The Young Pharaohs kids draw on the melodic spirit of classic R&B and dress it up with a more modern indie-friendly synth styling. We’re into it.
Young Pharaohs – One With the WorldYoung Pharaohs (Facebook)
Rating 8.3
The Young Pharaohs kids draw on the melodic spirit of classic R&B and dress it up with a more modern indie-friendly synth styling. We’re into it.
Young Pharaohs – One With the WorldYoung Pharaohs (Facebook)
Rating 8.3
Maplewood native SZA links up with producer BrandUn DeShay and makes for some fluidous R&B on “Crack Dreams”. Off the debut See.SZA.Run EP.
SZA – Crack Dreams (Prod. BrandUn DeShay)SZA 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8
We are seriously crushing on Dream Koala’s new “Blur” EP. The 5-track set features some of the most beautifully sublime sounds of the year. Our pick is the vibes-by-candlelight-focused-through-a-hip-hop-lens of “Gone”. Check it.
Dream Koala – GoneBreakbot 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.5
The awesome Freddie Joachim grabs Dutch singer Mar for the sensual jazz & b of new track “Golden Temple”. Freddie’s latest Fiberglass Kisses, from which is “Golden Temple” is previewed here, is not to be missed and also features Carlitta Durand, Miles Bonny and J. Mitchell.
Freddie Joachim – Golden Temple (Feat. Mar)Freddie Joachim 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.3
The eight member cross genre group known as Kids These Days has been blasting all over the internet in the last year or so with various single releases. Most recently the talented Chicago based group dropped the track “Bud Biliken” from their forthcoming Traphouse Rock EP. For this pot inspired tune KTD sticks to the formula on this single, fusing hip hop over jazz, all mixed up with a blues type trio. KTD also heads out on a two month swing with Asher Roth and Chuck Inglish starting Nov. 1st in San Diego. Anyone else dig that Radiohead drop in the breakdown? By Brian Litwin
Kids These Days – Bud BilikenKids These Days 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.4
Tesfaye delivers. Released in that special “Weeknd hour”, the Toronto singer/producer let loose his latest just about 90 minutes or so ago. “Enemy” is pretty by the numbers Weeknd material, languid lugubrious but perhaps a bit more poppy melodically than previous material (We can hear MJ’s “Remember the Time” a little in there.) Be a witness for the XO crew below.
The Weeknd – EnemyThe Weeknd 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.1
Dance pop gets airborne on “Born To Fly”, the title track previewed here from the forthcoming new EP by sultry NYC dance-floor songstress Beca. The singer’s dreamy vocals layer their intoxicating melody atop a funky jungle groove that lay seductively beneath. Get familiar this new siren on the rise.
Beca – Born To FlyBeca 
(Bandcamp)
Rating 8.18965
Heavy cool vibes coming your by way of 2012 Mobo nominee Zara McFarlane. Not long ago this budding UK jazz aficionado released her debut album, Until Tomorrow, on Giles Peterson’s Brownswood Recordings. For this new version of “Police & Thieves”, Zara’s vocals glide a top the track’s steady shuffle depicting a story as much relevant to the conflicts of today’s society as any time prior, a true homage to the Junior Murvin classic. Keep an eye on this young voice and check out “Police & Thieves” previewed here from Zara’s forthcoming and sophomore 2013 release.
Zara McFarlane – Police & ThievesZara McFarlane 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.5
Jhameel offers this latest new take on “Thinking About You”. A fine choice for his tenor with an interesting pizzicato rework to go along. Check out the track below.
Jhameel – Thinking About You (Frank Ocean Cover)Jhameel (Facebook)
Rating 8
We’ve been fans of L.A. singer Steffaloo for a while now (mostly through her collaborations with other artists). Here she takes the lead on beautiful new single “Can’t You See”, which will be on her Would You Stay LP (due next week). Steffaloo is a really special singer with an outstanding capacity to focus intense bodies of emotion into spare and simple melodies and phrasing.
Steffaloo – Can’t You SeeSteffaloo (Facebook)
Rating 8.4
Check out the latest from Romanian producer ViLLΛGE, the vibes down Usher-sampling “Dive”.
ViLLΛGE – DiveViLLΛGE 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.6
L.A.’s The Decoders do an excellent lovers’ rock send-up of the Bacharach/David classic. Fitz and the Tantrums’ Noelle Scaggs styles Burt’s great melody sweetly, preserving the smooth saccharine coo of Dionne Warwick’s original vocal tone while adding her own full-bodied muscle to it.
The Decoders – Walk On By (Feat. Noelle Scaggs)The Decoders (Facebook)
Rating 8.3
