First Look: Kygo Delivers Summer Vibes with Debut Album "Cloud Nine"

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(RCA Records)

In case you may have run out of fresh new vibes to serve as the soundtrack to your summer, look no further than Kygo’s debut album Cloud Nine. Over the past few years, Kygo’s music has become the face of vacation montage videos, pool parties, and chill car rides on a sunny day. Now, thanks to Cloud Nine, you will have fresh new material guaranteed to satisfy your thirst for new jams.

As a whole collective, Cloud Nine does a fantastic job at carrying a consistent sound without sounding repetitive. Even for the everyday music listener who might not be the biggest fan of house or electronic dance music, Kygo has created piece of music that even the most stubborn listener could tolerate.

One of the most unique aspects of Cloud Nine is how, despite lacking in big-name features, it is still a very big album. Besides John Legend, Kygo recruited many smaller artists whom the average music listener may not know. But small names do not mean small sound. In fact, the majority of the lesser-known contributors on Cloud Nine out-do Legend’s birthday ballad, proving how important talent is when trying to make a hit.

Cloud Nine is an extremely solid start to Kygo’s budding career. It’s clear that he has an ear for what sounds good, and knows how to appeal to all different types of listeners. With 15 tracks to its name, Cloud Nine is full of material to start the summer off right.

Kygo's debut album Cloud Nine is available for purchase now on iTunes.

New Music From Ariana Grande, Iggy Azalea, Kygo, & Zayn Malik

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Iggy Azalea "Team" Cover Art (Def Jam Recordings) 

This past week has been filled with hot singles dropped by some of the industry’s brightest stars. ZAYN, who left One Direction behind in 2015, has been on fire with his first solo album, dropping “LIKE I WOULD” this past week. Though the song is quicker than “PILLOWTALK”’s sensual, slow rhythm, its energy demonstrates another side to the solo artist as he steps out of the shadow of One Direction. ZAYN has always been evidently talented, but his release of the singles from his upcoming album, “Mind of Mine,” coming out March 25th has validated his talent to awaiting fans. In addition, ZAYN has released two other singles, “BeFoUr” and and “iT’s YoU” that do not carry the punch that “PILLOWTALK” or “LIKE I WOULD” do, but they are still heavy contenders in demonstrating ZAYN’s new pop artistic identity.

Another recently single lighting the charts on fire is Ariana Grande’s “Dangerous Woman.” This single carries the same name as the title of her new album, dropping mid-May. The vibe of the song is extremely sexual and slow, creating a more mature image to the young artist as she breaks into her newest album since “My Everything” from 2014 when her star originally exploded. The single is the perfect demonstration of her growth and maturity since “Problem” and “Love Me Harder,” two hits from her original album that carry a more pop-typical feeling. “Dangerous Woman” unveils Grande’s voice as a powerful, dangerous seductress. She has also released “Be Alright” that holds a beat good for an upbeat shopping venture or jog. It is enjoyably lighthearted and fun in contrast to “Dangerous Woman.” 

Kygo also released a new single, “Fragile,” today. It is slow and includes many unique backbeats that compliment that pop/R&B genre that “Fragile” falls into. Kygo’s beautiful vocal range is shown off in the song, as well; he hits the high notes that many male singers cannot reach, which adds a level of talent to Kygo’s resume. The song is relative to what listeners hear from bands like OneRepublic. 

Iggy Azalea dropped “Team;” she also is building her next album since releasing music around the time of Ariana Grande’s last musical climax. The song’s sound is similar to the Iggy listeners hear in “Black Widow.” Her unique rap tone in combination with a pop chorus is typical to the hip-hop artist’s repertoire. “Team” is a catchy tune that could easily land a common listen on the radio, but it does not have much depth to climb out of the box of Iggy’s music that first landed her a rising star a few years ago. 

Photos: Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival - Day 2

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Justin Bieber closes out the Billboard Hot 100 Fest on August 23rd, 2015 at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater in New York (Benjamin Esakof/Roman's Rap-Up).

Day 2 of the Billboard Hot 100 Fest brought in even bigger crowds to see the likes of Nicki Minaj, Skrillex, Justin Bieber & countless others (including an appearance by Instagram-famed "Doug the Pug"). The day, anchored by Bieber, started out with hit-maker Fetty Wap taking to the beach stage, drawing so many to the small stage that it had to be closed, something Billboard definitely didn't anticipate. Following Fetty's knockout performance, all eyes were on the main stage for the rest of the night as artists like Kygo, Nicki Minaj, Skrillex & Justin Bieber took to the stage to give the ultimate finale to a great weekend of hit music.

See photos from Day 2 of the Billboard Hot 100 Fest below: