As I’ve grown older I’ve learned that life is best lived as flexibly as possible. People that do not fixate on society’s rules and norms tend to be much happier, moving like water in a world that demands details and organization. Due to my special affinity for overthinking and #panicattacks, I am unfortunately not one of these people – but I have always envied those who can move through life untethered without care. Among them is LA-based singer/songwriter Chloe Tang who returns this month with her new bop “SWIM” – a track that even though I may be a bit late in covering (sorry lol), it still sounds just as new and refreshing as it did 3 weeks ago. Rejecting the rigid hegemony of labels and romantic relationships, Chloe Tang opts to go with the flow on her new ambient-R&B-flavored banger. Between Chloe’s vocal harmonies and Adam Boukis’s fluid production style – “SWIM” is the perfect song for both cuffing season AND reflecting on summertime memories at the pool or beach. With more music likely coming down the pipeline before the end of the year, “SWIM” needs to be on your radar as the leaves start to change color and …

As Fall turns the corner, many of us are scrambling to assemble the perfect lineup to start our fall rotations and playlists. Though September has already been a month flooded with high-quality releases, none are perhaps more deserving of your attention than rising UK rapper Pretty V who returns with his latest project Forever. Though it’s been a minute since V (FKA Voldy Moyo) released his last project Liberty City in 2020, his past few singles suggest that he hasn’t taken a day off since. Preceded by singles like “Uh uh” and “OBAMA” – Forever is a tightly-woven collection of psychedelic and cloud-rap tracks that showcase a rarely-seen side of England’s cultural canon. From the lurching bass signals of “DROGBA” to the nostalgic soul samples of “There’s Always Something For You To Get Over”, Pretty V uses Forever to not only showcase his unique futuristic sound, but also to showcase a talent and versatility that is just as uncommon as it is understated. With eighteen tracks making up Forever‘s tracklist, fans of V old and new are sure to find something to enjoy across the project’s diverse tracklist. While I’m hoping that V treats fans to some new visuals or tracks before the year ends, ultimately …

If Ashley Mehta has a million fans, then I am one of them. If Ashley has ten fans, then I am one of them. If Ashley has one fan, then I am THAT fan. If Ashley has no fans, that means I am dead. Though the world of TikTok singer/songwriters is filled with undeniable talent and people trying to stand apart from the crowd – nobody does it quite as well (or as effortlessly) as Ashley Mehta. This month our savior returns with “Weekend”, an energy-filled and optimistic anthem about romantic rumination and internal tension. Though Confucius said that desire is the root of all suffering, Ashley Mehta can’t help but “want it better than the weekend” – and I don’t blame her. Between an affinity for songwriting that is just as clever as it is understated, and a knack for vocal harmonies that could rival many of pop’s modern titans – Ashley Mehta is a powerhouse ready for pop music’s upper echelon. Preceded by July’s single “Facetime Freestyle”, I’m praying that “Weekend” is not just a banger primed for our weekly rotations, but also a harbinger of more music to come. Until the time for another new single comes, …

Synthesizing electric pop futurism with vintage R&B ingenuity, this week Blession makes his mark on 2022 with his debut single “WAIT ON YOU”. Zimbabwe-born and England-based, Blession’s unique background is just as noteworthy as his undeniable affinity for clever songwriting. From “WAIT ON YOU”‘s nostalgic synths to its dulcet-yet-emotive vocals, Blession’s debut is a rare example of an artist pushing the culture forward while also moving with a deep reverence for the past. His voice is soulful and intimate – effortlessly flowing on the perfectly polished 80’s adjacent mix that “WAIT ON YOU” is built upon. Just like his background, Blession’s debut is a seamless blend of two styles and cultures that unite in perfect harmony to create something entirely brand new. If you’re anything like me, Dawn FM left you fiending for more futuristic R&B with a retro feel – and luckily Blession scratches that itch and then some. With more music slated for release soon, few artists are deserving of your eyes and ears like Blession.   Check out Blession’s debut single “WAIT ON YOU” below: 

Though the world of upcoming artists is decorated with an endless roster of undeniable talent and boundary-pushing music, few artists get support from me like Kojima Plus and ZAYALLCAPS. Carter Fife devotees (my mom) might recognize Kojima Plus from the TikTok favorite “snow elf” or LL coverage for his last project SKYLINE UNLIMITED – an EP decorated with futuristic and genre-blurring bangers from one of LA’s best kept secrets. On SKYLINE UNLIMITED there exists a bop known as “SURFIN”, an atmospheric and hypnotic R&B-meets-hip-hop-meets-DnB anthem featuring two of underground music’s most cherished darlings. Enter Kojima Plus and ZAY: together they unite to amplify each other’s undeniable artistic spirit and charisma on what is possibly the best song of 2022. This month fans are treated to “SURFIN”‘s long-awaited visual, a hazy and melancholic masterpiece filled with 203 seconds of raw and film grain sunset vibes. Directed by SEBCUBILLE – shots of the beach and airplanes flying overhead are juxtaposed against shots of Kojima and special guest ZAY simply doing their thing. If the visual leaves you ravenous to see this song performed live – you’re not alone, but you’re also too late. The duo recently performed this track together at LA’s Jojank & …

While taking a mental health ~hiatus~ away from the music journalism rat race, I’ve been able to reflect on the things that I feel are most important to me. Among them are the sacred community of friendship, the fortune of good health, and the music of jssr. This isn’t the first time he’s graced the pages of Lyrical Lemonade, as previously jssr made his mark on this site alongside che for their genre-warping pluggnb banger “feel”. Since then I’ve done a bit of a deep dive on jssr – but luckily this month our hero returns with the three-track EP elvira. Perfect for fans old and new, elvira presents listeners with three finely-tuned bangers laced with jssr’s eclectic and boundary-pushing blend of plugg, trap, and experimental electronic bliss. Take the standout track “day with me” for example – jssr’s perfectly-polished autotuned distortion finds perfect harmony alongside hard-hitting percussion and layered synth patterns. Self-produced alongside Maxwell4k, “day with me” sounds like an unholy mix of che, SBTRKT, and midwxst all rolled into one, but though comparisons can be made between jssr and many of his contemporaries, he truly stands in a lane of his own. The other two tracks – the EDM-touched-yet-also-somehow-hyperpop-adjacent …

When KayCyy released his latest project Get Used To It earlier this summer, the young Kanye protegée displayed limitless potential on a tightly-woven collection of nine unique tracks. While some gravitated towards the off-kilter futurism of “Replay” or the abrasive trap banger “Borrow”, real ones knew that KayCyy was onto something special with the meditative ambiance of “Hold You Up” featuring Annahstasia and Steven Bamidele. When the track was released, I distinctly remember remarking “Wow, I wish that song had its own Sparky Sunset Session” – and it seems like I wasn’t the only one. Today fans are treated to a Sparky Sunset Session performance of KayCyy’s “Hold You Up”, with Sparky trading the minimalism of a solo harpist for a three-piece band. In the cliffs overlooking Malibu, KayCyy and Annahstasia deliver listeners a live rendition of one of Get Used To It’s most psychedelic and soulful tracks. Together the duo’s vocals sound almost hypnotic, perfectly complemented by the viridian Malibu hills and the musicians working to amplify their undeniable chemistry. If you’re a KayCyy fan, then this performance of “Hold You Up” is not to be missed – and with luck, we’ll see another Sparky and KayCyy collab on the horizon …

If there’s two things I love in this world it’s new music from 454 and hydrangeas, and today I’m lucky enough to get both – at the same time no less! This week the Florida plugg phenomenon returns with two self-produced new singles ahead of his upcoming mixtape Fast Trax 3. “GEEWIZ” and “8TEEN” are psychedelic and energetic bangers sporting hypnotic vocals and bright, bass-laden mixes to top off your summertime playlist. It’s been over a year since 454 released his last Fast Trax mixtape in the wake of his debut LP 4 REAL, but since then our hero has had anything but a quiet year. Between dropping a handful of singles, touring with Aminé, and appearing on both the last Denzel Curry album and Tony Shhnow album, 454 has been keeping his momentum strong as we enter the rollout for Fast Trax 3. His music has never felt this polished or concentrated, so if you’re a fan of 454, you may be in for a treat once he finally decides to drop. Until then, you can catch me spinning “GEEWIZ” and “8TEEN” until my ears bleed.   Check out the visual for 454’s “GEEWIZ + 8TEEN” below: