King Jesai - OnlyFans

OnlyFans - King Jesai (Hiphop)  Georgia native known for his groovy beats and captivating lyrics, King Jesai, gives us just that in latest track “OnlyFans.” The instrumental is best described as techno-hiphop—think of what Timbaland was playing with back on “Ayo Technology”—with an R&B hook that reminds us of a Jason Derulo or Trey Songz cut. King Jesai oscillates between crooning and rap flow with this 2010s style party track, delivering a record whose explicit edit already caught the attention of UK iTunes Top 30 Rap/Hip Hop Songs chart earlier this month. In sum, “OnlyFans” is a ‘ballin’ out in VIP’ kinda track, or at least one definitely suited for your next house party. Take a shot and get on the floor with this record.

Best Lyric: “Put your girl to work, OnlyFans.”

Leanne Gallati - Ballad No. 1

Ballad No. 1 - Leanne Gallati (Pop)  Leanne Gallati leaves her band behind for a piano and vocal ballad aptly titled “Ballad No. 1”. The artist tells us that the song comes from her own heartbreak, about “figuring out whether it is better to stay with someone who may not be good for you, or to be alone". The relatable subject matter is delivered in lyrics that work almost like a number in a musical, with the singer going through the thought process as she sings, finally ending on the conclusion that Whitney Houston told us long ago—it’s better to be alone than unhappy. As she comes to that realization, Leanne’s already strong vocal gets even more powerful, rising with her level of confidence in her ultimate decision to prioritize herself. With a track as strong as this, we look forward to ballads 2 through infinity.

Best Lyric: “This ain’t better than sittin’ alone. Now I know.”

D. Green - Gravitational Pull

Gravitational Pull - D. Green (R&B) It’s back to classic 90s R&B with New York City born and LA-based recording artist D. Green’s latest track, “Gravitational Pull”, a perfect fusion of funk and soul. From the slippery synth lead to the funky bass line and ear candy guitar, the track beckons back to the days of TLC, Blackstreet and Next with a great two-stepper of a track that would’ve been on regular rotation on VH1 Soul back in the day. D. Green’s slick baritone crooning has a gravitational pull of its own, as it seduces the listener on this plush pillowtalk single. We welcome the recent return of the genre to the mainstream and look forward to more silky bedroom jams from D. Green.

Best Lyric: “Wherever you are is bound to be a good time.”

Marcia - Me and You

Me and You - Marcia (R&B)  R&B siren Marcia returns to the blog following previous single “Insecurity” with an ode to a toxic, on again off again relationship in “Me and You.” Similar to the prior record, we get a crossover R&B jam chock full of delightful earcandy—from the oscillating airy synth in the background to the beautiful harmony layers to the tried and true telephone EQ FX on punches. Marcia slips into her upper register here on a track that stylistically feels like a post 2010 Mariah Carey number. And while we aren’t getting the whistle tones, Marcia dances easily over the track with subtle vocal runs. For all of you chill vibes, lo-fi R&B lovers, “Me and You” is for you.

Best Lyric: “I look for you in other guys like when we were together.”

Edie Yvonne - Girl Code

Girl Code - Edie Yvonne (Pop)  Edie Yvonne delivers a rousing and anthemic cut with latest single “Girl Code”, a collaboration with Maddy Simmen and producer Rio Root. Edie, a recent high schooler, tells us the song is a “response to changing relationships, challenging friendships and the drama of the fragile stage of becoming a teenager”—certainly relatable. With a Smashing Pumpkins-like alt rock guitar driving the track, Edie’s hyper-modern pop vocal laments these themes with a maturity that defies her young age. Her deliver is excellent, chewing thoughtful lyrics as she slides gracefully all over the beat. On her previous track “Queen Bee”, Edie delivered an electric funky summer roadtrip anthem, which makes this track quite a left turn. We stan a versatile queen.

Best Lyric: “Fighting in the dark I don’t know who you are.”

Looney Mack - Pouring up Like Ireland

Pouring up Like Ireland - Looney Mack (Hiphop)  Well, there’s an element of truth in every stereotype, and with “Pouring up Like Ireland,” Looney Mack and guests Hossay Cabbage, Paris, Khalil Mack and Mad Mack bring out their inner Irishmen to live it up on this straight up party track.  The record is a mellow mid tempo—a feel good house party jam—that has an R&B sensibility to the instrumental.  We get a 90s slippery bass lead reminiscent of older TLC productions with the classic 80s cowbell hit to imbue the track with some pleasant retro.  Layered on top are, of course, a sampler of guest artists who all bring a unique flow while gelling together as a cohesive whole for the track, easily handing off the baton between each other. In the end, it sounds like a DJ Khalid production.  We were almost expecting to hear “another one!” 

Best Lyric: “We go all night, then it’s bye bitch.”

Jay Roecker - Thicker Than Blood

Thicker Than Blood - Jay Roecker (Pop) Jay Roecker is back for the fifth time on our blog and had us get our lighters out with his latest pop anthem, “Thicker Than Blood”.  Rousing and anthemic, Jay’s latest single reminisces on a past love, remembering the good and bad, but ultimately wishing to rekindle now realizing what he had.  The entire track is awash with retro feels, at first giving us a vibe similar to Savage Garden’s “” of the 90s, but with some splashy 80s synths in the mix as well.  The vocal production is stellar, with Jay giving an emotive performance while some octave distorted backgrounds give some fun color and ear candy.

Best Lyric:  “I never knew what I had.”

Hurricane Sam - LEK

LEK - Hurricane Sam (R&B/Pop)  Hurricane Sam let’s everyone know in retro crossover R&B jam, “LEK” with a UK garage instrumental by Def Starz.  From the artist, the song is “inspired by raucous nights out in London's Shoreditch, Islington and Camden…chart[ing] an attempt to round up a group of completely mad friends for a successful late night out on the town.” In their call to party, Hurrican Sam delivers a punchy tenor lead supported by some classic R&B harmony backgrounds, reminding us of some Craig David jams of yesteryear.  Cutting through the silky flow of the vocals is a poppy and plucky percussion arrangement, with a crisp kick setting the groovy mid tempo.  Equal parts funky and dancey, Hurricane Sam’s “LEK” is feel good music—and you may just want to join them at the club.

Moon and Aries - A Love Revival

A Love Revival - Moon and Aries (R&B) Moon and Aries are back for a third time on the blog to light some candles and ignite a roaring fire in latest single “A Love Revival.”  The group continues to show versatility following the jazzy “traffic” and dreamy “Blurred Vision” by going full throttle into bedroom music. The track screams 90s R&B, a smooth and sparkling R&B cut that evokes the early work of Toni Braxton and LaFace productions.  A poppy percussion overlays shimmering keys and a sultry sax, while honey dripped vocals bolstered by warm harmony punches seduce.  In sum, “A Love Revival” will get you hot—this is quiet storm radio at its finest.

The Feels - I'm Not That Guy

I’m Not That Guy - The Feels (Funk)  The Feels—a Long Island, New York based duo currently uplifting souls and generating electrifying buzz with their funky pop—are certainly setting a vibe with funky new record. In “I’m Not That Guy”, the duo lets future lovers know that if it’s not kismet, they are moving right along.  It’s a retro affair with this one, a funk infused and disco sprinkled groove that serves as a real two stepper.  Ear candy abound in this single, with the plucky panned guitars and sparkling synths and keys.  Vocally, the leads remind us of early George Michael with the layered choruses and backgrounds taking it into BeeGees territory.  This one will certainly spin you on the dance floor.

Best Lyric:  “I’m not the one to go and waste all your time.”

Jessenation - Fire Party

Fire Party - Jessenation (Afrobeat) Afrobeat goodness is abound in Jessenation’s latest jam, “Fire Party.” The artist tells us that the track is quintessential Afrobeat, “infusing pulsating beats, electrifying synths, and Jessenation's signature charismatic vocals into an inferno of sonic brilliance.” We agree with that “Fire Party” is sonic brilliance, with a groovy guitar lick complimenting a molten lava baseline, the vibe is set while some Akon-reminsicent vocals carry a straight up party song.  The instrumental is quite hypnotic and intoxicating, conjuring the image of a hazy summer evening at a beach dance party.  All in all, “Fire Party” is just that, and a real hip winder.

Super Saiyan Jay - Staying In

Staying In - Super Saiyan Jay (Rap)  Super Saiyan Jay just wants to lay on the couch in his latest track, and ode to introverts, “Staying In.”  Jay tells us that the track is about “finding a need to escape into your own reality and being at peace with that.” There’s some introspection here, with a touch of melancholy about having no desire to venture out into the world.  The tale is told over a retro hiphop instrumental with percussion that punches through the mix, while a soft organ synth paints a chill atmosphere in the background.  It’s a vibey track for sure, giving rainy day overcast feels that might make you want to stay in as well.

Best Lyric:  “Vibin to my songs, peace inside my home.”

Mara Liddle - Be Alone

Be Alone - Mara Liddle (Pop) Mara Liddle is back for the fourth time this year with “Be Alone”, a breakbeat led avant-garde dance number that reminds us a lot of 90s alternative pop. We are again treated to Mara’s intimate vocal performance, this time cutting through some swirling synth keys that cast a dizzying spell on the listener, making you feel like Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole. What always impresses us with Mara is the way she’s able to take something that should be a straight down the middle bubblegum pop number and add an element of danger and tension, twisting it every so slightly to imbue a bit of beautiful strangeness. We could hear this one on an early Kelis album.

Best Lyric: “The proof is right there in the way that you avoid my gaze.”

Kelsie Kimberlin - Turn Back

Turn Back - Kelsie Kimberlin (Indie Pop) Kelsie Kimberlin paints a lush portrait with latest track “Turn Back.” this is the third in a trilogy of songs from the artist, with accompanying videos meant to draw attention to the unjustness of the war in Ukraine. “Turn Back” is a siren song sung from home, coaxing wandering souls to return to the safety from which they came. Kelsie delivers that message through a vocal wall of intricate harmony layers that are truly heavenly. Accompanied by a haunting piano line, Kelsie crafts an epic ballad that lingers in the air like smoke.

Best Lyric: “There is nothing out there for you, you’ve got everything here.”

Carson Aday - Fade Away

Fade Away - Carson Aday (Rock Pop) We feel love slipping through Carson Aday’s latest single “Fade Away”, a heartbreaking and heartstring pulling alternative rock bop with some 90s chart-topper vibes. The melancholy is palpable on “Fade Away”, carried through the track with a lilting guitar line and haunting background vocal chant. Layered on top are Carson’s honey vocals, close and intimate, giving an emotive and vulnerable performance that really gets you right in the chest. The record is beautifully sad, the kind of song that gives you that tingly sensation when listening.

Best Lyric: “Don’t even let me start, don’t let me fall apart.“

DPB - Undefeated 3.0 (Radio Edit)

Undefeated 3.0 (Radio Edit) - DPB (Pop) With “Undefeated 3.0”, DPB serves an anthemic pop record and love letter to his own resilience. It’s a simple, yet filling, arrangement, centered on a wide 808 and punchy toms and kicks, backed by some twinkling keys and amped up with some guitars in the chorus. It reminds us a lot of R&B crossover records of the ‘10s—the height of acts like Neyo and the return of MJB. But this soundscape just sets the stage for the true star of the track—the lyrics. Delivered with a Rick Ross-esque husky flow on the verses and complemented with a strong chorus vocal, the song is a pep talk set to music. Gratitude, positivity and resilience are served for anyone needing to be reminded of their own power and potential.

Best Lyric: “I am the champion of this fight.”