunes, Deezer and Tidal, check it out for yourself on Bandcamp, Spotify andf the full video playlist on Youtube.

TRU TRILLA – XVI : RETURN OF THE GODS

Finally, earlier this month we announced we would be releasing the new album “XVI : Return of the Gods” by New Jersey rapper Tru Trilla on May 31st 2024, this being the follow up to his album “God of Barz” which we also released in 2020.

Over two years in the making, a magnificent mix of hard bars, highest quality lyricism, beats and turntablism includes a stellar cast of producers and guest featured artists including Reks, Lakim Shabazz, Ruste Juxx, Recognize Ali, Skyzoo, Guilty Simpson, NapsNdreds, N.B.S., Julius of Shoe Gang and many more.

A trailer video for the album has recently been published on Youtube, and you can check out its predecessor on Spotify.

We once again thank everyone for their support since we re-launched the label in 2019, and would also like to take this opportunity of wishing you and yours the very best for the holiday season and the best of good fortune for 2024.

Welcome to the real……

TEAM NDR

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We are pleased to announce the release today of the new single “Fine Line” by Brooklyn rapper Justo the MC and Edinburgh lo fi hip hop producer Brelstaff.

Taken from the album ‘Urban Testimony’ which dropped on November 3rd and has also recently enjoyed a Bandcamp front page feature in their New & Notable section.

The entire album is superb, effectively a documentary covering Justo’s trials and tribulations before, during and after his curtailed time studying at Clark Atlanta University which resulted in his reaching a pivotal point in life.

We have chosen “Fine Line” for a further extra spotlight given its subject matter summarizes very well the mental conflicts he endured, and also because the instrumental version was one of several broadcast over the summer months by BBC Radio 1’s “Focus Beats” programme.

Available on APPLE / iTUNES, TIDAL, AMAZON and below on BANDCAMP and SPOTIFY

OFFICIAL VISUALS ON YOUTUBE

You can learn more about Justo and Brel on their specially designated ARTIST PAGE, and also get details of the instrumental and vocal versions of the album and affiliated singles on their specific RELEASES PAGE.

This also marks our final release for 2023, however we will be making an announcement very shortly about what we have lined up for next year, so stay tuned.

Meanwhile, our thanks to everyone who have supported these fanstastic artists’ releases this year.

TEAM NDR

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For the second time in recent weeks we were delighted to learn that another of our releases had been picked by online store Bandcamp to feature on their front page’s “New and Notable” spotlight section.

“Urban Testimony” by Brooklyn rapper Justo the MC and Edinburgh lo fi hip hop producer Brelstaff is an exceptional piece of work. Lyrically, the narrative reads like a book telling the story of a pivotal time in Justo’s life before during and after his curtailed and turbulent attendance at Clark Atlanta University some years ago.

The underlying themes of potential opportunities presented by the escape route of academia being missed as a conflicted mind strayed on the path of hedonism is a brutally honest account of events as they unfolded. However, the story ends on a more optimistic note of survival and progression with lessons learned.

The accompanying soundtrack by Brelstaff perfectly captures each mood perfectly. The blend of lo fi hip hop beats, jazz fusion and soul acts almost like a film score, the instrumental versions of several having been broadcast by BBC Radio 1’s ‘Focus Beats’ programme earlier in the year.

Both the vocal version of the album and instrumental version are available on Bandcamp

You can learn more about Justo and Brelstaff in their specially designated Artist Page on this website.

TEAM NDR

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We are very proud to announce the release today of yet another superb album, this time by Justo the MC and Edinburgh lofi hip hop producer Brelstaff.

In the true traditions of the art of storytelling, “Urban Testimony” depicts events before, during and after the Brooklyn rapper’s curtailed and troubled time studying at Clark Atlanta University some years ago. Documented in a deeply personal narrative, details unfold of a conflicted mind on a potential escape route to academia straying rapidly on a hedonistic path and the consequences incurred.

While regrets are clear, the spirit of resilience prevails. Emerging scathed but undaunted and emboldened by second chances, the final scenes present a renewed sense of optimism for the future with lessons duly learned.

A fascinating and brutally honest account is relayed through trademark slick rhymes and deft lyricism, the art of storytelling set to a suitably atmospheric soundtrack provided by Brelstaff’s blend of soulful chilled lofi hip hop beats and ambient electronica.

It is a remarkable piece of work by two masters of their craft which we are extremely pleased to share with you now on APPLE/iTunes, AMAZON, TIDAL and below on BANDCAMP & SPOTIFY.

    There are also official videos for every track which you can watch on the album’s playlist published on our Youtube channel.

    Of course earlier this year we released the instrumental version of the album, and several tracks were broadcast by BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 6 on their Focus Beats programme.

    It also has a full video playlist on our Youtube Channel and can be streamed on Spotify

    Justo will be performing tracks from “Urban Testimony” when he travels to upstate New York on Saturday November 18th as a special guest of Anthony Kannon and Frost Gamble for their ‘Cautionary Tales’ album launch party at Deep Dive in Ithaca.

    For more information about Justo and Brelstaff including all their social media details, visit their ARTIST PAGE on this site.

    For all media, press, audio & video podcats and radio station DJ inquiries about the release, please contact the official publicist, our in house promotional division UrbanElite PR HERE  

    As ever, enjoy the music and as always we thank everyone for their support.

    TEAM NDR

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    New Dawn Records are pleased to announce the release of the new single “Sunday” today by Brooklyn rapper Justo the MC and Edinburgh producer Brelstaff.

    This is the third in a trilogy of singles ahead of their album “Urban Testimony” releasing on Friday November 3rd, and mapped the key points of the storyline contained within the entire theme which documents Justo’s curtailed and traumatic time spent studying at Clark Atlanta University some years ago.

    The latest single represents his reflections on surviving the experience, regrets, but also a sense of optimism for the future with lessons learned, mirrored by Brelstaff’s soulful cool groove production.

    Justo will be performing several tracks from the album when he appears as a special guest of Anthony Kannon and Frost Gamble at their “Cautionary Tales” album launch event taking place on Saturday November 18th at Deep Dive in Ithaca.

    “Sunday” is available to stream and download at Apple / iTunes, Tidal, Amazon and below on Bandcamp and Spotify

    The official video is also playing on our Youtube channel

    Details about Justo and Brelstaff, including all their social media platforms can be found at their specially designated ARTIST PAGE on this site.

    All press, media and radio DJ inquiries regarding any of our releases can sent to our in house promotional division UrbanElite PR

    We very much appreciate the support as always

    TEAM NDR

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    Earlier in the summer, BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 6 programme “Focus Beats” included instrumental tracks from our catalogue by Brelstaff, Frost Gamble and Husky Brown.

    Broadcast weekly through the night and produced by Reform Radio, it’s designed for listeners to help with focus, study and to chill & relax with the playback facility available online for several weeks via the station’s renowned BBC Sounds.

    This weekend the programme again included one of our releases, “High” being the third track used from Edinburgh producer Brelstaff’s “Urban Testimony [The Instrumentals]” album we released in the Spring, and you can listen back to the whole programme HERE

    The album was released in the Spring on all digital platforms including Apple/iTunes, and Tidal. It is also available to listen in full at Bandcamp, Spotify and there is also a full video playlist for every track on Youtube

    The instrumental album was the forerunner to the full vocal version releasing on November 3rd, a collaboration with Brooklyn rapper Justo the MC.

    The vocal version of “High” was released in the late summer, and again is available to stream and download on all of the digital platforms already mentioned, with the official video playing on Youtube.

    The next single from the pair is “Sunday”, out October 10th

    You can get more information about the artists at their specially designated ARTIST PAGE on this website.

    All press, multimedia and radio station DJ enquiries regarding any of our releases can be sent to our in house promotional division UrbanElite PR, their contact information is HERE

    TEAM NDR

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    We are very pleased to announce today the release of the new AA side single “Falling” / “Satan’s Grip” by Brooklyn rapper Justo the MC and Edinburgh hip hop producer Brelstaff.

    This is the second taken from their album “Urban Testimony” out on November 3rd, and follows on from last month’s “High”. This is the latest chapter from the album’s overall theme, a narrative documenting Justo’s curtailed and traumatic experience studying at Clark Atlanta University several years ago.

    Carrying the weight of expectations from a household of faith, the essence of the story is that of a conflicted mind on a potential escape route through academia which strays on a path of hedonism in a brutally honest account of events and consequences.

    A chilled soundtrack is the backdrop for the post-traumatic “Falling”, a remorseful narrative reflecting on the mental and physical impacts incurred, while the gritty menacing strains of “Satan’s Grip” fuel a metaphorical conversation on the risks of dancing with the devil.

    Available to stream and download at APPLE / iTUNES, AMAZON, TIDAL and below on BANDCAMP and SPOTIFY

    There are also official visuals on Youtube

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

    You can find out more about Justo and Brelstaff on their dedicated Artist Page HERE which also includes all their Social Media platform information.

    Enjoy the new music & as ever we appreciate the support.

    TEAM NDR

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    New Dawn Records are pleased to announce the release today of the single “High” by prolific Brooklyn rapper Justo the MC and Edinburgh hip hop producer Brelstaff.

    This is the first to be taken from their new album “Urban Testimony” out on November 3rd 2023, the entire theme of which is centred around events leading up to and including Justo’s curtailed time studying at Clark Atlanta University. It represents a fascinating insight depicted in a deeply personal narrative documenting the trials and tribulations he encountered there which ultimately led him to a turning point in life.

    The instrumental version of the album was released earlier in the year, with tracks having featured recently on “Focus Beats”, broadcast by the world renowned BBC Radio 1 and Radio 6.

    You can stream and download “High” on all digital platforms including APPLE, AMAZON, TIDAL and below on BANDCAMP & SPOTIFY

    OFFICIAL VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

    You can connect with Justo and Brelstaff directly on social media, all their details are included in their specially designated artist page HERE

    All press, radio DJ and multimedia enquiries regarding any of our releases can be addressed to our in house promotional division UrbanElite PR. Their contact details are HERE

    Thanks to everyone for your continued support

    TEAM NDR

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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 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