Weekly updates:

Music

HEAT OF THE WEEK: MAY 14

Acclaim's favourite new tracks from home and around the world. New music from Saweetie, Isaiah Rashad, Don Toliver, REMI and more!

Posted by

Weekly updates


Welcome to Acclaim Magazine’s Heat of the Week. Here are our picks for the best new local and international releases — Don’t forget to follow our Spotify playlist too, it’s updated every Friday.

01. Audrey Nuna - Blossom

AUDREY NUNA’s new track ‘Blossom’ signifies the fact that she’s growing up. Accompanied by synth-heavy soundscapes and trap-influenced drums, the first generation Korean-American rapper/singer looks forward to her future in an introspective manner, while paying homage to her family before her, featuring a vocal passage from her grandma in the outro. Pairing her effortlessly curated bars and soulful vocal flurries throughout the song, Audrey displays her evolving perspective, which we are eager to hear more of in her upcoming project liquid breakfast, out May 21st. 

02. Jorja Smith - Bussdown ft. Shaybo

To tide us over before her next album, Jorja Smith has dropped a new EP called Be Right Back, filled with newly-created tracks she couldn’t wait to share with the world. A song that stands out immediately is ‘Bussdown’, due to its low-key nature reminiscent of a smoky, late-night bar. Over brooding basslines and reverberated guitars, The UK vocalist flexes her signature soulful melodies, bringing the vibe of the track into a state of euphoria. Cutting through the atmosphere is a guest verse from South London MC Shaybo, whose stern delivery shimmers with undeniable confidence. It’s different and damn, is it good.

03. Kedus - Sunset Dream

Kedus’ ‘Sunset Dream’ is a smorgasbord of soul. Jangly guitar chords, bouncy drum patterns, and distant vocal samples make up the reverb-soaked, lo-fi instrumental, leaving plenty of room for the Ethiopian-Australian singer’s smooth, R&B vocals to shine. Lyrically, it finds Kedus in a dream-like state confessing his love for a significant other, exploring his emotions until he arrives in a moment of ecstasy.

04. Miiesha - Damaged

After an ARIA award-winning 2020 with her debut album Nyaaringu, Miiesha is back with this new single ‘Damaged’; her most personal display yet. Over solemn keys courtesy of producer Lucianblomkamp, the Woorabinda songstress uses her passionate vocals to delve into family relationship struggles, allowing us to empathise with her emotions across every falsetto flurry. This is more than an award victory tour, but an evolution in her artistry.

05. IJALE - Mi Goreng

On his latest single, bubbling Melbourne artist IJALE captures the turbulent stage in his career where he knows he’s on the cusp of greatness, the pieces are finally falling into place, but the money isn’t yet falling into his pocket. He’s booking shows but still living off Mi Goreng; signing deals but catching the train home. Nonetheless, IJALE glides over the beat, resembling the versatility of artists like Saba in how his naturally warm voice moves between smooth but simple singing and detailed, introspective rapping with ease. The beat is self-produced, with clean drums sitting under smooth guitar samples that, fittingly, don’t feel too happy nor too gloomy.

06. Manny Müla - Know ‘Bout ft. 3K

What we know ’bout this new track from Melbourne rapper Manny Mula is that it slaps! The YKM member drops smooth, autotuned vocals slide over the West Coast influenced bass tones and tempo of the production, which creates a club-ready backdrop for his braggadocio. Alongside Manny on this track is the supergroup 3K, who fit in perfectly with their low-key delivery and frenzy of flex-heavy bars. It’s a laid-back collaboration, rich with a sense of hunger.

07. BERWYN - RUBBER BANDS

Hailing from East London after growing up in Trinidad, Berwyn has been steadily making a name for himself as a versatile and sincere artist who can deliver baritone street confessionals or sing stirring tales of heartbreak, and on his new single ‘RUBBER BANDS’, he’s done a bit of both. It’s an unabashedly poppy rap-RnB hybrid with sparse drums and soulful harmonies, telling the story of a love that couldn’t survive the harsh times with no food, leaving a heartbroken Berwyn wishing he could say sorry. It’s driven by the strength of his voice, whether in the vulnerability of his singing, the earnestness when rapping or the simple moments of magic like the rolling of his R’s when he says “rubber band”.

08. Mr Jukes & Barney Artist - Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)

‘Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)’ feels like a love letter to the golden days of J Dilla and a Tribe Called Quest, using boom-bap drum patterns and soulful sample chops to create a vintage feel, garnishing a modern warmth. It feels as if Jukes’ beat is a boombox beside Barney on a London stoop, as he lets off animated, witty bars as if he’s simply freestyling with friends on the weekend. This track is a taste of the newly-formed duo’s collaborative opus The Locket, out July 2nd.

09. Priya Ragu - Forgot About

This new Priya Ragu single is about that feeling of forever love that never blossoms in the romance you seek. The Swiss-Tamil vocalist uses her shimmering melodies to symbolise carrying this feeling in your heart as you move on in life, with the simplistic but sentimental warm keys creating the sense that you move forward, but not necessarily on. And while sombre in its story, as Priya hits every soaring note, the song amasses a summit of hope, signifying that love is a weapon you can use to weather future storms. 

010. PRICIE - FRIENDZONE ft. Genesis Owusu

This new cut from PRICIE details the realm of friend-zoning. She observes a scenario in which this disconnect of intentions is occurring, going in-depth on the feelings and happenings of this predicament through fiery melodies and a swagger-full rap cadence. Canberra standout Genesis Owusu slides through as well on the glimmering production, lending his unique style of sang-raps to the story, for a single that’s catchy, about a situation a lot of us have been caught in.