Images & Words: Stormzy, "Vossi Bop"
The Round-Up: The Best Songs of 2019 (1st Quarter)
The Round-Up: The Best Albums of 2019 (First Quarter)
Chief Keef, "Ain't Gonna Happen"
DJ Rashad
“Let it Go”
Rollin’ EP (out 03/19 on Hyperdub)
This week, Chicago juke vet, DJ Rashad, unleashed the first single from his Hyperdub debut. While it is unsurprisingly frenetic and hyperactive, “Let it Go” is more melodic and accesible than a lot of his canon. While juke/footwork has had its fingerprints all over a variety of genres (trap, dance, witch house), it has yet to rise as a real national force, and maybe one of its great heroes will be the one to take it there.
Ciara
“Body Party”
One Woman Army (out in June on Epic Records)
Today’s hot jam comes with a few extra T’s. If John Mayer is right and Jessica Simpson is “sexual napalm,” then Ciara is “sexual nuclear drone strike.” The lead single from her potentially career-defining new album turns the heat up a few hundred more degrees from her blazing Basic Instinct (2010), and sees the Atlanta native getting all Janet over a customarily sultry Mike Will Made It beat. While the in-demand producer has nabbed his fair share of the plaudits, Ms. Future is the unquestioned star here, unleashing a slithering, alluring vocal line with absolute coital perfection. If the 27 year-old is going to shed her unwanted, nearly-star status, One Woman Army needs to be a legitimate smash, and if “Body Party” is any indication, she might finally get her close-up.
HNNY
“Boy”
Dope new remix of “The Boy is Mine” from mercurial Swedish producer, HNNY. Lovely atmospheric harp plucks and laid-back vibe. Love it.
Tropics
“Home & Consonance”
Home & Consonance EP (out April 22 on Five Easy Pieces)
Southampton native Tropics (né Chris Ward) looks set to drop a moody follow-up to 2012’s sunkissed, Balearic-leaning Popup Cinema. On its title track, Ward weaves a nostalgic, homesick stunner that feels like driving to the airport after spending a weekend in your hometown. Over a delicate, twinkling Rhodes-line, Ward examines that emotion we all know so well — melancholy about leaving and wishing he could take all his city-friends back to this place that feels like home.
“When I go, I feel so at home…. If I could bring all the ones I love, I would.” It’s a feeling that will resonate with almost everybody.
MØ
“Pilgrim” (Live in New York)
We finally get a glimpse of the mercurial Danish vocalist at work in this new Yours Truly clip. The Grimes comparisons may be lazy, but they are also quite substantive. If/when she finally delivers her debut, it’ll be a huge one.
MØ “Pilgrim” from Yours Truly on Vimeo.
Shy Girls
“Under Attack” (The-Drum Remix)
Digital
The Portland outfit’s heater gets a sparse, sensual once-over from the Chicago production team. Swoon city, bitch.
Also, come on, what slow jam is complete without a RuPaul quote?
Valentina
“Wolves”
Wolves EP (out 4.15 on Greco-Roman)
I’ve been crushing on this British siren since she dropped one of the best dance songs of last year : her scintillating collaboration with Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard, “Gabriel.” Now the Anglo-Italian is set for her close-up, and judging from this swirling, moody ballad, it might be a special one.
“Wolves” opens with the Londoner’s warm voice dancing over the top of spare, icy piano chords — a far cry from the blissed-out “Gabriel” — but as the song moves, it builds to a devastating crescendo that highlights her gracefully powerful voice and dynamic, ambitious songwriting. Could be one of the debuts of 2013.
Inc.
“The Place” (Yours Truly Session)
From No World (out now on 4AD)
Our friends at Yours Truly are at it again. This time they’ve treated us to a delicious live performance from moody, minimalist brothers in groove, inc. The LA duo might be a couple of the weirdest looking dudes in music, but their downtempo R&B is all kinds of sexy. If you haven’t gotten into No World, get on it.
Young Dreams
“First Days of Something”
Between Places (out 03.01 on Modular)
Norwegian dream-pop collective, Young Dreams, are rapidly becoming known for their affecting storytelling through both videos and music (who can forget their troubling “Fog of War” clip?).
Just a day before their hotly-anticipated debut LP is set to drop, they have released this powerful, disconnected slice-of-life clip for, “First Dreams of Something,” a bleary-eyed number that is bristling with anticipation and hopefulness. Some have called them the second coming of the genre-defining, Radio Dept., and while I wouldn’t go that far, they are well on their way to creating something really special.
SZA
“ICE.MOON”
S (due out this Spring)
Whoa. This is brilliant from the soulful St. Louis-native. This, the first single from her follow-up to 2012’s solid, See.SZA.Run, will appeal to folks who are feeling the progressive R&B boom, and the single reminds me a lot of the sensual restraint of Dawn Richard. The young singer has managed to play her cards pretty close to her (rhinestone-encrusted) vest, but if the rest of S is as enchanting as this, her coming out party is just around the corner.
