Live Report: Tomike on the Hot Press Lockdown Sessions’ Y&E Series

With the success of her Stages Of Love EP in 2019, and a string of acclaimed singles this year, Dublin neo-soul artist Tomike has continued to craft a sound that draws influence from the best of Erykah Badu and Sade. Her impressive career highlights includes singing for Hillary Clinton in 2012.

Kicking off her 30-minute set with 'On The Low', emanating serious Chloe x Halle vibes throughout, Tomike clearly is still taken with her debut single. The catchy track shows off her effortlessly smooth and soft vocal range perfectly, and she segué's into a soulful cover of Amy Winehouse classic hit 'Love Is A Losing Game'.

Using shortened snippets of numerous tracks, Tomike makes sure to give her livestream audience a wide range of influences and songs from her catalogue. 'You Don't Really Rate Me' is another R&B soul gem, with Tomike often exploring themes of romance, loneliness and directly addressing a lover - allowing her tracks to be both accessible and relatable to her followers. A cover of Erykah Badu's 'On and On', released in 1997 (the year Tomike was born, coindidentally) comes next. The song speaks to how the world keeps turning on and on, despise all of its many problems. The music video, uploaded in 2009, is loosely based on the 1985 film adaptation of Alice Walker’s The Color Purple.

The influence of artists like Badu and Sade is clear on Tomike, and she stays true to her roots while exploring all elements of her musical experimentation. Following her 'On and On' cover, she performs 'Nothing Special', the first track off her 2019 Stages of Love EP. A cover of Atlanta native Summer Walker's 'Session 32' follows, as well as a rendition of her most recent single 'Whisper'.

'Whisper' has 90s and early 2000s R&B energy, with vulnerable and honest vocals and a memorable chorus. The track brings a slightly more complicated production, but her trademark silky vocal intonations slide in perfectly. Lastly, Tomike offers her fans a taste of her forthcoming single 'Hit Me Up'. Due to be released next Friday, November 27, the song was co-produced by PCG Beats and brings in more pop elements. It's a surefire hit, calling on a lover in her life to make their return. Tomike's lockdown session was as cool and confident as ever, with the rising star expressing her excitement at performing once again.

Watch Tomike's full Y&E Series set below:

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The Y&E Series continues to shine a light on some of the best new and emerging talent that Ireland has to offer in 2020. Following the success of the previous two editions of the Y&E Series, you can once again expect 40 brilliant acts to join Hot Press on Instagram for special live-streamed performances.

Watch Larabelle tonight, November 18, as part of the Hot Press Lockdown Sessions' The Y&E Series, supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media – live on the Hot Press Instagram (@hotpressmagazine) at 7.30pm.

Next up on the Y&E Series...

Thursday, November 19: Larabelle

Although barely out of secondary school, Donegal singer-songwriter Larabelle boasts a powerful talent that belies her age. Her debut single, 'Monster', released earlier this year explores mental health and addiction, and has set the 18-year-old artist on course for stardom.

Friday, November 20: Patricia Lalor

Teenage singer-songwriter Patricia Lalor has emerged as one of the country's most thrilling new alternative stars. In addition to her original tracks, her cover of Mac DeMarco's 'My Kind Of Woman' has clocked up over 1.2 million views, while her rendition of 'Cherry Wine' won the praise of Hozier himself. She released her highly anticipated Covers EP1 last month.

Each performance streams live on the Hot Press Instagram (@hotpressmagazine) at 7.30pm every night.