Aziya – ‘Bambi’
“I don’t wanna be Bambi,” Londoner Aziya declares on the title track of her new mixtape, which follows her on a journey to self-assurance and reliance. ‘Bambi’, with its steely beats and rush of metallic synths, is reflective of her coming to into her power and refusing to let herself be taken advantage of – and a banging good tune.
XG – ‘Howling’
Really, XG – the Japanese girl group who debuted via the K-pop system – missed a trick by not releasing ‘Howling’ on Halloween. Werewolf howls kick the whole thing off, leading into a song littered with references to “fangs out”, gaining strength in the light of the full moon, and choosing violence. It might feel a little late, but even a week after the spookiest day of the year, ‘Howling’ still hits hard.
Nectar Woode – ‘How It’s Gotta Be’
British-Ghanian singer-songwriter Nectar Woode wants to make music that “fills the soul”. She’s ticked that box with ‘How It’s Gotta Be’, a timeless piece of rich, warm pop. Beneath its welcoming atmosphere, though, is a less cheerful story – one where Woode finds herself needing to make changes and protect her energy, only looking out for another “if you look out for me”.
Bluai – ‘Not The One’
“I’m not the one to give you what you want,” Belgium trio Bluai vow on ‘Not The One’, a gently aching piece of indie-folk that serves as a gorgeous taste of their debut album, ‘Save It For Later’. All hushed drums and swooning guitar melodies, it’s a perfect piece of autumnal melancholy.
Griff – ‘Last Night’s Mascara’
Waking up with panda eyes after forgetting to take your makeup off (or simply being too lazy) might not be something most people see beauty in. Griff isn’t most people, though. On her latest single, ‘Last Night’s Mascara’, she uses those black smudges as a symbol of strength and – when she eventually removes it – moving on from someone best left in her past.
