Connecticut-born artist Thorne Malik has shared a fresh new single called “back n for(t)h”. Serving as a fitting soundtrack for evenings in the summer, “back n for(t)h”‘s warm, atmospheric sound combines influences from a variety of genres, making for a refreshing listen. Here, brisk, colorful synths swirl in layers atop rich, driving synth bass and crisp, fast-paced percussion that flirts with juke music. Atop the energizing soundscape, Malik. delivers flexible, infectious melodies that suit the balmy instrumentation, making for a cohesive whole package of vivid production and sharply-crafted songwriting.
The latest from Thorne Malik., “back n for(t)h” provides a character-rich, progressive take on R&B and electronic and has us excited for what may be coming next from him.
Chicago’s Kayo has shared a new single called “Talk”. Vibrant and infectious, the track contains layered, airy production centred around watery, immersive keys and crisp percussion. As rich bass weaves together an addictive rhythm, Kayo delivers effortlessly charismatic melodies that blend smoothly with the glowing instrumentation. Building through dynamic verses into a memorable and cathartic hook, “Talk” is a track that is easy to keep re-visiting.
Regarding the single, Kayo says, “talk is my second single from the project. It’s a record that I made to encapsulate the rollercoaster of a ride a relationship really is. The different thoughts and feelings that constantly come and go, thinking ‘maybe LESS communication is key,’ hence the chorus “I don’t wanna talk.”
Kayo is a 23 year-old musician, artist and entrepreneur from Chicago, IL. With a musical focus on rap and R&B, Kayo draws inspiration from artists like Jay-Z, Kanye West, Frank Ocean, and Brent Faiyaz. Just like his biggest musical influencers, Kayo is a true lyricist; he articulates his experiences and feelings with meaningful and therapeutic lyrics blended with elegant production. His latest song “Talk” is no different, with focused songwriting and a refreshing, graceful sound.
Vocalist Justend and producer Joe Aste have shared a fresh single called “greyhound”. Two New York natives, the artists have collaborated frequently in the past on evocative genre-blending tracks like “blue lung”, “last summer”, and more. Their latest offering “greyhound” provides a smooth, hazy sound that conjures wistful feelings of longing.
Containing dream-like, subtle keys drifting atop crunchy, infectious percussion and starry guitars, “greyhound” makes for a layered listen that beckons many re-visits. Justend delivers hypnotic melodies that submerge themselves within the immersive warmth of the production, showcasing his chemistry with Aste. A glowing, surreal track that refuses to be boxed into a singular genre, “greyhound” continues their run of engaging, expressive singles.
Surrey, Canada artist MONEYONYOURMIND has returned with a new single called “All Night”, featuring infectious production from 40k. A rising artist North of the border, his euphoric, immersive sound is demonstrated on this new offering.
Featuring warm, swelling keys underscored by catchy drums and rich bass, the instrumentation on “All Night” is vivid and addictive. Atop the smooth production, MONEYONYOURMIND delivers slick, stylish verses that build dynamically throughout the song, before culminating in a catchy hook that can best be described as “ear candy.” Containing buttery sonics and a memorable vocal performance from MONEYONYOURMIND, “All Night” makes for another genre-blending, colorful offering from the rising Surrey artist that hooks the listener in from the get-go.
Seattle artist Braden Ross has returned with a new single called “sun”. Featuring an emotive, warm alt-pop sound, “sun” is an expansive track that touches on his struggle with self-hatred, while also highlighting the importance of self-love in our society. Effortlessly shifting from emo-inspired acoustics into brighter hyper-pop elements, “sun” blends genres in an engaging manner. Featuring drifting, dream-like guitars that build into raw, driving synths and heavy drums, the single is highly dynamic, inviting the listener into its world of vibrant and evocative sounds.
The latest from Seattle’s Braden Ross, “sun” provides a refreshing, forward-thinking listen and has us excited for what may be coming next from him.
King $ly continues to make waves in the independent music scene. Following his stellar debut EP in Moon Landing last year, he penned an excellent verse on South Carolina rapper Savvy Mcfly’s “2010 freestyle” back in March. Fans were also moved by his contributions on Jackson, MS rapper-producer Gios4ma’s re-released EP, “Heatwave Vol,” which dropped last month. The talented Chicago rapper returns with an ambitious new single.
$ly floats effortlessly on the bouncy, synth-heavy instrumental courtesy of Minneapolis producer Andre Mariette. With his motivational approach, he sheds light on his career aspirations. “I’ma aim for the top/ for the bread, for the loaf,” he raps with conviction. He’s on the hunt for more, refusing to remain stagnant regardless of his current success. $ly also discusses self-growth, reflecting on becoming a better communicator.
$ly is joined by New Jersey rapper Curt Summers. Summers’ skills are on display, weaving between different pockets on the beat. His verse oozes with confidence, declaring that he’s “literally different than the niggas y’all adopted.” However, Summers is on this path for more than just material wealth. He also strives to provide a meaningful message to listeners. As is the case with $ly, he’s committed to reaching new heights. These are certainly great ideas to mull over.
Texas artist Fatboyshaun and New York’s Ricky Mapes have linked for a new collaborative EP called Evil Twin. Following up a prolific release schedule from both artists that included a series of hard-hitting and sharply-crafted singles and EPs, Evil Twin showcases their natural chemistry as they trade charismatic verses atop graceful, lush production from Cuffedgod, GRIMM Doza, and more.
The self-titled opener introduces the EP’s laid-back, elegant sound with glowing keys drifting atop dusty percussion and organic-sounding bass. Here, the two rappers go back and forth with fluid verses detailing vivid tales of hedonism, as the listener gets a tangible sense of the natural chemistry they possess on the mic. Next, smoky horns and subtle, spacey keys introduce the enigmatic “$5 Advil”. The intro transitions smoothly into a rich, infectious groove as the keys are brought to the forefront to provide an intriguing contrast with the gritty, pounding rhythm section. Here, Fatboyshaun and Mapes deliver engaging verses full of cleverly written lines that have the listener re-winding to catch everything.
“Doc Martine”, produced by Micro, is a personal favourite from the project, featuring a dreamlike instrumental bolstered by sweeping, nostalgic strings underscored by moody horns. Definitive of the dark and enigmatic sound present throughout the EP, the beat provides the perfect concoction for the rappers’ charming braggadocio, as they weave verses together effortlessly that complement each other’s styles. “Grimm Carey” changes up the sound with a glitchier instrumental from GRIMM Doza and Sogonesoflexy, bringing in grimy, off-kilter samples and a driving, powerful bass-line. Fatboyshaun and Mapes come through with vivid, imagery-rich verses that find them at a lyrical high point. Finally, the project closes with “Zoo York”, which utilizes airy, ethereal instrumentation to create a dreamlike backdrop for them to finish the EP on an introspective note.
The latest from Fatboyshaun and Ricky Mapes, Evil Twin finds them delivering a stellar lyrical performance with smooth, commanding flows atop laid-back, rich production from GRIMM Doza, Cuffedgod, and more. From the verses to the beat selection, this project is a testament to the true embodiment of the newly founded brotherhood, and showcases the two artists’ immense lyrical abilities and infectious sound.
Canada’s Young Negrensé has shared a new EP called Aphelion. A multi-talented artist, he is a songwriter, producer, classical guitarist, visual artist, and co-founder of YUZZYNET. He first rose through a series of sharply-crafted self-produced offerings, building up to his latest offering Aphelion, executively produced by Tristan Renaud, which creates an immersive sci-fi world for listeners through ethereal, infectious sounds and focused songwriting.
Aphelion is a conceptual sci-fi project that delivers an alternative blend of hip-hop, R&B, and pop. It’s cinematic, synth-laden sound is engagingly genre-blending, and remains sleek and cohesive throughout. Opener “Euphoria” introduces the project’s intriguing, spacey sound with vital synth bass and driving percussion that creates a solid foundation for Negrensé’s catchy, vibrant melodies. His verses build dynamically before exploding into a cathartic and rich hook that captures the project’s space-age feel. This track transitions smoothly into “Highway to the Sun”, which introduces a retro-futuristic 80’s-influenced soundscape that features a dazzling array of synth sounds and addictive percussion.
“Hyperspace” introduces a more hip-hop influenced instrumental containing kaleidoscopic synth sounds, as he laces the track with evocative melodies. Then, a beat switch brings in a post-punk influenced drum line that takes the track to adrenaline-pumping levels of energy. Negrensé matches the beat nicely with powerful, hyper-charged melodies that draw the listener into the song’s psychedelic atmosphere. “Other Side of the Light” creates a contrast with a more expansive, lighter instrumental that draws from ambient and dance music, showcasing his versatility as an artist. Lastly, closer “Circe.exe” wraps the listener in an invitingly warmth as he finishes the EP on a high note vocally, delivering vivid, abstract lyrics with memorable, drifting melodies.
Aphelion is a conceptual release that touches upon a layered, complex storyline: “his first vision of the angel came to him in a dream. It began with him in the far reaches of outer space, alone, gently sinking through the empty void. Only the sparkling light of distant stars engraved the darkness. There was nothing of salvation for light-years.
Suddenly, like the birth of a star, the angel materialized from the cosmos. The vivacity of a supernova radiated from her chromatic-shined skin. Lengthy bleached white hair flowed above her divine statuesque figure. Space and time caved in her presence. He fixated upon her gleaming eyes. She held a stare so intense it was entrancing. A sensation of warmth and euphoria rushed over his flesh and into his soul. She spoke a single word which rippled through the darkness. That word was her name. “Circe.”
Negrensé 9000 awoke from his dream bewitched. He took a deep breath, then wiped his brow, which was coated in a thick sizzling sweat.
This was more than his typical post-canister-fuelled-bender fever dream. It was a message from the divine, which even in an awakened state, burned into his psyche. If one thing was clear to him, it was that he must find this space angel, no matter the distance or danger involved.”
The latest from Canada’s Young Negrensé, Aphelion pieces together vibrant, sparkling soundscapes that engagingly draw from hip-hop, pop, electronic, and more. Showcasing his diversity across a series of celestial, powerful tracks, Aphelion is a project that simply beckons many re-visits.
Cleveland, Ohio artist Khadi Lee has share a new visual for “FriendZone”, a standout cut from his recent EP Sneaky Link. Lee, who was raised in a musical household and grew up singing in choirs as well as competing in talent shows, has been on a hot streak recently with a series of engaging, vivid R&B releases.
His latest offering is “FriendZone”, a song off his well-received recent EP Sneaky Link, which contains breezy production centred around infectious synths, airy backing vocals, and grooving percussion. Atop the hazy instrumentation, Lee delivers smooth, soaring melodies that draw the listener deeply into this song’s balmy atmosphere. Vocally, his verses build through sharply-crafted verses packed with buttery melodies, before he launches into a catchy, uplifting chorus. Romantic and warm, “FriendZone” provides a perfect soundtrack for the coming summer months.
Topically, he provides relatable content about moving beyond the friendzone and into something more, something many listeners have experienced. Of the song, Lee says, “The friendzone topic is so common but rarely talked about. We all experience it but barely admit it? With this single I wanted to change that narrative.”
The accompanying visual, shot by Jake Johnston, enhances the song’s mellow ambiance with hazy, refreshing shots and a charismatic yet relaxed performance from Lee. Here, warm, glowing filters are used to appropriately capture the track’s silky sonics, making for a memorable and engaging cohesive whole package.
The latest from rising Cleveland R&B artist Khadi Lee, “FriendZone” and its new visual make for an apt soundtrack as the weather heats up for the summer months. An addictive, stylish offering that is easy to continuously re-visit, “FriendZone” showcases Khadi Lee’s deft abilities as a vocalist. This song appears on his recent EP Sneaky Link, a 6-song set of laid-back, sleek R&B cuts.
Stone Mountain, Georgia artist N3FS has shared a new visual for his song “BOMF!”. An intense track that is powerful and raw in sound, “BOMF!” captures the artist’s infectious energy and forward-thinking style. Here, driving, layered synths drift atop crisp, fast-paced percussion and deep 808s, creating a strong foundation for N3FS’ catchy melodies. He delivers a commanding performance, gripping the listener with his charismatic flow atop the cathartic and expansive production.
The accompanying visual, directed by Nick Medina, enhances the song’s off-the-wall energy through its usage of rapid shots, gritty filters, and surreal cuts. With a confident and engaging performance from N3FS throughout the video, “BOMF!” is a release that keeps the listener on their toes through its dynamic sound and adrenaline-fuelled visuals.
The latest from Georgia artist N3FS, “BOMF!” is a progressive offering that draws the listener in with its gripping and abrasive style. If you enjoyed this release, check out the remainder of N3FS’ new album Cardiac Arrest, available now.
ROUNDHOUSE MUSIC 