Jorja Smith has stayed busy this year, to our delight. This new single ‘All of This’ continues the expansion of her style, as she tackles the sound of Amapiano; a South African form of house music that alleviates the focus on the kick drum while remaining plentiful in vibes. The UK Songstress’ voice soars over this, setting up a new avenue, with the same high quality.

Brisbane artist Day1 signifies the start of a new era with his newly-released EP Day Uno, and of course, the results are some wizard shit. This is evident on ‘Magic’, a mega collab with Doonside’s Hooligan Hefs. On the first listen, their chemistry instantly thrives. With Day1 handling pop-tinged vocals and Hefs sliding through with his stern, poignant flows. This takes place over a dense, hard-hitting trap beat courtesy of Liam Thomas. 

Montreal-based wordsmith Skiifall thrives on this new track ‘My Gully’. Surrounded by piano flourishes, he cuts through with straight-forward flows and a uniquely catchy cadence, before moving into some smooth melodies on the hook. It’s an immediate highlight on his new 3-pack WOIIYOIE TAPES Vol.1. 

Tierra Whack walks the beat down into flames, with a song dedicated to the runway. It’s an ode to her favourite designers, backed by a synth-heavy, electro production that sounds like the sonic equivalent of Vogue. Over the top, she is straight up spittin’, with wordplay more valuable than Birkin bag.

Zimbabwe-born, Brisbane-based artist Carmouflage Rose mixes the sounds of afrobeat and alternative R&B on this new track ‘Blame’. Scattered percussion contrast the somber tone of the reverberated synths, but is polymerised by a thumping 808 and bop-creating snare. Over the top, Rose lets off his ear-catching croons in a manner that seems effortless, yet brushes the highest of quality with ease. Melbourne’s Yaw Faso also makes an appearance here, bringing a falsetto that soars over the atmospheric instrumental. It appears on Rose’s new EP A Night with No Moon, which is out now. 

Ah, a collaboration that makes a whole lot of sense. West Sydney’s Youngn Lipz and UK giant M Huncho are masters in incorporating a melodic style into their gripping tales of their struggles, and that doesn’t change on ‘Misunderstood Pt.2’. Over the strums of a guitar and the hard-hitting drum patterns of trap, Both protagonists let off croons of determination, fueled by excerpts from past adversity, and the reflection of their journey. Due to its scale, it’s an automatic highpoint on Lipz’s new album Area Baby, which is out now. 

Jerome Farah’s ‘Concrete Jungle Fever’ reaches high summits of energy that tower over any city skyscrapers. Crushing drums and a fast-moving tempo propel his fiery flows, delivered with animated, impassioned inflections. It’s an anthem bound to raise your spirits this Friday afternoon, and get you turning up, despite any lockdowns. 

Nokz’s new single is a major stylistic switch-up, and we’re here for it. The Queensland rapper has signed to Lisi’s Castille Records imprint and is taking a quick break from the menacing sounds of previous singles like ‘Chat’, he finds his knack for melody over mellow guitars and quick, driving drum patterns. It’s another case of this prospect taking familiar sounds, and making them undeniably his own.

Jack Harlow can’t stop winning, and now he’s getting shiesty. ‘SUVs’ is a well-deserved victory lap, starting off flexing with the lyric “All my brags turn to facts.” As usual, the Louisville slugger is on point with a floating flow over an eerie trap beat bound to blow up any subwoofer in distance. Of course, Memphis’ biggest prospect Pooh Shiesty was the right choice in the draft pick for a feature, as his slurred flow hardens the track like it was a Metapod. 

Butchulla barsmith Birdz continues to expand his sound with ‘They Don’t Know’, a radio-ready, uplifting pop-rap anthem. It’s about turning pressure into positivity, based on his experiences navigating the pandemonium of the music industry. Expressing this over a reggaeton beat, alongside a soothing hook from singer Thom Crawford, you’d think nothing ever bothers Birdz. The truth is, he’s just that good.