Charles Edison - June in February

June in February - Charles Edison (Rap) For our album review this week, we welcome Charles Edison to our blog with his 8-track project “June in February.” The project drips with lofi nostalgia, with lengthy pre-percussion intros and sped up retro samples that give the album a definitive personality and style. At the same time, this blend of retro and modern ends up making a collection of truly timeless tracks, also characterized by thoughtful and clever lyrics and a good dose of heart. But before we dive into the album, let’s talk a little about our artist.

Producer and rapper Charles Edison hails from South London, creating work that is intricately layered, creating immersive beats to pair with his raw and honest vocals. His work has drawn comparisons to Beardyman, Akala, Mike Skinner and Loyle Carner, while his instrumental production pulls inspiration from J-Dilla, Tom Misch, Jon Phonics and No ID. Pre-dating his latest project was “Vista Point”, a 14-track instrumental album that took inspiration from a roadtrip Charles took with his father on America’s west coast.

When it comes to “June in February”, Charles focuses on themes of self-discovery and contentment, and specifically draws inspiration from Common’s “Be” album with a nod to Marco Polo’s production style. Charles brings his conversational vocal delivery to his storytelling, focusing on introspection, with themes of addiction, remorse, gratitude and optimism.

“No More” kicks off the project with coffee shop rainy day lofi vibes that will serve as the backbone of the project before the hiphop percussion kicks in. A female vocal sample loops in the back to bring texture as Charles’ vocals are front and center, reminding us a bit of old Kanye joints. “Let Me Down” continues the mid-2000s retro sample underlay vibe. The track is lush with a drum kit from yesteryear bringing a good dose of nostalgia.

“No Love Lost” introduces a dose of melancholy, the instrumental feels emotionally heavier than the prior tracks, providing extra context to the theme of the record—not caring about those that aren’t into his art. “Shining on Me” almost feels like its sampling a Luther Vandross track, as the clouds part from the prior number for a sunnier affair.

“Any Time” gives us our first instrumental track, a plush retro lofi groove that pulls the listener in, almost like an intermission—a hand off to the back half of the project. “London” glistens, incorporating more sung vocals than the prior numbers, punctuated by horn stabs, with a flow that again reminds us a lot of College Dropout era Kanye.

“Florence” lays on top of a motown style sped up sample loop, as Charles dives into some dark lyrical territory—his regret over leaving his grandmother alone towards the end of her life, an illness, in order to push away his own feelings on the impending loss. It’s the most personal track of the project and certainly our favorite—a real standout. Finally, we say goodbye to the project with closing track “Say Goodbye”, which again sits on a motown style sample, and serves as a summation of Charles’ musical journey and his artistic expression.

With a fuzzy analog sensibility and emotional catharsis, “June in February” is a must listen.

TRACK LIST
No More
Let Me Down
No Love Lost
Shining on Me
Any Time
London
Florence
Say Goodbye

Boy Maj - PREMIUM VIBES Vol. 1

PREMIUM VIBES Vol. 1 - Boy Maj (Pop/R&B) For our EP review of the week, we welcome Boy Maj to our blog with his debut album, “PREMIUM VIBES Vol. 1”. This 10 track EP is giving us a non-skip project full of vibey midtempo jams. But before we dive into the project, and our favorite tracks, let’s talk a little bit about our artist.

Producer and singer-songwriter Boy Maj is a genre-bending artist hailing from Chicago, IL. His music is a fusion of sensual R&B and pop with a dose of 90s nostalgia. Growing up on pop, disco, rock and showtunes, Boy Maj seeks to blend his influences into his music, providing tracks that at the same time add to the soundtrack of people’s lives. Notably, track “FOR LIFE” is featured on Love is Blind Season 8.

The album kicks off with “POOLSIDE”, a summertime midtempo about basking in love. There’s a Bruno Mars quality to this track, and with a punchy kick, deep bass and splashy synths, the record is certainly a party anthem. We also get a remix of “POOLSIDE” at the end of the EP. “STRAWBERRY” moves us into a Neptunes style track, a minimalist instrumental production with Boy Maj dueting with himself through sung and rap vocals. It’s another breezy track meant for sun drenched outdoor dance floors.

“COOLIN’” slows us down a bit into a more lowkey chill vibe. With a verbed flute and organ stabs, this is our most retro track so far in the collection. “MISS LEAD” reminds us a lot of J. Cole’s “Workout” in the instrument selection and production, with Boy Maj singing about the threat of temptation at the club. “SPICY GIRL” begins with some spoken word and disco inspired instrumentation which gave us a bit of Michael Jackson vibes, pulling us back into the 80s with it’s funky feels.

“SUGAR” pulls Boy Maj’s vocals out of his trusted reverb for a close and intimate performance, giving a seductive ear worm. It’s the sexiest of all the tracks and ready for your bedroom jam playlist. “LIL MAMA” brings us out of the nostalgia for a very modern sounding record. Boy Maj’s vocals particularly shine on this one, and he gives us a track that very much feels like a former boy bander going solo. Of all the songs on the project, this one is the Top 40 charter.

As the collection comes to a close, we move to “BEFORE (I GET TO MEET YOU)” which brings us into a somber ballad, the first on the album so far. While the rest of the album is very focused on saucy party vibes, this one shows Boy Maj’s heart. Finally, we get “FOR LIFE” closing the album (before the “POOLSIDE” remix) which continues the earnestness of the prior track, and is definitely our pick for second single. We aren’t surprised this record ended up on a streaming placement. This song is one of those sing along in the shower records.

“PREMIUM VIBES Vol. 1” is no false advertising, and the album title says it all. Just in time for summer, every track on this no skip EP is playlist worthy one. Get into it.

Zeke Tha Freak - Better With You

Better With You - Zeke Tha Freak (Pop) We welcome trap-soul artist Zeke Tha Freak to the blog this week with latest track “Better With You.” Zeke’s got us in our retro vibes with this one, harkening back to the R&B/Hip Hop crossover tracks of the early 00s, drawing inspiration from the likes of Mac Miller, Anderson Paak and Childish Gambino. We, however, get real early Kanye and Twista productions from this one, with a slippery 808 sliding over a mellow R&B backing with some delightfully analog horn hits. We get a featured female vocalist for the chorus, while Zeke spits his rhymes about love and companionship. It’s an expertly mixed track with a real knock for the car—a great groove.

Best Lyric:  “Slow walk to the back of the bar.”

KATAVIA - RUN

RUN - KATAVIA (Pop) KATAVIA joins us this week with the official host city anthem of Geneva for the Women’s EURO 2025, specifically honoring female football pioneers like Megan Rapinoe, Patricia Panico and Linda Sembrant. KATAVIA is an electro-pop artist focusing on immersive sounds and rich emotions, pulling inspiration from the defining events of her life. The track is led by a driving bass line and punchy kick, showing great instrument separation in a supremely polished mix. The song contains some great build, the track sitting for us in the Sia universe. It’s a fight song with heart, and certainly perfect for a sports theme.

Best Lyric:  “Ready for the fight, we won’t be blinded by the sight.”

Nylessira - Little Lies

Little Lies - Nylessira (Pop) This week we’re joined by Nylessira with her latest track “Little Lies”. Teed up to be a club anthem, Nylessira’s soft and sultry vocals layer over a pumping pop dance track with dreamy synths that give a retro sensibility to the record. She tells the tale of being deceived in love, and red flags accumulating one by one until she realizes what’s going on. The production on the track is stellar, with the instrumental ebbing and flowing, giving peaks and valleys to keep the listener interested and engaged throughout the song. This one is a certified dance floor spinner that we can clearly envision blaring at sunny outdoor tea dances.

Best Lyric: “Red flags in your messages, I folded them like clothes.”

Ben Munro - Pretend (Remix)

Pretend (Remix) - Ben Munro (Pop) Ben Munro makes his debut on our blog with “Pretend (Remix)”, a lush and sweet record about a surprising meet cute. Opening with a wistful guitar, the crisp percussion quickly enters with sweeping strings to paint a lush sonic landscape. Once our tender male vocal joins the production, we hear his near disbelief that a girl he had a crush on ended up having feelings in return. The vulnerability is palpable on the track as Ben opens his heart both to a new love and to the audience. In sum, it’s a beautiful track about being hopelessly smitten.

Best Lyric:  “Now there’s someone for me. Now I’m not so lonely.”

Qymira - Melodrama

Melodrama - Qymira (R&B) This week we’re joined by Qymira with her latest track “Melodrama”. A slamming track chock full of ear candy, “Melodrama” is led by its booming bass and feels heavily influenced by retro R&B crossover. The vocals are a combination of spoken word and sung vocals, with the former taking the form of a raspy, seductive delivery that slinks through the track. There’s a danger to the record, it feels very “claws out”, as Qymira brings a theatrical intensity, well suited for a song about the manipulative pull of a lover’s personal drama. Also, don’t miss the slickly produced music video that accompanies the track.

Best Lyric: “Acts of a magician, master of illusion.”