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 Universitywhich 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.
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.
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 Brelstaffis an exceptional piece of work. Lyrically, the narrative reads like a booktelling 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 accountof 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.
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 themewhich documents Justo’s curtailed and traumatic time spent studying at Clark Atlanta Universitysome 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
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 & relaxwith 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
Releasing on November 3rd 2023, the new album “Urban Testimony” by Brooklyn rapper Justo the MC & Edinburgh producer Brelstaff is now ready to pre-order online HERE.
In what is one of his most personal releases to date, the entire theme relates to Justo’s curtailed and traumatic time spent studying at Clark Atlanta University some years ago, documenting the experiences and events witnessed there. The narrative reflects regrets, consequences and lessons learned in what is a brutally honest account of a time which by his own description led him to “a turning point in life”.
The superb lyricism and skillful art of storytellingare bolstered by the atmospheric soundtrack provided by Brelstaff, mixing lofi beats, electronica and jazz fusion for a chilled yet gritty concoction that keep the pages turning.
The album will be available initially in digital format from all leading streaming and download platforms including Apple / iTunes, Spotify, Tidal, Bandcamp, Deezer and Amazon. Singles released so far include “High” and the AA side “Falling / “Satan’s Grip”
There is also a video playlist on Youtube of the singles released to date, and videos for all future singles and album tracks will also appear here
All written media, press or DJ enquiries and requests regarding this or any of our releases can be addressed to our in house promotional division, UrbanElite PR. Their contact details are HERE
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.
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.
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
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
Itincludes 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 Menufor 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
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!
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.
