Post-Splendour comedown has been hard. Real hard. Everyone's immune systems are shot and you're probably still finding mud in places you didn't know existed. Luckily we've gathered together 10 songs from the week that are mud-free and only contagious in the way that they'll get stuck in your head. Not in the flu way. Ew.
Meg Mac
Never Be
Meg Mac packed out her tent at Splendour In The Grass and she's capitalised on that momentum by dropping her new track Never Be. Never Be was produced by M-Phazes and is the most up-beat, attitude-filled track she's delivered to date. Those smokey vocals work magic over a full-bodied, throwback beat and the repetition at the backend of the chorus is so addictive.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/megmacmusic/meg-mac-never-be-1[/soundcloud]
Disclosure
Omen (Featuring Sam Smith)
After weeks of teasing their new collaboration with Sam Smith, Disclosure finally dropped it and it was worth the wait. It's definitely more of a slow-grower than Latch but the pair of them working together are always going to make gold. This one is all about those layered, church-inspired vocals that bring the chorus into holy territory.
PARTYNEXTDOOR
Kehlani's Freestyle
We weren't privvy to the information that Canada's PARTYNEXTDOOR was having relations with R&B princess Kehlani but this song suggests that it's definitely on. Funnily enough the aptly titled Kehlani's Freestyle sounds like it could've easily fit on Kehlani's record You Should Be Here. The OVO singer is also channelling some serious Drake vibes on this one with that monotonal but somehow alluring vocal.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/partyomo/partynextdoor-kehlanis-freestyle[/soundcloud]
Tink
L.E.A.S.H
Tink dropped a mixtape Winter's Diary 3 this week and it's full of great tunes but this Timbaland-produced one is a sure-fire winner. Tink fires-off over an uminstakeably Timbaland beat. The best thing about how Tink works with Timbaland is that she genuinely makes him better rather than just moulding to his sound. She flicks between singing and rapping better than anyone in the game and continues to prove that she's got a better feel for melody than most rapper out there at the moment. Below is the full mixtape to listen and download. Win.
Lianne La Havas
Green & Gold
Lianne La Havas finally dropped her sophomore album Blood today and it's a gorgeous set of boundary-pushing soul tunes. The second track on the record Green & Gold is one of the highlights. She caresses a late-night instrumental with her crisp, profound voice and works the verses up to a chorus that ever so subtly takes you over. La Havas' greatest strength has always been subtlety and as such this one could float by without you knowing, but give it one spin with your full attention and you'll be enchanted immediately.
Abhi//Dijon
Jon B
We've been waiting a little while for new material from US R&B duo Abhi//Dijon and now in the space of a week we've been gifted two songs. Jon B is actually a career highlight for them drawing upon strong Channel ORANGE vibes. It plods along with a beat that Janet Jackson would've very happily plucked from them and they take their time working it into a total R&B jam. This is bedroom music.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/abhidijon/jon-b[/soundcloud]
Chet Faker
1998 (Feat. BANKS)
Basically someone decided that there was more money to be made off Chet Faker's 1998 and so they got the closest sounding female artist and popped her on it and put it back on sale. That's how BANKS ended up here and whatever the motive is we don't really care because she really brings a severe darkness to it.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/chet-faker/1998-feat-banks[/soundcloud]
Vic Mensa
Heir To The Throne (Freestyle)
In the Soundcloud description Vic Mensa has described this freestyle as "2001 shit," and he's right. This is 2001 shit. This is Mensa rapping at his finest, going for the rap throne like he's battling against Nas and Jay Z. In the freestyle he addresses the people who think his success has come from his affiliation with Kanye West rapping, "I made u mad before I met dude-ass." No disrespect to Kanye, he clears up.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/vicsavemoney/heir-to-the-throne-freestyle[/soundcloud]
Wave Racer
Flash Drive
when it does it’s exactly what you wanted. Wave Racer’s newie Flash Drive is exactly what we wanted. It’s a glitchy, crystalline track that feels like it’s spewing colourful glitter. It’s taken from an EP of the same name which will feature three more tracks and drop on 16th October via Future Classic. You can pre-order it here.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/wave-racer/wave-racer-flash-drive-feat-bby-1[/soundcloud]
