Bringing you a pick of the month’s best releases, Maria Hanlon presents five tunes that have hit her decks – and got a reload – in June. Starring Melle Brown, Demae, Yiigaa & Karen Nyame KG, Saïna & Kwoli Black…
Melle Brown
All The Mels
UTOPIA
For fans of… Kerri Chandler, TSHA, Disclosure
Why listen… This vibrant, soulful house bop has arrived just in time for summer!
‘All The Mels’ is Melle Brown’s first release of 2024 and it dropped on Jaguar’s label UTOPIA. The track showcases Melle’s production skills with its infectious beat and epic bass-line. Speaking about the track Melle says, “This track is an evolution of my sound and artistry, largely inspired by infectious dance floor moments I’ve witnessed, and stories I’ve heard of 90’s club culture from family & friends.” As well as being a wicked producer Melle is also an incredible DJ and is booked & busy this summer, probably spinning ‘All The Mels’ in her sets!
Demae
Go Ur Own Way
FAMM
For fans of… Cleo Sol, Ego Ella May, Yazmin Lacey
Why listen… Demae draws you in from the get-go with the stunning sounds of ‘Go Ur Own Way’.
North West London’s Demae, returns with her soulful new single about self-discovery, ‘Go Ur Own Way’. The track showcases Demae’s unique blend of lyricism and melody and marks another significant step in her musical journey. Speaking about her latest release, Demae says, “‘Go Ur Own Way’ was birthed from a freestyle and became my mantra. It’s kind of self-explanatory. It’s a reminder to be who you are unapologetically. You are your own person, unique, 1 of 1, so make your own path. Don’t worry about what others are doing.”
Yiigaa & Karen Nyame KG
Rewind
Yiigaa
For fans of… Juls, Conducta, Hagan
Why listen… Fusing together Afro-house, Soul and Garage, this track is an absolute vibe!
Yiigaa has joined forces with Karen Nyame KG again to create the fresh and uplifting new track ‘Rewind’. The song is about the whirlwind of emotions when getting to know a new love, wanting to rewind those beautiful moments you share together over and over. For Karen Nyame KG, this follows her RED EP last year which went down an absolute treat gaining loads of support. This is the first in a run of singles from Yiigaa, so expect to hear more from her this Summer!
Saïna
On My Side
N/A
For fans of… Jorja Smith, Greentea Peng, Mahalia
Why listen… The unique production combined with Saina’s impressive voice makes this a stand out release you need to know about!
‘On My Side’ is the second single to drop from Saïna’s upcoming EP. The track was produced by Amsterdam-based producer Patchwork who nails the moody R&B vibe that works perfectly with Saïna’s stunning vocals. The lyrics surround the theme of betrayal and see Saïna wondering what could have brought her to this point, being betrayed by the very person who was supposed to be ‘on her side’. Saïna is definitely an artist to keep an eye on with hopefully more music coming soon!
Kwoli Black
Not Your Man
TLD Records
For fans of… Kojey Radical, Loyle Carner, J. Cole
Why listen… This catchy new tune from Kwoli Black will be stuck in your head all summer!
Rising Hip-hop star Kwoli Black has dropped the first single from his forthcoming mixtape, ‘Not Your Man’. Kwoli opens up about commitment issues throughout the track with his tongue in cheek lyrics. Production-wise Kwoli teamed up with long term collaborator JSTRNGS, who creates the perfect beat for this track. The tune follows his EP ‘Can I Speak?’ released back in March & Kwoli is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Make sure to check out the music video too!
Words: Maria Hanlon @mariahanlon Listen to The Voices Breakfast Show with Maria Hanlon on the 1st & 3rd Friday of the month 9-11am on voicesradio.co.uk.
