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  • Alex Fraze adds to the evolution of music with wavy new sound on forthcoming EP ‘Lover and a Fighter’

Alex Fraze adds to the evolution of music with wavy new sound on forthcoming EP ‘Lover and a Fighter’

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BALTIMORE, MD – Many people who live in and around Baltimore, Maryland know it for its unfortunate nickname, “Murdaland.” It’s a name that stems from its extremely high crime rate and a homicide rate that puts its capital city, Baltimore, among the most dangerous cities in the world. But East Coast artist Alex Fraze is on a mission to help his hometown have a different reputation, one that embraces love. His latest EP, “Lover and a Fighter,” is a project that pays homage to Michael Jackson, one of his biggest influences. MJ was known for saying he was a lover, not a fighter, but Fraze said he’s flipping it to say that he’s a lover and a fighter because he has deep love and passion inside him, but his music and energy is intense. It’s a project that comes with a lot of passion and good vibes that Fraze describes as “very wavy,” while also showcasing how much of a fighter he is when it comes to things he wants in life and things he’s passionate about.

“I feel like I strive to bring older elements of music back into today’s sound,” Fraze said. “I feel like a lot of today’s sound is very manufactured – that’s just my opinion. And I want to create choruses that really connect with people and music that makes you feel. I want my sound to be infectious. You don’t even have to know the language of what you’re listening to, but you can feel it. That’s the kind of passion I came with on this project. It’s very wavy and really explores a lot of love situations.”

The standout single he’s highlighting from the EP is “Bonnie.” It’s a song that Fraze said highlights the perception of someone engulfed in a toxic relationship. The story of the song is about having a girl by your side who is toxic at the same time. Fraze said “Bonnie” is an archetype that he uses to describe that kind of woman.

“The woman is in your face in love and shows a false sense of transparency and trust, but has a different motive and intention,” he said. “It’s ironic because the original ‘Bonnie,’ who is the counterpart of Clyde (an infamous couple that banded together to commit crimes around the country in the 1920s), was his true love until their last breath. The title ‘Bonnie’ was chosen because of the fact that she shows the traits of a loyal ‘stay down’ woman, but is the complete opposite at heart.”

Fraze said the inspiration for the story cam from real events in his own life. He was wrapped up in a toxic relationship for a while and was jaded by feelings he had for her. He said he viewed her as a “Bonnie” and put her on a pedestal.

“I used that experience to channel how I felt in that time to create the lyrics and vibe of the song,” he said. “The instrumentation of the music is the opposite of the message in the song. The wavy chords and 808s give the song a relaxed, laid-back energy. Groovy is the best way to explain it.”

Fraze said the production was the most important factor in the process of creating the song. He said he wanted to give listeners two different vibes. When listeners hear the instrumentals, he hopes they feel a sense of tranquility. But when they listen to the words and are able to digest and understand their deeper meaning, he hopes they appreciate the illusion the message is portraying.

“The beat sounds very wavy, but the deep message in the song evokes a feeling of being stuck on someone and their toxic tendencies,” Fraze said.

Another standout single from the project is “I Was Your Worst,” which is about recognizing the mistakes you’ve made in a relationship and vowing to do better in the future. The hook of the song says, “You was my best and I was your worst. I move like some trash, this love got your soul on hurt.” Fraze said it’s a song that’s a little more groovy than the rest, and as such will definitely stand out as one of the premiere tracks.

Ultimately, Fraze said he wants his music to serve as a kind of “renaissance” for the music industry. He wants to bring something new and something that adds to the evolution of music and the direction it’s heading.

“I want to shift the game a little bit,” he said. “I take inspiration from a lot of the greats – like James Brown and Michael Jackson and Sam Cooke – and create music that is psychedelic and sets a mood. My drive is to be a pioneer in the industry and to innovate a new lane of sound.”

To listen to Alex Fraze’s music, or to follow him on social media, please visit the following links:

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

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003255915314

Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexfraze14?lang=en

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/alex-fraze

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  • Indiana Rapper Calebdoee Gets Back to Himself with Steamy Hip Hop Love Anthem “YOU&ME”

Indiana Rapper Calebdoee Gets Back to Himself with Steamy Hip Hop Love Anthem “YOU&ME”

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Calebdoee’s new hip hop single “YOU&ME” turns up the heat with a steamy beat built around guitar chords and echoing water drops.

The carefully crafted lyrics are all about “us versus the world,” and an ode to the woman who is “the only one that I want to be next to.”

Go ahead, take away everything that’s stressing me
I promise I never fumble, come take a jet with me
Cause my word is all I got
Music and your love I never flop
It don’t matter what they see
It’s gotta be you and me

Part of a three-song EP titled The Leftovers, “YOU&ME” was recorded at Successful Musik Studios in Fort Wayne.

Born Caleb Martin, the Indiana-based rapper’s previous release was a concept album, Corleone: Part II. Inspired by the iconic main character from The Godfather, for the release Calebdoee took on the persona of Don Corleone, exploring themes of gangsters, family, and destiny. The album explores romance as well, and tracks like “Apollonia (Apple Of My Eye)” foreshadow the current single.

With “YOU&ME,” Caleb says he is getting back to himself. He’s writing about his own life, and focused on having fun with music.

He says, “This mixtape was me being able to get back to form, be true to me before I started working on the project and being able to shape my mindset back to just getting back to having fun with music.”

Calebdoee has been releasing music since 2019, when he dropped his first mixtape, Few Know. On that record he worked with engineer T-Zank, with whom he teamed up again on the current single and EP. “Zank” has been a strong creative partner for Calebdoee, not only engineering but also mixing, mastering, and co-producing tracks.

The 29-year-old rapper first got turned on to music production while taking an audio engineering class in high school. With those production skills, he knew he could build on his high regard for the old school sound of hip hop — think jazz, conscious, and boom-bap subgenres — to create new music that does justice to the artform.

The album art for The Leftovers was created by Caleb’s sister, Kelsey (“ogkillakels”), who does all of the rapper's cover art. He says, “She’s done all my covers; we’ve got years worth of covers. She’s one of the biggest contributors to my music, and I couldn’t be more thankful for my sister.”

As Calebdoee keeps building momentum in the Midwest hip hop scene, “YOU&ME” is a showcase for both his musical talents and his personality. With a music video and live performances on deck for this summer, things are heating up quickly for Calebdoee and his new recordings.

“YOU&ME” is out now with promotional support from Starlight PR. Follow Calebdoee at the links below.

Spotify | Instagram | YouTube | X | Apple Music | TikTok 

Go check out “YOU&ME” and stream it now!

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