West Coast artist explores hidden undercurrents of life on new album ’22 Grams’ 

PORTLAND, OR – There’s a little known phenomenon among medical professionals that upon death, the human body almost always drops weight by 22 grams. Religious people and those of spiritual nature believe this to be the soul leaving the body. It’s a phenomenon debated and examined by people the world over, and it’s an idea that Portland-based musician Rasheed Jamal has wrestled with for many years. In fact, it’s such an intriguing notion to the young artist that he had to create an album about it. 

That album is “22 Grams / iAMTHATiAM.” Released on May 22, it is the culmination of work that he began in 2012 with his first project, “My Beautiful Ugly,” in which he first mentioned the 22 Grams phenomenon. Since that time, he has researched different beliefs of the world, and the music that has been developed from that research now makes its inspirational advance on this new album. 

“I’ve spent eight years working on this project, and along the way, a lot of songs came and went or got worked and reworked,” Rasheed said. “At times I was ready to just give up on it but I could never shake it. I had to do this album and get this idea out the way. I needed to get it out. So in a lot of ways it has served as a light at the end of the tunnel for me, and it has been an ever-present aspiration through a lot of different times, both good and bad. I can’t wait for people to hear this because I’m very proud of it. More than anything, it’s about the idea of not giving up – that’s what it has meant to me and I know it will mean that way to a lot of other people as well.” 

The ideas presented in the album will also be challenging for a lot of listeners, Rasheed said. That ability to speak about things that others will often avoid is what helps him to stand out in the music industry. While other artists are creating cookie-cutter music that sounds like what’s already playing on the radio, Rasheed is working to create music that sounds different with lyrics that not only touch on ideas that people think about when they’re home alone, but to which everyone can relate in one way or another.  

“I read somewhere that the more you can be true to yourself, the more universal you become,” Rasheed said. “I tend to look to artists who have messages that transcended where they were at the time. Marvin Gay had projects like that, or Deangelo or Jay-Z or Tupac – all of their work, at one point or another, transcended where they were at the time. And that’s because they were being very true to themselves. That’s what my music is. I’m me and there’s only one me. I feel like I’ve been amassing a nice discography of work, and when people get exposed to it, they really love it. People remember how you make them feel, and I’ve heard from a lot of people who have listened to my last few projects that I’ve been making people feel more understood. That’s my music. That’s my goal. I don’t always want to feel like the big time artist. Sometimes I just want to be the dude who is relatable. You get that with this album and through the music, I have these transitions that make sense and lead you from one emotion to another so that people can feel something different than that hit of dopamine that most other music today is aiming for.” 

Rasheed said a music video for the first single from the album, “Urban Decay Part II,” was released on May 14. The video was directed by Seena Haddad and shot by Mohammed Alkhadher.  

Rasheed is also working on other videos to release over the next few months. Four other albums that he created over the past year are also available across all streaming platforms, including “My Beautiful Ugly,” “SANKOFA,” “Indigo Child” and “Messiah Complex.”  

To listen to Rasheed Jamal’s music or to follow him on social media, please visit: 

https://rasheedjamal.bandcamp.com/releases 

https://www.instagram.com/itsrasheedjamal/ 

https://twitter.com/itsrasheedjamal 

https://www.facebook.com/RememberAlwayz/ 

https://soundcloud.com/rememberalwayz 

“22 Grams” 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/22-grams-iamthatiam/1514192838 

https://open.spotify.com/album/0StK8JKQByKWNT42nxYBiO?si=Adxee8czSJGxDZ1mPlfuKg 

https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Rasheed_Jamal_22_Grams_Iamthatiam?id=Bpaauwob62sdw44qspkdqgvf4ya&hl=en_US 

https://m.soundcloud.com/rememberalwayz/sets/22-grams-iamthatiam 

“Urban Decay Pt. II” 

https://open.spotify.com/track/5PH6vGXFIHoET3AHOW7k0a

Multitalented London entertainer Tom Margetson releases timely new single ‘Save My Soul’ 

LONDON, UK – Tom Margetson is a name you need to have on your radar. This one-time professional rugby player has taken his celebrity status as an international athlete and is using it to propel himself into a career as a multitalented entertainer. Operating out of London, England, Margetson isn’t only a recording artist whose unique sound and style demands attention. He also has the lead role in a major show filming in 2021 which will put him immediately on the map.  

He’s on the cusp of major success, and any fan who starts to follow him now can say, “I knew him when …” He’s launching his career as an entertainer with a single called “Save My Soul,” which is set to drop on all streaming platforms May 31. Mixed and mastered at the famed Abbey Road Studios, this single is one that takes an honest look at depression and uses Margetson’s transparent lyrics to connect with people all over the world who are dealing with emotional darkness during these troubling times. 

“It’s a song about being desperate for someone to help you when you’re at your lowest moments,” Margetson said. “You’re pleading for someone to help you … anyone. You just need that nice gesture from someone to get you through that day. It’s the first song I ever wrote, and I wrote it at a time when I was dealing with a lot of mental illness associated with head injuries I received from playing rugby. I had to walk away from the sport because of so many concussions, and there have been days that had been really low for me. As I learned more about depression, I discovered that the biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in almost every country is suicide – and that’s especially true now as we’re dealing with this global epidemic. If I can reach some of those people and let them know they’re not alone, then I’ll feel like I’ve done something good with my music.” 

Margetson said music was literally the thing that saved him during his darkest times – and that started even before his time as a professional athlete. Growing up in South West London, England, he said Rugby was one of the ways to distract himself from the difficult situations that arose, but music was also something that served as a healthy emotional outlet. He continued to create music on his own, even while playing professional sports. And when he began to deal with the side effects of his concussions, music helped him control his chaotic emotions. 

“When we were younger, I had my rugby but I needed a distraction that wasn’t so competitive,” Margetson said. “I needed a release somewhere that was creative and I could be sensitive and open. As much as I was the big, tough rugby player, I was also a person with feelings and emotions. Instead of locking them down so tightly, I needed to release that emotional side of me. So in a lot of ways I feel my music can fill that space for people who are tied up and too tight and feel like they can’t release their emotions, or who are too busy with their lives to connect with someone. We all need that release. If I can help people do that even for just three-and-a-half minutes, then I’d love to be able to do so. If my music can help 10 people feel that connection, I’d be more than happy. I have no dreams of being a massive Pop Star, but if I can touch as many people as I possibly can, then I’m happy with that. That’s what my music is about – helping as many people as possible and connecting with as many people as I can.” 

In addition to “Save My Soul,” Margetson is also preparing to release a second single called “Touch” on the last Friday of June. He’ll release another single every two weeks after that, building up to a full album release in September or October. 

To listen to Tom Margetson’s music, visit any streaming service after 31st of May 2020 or follow him on social media for updates at: 

https://www.instagram.com/tommargetson/ 

“Save My Soul” 

https://ampl.ink/ZvpJ5