Highlights of 2016 by Jessicunt
So this year I've been getting to exposed to a lot of cool avant garde R&B, hip-hop, neo-soul and electronic, etc etc....ETC, like it's been a lot, music overload to be honest. I was having a bit of trouble narrowing it down to 5 but I figured I pick something from different genres as well as a random one, so with that said, my top 5 favourite picks that I've discovered this year are as follows:
"Playing It Safe/Selfish" is a two part track by Matt McGhee featuring aiditonal vocals from TiKA, Ava Hovanka and collective-mate, Miles Meraki. Matt McGhee is a recording artist from the DMV who makes music that I believe is sonically superior to a lot of the music that is coming out of that area right now. This track is his most recent release & I suggest listening with headphones because the song sounds even cooler! He has another poppin' song called "Flipmode" which has a flow that is reminiscent of old Busta with a beat that's like modern grime.
The soundtrack to the Nasir Mazhar AW16 fashion show by DJ Murlo; it's like bouncy and techy electronic music, I love it, something you can really move to. I listen to it when I cook or during my commute or even before I start making my own music as inspiration.
Sevdaliza. I can't even pick a song because I love everything she does BUT if I had to, it would be HUMAN. The beat (produced by Mucky) and vocals alone are so enchanting. THEN as if that wasn't enough, the video is killer too. She plays a satyress (female satyr) or a faun, im not too sure, who is also an entertainer. MUST WATCH lol.
"The Art Of Defense" is an album by Nona Hendryx, [member of Labelle], that was released in 1984 but I came across the vinyl this year at a pop-up shop. The music is oldie R&B/Soul but what really stuck out to me was the artwork, she's posed fiercely in a striking fencing uniform holding a sabre behind her head, almost as if she's about to attack.
April + Vista are a neo-soul duo from Maryland that consist of April George, vocalist, violinist, pianist; and Matthew Thompson, music producer and pianist. These two just released their second project "Note To Self" which really got my attention. The project features my favourite track "Daggers" which is awesome but ridiculously amazing live, I wouldn't lie. What I love about them is that both members are actively involved in the creative process of their music. It's not just a producer who makes the music and the vocalist sings over them, they do live beat construction and use live instruments, it's out of this world.
