Dive into our music discovery of the week from amazing acts who are creating and delivering hot music. With so much good music steadily coming through, it’s easy to miss some of the best. To help prevent this, we’ve rounded up the best, “discovery of the week”. Here are the songs you can’t afford to skip, in no particular order.
Featuring: Cautious Clay, Caiine, Jhyve, FPA, Mari, Jon Vinyl, Andrés, MoJo Free, Paradame, N8N & Aaron Taos
Cautious Clay – Blood Type
Cautious Clay’s highly anticipated EP, Blood Type , will be out next week on Wed Feb 21! This rising artist has won us over with songs such as “Cold War,” “Joshua Tree,” and most recently “Juliet & Caesar.” Those songs, along with three unreleased tracks, will comprise, Blood Type, CC’s debut EP.
Blood Type is a musical masterpiece that hones in on Cautious Clay’s incredible writing, vocal, and production skills. This EP is an epic journey from start to end that embodies the sound Cautious Clay has developed as his own. Each track builds on the next, showcasing this multifaceted artist.
Possibly our favorite track off the EP is the eponymously titled ” Blood Type ” which starts off with a minimalistic soundscape that takes flight when it reaches its hook. Incredibly powerful and packed with explosive percussion, “Blood Type” is a sonic treasure; result of innovative production and classic songwriting.
Caiine – Fools Weep
Young independent powerhouse vocal muse whose latest single Fools Weep drops on 16th Feb 2018. Recently featured on BBC Introducing.
At just 19 years old, Caiine is a singer songwriter with a maturity that belies her age. Her early years were spent in a haunted house in South East London where she grew up with phantoms. After her family relocated to the small salt mining town of Northwich, Cheshire, she developed her unique vocals and writing throughout her teenage years. Her emotive contralto voice evokes Nina Simone, Tracy Chapman, Billy Holiday, yet her delivery is modern and inventive. Caiine explores genres from Soul to R&B and Pop.
Jhyve – Keep Doing You
Fresh off a Juno award nomination for Best R&B/Soul Recording, Jhyve continues to build momentum with the stunning “Keep Doing You”.
With sparse, timeless production by Chicago-based Restless Modern, Keep Doing You is a song about the least discussed aspects of an ending relationship: Acceptance. The song follows Jhyve through reflecting on old love, and eventually finding himself wishing his ex the best, despite their history.
Even more beautiful than the concept is his falsetto at the end. It has to be heard to be believed.
FPA – Broken Hearted Niggas Club
Produced by buzzing artist Mari , “Broken Hearted Niggas Club” is reminiscent of early 2000s R&B anthems from the likes of Destiny’s Child and Aaliyah. BHNC exhibits FPA’s sultry voice, soft harmonies, and expressive songwriting ability that serves as an ode to black struggle. As she puts it, “A Broken Hearted Nigga is above all a person worthy of respect for their resilience in the face the pain, hopelessness, and rejection; and the ‘Club’ exists because no one should ever have to go through it all alone.”
Before turning towards R&B, and eventually grounding herself in sultry instrumental trap for her upcoming EP, Trap Ballads Vol. 1, she led the Alt-Rock group, Célosia, in which she shared stages with other MPLS locals like Hippo Campus, Allan Kingdom, and the Mcnasty Brass Band.
Mari – Atlas
Just in time for Valentine’s Day “Atlas” is the latest release courtesy of Chicago artist/producer Mari . Initially premiered via a live Sofar Sounds performance, “Atlas” channels acoustic, smooth soulful vibes as Mari takes the listener (and his boo thang) on a metaphorical road trip. Reminiscent of the Soulquarian sound, Mari gives a grateful nod to the Neo-soul R&B.
“For ‘Atlas’ I was feeling very in tune with my soul and it felt natural for me to channel my inner Badu, D’Angelo, and 3 stacks. From the production to the vocal arrangement. This record is about movement, a sensual groove, and I really want people to explore that layer whether it’s within self or with a significant other.”
This past year proved to be another strong year for Mari with a slew of collaborations (Simen Sez, Matt FX, UNO Stereo, etc.), a slot at the A3C Festival in Atlanta, and a spot on Comedy Central’s Broad City for his song, “On Fleek.” As he preps his upcoming album, Mari has kicked off 2018 with the Mari Lit EP , a collaboration with NYC producer Jimmy Lit , and his self-produced single “Seasons Blues.” He was also the subject of a MSG Networks mini-documentary, “Make It Pop w/ Mari.”
Jon Vinyl – Cherry Blossom
Rising Toronto crooner Jon Vinyl returns with yet another soulful new single called “Cherry Blossom.” This is Jon’s third release of his career after debuting on the scene with his hit “Nostalgia” that ended up catching the attention of Ovo Sound Radio and Shawn Mendes. Plug in to “Cherry Blossom” below.
Andrés – Photoshoot
“Photoshoot” is the brainchild of LA-based multi-instrumentalist Andrés Asparicio. Featuring jazzy/progressive guitar parts and atmospheric instrumentals reminiscent of Dance Gavin Dance or Chon, as well as vocals showing influence of Childish Gambino or Frank Ocean, Andrés is here to prove that there are no rules when it comes to bending genres.
Check it out below.
MoJo Free – Daughter
Baton Rouge, Louisiana singer Mojo Free is a breath of fresh air. Making her debut on HW with her new song “Daughter” off her new project “Coloring Book”.
She has a nice fresh sound and has talent at singing and rapping.
Listen below
Paradame – Hurricane
Paradame is back again with her highly anticipated album, Aye! Priori. Not one to follow the commercial pace, she experiments with different sounds and styles that could be described as bass thumping, deeply melodic and other worldly, mixing dark electronica, hip hop and R&B. Aye! Priori perfectly combines spiritual elements displaying Paradame’s journey through self-reflection while showcasing her “you ain’t got ish on me” poignant flows.
N8N – Love Is A Feeling
Belgian outfit rekindle that magical soul sound on their latest jam. This is my second single from my new album, it was recorded in L.A and produced by Andre Harris!
Aaron Taos – Amazing
Not much is known about Aaron, but that the song is about being horny. Watch the Patrick Golan directed visual below…
