MUST LISTEN 134
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 Jae Stephens, Audrey Nuna, and Dreamer Boy.
Jae Stephens
Gifted singer, songwriter, and producer, Jae Stephens is ready to elevate her game. The acclaimed R&B artist shares her new single “Wet.” Smoothly futuristic and brashly confident, “Wet” finds Stephens seizing control of all aspects of her life–her art, her finances, and, most crucially, her desires. Produced in part by Jae herself, “Wet” sonically traverses both Pop and R&B genres effortlessly.
ESTA
Gearing up for the release of his debut album dropping this summer, the Los Angeles record producer ESTA returns with nis new single “too fast” featuring R&B sensation Joyce Wrice, and multifaceted artist Dukwrth. On “too fast,” ESTA crafts a sonic playground where bouncy drums and funky basslines converge, setting the stage for Joyce Wrice's soulful vocals and Duckwrth's lyrical finesse. The track is a groove-inducing potion that captivates with its irresistible charm, marking the first single from ESTA’s upcoming long-awaited debut dropping this summer.
Sadboi
Gearing up for the release of her new project, SadBoi unleashes her latest seductive and confident new single, “Baddies.” SadBoi effortlessly delivers smooth vocals with energy, crafting an atmosphere that’s both vibrant and laid-back. “Baddies” offers a chumming beat paired alongside SadBoi’s charm and playful demeanor. The track is poised to be the powerhouse anthem of Hot Girl Summer 2024, preheating the season with boldness and swagger.
Dreamer Boy
Dreamer Boy recently dropped his latest single, “Kansas,” a dreamy, genre-defying song that conjures up memories of first loves and summer nights. With pedal steel, piano, and saxophone sidling up to synths, the song mixes the modern with a warm sense of nostalgia.
Sylo
One of the alternative-R&B renaissance’s most mature and vulnerable voices, Sylo, releases “So Familiar.” The second single, from his forthcoming full-length project, starts out in his gently plucked signature style. But with the addition of a loungey piano, sultry horns, and a jazzy Latin twist, the Korean-Canadian artist allows the track to unfold into a much larger groove.
Kitty Ca$h
Kitty Ca$h releases her new EP Handle With Care. The new project sees Ca$h honing the skills that she has crafted through tastemaking DJ sets and compilations over the past decade into her debut project as a producer. Across Handle With Care, she enlists friends new and old -- from bass virtuoso Thundercat to rap star Rico Nasty to critically acclaimed UK rising star George Riley, among others -- to bring her unique vision of dance music to life. Her eclectic blend of influences drawing from R&B, hip-hop and electronic sounds is present throughout this project.
Deb Fan
After a transformative journey back to her roots, Hong Kong-raised and Los Angeles-based artist and producer Deb Fan shares her newest single, "Lady." The track blends the live instrumentation of 90s R&B and the visual soundscapes of impressionist-era classical music, reclaiming themes of rebirth and challenging stereotypes at the intersection of technology, tradition, and femininity.
Audrey Nuna
Genre-defying Korean-American artist and songwriter Audrey Nuna drops her hot new single and accompanying music video “Jokes On Me,” her second release following her lush single “Starving” featuring breakout artist & multi-hyphenate Teezo Touchdown. “Jokes On Me” sees Audrey steady in her commitment to genre transcendence and versatility, following the upbeat, groovy “Starving” with a personality-filled track rife with heavy autotune, breezy vocals, and a trappy, electronic triple drum beat.