MUST LISTEN 016
Every week, we’ll be bringing you Must Listen: a series that's a compilation of rising artists along with songs that must be added to your everyday playlist. This week’s playlist consists of emerging acts like KEYAH/BLU, Moscow Apartment, and NEL! Turn up, tune in, and tune out.
KEYAH/BLU - “South”
Hailing from South London, rapper KEYAH/BLU delivers exceptionally cool melodies with eerie beats and alluring harmonies in her EP Sorry, I Forgot You Were Coming. She successfully blends in elements of electronic and alternative hip-hop in “South”, proving herself a force to be reckoned with.
Moscow Apartment - “New Girl”
The Toronto-based indie rock duo is comprised of singer-songwriters Brighid Fry and Pascale Padilla. Their new EP Better Daughter is unapologetic and authentic, touching on topics like misogyny, the pressures of transitioning into adulthood, and more. Having won a Toronto Independent Music Award and various songwriting contests, these two are becoming some of the genre’s ones to watch.
NEL - “In Case You Change Your Mind”
As illustrated in their song “In Case You Change Your Mind,” the UK-based duo delivers a captivating project of the same title. For fans of Blood Orange, Moses Sumney, or Jai Paul, these two effortlessly fuse delicate harmonies and a mellow R&B feel to every piece of art they deliver.
Yianna - “When I’m Loving You”
Yianna released her first full-length project Class of 1995, a collection of delectable neosoul/R&B tunes that address self-confidence, relationships, lust, and more. With “When I’m Loving You,” she sings of reimagining the world in a new perspective with love. Other personal favorites from the project include “Out of The Box” and “1-800-Superhorny.”
Lafawndah - “You, at the End”
Lafawndah’s experimental sound is what truly sets her apart, drawing her listeners in with sensually haunting vocals and ingenious creativity. “You, at the End” is a sneak peek into what we can expect from her upcoming album The Fifth Season, set to release in September 2020. This song pays homage to author N.K. Jemison’s Broken Earth trilogy with lyrics by Kate Tempest from a poem originally called “The Woman the Boy Became.”
Monro - “Tongues (feat. Jalen Santoy)”
“Tongues” is a hard-hitting genre blend of electronic and hip-hop produced by Monro (credits include Jhene Aiko and Sinead Hartnett) and performed by rapper Jalen Santoy. With an EP on the way, we look forward to hearing how Monro continues to innovate his sound.
Lizzy McAlpine - “Over-the-Ocean Call”
Lizzy McAlpine is an indie-folk singer-songwriter from Philadelphia. Having written songs since the sixth grade, the Berklee College of Music student is entirely magnetic. With her charmingly relatable lyrics and enchanting voice, Lizzy is another promising talent worth keeping an eye on.
Do Nothing - “Contraband”
The English four-piece band recently released its EP Zero Dollar Bill, a lively post-punk compilation of songs to keep you on your toes. The group hopes to experiment more with its sound and continue to test the barriers of just how clever and eccentric rock music can be.
Ruuth - “Her”
Ruuth is a rising star in her own right, confident in her delivery and unapologetic in her writing. Her new seven-track EP All My Friends is the first project by the Berlin-based singer, merging dark electronic elements and fresh sultry vocals into this treasure.