Affectionately named after West’s late mother, “Donda” is as much of a tribute to the woman as it isn’t. Much like most of Kanye’s work past 2011, the album is characterized by its lack of cohesion, at least on the surface. Many of the tracks feel disparate and out of sequence from one another, providing a bit of whiplash from song to song.

The band describes “ISO” as a search for something more and a reflection of isolation. The song is a meditation on craving closeness so deeply that people seek it through convenient, temporary means that drive them further into isolation.

British singer-songwriter Jasmine Thompson and UK chart topper Calum Scott released their duet, “love is just a word,” Friday, November 12. Complemented by a soaring production and the elegant keying of the piano, Thompson’s ethereal vocals rise over the track and harmonize with the grit of Scott. This is a track listeners around the world can find themselves in, as the artists’ vulnerability speaks true to raw personal experiences of love at its peak, together.

Michael Damani is a budding household name in Chicago, especially with his “White City, Black World” release last year, featured here at Alphabetical Order. Damani is the guitarist for Wyatt Waddell alongside other impressive feats, like touring with the iconic Original Chicago Blues All Stars.

When the initial rollout for Kanye West’s new album “Donda” started over a month ago, I had an idea of how I wanted to write about it — biting and critical of its apparent sloppiness. When it came time to sit down and click away at my keys, though, I found appreciation for the presentation of it all.

The nine-person group seeyousoon, which is transcending the emerging artists charts, released yet another gripping music video on August 11 for their new single “NO DAYLIGHT.” Following the release of their first album “VIDÉ” (2020), and their 2021 single “Faster Please,” “NO DAYLIGHT '' is their first single off their forthcoming second album.

The singer/songwriter’s deep affection for words and masterful skill in stringing them together almost makes vulnerability look easy, but McRae is quick to reveal that her use of language and melody is a tool that has taken many years (and a lot of care) to forge. As McRae recounted her experiences with writing, love, success, and failure, I couldn’t help but feel like a student, absorbing her story and finding my own voice within it. The narratives she shared were full of charming perspective and an admirable amount of self-awareness.

The world can feel offbeat as people try to pick up the pieces of their old lives in this post-pandemic era of life. Humanity went through the wringer — and it barely managed to pull through, plagued by exhaustion, fear, and crippling existentialism. This was a period of reflection, one where humans were granted the opportunity to truly look inward and discover who they were and what their priorities are, despite the seemingly never-ending hardship. For a lot of us humans, heartbreak was real, and forced isolation was the perfect disposition that allowed for wallowing and growth.

The Canary Club in New York’s Lower East Side was one of the first restaurants to open during one of the many apexes of the pandemic in May 2020. During a time when everything was anything but sure, management insisted on continuing their Cajun food services through carry-out orders. Cars with mask-clad patrons lined up from around the block to pick up their orders safely — and also to hear the smooth jazz of the Daniel Bennett Group.

The world can feel offbeat as people try to pick up the pieces of their old lives in this post-pandemic era of life. Humanity went through the wringer — and it barely managed to pull through, plagued by exhaustion, fear, and crippling existentialism. This was a period of reflection, one where humans were granted the opportunity to truly look inward and discover who they were and what their priorities are, despite the seemingly never-ending hardship. For a lot of us humans, heartbreak was real, and forced isolation was the perfect disposition that allowed for wallowing and growth.

From the first moments of “Are You Ready for the Birds?” — the debut solo album from Paddlefish lead Owen Misterovich — it’s obvious something interesting is afoot. Bright, elevated guitar chords give way to clanking, textured drums, emboldened by Owen’s wispy, reverb-soaked vocals. It’s as psychedelic as it is poppy, fusing familiar song structures with unfamiliar sonic landscapes.

Her 2019 single “Tears of Gold” was her way of musically confronting that tendency and recognizing the pattern she was living in. “Don’t you know that I cried tears of gold for you?” the chorus goes. The single serves as a personal anthem for Faouzia and she would rerecord it for her 2020 EP “Stripped.”

When he was in high school, Juice Mazelee told his mother that he wanted to start learning music and give it a shot. She’s never heard him sing or play an instrument before but, regardless, told him, “Go for it, son.” Perhaps in the back of her mind, she knew that the basketball phase would only last so long before a new interest dawned. Even his basketball coach would catch him slacking with a pen and a pad. Sometimes the writing switch just didn’t have an off button.

The singer/songwriter’s deep affection for words and masterful skill in stringing them together almost makes vulnerability look easy, but McRae is quick to reveal that her use of language and melody is a tool that has taken many years (and a lot of care) to forge. As McRae recounted her experiences with writing, love, success, and failure, I couldn’t help but feel like a student, absorbing her story and finding my own voice within it. The narratives she shared were full of charming perspective and an admirable amount of self-awareness.

12 tracks and a handful of interludes bring Zuli’s world to life. The world of “Stop It God.” is plagued by this essence of dissonance and disparity, clouded by cool proximity. Themes of technology, disconnection, and longing shroud over the entire piece like a veil. It’s not hard to tell what is being reached for, but a suitable deep dive into the album will allow Zuli’s audience to uncover a textured piece of work.

A great pleasure in life is the discovery of some great art. For a moment, there’s this intimate connection between the creator and consumer as both come to meet one another for the first time. It’s an uncanny development, as the rest of the world carries on with its mainstream media obsession, oblivious to this new gift. Such an experience came to me in the form of a new and upcoming music group called seeyousoon, who allowed for a fresh soundscape to enter the music industry, creating a frustratingly sick fusion of sound from some serious genre-bending.

There is an innate characteristic to the work of the Bengsons that envelops you in warmth and postulation; a character to the work that feels intimate and personal, that confronts you with reality but leaves you with the hope to keep moving. Husband-wife duo Abigail and Shawn Bengson herald a brand of folk music and performance that feels as fresh as it does rootsy.

Eddie and I have an inside joke. We refer to each other as ‘Twins’ — not to be confused with his actual twin brother, Iz. But, Eddie and I also share the same birthday and the same name. We discovered our twinship just over two years ago when we met for the first time in his family’s home. Only knowing of each other via Instagram and stories of our mutual friends, I remember being so excited to meet him. When I did meet Eddie two years ago, he was full of energy, joyous, and very candid — transparent, if you will.

Rich Robbins is a Chicago-based rapper and teaching artist. He and I met nearly three years ago and, after our first encounter, I was impressed with how intentional he was about not only building community, but investing in it. Robbins’ latest project, “On The Horizon,” explores a variety of subjects, but community is the backbone. Read below to garner some insight on Robbins and how he approaches building community.

Religious morals and responsibilities can feel outdated like old comics and the verses can lose their meaning. For every person bowing their head in prayer, there’s another contemplating whether to continue to call their church or temple home. Nashville’s Jonathan Bailey compares this feeling of change to running out of a safety line in his single “Slack.”