Shelita - You Will Want My Love

You Will Want My Love - Shelita (Pop) Shelita joins our blog this week with “You Will Want My Love.” Penned by William Henshall of Londonbeat and Bellringer, the track is the first single from the upcoming album “Into the Depths.” The record sports a crisp production with a subtle build that carries the listener through the track. But as stellar as the mix is, the true star of this mid tempo is Shelita’s theatrical vocal performance which carries an affectation that reminds us a lot of Bjork. With minimal instrumentation, Shelita stands front and center, carrying the track with a solo vocal line, casting aside the bells and whistles and gimmicks of production and relies instead on the strength of the vocal performance.

Best Lyric:  “I already know what you see in me, I can feel it.”

Stephanie Happening - We Move In Pieces

We Move In Pieces - Stephanie Happening (Pop) Completing our triad of Stephanie Happening tracks this week, following funky “My Groove” and the seductive “Don’t Believe The Lies”, we have “We Move In Pieces”, a track that continues Stephanie’s track record for creating dance floor bops. A wild violin flies over the thudding dance track full of rises and falls to create a record that is made for DJ sets. Of the three tracks, this feels the most anthemic, with a vocal performance that reminds us of Florence and the Machine. From the pulse of the track to the soaring chorus, this is one of those songs you put on to get you hype. We congratulate Stephanie Happening on her trio of dance floor cuts, which showcase Stephanie’s artistic versatility in providing three unique sonic landscapes.

Best Lyric: “Still I rise, still I stir.”

Stephanie Happening - Don't Believe The Lies

Don’t Believe The Lies - Stephanie Happening (Pop) In our second of a triad of Stephanie Happening records this week we have “Don’t Believe The Lies”, which takes a dark turn after the funky “My Groove.” Just as dancey as the aforementioned track, “Don’t Believe The Lies” is a punchy dark pop number that seems perfectly crafted for today’s top 40. Giving us vibes of Charlie XCX “Guess”, Stephanie’s seductive growl crawls all over a thudding and all consuming bass, delivering a bevy of creatively crafted lyrics, eventually dipping into a deep verb before the track slams into full after party underground club vibes. Dark, dangerous and incredibly sexy, this is one we’ll have on repeat.

Best Lyric: “Truth got legs and it walk right through.”

Stephanie Happening - My Groove

My Groove - Stephanie Happening (Pop) We welcome Stephanie Happening to the blog this week with latest record “My Groove.” Stephanie is the embodiment of both the feminine and masculine, the creation of an artist living with DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder). That duality is expressed on the funky dance-floor spinner “My Groove” with dueting male and female vocals for a track that feels like a Sam Smith/Demi Lovato collaboration. As the beat pumps along, the male falsetto and punchy female vocal beckon listeners to defy their labels, break free of their boxes, be themselves and, most importantly, get to the dance floor.

Best Lyric: “They can watch me from the sidelines while I move to my own design.”

BLOODLIN3 - No Mercy (LP)

No Mercy (LP) - BLOODLIN3 (HipHop/Rap) We have had the privilege of getting to know this week’s featured artist over the last few years, and are happy to get another opportunity to review another LP. This week, BLOODLIN3 returns with latest album “No mercy“, following 2023’s “Mercy” LP.

Hailing from Paducah, Kentucky and El Paso, Texas, BLOODLIN3 comprises three brothers who blend Southern, East, West, and Midwest flows into their own unique sound. In reviewing prior BLOODLIN3 singles (“Until I Fall”, “Say Less”, “No Mercy”, “Please Don’t Bother Me” and “Blessed Today”) over the years, we’ve lauded the heavy influence of 90s hiphop nostalgia, with the last LP we reviewed, “Mercy”, self proclaimed as an homage to the golden era of hip hop in the 1990s, infused with elements of the here and now. 

We got our first tastes of “No Mercy” last year with the title track, featuring Twista, “Say Less” and “Blessed Today” featuring Project Pat. Looking back at our prior reviews, we said of the title track that Twista didn’t disappoint by bringing his famous rapid fire spit, while at the same time never leaving BLOODLIN3 in the dust, who always held their own, and lauded them for their mission to avoid vulgarity in their lyrics. We noted the West Coast vibe of “Say Less”, pointing to the foreboding instrumentation that intoduced a sense of danger to the track and a good dose of whimsy in the vocal delivery. These elements persist on the completed “No Mercy” LP as we note below. Finally, on “Blessed Today”, we noticed a decade jump in nostalgia, bringing us to 2000’s Timbaland territory for a feel good track that would feel at home on a pregame playlist.

Now with the release of the full LP, we get a few interludes, a remix and 10 new tracks to complete the collection. As a whole, BLOODLIN3 delivers a project whose lyrics are as complex as they are dense, and all laid over hard hitting midtempo grooves. The project boats strong points of view and a whole lot of lyrical cleverness that keeps the listener from ever drifting away from the record. We also really appreciate the craft of album composition and sequencing. This is more than a collection of tracks, these tracks are thoughtfully placed for the purpose of creating a complete work, and one with no skippable tracks.

That album-mindedness is on display best with the first 30 seconds of “Test The Water”, which uses a spin through the radio dial to preview tracks to come before getting into the meat of that specific record. Having not heard the rest of the album yet, we hoped, and were happy that, these weren’t wasted beats on a gimmick—especially that one that turned out to be “Take Me Away, Pt. 2” which really knocks.

Focusing on our favorite tracks, carrying off from “No Mercy”, “Test The Water” and “Cross Tha Line” feel like a suite unto themselves as each are imbued with that sense of palpable danger. “Test The Water” does this with a flow that feels like an incantation over a haunting choir while “Cross Tha Line” gives us a monstrous vocal synth.

“Circus of Clowns” is a standout for its demented quirkiness—conjuring images of a haunted fun house. Here, BLOODLIN3 puts the industry in the crosshairs, pointedly stating that fame doesn’t necessarily mean talent in the game these days. Shots fired.

Getting the taste in “Test The Water”, we were very happy when “Take Me Away, Pt. 2”, came on with its R&B infused beat. Telling a story about being burned in love, there’s a emotional vulnerability and sexiness to this track we haven’t heard much on BLOODLIN3 tracks. That vibe continues in the early Kanye feeling “Heartache”.

Finally, we have to recognize the immaculate album closer “Streets of Gold”, which fuses BLOODLIN3’s signature flow with a gospel and motown instrumental. While staying true to their roots and sound, we think “No Mercy” shows a great deal of growth in the group’s artistry by infusing a surprising amount of heart.

The New Citizen Kane - Ratbag Joy

Ratbag Joy- The New Citizen Kane (Pop) The New Citizen Kane is becoming one of more prolific artists on the blog, giving us his latest, “Ratbag Joy”, following our reviews of “A Love Fool” and albums “The Tales of Morpheus” and “Could Have Been”.  As described by our artist, “Ratbag Joy”, an energetic dance track, evokes the deeper meaning of masking pain and trauma. We find that it’s a song that celebrates escapism, which is certainly something essential to living in 2025. It’s a punchy track, with the typical masterful production we expect from a The New Citizen Kane record, with a pared down instrumental that evokes pure summer vibes. The track is accompanied by a music video, shot with a crew of diverse dancers in Hackney.

Best Lyric:  “Precious minutes of your precious time.”

Connor Perrie - Something to Someone

Something To Someone - Connor Perrie (Pop) Connor Perrie premieres on our blog this week with a clearly personal track, “Something To Someone.” With a resonant baritone, Connor gives himself a pep talk about pushing hard to make an impact in the world. The track is full of 80s synth nostalgia, and even one synth that specifically reminds us a bit of Kyle Minogue’s “Can’t Get You Outta My Head.” The song is epic in scale, a driving midtempo in a cavernous space with a delightful retro flare. But the vulnerability of the artist, which is crystal clear from the vocal performance, is what really sells the track. This is a great one for when you need to muster up some confidence to move forward in the world.

Best Lyric: “I can’t be everything to everyone.”

Emma Whybrow - Dare

Dare - Emma Whybrow (EDM) At the same time that she’s making us dance, Emma Whybrow is telling listeners that they are better off getting away from their ex in latest track “Dare.” In “Dare”, Emma’s big, belty, brassy vocal tells us to “dare to be alone” and resist the magnetic pull of a former lover or fear of a future without them. The track itself centers in the best traditions of EDM music, with great atmospherics paired with the driving dance beat. This track sits along old school bangers like “It’s Raining Men” by the Weather Girls. We can certainly see this featured in summer DJ sets.

Best Lyric: “I can’t stop moving on.”

Blanca - Safety (ft CalledOut Music)

Safety - Blanca (ft CalledOut Music) (R&B) Blanca joins us this week on the blog with latest cut “Safety” featuring CalledOut Music. It’s an infectious summertime jam with breezy island vibes that is a certified hip winder. On “Safety”, Blanca extols the virtues of her love who she sees as her rock, someone who is always there for her and on whom she can rely. The mix is spectacular, with excellent instrument separation and plenty of movement. We specifically love the incorporation of the backing horns, which add an additional layer of depth to the track. Overall, it’s a perfect song for the season, and should definitely go on your beach trip playlist.

Best Lyric: “You are my refuge from now til forever.”

Ki To - Don't Come Around

Don’t Come Around - Ki To (Pop) Ki To brings the melancholy on top of a breezy and dreamy summertime bop in “Don’t Come Around.” Recorded in San Francisco and produced in Indonesia, Ki To’s first feature on our blog gives us timeless Top 40 vibes as a verby vocal melts into a live band sound. The song is a breakup anthem, wistful of the past but warning the former love to keep away once Ki To has healed. It’s both wistful and strong, with Ki To secure in the knowledge that pain is temporary and time heals everything. Overall it’s a pleasant little midtempo bop that pairs well with summer sun and the breeze through your hair. Don’t forget to check out the slick music video to match!

Best Lyric: “Can I just disappear from this world?”

Allcapsallan - Pressure

Pressure - Allcapsallan (Hip Hop) This week, we welcome Long Island native ALLCAPSALLAN to the blog, who rides a beat like Kendrick as displayed on his latest track, “Pressure.” There’s atmospheric vibes on this cut, with a dramatic and cinematic piano evoking feelings of doom and gloom before the hip hop percussion kicks in. The ominous feeling reminds us a lot of late 90s, early 00s hip hop, giving us the same vibes as Mobb Deep’s “Quiet Storm.” On the track, Allcapsallan reflects on his struggles while striving for success with a raspy baritone that only adds to the foreboding tone of the instrumental. There’s danger around the corner on this track.

Best Lyric: “I gotta lot of friends n****, you ain’t one.”

BdotJeff - crew. (interlude)

crew. (interlude) - BdotJeff (HIp Hop) BdotJeff hits our blog this week with latest single “crew. (interlude)”. Led by a flute instrumental loop, as soon as the rhymes enter a QTip-feeling tone hits us immediately, though cut with a bit more edge. A growling guitar underlays the vocals which puts a lot of meat on the bones of the percussion base and performs a sort of genre blending that elevates the track beyond standard hip hop fare. An ode to loyalty to your peeps (BdotJeff tells us both those who are living and those who passed away), the groovy and nostalgic mid tempo hits hard and is certainly a two-stepper. Our only wish was that this was more than just an interlude!

Ekelle - Drift

Drift - Ekelle (HIp Hop) We welcome Ekelle to the blog this week with 420 anthem “Drift”, featuring BAKSH. Our dueting rhymers ride the hazy hypnotic beat with ease, as a syncopated reggae vibe carries the track forward like an inflatable tube drifting down a lazy river. With marijuana references abound it’s no accident that the song conjures the image of a smoke filled den, intoxicating listeners with its low key vibe. “It’s not about escaping reality—it's about finding balance, self-care, and focus in the grind,” says Ekelle about the record, who aims to reinvent 420 tracks. This fits nicely onto any vibey summertime playlist.

Best Lyric: “She can never be too thick. I’m’a eat it like licorice.”

RSAI - Let The Good Times Roll

Let The Good Times Roll - RSAI (Pop) We’ve got another disco track on our blog this week with RSAI’s latest, “Let The Good Times Roll.” Ramping up with a guitar lick that soon invites the soaring disco strings you want in a track like this, RSAI’s vocals shortly take command, using both ethereal and belty vibes. The energy on this track is palpable—it sizzles—and makes the track a certified dance floor spinner crafted perfectly for summertime dance floors and outdoor tea dances. It is guaranteed to get listeners to work up a sweat. Like Donna Summer before her, RSAI begs listeners onto the dance floor and fills the room with joy and euphoria.

Abi Muir - On One Knee

On One Knee - Abi Muir (Pop) Abi Muir has arrived to heat up the blog this week with her latest single “On One Knee.” Chock full of syncopated island vibes, the track is a perfect addition for summer, with a style that reminds us of early Ariana Grande. A pop/r&b hybrid, Abi’s vocals soar of the track, which is chock full of percussive ear candy. Jumping from her lower register up into the rafters with ease, she demonstrates masterful control over her instrument. There’s a cockiness to the track, with the sass making the song an excellent karaoke choice. A bumping mid tempo groove just in time for the summer heat, bump this one in your car with the windows down.

Best Lyric: “If you wanna play games, might let you play with me.”

Ikevald - Lick the Sun

Lick the Sun - Ikevald (Pop) This week we welcome newcomer to the blog Ikevald with his driving pop anthem “Lick the Sun”. An Estonian artist signed to DWB Music, the track is his debut and blends Mediterranean energy with British songwriting. There is a tension throughout the track, produced and co-written with Pete Barringer and Sarah Rose Campbell, which is very engaging and keeps the listener on the hook. Ikevald’s excellent vocal production soars, leading to a breakdown that is just chock full of ear candy. The song screams Top 40, and arrives just in time for the summer heat.