Ilona - Feel

Feel - Ilona (Pop) Ilona is showing up with sexy vibes in her latest track “Feel”. The song is a sultry waltz, filled with feminine energy and sexual liberation, overall giving us “Dangerous Woman” Ariana Grande vibes as ilona delivers a strong pop vocal that duets with a seductive guitar line plucking along in the backing. Ear candy is abound in the track, with a delicious use of verbed vocal punches to create a lush landscape. The song feels big, and has a great swell to it that fills the chest. We think this track makes an excellent “sing along in the shower” one, or something you can use to impress at your next karaoke night.

Best Lyric: “Say it with those hands.”

Proklaim - BAD TING

BAD TING- Proklaim (Hiphop) In our second track from Proklaim on the blog today, we get a perfect pairing with “BAD TING”, sharing a similar vibe to that on prior “4 ME”. Positive vibes continue, this time celebrating progress and elevation. With this track, we notice a through line in Proklaim’s songwriting style. First we get an intro call to action—Proklaim telling the listener succinctly the message he is about to impart. Rapid fire flow fills the verses while a layered chant-like repetitive chorus continues to drive the message home. And finally, Proklaim’s tracks are each mini sermons, delivering wisdom from his life’s experiences and imparting the motivation and ambition he feels to the listener. With all this in mind, Proklaim’s music makes for tracks to wake up to so you can start your day with good intentions and good energy.

Best Lyric: “Put it on the stove and let it simmer till it burns.”

Proklaim - 4 ME

4 ME- Proklaim (Hiphop) The notoriously prolific Proklaim blesses our blog again this week with another duo of songs, kicking off with the feel good vibes of “4 ME”. On this track, we’ve got a positive message of not taking life for granted, to celebrate every day you wake up and take delight in the simple things. The sound Proklaim explores this time has a reggae cadence to this mid tempo flow, evocative of an island breeze blowing through your hair with the windows down in the car, cruising. Added texture comes from the hazy jazz horn, with the kick and snare rhythm creating a hip winder. Proklaim’s signature rapid fire flow is back, this time giving us memories of Lauryn Hill.

Best Lyric: “Intuition surely gotta be the lord’s whisper.”

Maddie Jackway - You Make Me Look Over My Shoulder

You Make Me Look Over My Shoulder - Maddie Jackaway (Pop) Maddie Jackway delivers a rich and luscious production in her latest single “You Make Me Look Over My Shoulder.” The song paints a delicious atmospheric texture of tension and mystery, pop infused with jazz sensibility, with ear candy abound in the percussion and heavenly vocal layers. The instrumental conveys the bewilderment and wonder in the lyrics—Maddie mistook a man’s loneliness for love, with passionate choral arrangements describing the pain at the discovery that she wasn’t the only one. It’s ironic that one of the reasons Maddie believes she has been sidelined is that her lover feared she might taint their reputation, because with musical talent like this, Maddie has a reputation anyone would want to tie themself to.

Best Lyric: “Was it all make believe? Did I have your love?”

V of 40M - The Score

The Score - V of 40M (Rap)  V of 40M is bringing the hype music with bumping new track “The Score.” With a title inspired by the Fugees, as is clear from the single’s cover artwork, the musical influences are also 90s, including those synth string plucks often used in Darkchild productions of the era. The thrust of the lyrics is teamwork, with the trio of V, 40M Tye and Hippie G passing off the baton throughout the song, while the music conveys a feeling of triumph and success. This victorious feeling perfectly encapsulates the movement that these artists have pledged themselves to—40M or 40 Million Strong—aimed at establishing sovereign land and autonomous rule for Blacks. If what this trio sought to do in “The Score” is create an anthem for a movement, they certainly succeeded—this track is a call to action.

Best Lyric: “All we need is a touchdown, that’ll put us on the board.”

Alexa Villa - My Kind of Damaged

My Kind of Damaged - Alexa Villa (Pop)  Damage recognize damage in Alexa Villa’s intimate “My Kind of Damaged”, a song about broken people looking for broken people. The instrumental is tense, but minimalist, allowing the star of the track to shine through—the vocal. Alexa Villa is one hell of a performer—an incredibly strong vocal imbued with unbelievable passion—the instrumental only catching up with her at the end when the track turns into a straight jam session. Listening to this track, we could imagine Kelly Clarkson covering this on her talk show—not to compare Alexa, who has far more grit and danger. Powerful and well-produced, “My Kind Of Damaged” is going to be an emo girl’s karaoke number in 3, 2, 1…

Ladybyrd - Way Back Home

Way Back Home - Ladybyrd (Pop) Ladybyrd is coming in with an anthemic number in “Way Back Home”, a track about finding one’s way back to love. From the thick pads to the lush strings, Ladybyrd has crafted a BIG song that churns and swells like the choppy seas. The percussion is reserved for the chorus, thumping in like a heartbeat that intensifies the passion in the vocal delivery. The vocals have maturity, flying all the way up into the rafters and nestling sweetly down in a husky alto at times, reminding us a bit of Miley Cyrus, were she covering, say, “Summertime Sadness.” This is a sing along in the shower kind of song.

Best Lyric: “It’s not like I can let go now.”

Corio - Who Needs A Friend

Who Needs A Friend - Corio (HipHop) Corio delivers a haunting single with “Who Needs A Friend”, a track born from the aftermath of a breakup. There’s a melancholy vibe for sure, with the warm guitar riff swirling in the background giving an ominous sense of loss, the feeling of starting again at 0. The hiphop comes in with the drum production, crispy hats and snares clicking the track along, with some delightful ear candy in the tuned backing vocals. The serenade of the strings that drifts in and out of the track help pull on the heartstrings as Corio bares his soul. This is a track you need when you’re lost in your feels.

Best Lyric: “I got burnt up loving again.”

Kiesza - Heaven Ain't Calling

Heaven Ain’t Calling - Kiesza & Sugar Jesus (Pop) Kiesza marries barn burner with dance floor anthem in latest track '“Heaven Ain’t Calling.” Reminding us of Christina Aguilera’s “Back to Basics” era, Kiesza delivers something crafted for the dance floor along with a retro sounding melody that gives us Florence and the Machine vibes. She also gives us quite the epic music video, with a big dance performance in a black and white silent movie themed video that takes place in a speakeasy we want to visit. Not overshadowing the power of Kiesza’s belt, her vocals sit mostly in a distortion effect that provides some incredible earcandy. We defy you to not cut up to this one.

Best Lyric: “I’ve been down this road before and tonight I’m taking you.”

Kanda - Unanswered Questions

Unanswered Questions - Kanda (Pop) Kanda is going through it post-relationship in his latest single and music video, “Unanswered Questions.” On the track, Kanda sings of a relationship gone wrong that he can’t get over due him being completely blindsided by the abrupt end. The song begins with a hazy summertime guitar, its strums soon accompanied by rousing bass synths to pull out the emotions of the track. But the passion is centered most in the vocal, a gutteral and emotive delivery that tells the listener that this song is personal. The artistry of the track becomes clear at the finale, when the song leaves the listener on the edge, coming to a close without resolution, mirroring exactly how Kanda feels.

Best Lyric: “And even if we turn back time it wouldn’t make this right now I’m floating by as I’m questioning what’s the point in life.”

Magdalia - Hold It Up

Hold It Up - Magdalia (Pop) Magdalia returns to the blog for the fourth time with latest single “Hold It Up” featuring Mayzie Chew. We’ve had the opportunity to review prior singles “Tunnel Vision”, “Great Expectations” and “Fault Line”, which brought us top notch, vocal-centered productions unique in their lyrical prowess. This latest track continues to showcase Magdalia as an expert storyteller, this time over a waltzy drum beat and warm acoustic accompaniment. In the song, Magdalia tells her love interest that she’ll be with them through tough times, to hold up the sky with them when it feels like all is crashing down. With it’s emotive intimacy, “Hold It Up” could be a couple’s wedding song, for sure.

Best Lyric: “I walk in the cold to numb all my feelings.”

Belle Lundon - Space Cadet

Space Cadet - Belle Lundon (R&B) Belle Lundon takes us to the heavens in latest single “Space Cadet”, complete with a lyric video. The atmosphere is what you’d expect from a track with title like this—ethereal and otherworldly, aided by vast synths and a mystical sounding pan flute. The booming and warm sub bass and tight snare give the track drive and you can bet this one really bumps in the car, while tinges of ear candy like a buzzy guitar synth keep the listener’s engagement. Belle’s powerful vocals deliver unique and poetic lyrics, but still maintain modern day R&B stylings to plant the song in the mainstream. It’s a vibe for sure.

Best Lyric: “Feels like I’m drowning grab my hands and lift me up.”

Looney Mack - Prince of Persia Swag (ft Goldmouth & 707 Cortez)

Prince of Persia Swag (ft Goldmouth & 707 Cortez)- Looney Mack (Hiphop)  Looney Mack is back with “Prince of Persia Swag” following his previous “Pouring Up Like Ireland”. With both of these tracks, it is clear that Looney has an international vision, and in this track he calls upon a late 90s hiphop production to back his flow, giving us some real Juvenile vibes. Where “Pouring Up” was a mid-tempo feel good house party jam, “Prince of Persia Swag” turns up the twerk to 100%. From a modern perspective (though this track uses an early 00s reference) the track knocks like Saweetie’s “My Type”, giving that same high octane energy. So if you’ve got nostalgia for the Cash Money days and want to turn up, this is your track.

Inett - Yumeko Jabami

Yumeko Jabami - Inett (Rap) Inett delivers a party vibe in his latest track “Yumeko Jabami”, featured on his EP “Black”. The title is taken from anime, the name of the protagonist in “Kakegurui” and personifying gambling—chosen to deliver Inett’s message of putting your passion on the line and risking it all. The track opens with a synth tinged in mystery, which helps provide the atmosphere on this brooding cut throughout as the tight trap percussion slices through. Inett’s flow is rich and resonant, a baritone often times at a rapid pace that we don’t know when this guy finds time to breathe. His delivery is passionate, really chewing on the words and fully using vocal inflections to bring the track to life.

Best Lyric: “Sometimes the hits are alarming.”

Zach Adam - End of the World

End of the World - Zach Adam (Pop) Zach Adam delivers a Top 40 worthy track with the rousing and catchy “End of the World.” On the record, Zach delivers a message about seizing the moment, reminding us that nothing lasts and it’s futile to plan for forever. It’s a lush production that fills the chest, pushed along by some crisp snaps and a driving chord progression. Ear candy is perfectly placed—a rogue clap here and there, and some angelic verbed backings help flesh out depth to the track. But the star of the number is certainly Zach’s vocal performance—at times pure and innocent, but more often showcasing a mature and strong belt. “End of the World” is a ‘sing along in the car’ kind of track.

Best Lyric: “For every one hello I’m saying ten goodbyes.”

Fatihah - Elevate Your Mind

Elevate Your Mind - Fatihah (Rap) Fatihah is reading men to filth while delivering some sage relationship advice in his hard hitting new single “Elevate Your Mind.” I’s a hard hitting production, reminding us of the Timbaland tracks around the time of, say, “Ayo Technology.” The vocal oscillates between comedic spoken word and some rap preaching, making for an entertaining and engaging listen—it forces you to pay attention to the words. It’s part diss track, part “step it up” motivational speech about knowing how to treat and engage with women in a healthy way that won’t lead to toxicity. But he doesn’t hit you over the head with it, and with clever lyrics and a good dose of humor, there’s a good amount of sugar in the medicine.

Best Lyric: “A woman’s mind is a g spot.”