Lloyiso, Nicki Minaj, Doja Cat: This week has seen solid releases ...
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 13: Singer Lloyiso during Miss South Africa Finale at SunBet Arena at Time Square on August 13, 2022 in Pretoria, South Africa. Miss South Africa is a national beauty pageant in South Africa that selects South African representatives to compete in two of the Big Four international beauty pageants.
Photo: Gallo Images/Frennie Shivambu
This week has seen solid releases from big artists like Nicki Minaj and Doja Cat. SA act Lloyiso also dropped an addictive and soulful single, which is the local highlight from New Music Friday. The Weeknd producer and experimental electronic artist Oneohtrix Point Never, real name Daniel Lopatin, has also released an exciting sample for his upcoming record.
Lloyiso – You're So You
Eastern Cape-born artist Lloyiso recently dropped his new track You're So You, adding to his growing list of promising singles. Lloyiso has yet to release a full-length album, but his output so far has been staggering and consistent.
On You're So You, he croons soulfully over ambient synths. His rich voice is deeply evocative and emotional. Some trusty production tricks, like echoed clicks and liquid bass adds the welcome familiarity. It's a tidy and memorable R&B track, showcasing his versatile voice without showing off. It's a structurally engaging listen, too. The song builds to a high and coasts on the sonic euphoria.
Nicki Minaj – Last Time I Saw You
American rapper Nicki Minaj ventures in bedroom pop aesthetics with her latest single, Last Time I Saw You. The guitar on this song almost feels twee and lo-fi, with the tight and chintzy percussion adding the hip-hop flair. The melodic pre-verse vocals are sweet and sultry; they perfectly complement Minaj's melancholic rapping.
She delivers simple but poignant bars about a broken down relationship, opening up her verse with, "So close, but we were so distant. Wish I'da known in that instant. Ignored the hints or I missed it. I killed it."
Doja Cat – Demons
Doja Cat continues her trend of irreverence and "bad girl energy", dipping into trap metal while maintaining her pop-rap focus. She recently shared the release date and cover for her new record but retracted her announcement after it came to light that her album looked a lot like another band's artwork.
Doja Cat takes her expressive and confident flow and places it over a repetitive and infernal trap beat. The beat sounds like it was inspired by classic horror movie soundtracks, merged with common trends in trap production. The lyrics are your usual rap braggadocio with a dash of self-consciousness.
Oneohtrix Point Never – A Barely Lit Path
Though A Barely Lit Path is a more obscure pick for this short list, it's an incredible sample for Oneohtrix Point Never's (OPN) upcoming record. OPN, or Daniel Lopatin, has produced for The Weeknd, did the score for Uncut Gems and was a pivotal figure in pioneering the internet micro-movement Vaporwave (unintentionally, too).
A Barely Lit Path features vocoder vocals, with flashing synths and a whole orchestral arrangement. It's an epic piece of music, grounded in experimentation and accessibility. It sets to create a cathartic and devastating musical landscape. The track implodes by the end and transcends in its fading moments.
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