Sugar Daddy - DJ Snudi (ft Rayne) (Dance) Listen, times are hard, and economic conditions don’t seem like they’ll be improving anytime soon. Thus, we cast no judgment on DJ Snudi’s and Rayne’s mission to find some financial support in “Sugar Daddy.” This slippery little number is dripping with sex, as Rayne’s close, intimate vocal whispers in your ear over a merengue inspired beat. The opening is evocative, with the rising alarm and sassy “la las” sending a universal message to listeners to drop what they’re doing and report to the dance floor. Seductive and alluring, Rayne keeps the listener’s attention as she describes all her attributes. When the track finishes, one thing is clear—it’s time to pay up.
SERAh - Favorite Game (ft Summer Rona)
Favorite Game - SERAh ft Summer Rona (EDM) American producer and DJ SERAh joins our blog this week with a soulful mid-tempo EDM track, “Favorite Game”, paired with a trippy post-apocalyptic sci-fi music video (part of a larger narrative — follow SERAh below to enter that world). The track definitely delivers on that futuristic vibe, cinematic in scope, and utilizes melodic bass and trap to create a dark pop vibe, with a heavenly vocal floating in a spacious soundscape pleading about the loss of love and inability to repair what’s been broken. The beat drops hard about halfway through the track, elevating something more dreamy and contemplative into something much more hard hitting. Overall, it’s a track to get lost in, and we’re excited to discover how this record fits into the overall artistic vision of SERAh’s work.
Best Lyric: “This is not a case of lust you see, it’s not a matter of you versus me.“
Mia Delamar - Love Me...Not (LP)
Love Me…Not - Mia Delamar (R&B/Pop) Two years later, Mia Delamar returns to us with her stellar album “Love Me…Not”. We were privileged to review a handful of these tracks from her breakout EP “H.O.M.B.” and in that review dedicated ourselves as Mia stans. We’re happy to report that the additional tracks only cement the good impression we had of Mia when we first encountered her. With so much to love, from the nostalgic retro R&B beats to the vulnerable storytelling, let’s dive into “Love Me…Not”.
An Atlanta native, 25 year-old Mia Delamar names her influences as MIssy Elliot, Aaliyah and Mary J Blige. For us, we’d say Mia’s honey vocals put her in the Brandy/Nivea category, and her productions falling into early Arianna Grande and NAO territory. While we have already reviewed some of these tracks, the cohesiveness of this project as an album-arching narrative begs that we go back into them as they form integral pieces of a well sequenced, thoughtfully crafted story.
The album kicks off with a track that screams ‘album opener’—”Into You.” The warbly synths and bouncing bassline quickly introduce the soundscape of what’s to come—a feel good, poppy R&B groove. There’s a retro feel to the track, a late 90s/early 00s vibe, that reminds us a lot of early Arianna Grande tracks (especially when Mia soars into the rafters), or for those who really want a deep cut, Nivea (or possibly Monica’s more pop tracks).
The baton is handed off quickly to “Whatever”, moving from the giddiness of being into someone to the trepidation of diving into something new. Haunted by past heartbreak, in the end, Mia’s latest love interest has her all in. Continuing the feel good retro vibe, this track reminded us a bit of Lil’ Mo.
“Anyway” picks up the pace with a punchy snare that takes us back to Ghosttown DJ’s “My Boo”. The story of the album continues to a new chapter—first, she’s into the new love, next she’s pushing forward despite heartbreak, and now in “Anyway” she’s going to stick with it through thick and thin. It’s here that we start to appreciate the artistry of not only the tracks themselves, but the album sequencing in building the narrative. The story continues on “Personal”, where the beat introduces a bit of funk as Mia croons about diving into the work of building intimacy.
“Cool - MiMix” is the first sign of trouble. For the first time doubt has crept into the relationship and Mia is standing ten toes down on her boundaries. It’s a hard pivot, because now it’s her lover who is looking to get back in her good graces while Mia confidently and stridently proclaims that she’s “cool” on him now. It’s a relatable feeling for those who’ve been burned before—when burned again, it’s easy to just turn off the switch to protect your peace. With it’s ‘in your face’ delivery providing a stark contrast to the prior tracks, when paired with a bop of a beat, this song quickly became our favorite so far.
On “Alright”, Mia is in the aftermath of the fall. She’s in her self care moment, journaling as she reminds herself that she will get through her heartbreak and come out on the other side. “I Know” introduces a new groove into the album with a touch of afrobeat as Mia boasts on her resume as a perfect partner worth the chase. “H.O.M.B.” is a dreamy track and the sexiest of the project so far (standing for “hands on my body”) as the quiet confidence of “I Know” is amped up into a boastful track about how Mia is the one you need to put in the work for. This is another standout track.
“Say That” continues Mia’s confident streak as she laments the time she wasted on someone, creating one of the catchiest tracks on the project. Looking back on the journey so far, we’ve come a long way from the fuzzy warmth at the top of the album—Mia’s no longer playing around.
On “My Love Don’t Mean a Thing” the retro vibe continues, punctuated by that 80s synth cowbell immediately recognizable to those who grew up on the golden age of R&B. The defensiveness of the prior tracks breaks here as Mia gets into the feelings of rejection, trying to understand why someone she loved could have treated her poorly. The mask slips on this song and the vulnerability in the top half of the album returns.
As we come to the close of the project, “Complicated” shows Mia taking her first steps into something new, but carrying the baggage of the past with her. But she does so openly, putting all cards on the table to let the next love know what they are getting into. Finally, “The Drain”, ends the album on a bit of a downer as Mia, for the first time, wallows in what she’s been through, looking back and dreaming of what could have been. It’s incredibly relatable, and after getting to know Mia through the project, the listener is fully in her corner hoping to see her rise from the ashes on her next project.
It is with great pleasure that we can say Mia Delamar’s “Love Me…Not” is a no-skip project that particularly drew in this elder millennial who grew up on Monica, Brandy, Aaliyah and Nivea. The beats are retro heaven, Mia’s vocals are pillowy soft and intimate and the story is smart, personal, relatable and well told with a clear point of view. At the end of the album we feel like we know Mia, and we root for her. We’ll have this one on repeat for a while. Again, we stan.
J Eden - Stepping Tonight
Stepping Tonight - J Eden (HipHop/Country) This week, we welcome J Eden to the blog with a country/hip-hop hybrid “Stepping Tonight.” The twang of a guitar overlaying a crisp hip-hop production, our male vocalist glides easily in and out of sung vocal and rhyme spit, telling a tale of anticipation of an upcoming night of fun. Understated synths provide a warmth to the track that makes you envision the sun setting on a hard day’s work, transitioning into a memorable evening of beers, laughs and companionship. A silky mid-tempo, “Stepping Tonight” is a great track for your commute to meet your crew at happy hour.
Liona Jahmara - My kindness
Lioness Fire- Liona Jahmara (R&B) This week we welcome Liona Jahmara to the blog, who blends soulful vocals with digital creativity to bring us a track about the magnetic pull of positive energy and outlook, “My kindness.” The track has R&B stylings at its core with a touch of afrobeat sensibility—an undulating panning synth provides the background for traditional R&B 808 and drumkit—overlaid by Liona’s silky and effortless vocals preaching the virtues of moving through the world with grace. It’s a very zen track and goes down smooth, a perfect soundtrack for moments when your instinct is to be reactive or combative. Liona’s message of letting go of hostility and negativity feels timely in today’s world.
Best Lyric: “See the world through my lens, all the love that I find.“
SonicNeuron - Forever In Your Eyes
Forever In Your Eyes - SonicNeuron (Pop) We welcome SonicNeuron to the blog this week with the funky cut “Forever In Your Eyes.” A groovy duet with major disco inspirations, the track is an ode to true love. The mid-tempo is a real two-stepper with a slippery bass driving the track forward as it’s joined by disco strings and horns to create a timeless vibe without feeling dated. The male and female vocals share the spotlight, passing the baton easily between them. The track is paired with a lush AI-driven music video showing beautiful people relishing in the beauty of love. Overall, it’s a feel good track sure to get you moving.
Best Lyric: “Love’s a hustle and I’m craving more.“
The New Citizen Kane - Causing A Commotion / Subconscious
Causing A Commotion/Subconscious - The New Citizen Kane (Pop) The New Citizen Kane is feeling a bit randy this week! His hormones are “Causing a Commotion” on the title track on his latest 8-track EP. The song is a funky cut, with a plucky synth bass pulling the song along a gentle mid-tempo groove. The track has a disco flare, and is a great arrival for the end of summer. Similar vibes abound on single “Subconscious”, a track about an unexpected attraction to a friend. With an 80s influence in the synths, both tracks are bonafide 2 steppers great for both dance floors or windows-down commutes.
abeatchemist - Space Is Deep (LP)
Space Is Deep - abeatchemist (Hiphop) We’re taking a trip through the galaxy this week with veteran producer abeatchemist. New to our blog, but not to the music scene, abeatchemist has shared his latest LP, “Space Is Deep”, with us for our thoughts. But before we dig into the album, let’s start with a bit about the man behind the music.
Hailing from Chicago, abeatchemist began producing in the early 2000s as half of the now disbanded group Soul Survivas. Frustrated by his dependency on other producers for beats, abeatchemist took it upon himself to purchase his own gear and begin producing for himself. In addition to producing his own work, he’s worked with many other Chicago artists to bring their dreams to fruition. The self-produced “Space Is Deep” was created to be a cosmic journey through the galaxy, addressing heady concepts of geopolitics, mortality, pain, grief, love and more.
We found, however, that “Space Is Deep” turned out to be a lesson in not judging a book by its cover. On first approaching this work, we noted the large number of tracks and self-described metaphysical subject matter, concerned that we might get weighed down in something overwrought or bloated—a common issue in self produced works. We were happy to find, however, that “Space Is Deep” is a tightly constructed 30 minute journey that, while certainly reaching into broader concepts, more often than not hits on deeply personal stories of loss. As much as abeatchemist may portray this work as a journey through the universe, we think it is much more of a journey inward, and listeners will certainly come out of the experience feeling connected to abeatchemist on a personal level.
With a Nas-like flow, the production feels steeped in mid-90s East Coast hip hop, and often made us think of the Biggie records of the era—”Drugs” in particular. The sound is consistent with few outliers, and certainly works as an ode to that gold era of hip hop. abeatchemist’s pen game is on point, with thoughtful and interesting lyrics that often take several listens to truly unpack. As stated in the intro track, hip hop is an art form used to educate, and that is clearly what abeatchemist is doing on this project. The production is lush, using hard hitting drums, vocal samples, swirling synths, sparkling rhodes and a bevy of ear candy stabs to create dense sonic atmospheres that soar on big speakers.
Stand out tracks include “The Big Bang Theory”, the first autobiographical record on the project, where we start to get to know a bit about abeatchemist’s story and point of view. Similarly, title track “Space Is Deep” touches on the last moments abeatchemist had with his father in a way that is both touching and uplifting. Finally, “Sound Waves (Testimony)”, the album closer, is our favorite production sonically, with the dreamy keys working like a hypnotic music box. But overall there are no skips on this one, and the project deserves a straight through listen as constructed to get the full experience. This is not a collection of songs, this is a holistic work that deserves the proper attention.
TRACKLIST
Speaker Notes (Intro)
Forever
The Big Bang Theory
Lethal
Strip Down
Drowning (WTF)
Tuning
Frequency
O’Hare
Space Is Deep
Its Been Clear
Letter To Heaven (ft Matte Black and Martin Grow)
Beyond Understanding
Streaming
Transmission
Sound Waves (Testimony)
V.Of - La Grande Motte
La Grande Motte - V.Of (Pop) We welcome V.Of to the blog this week with the plucky pop production “La Grande Motte.” A perfect jam for summer evenings, this dancey cut tells the story of a euphoric paradise—an ultimate vacation destination by the sea. Our artist has a deep attachment to this city as the creator of La Grande Motte et ses Bons Plans, telling us that La Grande Motte attracts over 2 million tourists per year. In a lot of ways the song made us think of Madonna’s “La Isla Bonita”, an ode to a paradise, but in this case it’s a place you can actually visit for yourself! The track’s production is sharp, with a clean mix and punchy master, led by a hard hitting kick drum surrounded by island vibes. The song is a perfect soundtrack for summertime beach excursions, whether in La Grande Motte or not, and is certainly set to become the official theme of this idyllic town.
Kiah Olivea - Let Love In
Let Love In - Kiah Olivea (Pop/R&B) Kiah Olivea debuts on our blog this week with the intimate R&B/Pop crossover track “Let Love In.” The record is an ode to healing post betrayal. A mellow guitar leads us into the track, immediately setting the mood, joined by a punchy percussion and some soft synth keys. The song simmers, dreamy and melancholy, as Kiah’s vulnerable vocal delivers some masterfully crafted lyrics that really touch the soul. Kiah relates to her listeners in their feelings of betrayal and their impulse to close off as a response, demonstrating that she knows this all too familiar pain very well, but ultimately suggests that the only way forward is to open up. The lyrics that she brings to life to tell this story are specific and beautiful, and will definitely strike a chord with anyone who’s been in this kind of situation.
Best Lyric: “Say you don’t care, but your hands shake.”
Proklaim - NOTHA 1 DOWN (MINI TRACK)
NOTHA 1 DOWN (MINI) - Proklaim (Rap) Our good friend Proklaim returns this week after a small hiatus with his latest track “NOTHA 1 DOWN (MINI TRACK).” For anyone who reads or blog regularly, you already know Proklaim’s work as he stands as our most featured artist, whose evolution we’ve gotten to witness over the last few years. On “NOTHA 1 DOWN”, we get just a taste of his latest sound, which showcases an African sonic influence. From the chanting choruses we’ve come to expect from Proklaim to the ominous synth laying the groundwork for the track, it didn’t surprise us that the track was engineered at Audio Art Namibia. Bringing his usual good vibes and positive messaging, Proklaim delivers to his fans what could be their new morning or evening mantra.
Best Lyric: “I’m in the sky like the Enterprise.“
ALLEGRA - Wildfire
Wildfire - ALLEGRA (Pop/Dance) Allegra returns to us with another dance pop anthem, this time with latest single “Wildfire”. Featuring an ominous instrumental with a great build, we are immediately transported to the 2010s with the thudding kick pushing the track forward over a droning bass and cavernous synth that weaves a thread of tension throughout the track. The production reminds us a lot of the Zedd “Clarity” and Rihanna “We Found Love In A Hopeless Place” time in music where songs crafted specifically for the dance floor ruled the charts. The record feels like a perfect fit for the summer months and is destined for beach party DJ sets and rooftop dances.
Jimmy Scott Free - Turn Back Time
Turn Back Time - Jimmy Scott Free (Pop) We have a first timer for the blog to share with you this week, Jimmy Scott Free, who brings us his latest track “Turn Back Time” featuring the late house legend Kim English. Jimmy returns to the spotlight following a 10 year hiatus, with the Southend-born artist now based between the Midlands and Barcelona. This track is straight up 90s house and a tribute to its genre and references, thankfully released just in time for summer. It’s a dance floor anthem for sure, with a driving piano and house beat supporting a soaring vocal from Kim. The record is a miasma of sounds, swirling and bubbling in dense reverbs that cast a hypnotic spell on the listener as a punchy kick propels this euphoric track forward. You’ll want the summer sun on your back and a cocktail in hand when listening to this one.
Magdalia - Out of Focus
Out of Focus- Magdalia (Pop) Musician and storyteller Magdalia returns to the blog for the sixth time with latest single “Out of Focus,” following our previous reviews of “Housewife”, “Hold it Up”, “Tunnel Vision”, “Great Expectations” and “Fault Line”. On “Out of Focus”, Magdalia has had a prolific epiphany—that when it comes to her life struggle with feeling aimless, the call is coming from inside the house. This therapeutic revelation comes paired with a Robyn-style synth dance beat, marrying introspection with a dance floor sensibility. The track is driven by its kick, which cuts through and otherwise bubbling and hypnotic production. We love when a dance track says something more than just encouraging people to get up and move.
Best Lyric: “When everybody’s talking over you, it’s easy to believe the lie.”
Dax - Man I Used To Be
Man I Used To Be - Dax (Pop) Our prolific musician and music video superstar Dax is back with us this week for the eleventh time, bringing us his latest track “Man I Used To Be.” We know Dax for his fusion of country sensibility into pop and hiphop productions, and with “Man I Used To Be” we’re dealing with a crossover country/pop track with a soulful guitar leading a sparse production that focuses mostly on the vocal. With a strong vocal that gives just a hint of twang, Dax illustrates something else we’ve come to know him for—vulnerability. Dax’s artistic point of view is typically based in introspection, setting himself as the ideal for the everyman who is not threatened by therapy and self reflection. Dax might feel he’s half the man he used to be due to his life’s trauma, but his clear point of view and polished mixes make him twice the artist of his peers.
Best Lyric: “Generational curses from daddy and mama.“
Kristen Banana - Lanternbones and Ghosts (LP)
Lanternbones and Ghosts (LP) - Kristen Banana (Pop) Kristen Banana makes her debut on our blog this week with a soulful collection of midtempos, her 9 track debut LP “Lanternbones and Ghosts”. With inspiration found in the Alaskan wilderness which followed her to Austin, TX, each track on “Laternbones and Ghosts” feels like a soothing lullaby. The dreamy record pulls from deeply personal experiences of trauma, isolation and personal loss. Throughout the production, Kristen’s vocal strikes us as deeply intimate, allowing her to deftly tug on the listener’s heartstrings. Despite a good layer of melancholy, each song has a glowing ember at the center, a warmth that fills the chest. Kirsten excels at the torch song. Listening to this collection feels like sitting next to a roaring campfire—warm, peaceful and intoxicating.