MP3: Shivum Sharma – Steady As We Go

Just turned 17, East London talent Shivum Sharma has really caught our ear – slowly unraveling the colour of his voice on this record – something fluttery, beautiful, unique. Citing “amy winehouse, the knife, fever ray, minnie riperton, björk & jill scott” as his inspirations, their spirits clearly dance in a big circle on ‘Steady As We Go’? Aptly opened with the sound of a flicking lighter followed by an exhale, this dreamy slice of lo-fi groove is co-produced with his fellow Brit Schooler Alex Burey, and the Amy/Jilly intonations fly about like apathetic, effort-shrugging butterflies embracing some olden girl group 45s.

“Right now it seems that I’m living that dream I’ve seen on TV” the singer stargazes, as wall of sound meet the au courant reverb and 90s street-soul edged drums/bassline face meltdown under loungey swagger and exotic folkiness. Yet it’s layers of Lynchian harmony and Sharma’s baroquial tone that really carry this tired-in-a-heatwave jam directly to that spot under the collar. It is after all, the the hottest day of the year.