We Speak Music

Michele Ducci releases intimate new single ‘River’

Published

2 years ago

March 15, 2024

Don Reed

‘SIVE’ is a lovingly crafted collection of heartfelt songs by Michele Ducci, focusing primarily on piano and Michele’s soft, soulful vocals.

Michele Ducci was the ‘M’ in the electro-pop duo ‘M+A’, who released two albums on Monotreme Records, the second of which, ‘These Days’, earned the band a place in The Guardian’s ‘best new bands of 2014’ list and saw them perform live on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury and at the Venice Biennale.

The duo then formed a new project, Santii, which involved several Hip Hop artists including Rejjie Snow, Mick Jenkins and Music Producer Supah Mario (Drake, Young Thug), releasing two EPs on Italian label Sugar Records before going their separate ways due to artistic differences.

A short stint in another band led Michele to realize that he wanted to make music on his own, away from external commercial or career pressures. Says Michele, “I went back to the house where I was born and where I first started playing. After the pandemic I had practically no instruments anymore except a guitar with three strings and a pianola. I needed to make a record that I had never been able to make and that I had always dreamed of making. Something very essential: with the piano and the voice.”

‘SIVE’ encompasses a range of styles, from the dreamy singer/songwriter tones of ‘Feelings’, ‘Here You Are’, and ‘Nonesome’to the uptempo pop of ‘You Lay the Path’, RnB-infused ‘Just Because’ and percussive Beat poetry of ‘Hic’. Album opener and first single, ’River’, is a poignant ballad that winds along like its title, opening with the quiet intimacy of hushed vocals and piano and detailing the time he desired to leave the music world behind: “They call my name but I’m a river”.

About ‘River’, Michele says: “I was in New York for musical reasons in a situation of psychic and metropolitan traffic, in which every mention of my name in relation to the artistic career and the pressures of that world had nothing to do with music, I was so saturated that I could feel myself only in the moving waves of the Hudson River. “You and I”, I said to myself, ” are from the same origin”.

The album will be released on CD in a colour printed card wallet as well as digitally. Pre-order CD here:
https://monotremerecords.limitedrun.com/products/758779

We Speak Hip-Hop

BigHxlq337 Stays True to His Roots on “Round Here”

Published

1 day ago

August 12, 2026

MJ Savino

Some artists make music about their hometown. BigHxlq337 makes music from it…Born and raised in Franklin, Louisiana, BigHxlq337 has built his career on telling real stories about the people, places, and experiences that shaped him. Influenced by legends like Nas, Rakim, Z-Ro, and Webbie, he combines thoughtful lyricism with the soul and grit of Southern hip-hop.

What makes BigHxlq337 different is his dedication beyond music. For the past 14 years, he has worked as a teacher and coach, helping students at Centerville High School while continuing to pursue his artistic goals. That commitment to both education and entertainment reflects the same authenticity found throughout his music.

After years of performing with Undivided Band and sharing stages with artists including Z-Ro, Lil’ Keke, Devin the Dude, and Young Bleed, BigHxlq337 has carved out a lane of his own. His latest single, “Round Here,” captures the pride, culture, and community of South Louisiana, offering listeners an honest glimpse into the world he calls home.

As he prepares for the release of his upcoming mixtape, BigHxlq337 remains focused on creating music with lasting impact. Through every verse and performance, he’s proving that staying true to your roots never goes out of style.