We Speak Music
Emerging East London Hip-Hop Artist VIRTUO Makes Bold Genre Shift with New Single ‘Attention’ Featuring Meron T

East London’s vibrant music scene welcomes a new wave of creativity as emerging hip-hop artist VIRTUO releases his latest single, “Attention,” featuring the soulful Meron T. This track marks a significant departure from his previous works, as it introduces a fresh foray into the house genre, showcasing VIRTUO’s artistic versatility and innovative spirit.
Produced by Cloubee, “Attention” radiates energy and allure, inviting listeners to embrace confidence and spontaneity. The collaboration emerged organically during a studio session when Cloubee played the beat, igniting VIRTUO’s creative spark. Instantly, he began freestyling the catchy chorus, setting a bold and infectious tone. To enrich the song’s narrative, VIRTUO enlisted Meron T to share her perspective, resulting in a captivating portrayal of the electric anticipation found in first encounters.
“Attention” features a rich sonic palette, blending 808s, synth bass, guitar, and vocal samples to create a layered and danceable sound. The track was expertly mixed and mastered by long-time collaborator Johnnie Lawrence, ensuring a polished finish that enhances its infectious appeal. With Meron T’s smooth delivery paired with Cloubee’s dynamic production, VIRTUO’s vision and growing profile promise to make a significant impact on the music scene.
“Attention is about that pivotal moment when you first see someone you know will become important to you,” VIRTUO explains. “I hope it encourages people to take the shot, make the move, and be confident in themselves. The song is all about living in the now—I don’t want anyone listening without at least a head bop or a foot drum; it’s meant to make you feel and dance.”
Earlier this year, VIRTUO released “Trek,” a standout single from his project The Commute, which delved into the challenges artists face on their path to success. Displaying his signature wordplay and sharp rap adlibs, “Trek” positioned VIRTUO as a boundary-pushing artist. In June 2024, he followed up with “Haze,” further cementing his innovative approach by blending social commentary with a raw, authentic sound. These releases highlight his ongoing experimentation with UK rap and melodic elements, underscoring his versatility in the burgeoning London music scene.
VIRTUO’s journey is profoundly shaped by a blend of artistic influences and personal experiences. Born in Clapham and raised in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, he has navigated the challenges of being a Black artist in a predominantly white area. His creative expression began with spoken word poetry, tackling themes of race and identity—foundations that remain integral to his music.
Growing up in a musical family, with a jazz singer for a father and a legacy tied to Knebworth House, music was always a central part of his life. Early influences like American hip-hop and notable artists such as Akala and George the Poet fueled his passion for lyricism and storytelling. As he began producing music, VIRTUO drew inspiration from London’s underground scene, weaving together elements of drill, UK rap, and house into his evolving sound. Artists like Skepta, Kaytranada, and Anderson .Paak have played pivotal roles in shaping his style, encouraging him to experiment with rhythms, vocal flows, and production techniques.
VIRTUO has performed at various venues across London, from intimate gigs to headlining major spaces like XOYO, Brixton Jamm, and the O2 Islington. These experiences have allowed him to fine-tune his stage presence and cultivate a dedicated following, solidifying his reputation as a versatile performer.
Through his music and artistic ventures, VIRTUO continues to showcase the cultural richness of London, representing his journey and the city’s profound influence on his sound. With “Attention,” he not only invites listeners to dance but also challenges them to embrace the present and seize their moments. As VIRTUO continues to innovate and redefine his artistry, the future looks bright for this rising star in the East London music scene.
We Speak Music
Acclaimed US singer-songwriter Juliet Lloyd to tour the UK for the first time this summer.
Shortly after releasing her sophomore album in 2007, US-based singer-songwriter Juliet Lloyd walked away from music completely for more than 10 years, feeling burned out and unhappy with her career progression like so many other independent artists. After going through a divorce in 2019 and in the midst of a global pandemic, she found herself pulled back toward the siren call of songwriting and again making the leap to pursue it full time. Her latest album ‘Carnival’, released in 2024, is in many ways the culmination of those decisions, and the reintroduction of an artist who now has the wisdom of experience.
There’s an unmistakable urgency you can feel when a song is written and performed from a place of complete honesty. That feeling permeates ‘Carnival’. “I’ve always been envious of writers who say they write songs because they have to, because they had these things they just had to get out of themselves,” Juliet says. “I had never really felt that way until this album. I’ve become someone who writes because they have to.”
Stylistically, ‘Carnival’ draws on a range of influences from Laurel Canyon-era singer/songwriters, to Lilith Fair rockers, to confessional country/folk balladeers, to indie pop. The central theme of the record and that of its title track is not being too precious about any one experience or decision. Take them for what they are, live in the moment, and move on when they’re done. It acknowledges also that memory can be subjective, and ambiguous—was an experience ultimately a good thing or a bad thing? And whose memory can you rely on to determine the answer to that question?
‘Carnival’ doesn’t just deal with the complexities of ending relationships, it also deals with all the feelings that come with moving on. The album’snine songs feature evocative storytelling that reveals a simple truth: when the carnival inevitably leaves town, you’re left with an empty parking lot. And how you remember, it is a choice. As Juliet sings in the title track, “If only there was a way you could bottle up that feeling / and you’d drink it in / when the days are short and you long.”
Across her 20+ year career, Juliet has been admittedly stylistically non-monogamous. Her first full-length album, ‘All Dressed Up’, was released in 2005 and was heavily jazz-influenced- a label that she rejected at the time. “I am a piano player and a woman, so I was immediately compared to Norah Jones—and I bristled at that,” Juliet says. “Listening back now, I can totally see that it was true, and it of course wasn’t a bad thing.” Her follow-up release ‘Leave the Light On,’ came out two years later and featured a slick piano-pop production that led to five of its songs being placed on reality TV shows on MTV and VH1. Coming back after her 10-year break from writing and recording, Juliet released ‘High Road’, a collection of five Americana/soul-tinged songs produced by Jim Ebert (Meredith Brooks, Shai) that earned her widespread recognition and songwriting awards both in her home region of DC as well as nationally.
Now with her first ever UK tour scheduled for July 2025, Juliet has also dropped a completely brand-new single ‘Wild Again’, which like ‘Carnival’, was written with and produced by Todd Wright (Lucy Woodward, Butch Walker, Toby Lightman). ‘Wild Again’, however, charts yet another new step in Juliet’s journey.
“Carnival’, is full of deeply personal songs that are drawn from my real-life experiences and relationships. Coming out of that album cycle, I was feeling a little exhausted by my own navel-gazing and I was craving inspiration elsewhere. So, a lot of the songs I’m writing now are an evolution of sorts – focused more on external stimuli and finding the personal stories and humanity in that. Wild Again is a perfect example of this,” she explains.
The idea for ‘Wild Again’ was born out of a NY Times podcast Juliet listened to about the real-life efforts to return the whale that played Willy in the iconic movie ‘Free Willy’ back into the wild.
“It’s an insane, heartbreaking story that asks all kinds of thorny questions about human responsibility and humility and what’s the “right” thing to do and is that the same as the “kind” thing to do. There was a line that one of the trainers said in the podcast, explaining that they were trying to “train him to be wild again.” The complete absurdity of that statement hit me in the moment, and I immediately started jotting down lyrical ideas”, Juliet says.
Catch Juliet Lloyd on her UK tour this July:
1st July: The Folklore Rooms / Brighton
2nd July: The Hyde Tavern / Winchester
3rd July: Hen and Chicken / Bristol (CRH Music promotions)
4th July: Artisan Tap Hartshill / Stoke-on-Trent
5th July: Waggon & Horses, Nottingham
6th July: Cafe#9 / Sheffield
7th July: Hyde Park Book Club / Leeds
10th July: FortyFive Vinyl Café / York
11th July: The Muddy Puddle / London
13th July: The Wrotham Arms / Broadstairs

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