Bringing you a pick of the month’s best releases, Maria Hanlon presents 10 tunes that hit her decks – and got a reload – in August. Starring Donae’O, Omar, Lemar, The House Gospel Choir, JD. REID, George Riley, Kofi Stone, Meron T, Sam Wise, IZCO, Yazmin Lacey, Lord Apex, nikhil, Solaariss, Amie Blu, Lava La Rue, Lila Iké & Maverick Sabre…
Donae’O, Omar, Lemar, The House Gospel Choir
Nights Like This
Zephron Records
For fans of… Cody Currie, Shaun Escoffery, Wilfy D, Flames Collective
Why listen… ‘Nights Like This’ features the legendary link up we never saw coming – but absolutely needed!
Donae’O brings together UK legends Omar and Lemar alongside the powerful sounds of The House Gospel Choir for ‘Nights Like This’. The track feels instantly iconic, blending soulful vocals with uplifting production. It captures the spirit of soulful house music while honouring R&B and gospel roots. Each voice adds its own unique element – Omar’s timeless soul, Lemar’s smooth delivery, and the choir’s electrifying energy – creating a rich, layered sound. It’s a celebration of collaboration, nightlife, and the timeless joy of music made to move hearts and dancefloors alike.
JD. REID, George Riley
Outside
BABY GRAVY
For fans of… Fredwave, Brighter Days Family, KAM-BU
Why listen… This song will literally make you want to move and go ‘Outside’.
‘Outside’ pairs visionary producer JD. REID with the hypnotic voice of George Riley, resulting in a track that feels both experimental and soulful. The production is sleek and atmospheric, layering intricate beats with warm textures. Riley’s vocals glide effortlessly over the rhythm, blurring the lines between electronic, R&B, and future soul. The track dropped on JD. REID’s label, BABY GRAVY, speaking about the track on Instagram he says ‘another one made to be played loud and outside’.
Kofi Stone
Heartlands
Tru Community
For fans of… Barney Artist, The Silhouettes Project, Nix Northwest
Why listen… Kofi Stone makes his return with the poignant and powerful new single, ‘Heartlands’.
Birmingham-based Kofi Stone marks the beginning of a bold new era with the release of two powerful singles, ‘Heartlands’ and ‘Thorns’ featuring Jacob Banks. Speaking about the Heartlands Kofi says, “I wrote this song two weeks after getting out of hospital. I vowed to myself, once I came out, that I would live life to the fullest. I wanted to capture how I felt when I was bed bound, and how – even though I felt pretty helpless – I knew I still had a responsibility to stay alive to fulfill my purpose.” Make sure to check out the amazing music video!
Meron T, Sam Wise, IZCO
fiyah!
Meron T/ Ditto Music
For fans of… Safiyyah, Larizzle, IYAMAH
Why listen… Meron T collaborates with Sam Wise and IZCO on the captivating new release ‘fiyah!’
Meron T is back with ‘fiyah!’, a passionate late-night anthem about desire, danger, and vulnerability. Joined by South London rapper Sam Wise and Brighter Days producer IZCO, the track embodies the push and pull of passion, where attraction feels as destructive as it is irresistible. Meron T says on Instagram, “a true favourite of mine, this one’s a toast to the end of summer (and maybe those summer flings).” The release marks the third and final single ahead of her upcoming ‘Palindrome EP’ which will be out on 19th September.
Yazmin Lacey
Teal Dreams
AMF Records
For fans of… Cleo Sol, Ego Ella May, Adi Oasis
Why listen… Yazmin Lacey is back with her soulful signature sound in ‘Teal Dreams’.
Following the huge success of her debut album, Voice Notes, Yazmin continues to shine with her second album, Teal Dreams. In her new album, she builds on her distinctive sound blending soul, ska, lover’s rock and indie into a vivid, emotionally sharp record shaped by real life, late-night reflections, and a last-minute trip to Thailand. Collaborating with some of the best in the business Miles James (Lotus), Barney Lister, Matt Maltese and more, Yazmin has expanded and elevated her sound on this album. Yazmin says on Instagram, “This album is full of the stuff I didn’t always have the words for.”
Lord Apex
Initial P
Lord Apex
For fans of… Eerf Evil, Finn Foxell, Bawo
Why listen… Lord Apex makes a powerful return with his brand new single ‘Initial P’.
Lord Apex has just shared his brand new single, ‘Initial P‘, the first glimpse of the final chapter of his beloved ‘Smoke Sessions‘ series. For this one he teams up producer Neo Sū, creating a dream-like soundscape with his trademark blend of razor-sharp lyricism, fluid flow, and witty wordplay. ‘Initial P‘ marks the beginning of what promises to be an unforgettable chapter of the ‘Smoke Sessions’ legacy. Make sure to check out the music video – it’s not one to miss.
nikhil, Solaariss
generational
nikhil
For fans of… Steve Lacy, The Internet, KeepVibesNear
Why listen… Two of London’s most exciting talents team up for ‘Generational’.
‘Generational’ came out at the end of August and is a vibrant collaboration featuring Nikhil and Solaariss, both of whom wrote, produced, and performed the track together. This song marks a new era brimming with modern beats and soulful lyricism, it speaks to youthful unity and the passing of cultural identity across generations. With its fresh, unique and energetic sound, ‘Generational’ stands as an invigorating anthem for a forward-thinking generation. The music is brilliant and combines their favourite childhood TV shows, so check it out.
Amie Blu
bite
0207 Records / Polydor Label Group
For fans of… Celeste, Biig Piig, Humble the Great
Why listen… Amie Blu is back, blessing us with the beautiful ‘Bite’.
Amie Blu recently released ‘bite’ along with the news that her debut album, when all is said and done, comes out September 26th. The track skillfully blends soul, country, and a loose, live-band energy, delivering a quietly powerful piece on self-restraint and emotional openness. Speaking about the track on Instagram, Amie says: “sometimes i feel like a broken record because im always going on about how sad i am lol but if it’s tiring to read, imagine how tiring it is to liveee through. This album is about that exhausting weight, but ironically I’ve also found so much happiness and hope through writing it.”
Lava La Rue
easy come, easy go
BMG Rights Management
For fans of… Biig Piig, Sans Soucis, Tora-i
Why listen… ‘easy come, easy go’ delivers the bittersweet indie pop rush you never knew you were craving.
Lava La Rue has teamed up with Fraser T Smith to conjure up the beautiful and breezy ‘easy come, easy go’. The lyrics tap into the anxiety surrounding the growth of AI, and the dissonance between online and offline intimacy. Lava La Rue says, “Even simple milestones like heartbreak or a gap year feel warped,” they explain, “like not being able to tell if your crush sent you a text ghostwritten by ChatGPT.”
Lila Iké , Maverick Sabre
All That and More
Lila Iké / Wurl Ike Records & In.Digg.Nation Collective
For fans of… Skip Marley, Chronixx, Original Koffee
Why listen… Lila Iké links up with Maverick Sabre on the stunning ‘All That and More’.
Jamaican reggae star Lila Iké joins forces with British-Irish singer-songwriter Maverick Sabre on ‘All That and More’, a stand-out track from her latest project, Treasure Self Love, which came out August 22nd. The collaboration works perfectly blending Lila’s vibrant reggae roots with Sabre’s soulful tone, resulting in a rhythm-rich, genre-fusing sound. The track surrounds the themes of love, resilience, and ambition which is sure to resonate deeply with audiences worldwide.
Words: Maria Hanlon @mariahanlon Listen to The Voices Breakfast Show with Maria Hanlon every Friday 9-11am on voicesradio.co.uk.
