Weekly Release Spotlight
That one perfect album that we (and you) almost missed.
"Feeling Lucky?" by Nilüfer Yanya
On her latest luck-themed EP “Feeling Lucky?” Nilüfer Yanya thinks about luck, good and bad, and the control, or lack thereof, we have over it through her trio of alt-pop anthems. “Feeling Lucky?” is the London-based artist’s follow up to her critically acclaimed 2019 debut album “Miss Universe.” Synth elements on Nilüfer Yanya's EP keep it from being too bubblegum pop and instead when paired with her other twinkling angelic sound elements creates a mature energy that’s just as invigorating as any pop song but with a depth and artistry, only Nilüfer Yanya can bring.
By Emma Checkroun
"Prepare the Body" by An Only Child
On his debut album “Prepare the Body,” An Only Child combines soft vocals and instrumentation ranging from orchestral, to more jazz-inspired, with electronic R&B creating an emotive and evocative listener experience. The twenty-nine year old, who is also trained as a modern dancer, considers identity and love, particularly self-love and queer love, on this debut. His New Orleans background is potentially to blame for the album’s incorporation of saxophone and various jazz motifs, a staple genre of the region. An Only Child sounds like a cross between Moses Sumney, with his authentic and gentle voice, and Prince, with his instrumentation choices and incorporation of electronic R&B, but is a force all his own.
By Emma Chekroun
"Welcome to the Prom" by Wilson’s Prom
“Welcome to the Prom” from Melbourne pair Merpire and Feels, is a teenage dreamscape that finds itself in a state of “hopeful hopelessness.” The expansiveness of the album is in direct contrast to the isolation “Welcome to the Prom” was created during, as the EP was completely co-written, produced and mixed during isolation. Wilson’s Prom’s EP imagines a world with less limits and more dream-like. Musically the EP mimics the ever-changing personas of teen years, supplementing in different genres and decades for inspiration. In a time that feels just as unpredictable and anxiety provoking as high school, “Welcome to the Prom” is perfect company.
By Emma Chekroun
"ALIAS EP" by Shygirl
If you’re not familiar with this multidisciplinary London artist you should be. Shygirl is an expert in combining industrial club music, glitch pop and rap. Throughout this album Shygirl pays nods to the fantastical and the fictional in sci-fi sound elements and more whimsical song timbres. Even the cover of the EP appears to be an allusion to the character Cassandra from the Dr Who series. This brief seven-track EP packs a charming punch with tracks like “SLIME” produced by SOPHIE, providing cutting contrast with their dextrous club sound. On ALIAS Shygirl establishes what she’s capable of and why we should keep her on our radars.
By Emma Chekroun
"Fly Siifu’s" by Pink Siifu & Fly Anakin
The highly anticipated joint album, “Fly Siifu’s,” from Pink Siifu and Fly Anakin is as dreamy and genre-warping as fans and hip-hop fanatics could hope for. The MCs’ mixture of soulful, psychedelic and whimsical sampled beats, from artists such as Madlib and Budgie, really help redefine the sonic boundaries of hip hop. In a press release for the album Pink Siifu said being able to release the album in this moment felt like finding the beauty in chaos, and that’s exactly what the album sounds like. “Fly Siifu’s” hazy beats mixed with biting lyrics and vocals, is an engaging balance of hard and soft. At a moment where peace and community feel hard to find, the pair experately craft both on this Lofi album complete with a number of guests and producers from their own music community.
By Emma Chekroun
"Covers" by Marika Hackman
Like many artists during Covid Marika Hackman felt inspired to create new music. But rather than battle with writer’s block she chose to put out an album of covers. Simply titled “Covers,” Marika Hackman’s fourth album is an eclectic mixture of covers set to Hackman’s intimate atmospheric sound. She covers a range of artists on this from Grimes to Beyonce. With each song reimagined as thoughtfully dark pop songs. “Covers” follows Hackman’s 2019 release “Any Human Friends” but in press releases for the album says this sound is more akin to her debut “We Slept At Last.” While it’s not her original songs, Hackman still imbues each song with her own personality and introspection, making this a worthwhile listen.
By Emma Chekroun