coup de main - noun
kü-də-ˈmaⁿ
Definition of coup de main : an attack that achieves complete surprise.

Interview: 2021 Must-Know - Baby Queen

"I try to comprehend all the meaning in emotion / I'm emotionless," Baby Queen sings in her first release of 2021, 'Raw Thoughts', a song she describes as the most important song of hers to date, catalysing the sound of Baby Queen.

That sound - high-energy, raucous, and entirely unfiltered - is the current running through her 'Medicine' EP from last year, and has been praised by the likes of Courtney Love (who calls her a "confident young lady without one bad song").

Interview: 2021 Must-Know - KALI

"I'd say writing music is my way of processing what I'm going through and coming to terms with it, but also, my way of being honest with how I'm really feeling because it's a free space with no judgement except from myself," KALI shares about her songwriting process - heard clearly in her two songs to date, 'Back To The Start' and 'Lucy'.

Interview: 2021 Must-Know - CLOVES

"In terms of a mental place, this record came from a dystopia," says Cloves (born Kaity Dunstan in Melbourne; now based in London) of her forthcoming sophomore album. "Throughout the album, there are little glitches, creeks, and slimy greens. The songs are different pockets of feeling that come under an umbrella of a dystopian discord playing out in your mind. Think of it like a playlist representing the complexity of emotions you experience when you can’t pull yourself out of a spiral—or an entire other world going on behind the eyes that only you know about.

Interview: 2021 Must-Know - Ai Bendr

"I'm super passionate about music and songs in general, and how a certain note or chord can convey a specific emotion or vibe," says 18-year-old Ai Bendr (full name: Chioma Ai Bendors Ilozor), reflecting on her interest in music production, which transpired in breakout single, 'Love Me Low' - written and self-recorded during lockdown due to Covid-19 last year, and recently featured in the HBO show 'Euphoria' during a key scene between main protagonists Jules and Rue.

Interview: 2021 Must-Know - MONEYPHONE

MONEYPHONE is built on friendship. The genre-bending duo - David May and Enoch Ncube - first became friends in high school, and eventually made the move to Toronto together. After each pursuing solo music careers, they ended up deciding to work together instead, and the magic of MONEYPHONE officially began. Two EPs (2017's 'Tolerance' and 2018's 'Athletes') preceded the 'Faith*' mixtape from last year, which showcases the pair's truly unique approach to music - part hip-hop, part pop, and always grounded in their friendship and community spirit.

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