With all the craziness on the news as of late, music proves to be the second best remedy (laughter is always first) to alleviate the pain that day to day living brings. As the sun finally makes its presence known, we take a look at some of the best music that has dropped this week. You’ve guessed it – it’s time for yet another 5 For Friday and boy do we have some treats for you this week.
Lily Rayne – How Could You
Present-day R&B can be likened to a wave that is part-influenced by the popularity of the genre in the 90’s and early noughties. The ebbs and flows of this have not been lost on Rhode Island native Lily Rayne, who oversees a smooth tide in the form of her latest cut ‘How Could You’. The burgeoning songstress laments over disappointment in a lover that switched up on her over a minimalistic, yet dreamy soundscape provided by co-producers SuperSmashBroz and RLouie.
Filmed in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the night time shots in the video add to the atmospheric feel of the moody cut. Her tomboy aesthetic is not lost on us, with shades of Aaliyah and Left Eye’s iconic styles in her own. Expect more to come from this hidden gem this year.
KAYTRANADA – 10% (feat. Kali Uchis)
There’s something to be said about the old archetype of producers being withdrawn geniuses, yet despite being shy and soft spoken, producer-slash-DJ KAYTRANADA gives so much of himself with his music. His ability to evoke rhythm and feeling is littered all over his sophomore effort ‘BUBBA’; especially on its lead single “10%”. His signature style is once again paired with the charms of Virginia songstress Kali Uchis as she denounces someone’s profiteering of her.
The video gives off 70’s disco feel with an Afrofuturism twist as the synth heavy sounds take effect on the party going crowd. KAYTRA is perfectly casted as the DJ in the visuals, giving Kali the platform to vent her frustrations, wielding stacks of cash in the process. “10%” leads with percussion and has this particular writer wondering when the European tour will be.
King Krule – Alone, Omen 3
The multitalented South London musician is gearing up to release ‘Man Alive!’ – his fourth studio album and has dropped a pair of singles ahead of the release due on 21 February. One of them being the ominously titled ‘Alone, Omen 3’, a deeply melancholy yet optimistic offering that gives hope to the isolated.
Directed by his close friend Jocelyn Anquetil, the video captures Krule with his friends and has clever shots of him being deserted by strangers “deep in the metropole”. His second single’s emotive feel is helped by Krule’s transcendence of genres such as punk, indie-rock and trip hop. Expect to hear more of the same on the 21st.
Brent Faiyaz – Been Away
Part-time lothario, part-time crooner Brent Faiyaz has announced his return to the game with the release of his sophomore LP ‘Fuck The World’, a brief yet timely reminder of what the Columbia, Maryland native brings to the current class of R&B. The third track on the album ‘Been Away’ is a mid-tempo cut that pleads to his lady’s fair side as he acknowledges his absence due to the pursuit of financial gain. Over a bed of stuttering kick drums and alluring guitar strings, Brent’s signature croons are akin to a honey and lemon brew on a cold Feburary afternoon.
Produced by a small contingent of producers – Los Hendrix, Sam Wish, Nascent, Jake One and fellow Sonder brethren Dpat – it is hard not to think Timbaland in his pomp when Ginuwine, Missy Elliott and Aaliyah practically lived on the airwaves. As Brent glides over the instrumental, he wilfully repurposes the sound to suit his late night feels. The brief vignette captures Brent’s thought process through the song with a striking accuracy.
Meek Mill – Believe (feat. Justin Timberlake)
Since having his probation deemed served in a new court case, Meek Mill has had a new lease on life and an imbued will to uplift and motivate through his actions and his music. The Rob Knox produced “Believe”, marking his first ever collaboration with Justin Timberlake, is a prime example of this as Meek taps into a more spiritual, prophetic tone of voice. The end result is very telling as we feel the weight of this anthemic-feeling single.
Directed by Maxime Quoilin, the accompanying video does a great job of capturing the hardship that affects the average American citizen from family troubles, to imprisonment and isolation in an oppressive system. Meek’s message is clear in that the body can be broken but the soul of man cannot be locked down.
