I alerted you about hot new talent Roz Bell back in January after he emailed me some of his music. Since then, the handsome singer/songwriter from Toronto, Canada has been preparing the release of his forthcoming record debut "The First Sunbeams" on Universal Music later this year.
"Yesterday Man" is the first single from his album that pretty much defines Bell's fresh new sound that is drenched in sunshine. He combines pop, rock, a mellow hip hop vibe and even works in a little bit of reggae to create a very laid-back vibe. Plus, with his self-proclaimed "leisurely" lifestyle, Bell's music feels authentic and totally his. This is the type of music that will sooth you after a hard day's work.
Bell initially started out as a rapper in his teenage years, but slowly transitioned into pop and rock music while maintaining his straightforward lyrical delivery. "I'm a fan of really direct songwriting," Roz says in his press biography. "I love that style of writing. Its very pop and its very simple, but done with the right angle it can be very smart can be very to the point."
"I think in making the transition from hip-hop to singer-songwriter, you kind of cross into reggae somewhere along the line, and I think that's where that influence on my singing style comes in," he adds.
"The First Sunbeams" was produced almost entirely by James Robertson (Esthero, Skye Sweetnam), mixed by Neal Pogue (Outkast, Citizen Cope, Transplants) and features one song, "The Greatest Tragedy," shepherded by A&R man/producer Jeff Blue (he discovered Linkin Park and Macy Gray).
Download DJ Illo's remix of "Yesterday Man" totally guilt-free. Learn more about Roz on his MySpace page, or catch some of the webisodes that introduce Roz and his music here.
Download Roz Bell "Yesterday Man" (DJ Illo Remix) [MP3]
