MUST LISTEN 089
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 Darius, Hojean, and Mali Ama. Turn on, tune in, and zone out.
Sweeping Promises
“Pain Without a Touch” is the first new release from Sweeping Promises, after their 2020 astonishing, acclaimed debut album, Hunger for a Way Out, and their first release for Sub Pop Records. The song harkens back to punk roots, with lofi instrumentation, a chunky guitar riff, and vocals that fill the empty space perfectly to balance the drumbeat and instrumentation.
With floaty cloud-like vocals and instrumentation, Ed Mount takes us to the sky as the song takes on a cheery tone with funky vintage synths, and lyrics contemplating love. Ed Mount shows a masterful understanding of putting just instrumentation in the track to make it feel full. Nothing here is overdone, or maximalist, creating a floaty, balanced sweet, sweet track.
Made during a live twitch stream, producer Knx never ceases to create endless loops that pull at the heartstrings in both its head-knocking appeal and smooth vocal layering of late 90’s early 2000’s r&b over his genre-defying eclectic production.
French DJ/producer Darius is known for his involvement in french contemporary house/r&b label Roche Musique. This surprise end-of-year edit was teased months ago on his Instagram story. The rendition is silky smooth with a slow but steady beat and swirling synths, and a chilled-out guitar solo outro for good measure, this edit takes “Solo” from the bedroom to the dancefloor.
Mali Ama
Atlanta-based artist, Mali Ama, returns with her latest single “Not You.” Embodying R&B at its core with its extremely smooth flow and bouncy production, the track truly demonstrates Mali’s growth as a producer and singer.
Rebecca Black
Internet-born, pop-sensations Rebecca Black and Slayyyter team up for “Read My Mind,” an edgy, digital dream-punk track that’s all the rage. The duo serves gas-station-glam in Weston Allen-shot accompanying music video, pining for the motorcycle rider of their Route 66 rest-stop fantasies.
Hojean
Singer, producer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Hojean, kicks off the new year with a refreshing new track “We Got Time.” This hook-driven nostalgia-fueled track is paired with Hojean’s dreamy vocals and a timeless production truly showcases that Hojean is the super-star he is destined to be.
HIDDENPPL
Formerly anonymous Los Angeles-based collective HIDDENPPL released their debut album DON’T LET IT DIE as well as revealing the artist behind it was multi-hyphenate Bronze Avery. The bite-sized twenty-minute album is short and sweet; discussing topics from love, wonder, and growth with a raw, lo-fi, and dreamy feel to each track.