MUST LISTEN 086
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 Hush Forte, House of EL, and Sassy009. Turn on, tune in, and zone out.
Northampton-based artist House of EL (aka Kieron McIntosh) releases the second single “Push On” from his highly anticipated mixtape, Book of EL, coming this January. The song is an infectious tale of perseverance backed by a smooth drum groove, anthemic trumpets, and a jazzy guitar lick.
Anna Shoemaker
Indie-pop artist Anna Shoemaker shares her new single, “Change My Mind.” The track is a cathartic, coming-of-age tale about growing up and learning to be easier on yourself. Pairing her signature vocals and diaristic lyricism with textured indie-rock instrumentation, the track reveals the singer-songwriter’s full promise as an artist who can deliver layered and immersive tracks that capture the human experience.
R&B newcomer Areej unveils the second taste of her forthcoming debut EP with her hypnotizing new single, “Bloodshed”. A decisive blend of raw soul and jazz influences, Areej’s sound is a full-bodied experience that shifts with her mood. The track is subtle, yet powerful, and takes the listener on a journey through pain as Areej dreams of escape.
Sassy009
This is a new era for Norwegian artist Sunniva, aka SASSY 009. Her latest EP Heart Ego is fluid, blurs edges of her hallucinogenic pop that follows emotion and mood over strict narrative and composition. Standout track “Wannabe” is a healthy balance between airy electro-pop and dreamy R&B, creating what truly showcases the range of the rising star.
Baird
Baltimore-native, Baird returns with his woozy new track “Darkness of The Night.” The track is written from the perspective of a woman leaving her husband, pulsed forward by a driving, addictive beat and playfully buoyant, textured melody. The video plays with time and space, leaving the watcher to figure out if Baird is running towards us or away from us.
Fana Hues
L.A based singer-songwriter shares her latest track “Breakfast;” smooth and velvety with Hues’ vocals gently floating over a minimalistic production, creating a warm and soothing soundscape that resembles a soft lullaby.
Ragz Originale
North-London multi-hyphenate returns with his elegant new single, “code red.” With his sharp lyricism and his ahead of its time production style, Ragz Originale has carved a lane of his own. This track has a certain alluring enigma that orbits around it; from the incredibly catchy hook to the effortlessly cool cadence, it’s proof the UK trailblazer is in a league of his own.
Hush Forte
Singer-songwriter Hush Forte released his self-produced twelve-track album, LOOK CLOSELY. The album is a soulful and intimate look inside the mind of the multi-instrumentalist as it seamlessly blends together elements of hip-hop and R&B. Tightly packed in under an hour, this album is one of the most sonically diverse and refreshing projects to drop this year and makes us excited to see what’s next from the superstar in the making.