Word Around the Sound is… Nobi’s ‘Noir Ninja’ era is in full effect as he releases another new single for the year titled “WAY TOO STRESSED.” For this one, he linked up with James Gerde to produce a lyric video to go along with it and, quite frankly, it’s necessary with the amount of wordplay Nobi managed to squeeze into those quick three minutes. He went Super Saiyan on the track and delivered bar after bar with such force that it turned “Vegeta into a motherfucking vegetable.”
Now, I don’t want to spread the rumor that I can see the future, but I can almost guarantee that you will be able to hear this new track performed live during Nobi’s set at Capitol Hill Block Party this summer. Cop a ticket now before the price goes up!
Nobi – “WAY TOO STRESSED”
Chong the Nomad – “4 Berry”
The latest single from Chong the Nomad, “4 Berry,” has a playfulness to it that wildly contradicts the meaning behind the lyrics, which Chong says she wrote about avoiding therapy. The playfulness can be heard through the eclectic beat that sounds as if she was composing a symphony of gyroids within the Animal Crossing universe.
Once the lyrics really start to seep in the song starts to shift into a ball of muted chaos that utilizes a variety of quirky sounds and percussion to reflect the erratic nature of the body’s response to life’s anxieties, culminating in what sounds like an abstract heartbeat that slows down and gives out by the end of the track.
Anna Therese – “Know U Better”
Anna Therese, the ethereal angel sent from Backwoods Heaven, has released a new single titled “Know U Better” featuring remarkable production from Noah Coinflip. Her endearing vocals tell the story as if you’re sitting in the room with her, the melodies hanging heavily in the air like the lingering smoke from a blunt while the bright instrumental shines its light on everything making the entire track emanate a warm glow.
Josiah Mekhi – “Memories”
Nowadays, I think people forget that R&B stands for rhythm and blues. Josiah Mekhi, however, fully embraced the sorrow on his latest single “Memories.” Right from the beginning his vocals are beautifully painful. You can hear the longing for the past through every note and it only builds as the song progresses. Josiah stated on Instagram that “Memories” sets the stage for his upcoming project and I couldn’t be more excited for that to drop.
dsrt flwr – “soul sista”
I’m not sure how to conceptualize the power of dsrt flwr and her music. When I listen to her sing something takes over me and I feel a release. Release of what? I can’t always pinpoint it, but I always feel better afterwards. Her latest release, “soul sista” is paired with striking visuals of her trip to Oaxaca that were directed and edited by Kamyar Mohsenin.
In a moment of vulnerability on Instagram, dsrt flwr spoke about the importance of compassion towards oneself. She went on further to say, “Soul sista is a comfort and mercy to myself. It is a hug. It’s a reminder that I may sometimes feel lonely, but I am never alone. I have God of course, and I also have myself. I hold myself. I love myself. And I can reserve compassion for myself.”
I find these moments of reflection to be a beautiful part of life, and when paired with music it becomes an even more powerful and impactful moment. With the release of “soul sista,” dsrt flwr is giving her listeners a chance to join her in replacing self-inflicted criticism with compassion.
Sam Lachow – “Uncle Birds”
Nobody knows why Sam Lachow titled his latest single “Uncle Birds,” he doesn’t even talk about birds or uncles, for that matter, but he does have longtime collaborator Ryan Campbell on the track and that’s cool, right? The beat that Don Dishes and Sam produced gives the guys the perfect stage to have fun with slinky rhyme schemes and their comedic, witty wordplay.
Peyday – Life of Pey
Peyday was rolling with pure vibes for his album Life of Pey, taking each song in whatever direction that he felt it needed to go. The project explores different sounds and sides of Pey, giving us a well-rounded picture of who he is as an artist. For me, the project goes on a ride with some highs and lows throughout.
Overall, there is a solid foundation with a bunch of catchy songs that are structured smartly and curated into a seamless sequence. However, I do feel that at times the mix between the production and his vocals can initially sound a little busy before everything falls into its groove. That being said, there is a clear vision and a ‘cruising around the city’ type replay value to the album that’ll keep it rotation for months to come.
Vozhi – “Tamil Worldstar (Freestyle)”
At a time when the entertainment industry is overrun with artists who have copied and pasted their careers from social media, it’s always refreshing to see someone being authentically themselves. Vozhi embraces his culture and his lifestyle fully through his music and this peaks in his latest track “Tamil Worldstar (Freestyle).” Initially recorded and submitted for the Tamil Worldstar challenge back in 2020, Vozhi just now released the track on all streaming platforms. Clocking in at a mere 60 seconds, Vozhi says a lot about himself in a short amount of time with each bar becoming more valuable than the previous one.
