As one of the first Black women to carve a niche in the predominantly white country music scene of the late 1960s, Martell's contributions transcended melodies to challenge norms and pave pathways for future generations. Her career—a blend of country soul, poignant storytelling, and relentless pioneering spirit—mirrors a live show filled with moments of triumph, resilience, and unparalleled talent.

"In His Own Words: Balancing Love, Loss, and Creative Fire" by Felton Edward Kizer delves into the heart and soul of artist Apache Grosse. The interview explores his latest project, "Life After Her," a profound reflection on personal evolution and artistic rebirth. Apache discusses the intricate balance between love and art, the sacrifices demanded by creativity, and his relentless pursuit of artistic expression.

Look Both Ways doesn’t skim the surface; it delves into the complex yet unyielding truth at the heart of unconditional love. It’s a lyrical expedition marked by candid introspection and palpable emotional resonance. As someone who resonates with the cautious balance between the head and heart, indicated by a Taurus Sun, Leo Rising, and Libra Moon, the theme of looking both ways strikes a chord. DeRosa has crafted a perfect rom-com narrative within 3 minutes and 3 seconds, a testament to her songwriting prowess.

You might be tempted to expect a rebirth if you were mesmerized by his 'Slow Devotion' era—replete with ethereal soundscapes. But Drew isn't trying to reinvent himself; he's coming home to his authentic self in all its imperfect glory. Drew Elliott is back, bringing the wisdom and soulfulness accumulated during his time away. There's no script, no preconceived persona, just a man and his music. He’s simply returning to himself, but this time, he doesn’t have to change any parts of himself to fit in. 

These albums are some of the best, most inventive, and most rewarding new releases of this early part of the year. I can guarantee you that there will be something here for everyone. From art-pop to stoner metal to Chicago-based rap, a wide variety is contained in the confines of this article. So, peruse as you see fit and happy listening!

Robbins is a poet at heart: a fact that is immediately apparent from the lyrical content of his songs and from doing any cursory look at his background. Through his work as an emcee and as a teacher of spoken word art, it becomes even more apparent that Robbins is a student of the poetic arts through and through. He says on his Facebook page that his art is meant to bridge gaps between different worlds, which he does on more than one front through his work. His artist bio says that “his art acts as a means of finding legitimacy in a world in which he has yet to obtain a stable sense of self within…in both urban and suburban communities.” Not only that, but his work reflects a bridge between the power of performance art and slam poetry and the more structured, consumable art of songwriting. His feet are firmly planted in both worlds simultaneously, finding common ground between these seemingly disparate worlds and proving that art can be beyond just, as he puts it, “where you’re from.” 

‘Burning In My Arms’ is another high-energy summer anthem with the passionate vocals we all long for on the dancefloor, with the build-ups you expect for those hands-in-the-air moments in clubs, festivals, and cars globally.

Hopefully, this serves as a suitable and enjoyable introduction to one of the most assuredly exciting voices in R&B at the current moment. Below is a playlist with some of my other favorites to get your journey started without a hitch. Happy listening.

Within the confines of R&B as a genre, you’ll find a deluge of interesting, wholly unique art that you can’t find anywhere else. Whether it’s the cocaine-laden, bad-boy musings of someone like The Weeknd or the afro-futurist concept albums of Janelle Monae, the genre is ever-expanding and evolving. We’ve entered a golden era of boundary-pushing, high-concept R&B that can provide the soundtrack to late nights as much as it can provoke dynamic conversation.

Mal’s style has been steadily developing over the last year, with the previous single ‘Oven’ infusing this soft, poetic sound with trip-hop-inspired embellishments, a move I adore. ‘Oven’ is a direct continuation of Mal's groundwork with the last EP, but it expands their sonic palette into a much more avant-garde and intriguing direction. The layering of vocals, with subsequent tracks getting the slightest bit more delayed, accompany this warping and bending wall of background sound to create something beyond psychedelic.

The playlist's vibe was meant to be a fusion of feeling like your best self and accepting some things can't change. I wanted it to feel bright and bubbly but with a notice of emotionality. Songs like the Don Dada or Immaterial were meant to be pump-ups between some more reflective moments like Ben Franklin or Eugene.

Mia Rodriguez has been on a bit of a hot streak in the last year. After seeing several recognitions and awards from publications and cultural mainstays like Triple J in the past year, her TikTok passing 2 million followers. And a handful of singles that have each kept her a name in the underground pop scene; it’s safe to say that Rodriguez is a name to watch. Like many, I’d become aware of her through TikTok, where I’d heard her single “Psycho” several times.

There’s a new class of musicians leading the charts, social media, and shifting how we consume music. They’re emotionally intelligent, outspoken, queer, and doing whatever they want. I had the pleasure of speaking with one of them, corook. I didn’t know much about corook when I watched her video for ‘bad friend,’ but after experiencing that, I wanted to consume everything. I was immediately captivated by her emotional intelligence, her willingness to problem solve, and at the same time, her desire to have fun. As a twenty-something adult, looking inward isn't always the most pleasurable, but highly recommended.

Bales released his latest single; IT’S MY FAULT. This is a self-reflective sound piece that explores a relationship that didn’t go as planned–which isn’t anything new, especially in this new era of alt-pop.

Hot off his most recent album, the dystopic, blue-tinted world of “Stop It God,” Zuli Jr. has returned with a new single and accompanying music video. Those familiar with our publication will have seen my previous work with Zuli, namely the full, track-by-track breakdown we did of his album.

Each track on Cruz’s debut album has a decidedly homegrown feel. This could be partly because the album was forged over the early pandemic days—possibly emboldening the isolated and, at times, spare tone of the record. Not only does every song share the same forlorn carefulness, but all of the records live and breathe through Cruz’s lyrical abilities.

Reno Cruz is an artist circling the Chicago scene for quite some time. He tours as a guitarist for Lala Lala and has played or toured with Sen Morimoto, Wyatt Waddell, Waltzer, and more, but his talents as a songwriter cannot be ignored. A native of California, Cruz went through a myriad of past lives before arriving at his current profession of musician, as previous jobs included actor, salesman, cheesemonger, and banjo player at one point. His move to Chicago in 2017 signaled a significant shift as he began working as a backing musician for Chi mainstays like the aforementioned bands and artists.

Nearly two decades ago, Joss Stone entered the industry with her debut studio album, Mind Body & Soul. It was an album that I knew front to back. An album that I didn’t really understand at nine years old. But it was also an album that I loved. Over the last two decades, Joss Stone has always managed to stay consistent in her intentions of making music she loves and connecting with people.

A song that reminds you of summertime. A song that makes you sad. A song that reminds you of home. Your top five albums of the last decade. A song that moves you forward.

A song that reminds you of summertime. A song that makes you sad. A song that reminds you of home. Your top five albums of the last decade. A song that moves you forward.