Featuring tracks by VilloVilduVetta, Surf Gang, Kuttem Reese, Young Don, Haiyti, and more essential artists
Follow our Unleashed playlist on Spotify to stay up to date with our bi-weekly must-hear tracks:
VilloVilduVeta – “9 Liv”
Given the extremes of their summer and winter solstices, the citizens of Sweden are innately in tune with Mother Nature’s tempestuous and cyclical seasons. VilloVilduVeta, a collaborative project between Stockholm’s very own Whitearmor and Joakim Benon (jj), offers a uniquely compelling soundscape to their living, breathing Scandanavian world with Längtan Får Vingar.
Deriving its name from Swedish gibberish that roughly translates to “do you want and wish to know,” their seven-track debut album was originally birthed in 2019 whilst the duo were crafting the song “Nästan” for the Sad Boys’ Converse “One Wish” campaign. Whitearmor and Benon’s unmistakable synthetic arrangements and subtle, earthy sampling are rich in essence throughout their intricate project. However, it is “9 Liv” that particularly strikes the listener with layers of hypothermic, electronic murmurs that are joltingly interrupted by dissociative, sonic breaks — bombarding like the relentless 24-hour Midsommar sun. – Jack Angell
Haiyti – “DRAMA”
German rapper Haiyti explores balance on her latest release, “DRAMA.” The track’s pre-hook begs the question: “Why am I not like the others?” with Haiyti describing herself as “way too fast and way too slow.” This is the first nod to duality that is further fleshed out in her subsequent music video. The video opens with Haityi pushing a smoking limousine through an expanse of farmers’ fields as the synth builds — only fully dropping once the camera switches to the limousine’s interior. Throughout the video, Haiyti plays the role of iced-out celebrity and dust-covered drudge, decked out in black and white. Her yin yang attire symbolizes her ability to create and be praised; to push the limousine and drink champagne in the back seat. But this sensibility is not always so easily accepted by those around her. The echoes of “drama, drama” haunt the track as Haiyti is reminded that success is bittersweet no matter how balanced one may seem. – Katie Manners
Surf Gang – “May Weather”
NYC-based rap collective Surf Gang is in the middle of a palpable creative hot streak. Last Friday, hundreds of young New Yorkers flocked to a riverside parking lot in Brooklyn and started an old-fashioned moshpit to live performances of the group’s new album SGV1. Amid the album’s bracing atmosphere, “May Weather” pairs Polo Perks’ breathy baritone with Babyxsosa’s weightless high notes over a stripped-down Harrison beat, showing a more muted side of Surf Gang’s expansive sonic world. – Jack Ellis
Young Don – “Freestyle”
Baltimore rapper Young Don has a voice that carries over any type of production. The 18-year-old has been locked up since last year, but he’s put together an impressive run of releases by digging into his vault of unreleased material. On “Freestyle,” hosted by local mixtape platform Baltimore Bad Behavior, Don casually torches a knockoff DJ Mustard beat, kicking wry punchlines like it’s second nature. “Trap star, bitch I am a seller not a buyer / Old head, this shit not for you boy, retire.” – Jack Ellis
https://audiomack.com/baltimore-bad-behavior/song/freestyle-1
Kuttem Reese – “Be Here”
Kuttem Reese usually raps like he’s shouting across a noisy nightclub, letting his words crackle with fiery conviction, but his recent single “Be Here” takes a different approach. Over an uncharacteristically playful production choice, Reese adopts a breezy melodic lilt that recalls fellow Orlando native Hotboii and pulls it off with surprising finesse. – Jack Ellis
Alemeda – “Wish You The Worst”
“A hundred bad bitches and I’m one in a million,” Alemeda declares in “Wish You The Worst,” an empowered message to a past lover. In her compelling debut, the 21-year-old Ethiopian-American artist combines playful delivery with strong vocals in the R&B-influenced track produced by Mike Hector. The soulful upstart has been a performer her whole life, but she began her journey as a vocalist only a year and a half ago. “Wish You The Worst” serves as an addictive introduction to the world of Alemeda — one that feels like it extends far beyond this timespan. Both comical and sincere in her songwriting, Alemeda’s ability to create smooth melodies and draw on intimate experiences is captivating. An impressive first release, Alemeda’s only set to get better. – Rani Boyer
piri – “soft spot”
Hailing from Manchester, U.K., 22-year-old piri is quickly becoming a pop standout. Produced by Tommy Villiers, her second single “soft spot” fuses drum and bass and electronic influences with pop-style songwriting. As sweet as it is addictive, “soft spot” finds piri ruminating on feelings of attachment and closeness: “I’m learning to control my feelings, I know I’ve a tendency to smother.” With the world reopening and physical closeness becoming more of a reality, “soft spot” serves as the perfect “disco time” accompaniment for nights spent dancing, rooftop celebrations, and warmer days. – Rani Boyer
dltzk – “how to lie”
To find the truth in dltzk‘s “how to lie” a little evasion is necessary. The track opens up with a slow burn and two mirrored lines: “Didn’t get dressed, but at least I went outside / Didn’t go outside, but at least I got dressed.” With the track’s title in mind, the listener is left wondering, “What is the lie?” As the song progresses it becomes clear that the narrator is unreliable, admitting that their “face is red and [they] just can’t stop telling lies.” So when they finally announce, “I know, I’m too young to die,” and the track transforms into an industrial cacophony — eventually structured by a jungle beat — it feels like the track is rebelling against its creator’s dishonesty. A moment later, “how to lie”‘s rosy melody is in refrain, but it’s forever tainted by glitches that grow stronger with each repeated “I know, I’m too young to die” until screams replace lyrics. dltzk’s hopeful philosophy has been rejected by the song’s overbearing production as an extraordinary dose of existentialism sets in. By the end of the song, the lie is clear: you’re never too young to die. – Katie Manners
Sg Lily & Loveboy – “Give It Up”
Sg Lily continues a longstanding streak of bittersweet atmospherics with frequent collaborator Loveboy. The artists conjure up their signature melodic strengths, breathing life into an alluring mixture of hip-hop and electronic sensibilities with a sincere refrain to boot: “Sorry if I got your hopes up.” – Mike Giegerich
Nasian – “REDNECK PUNK”
Released on the Fourth of July, Nasian‘s “REDNECK PUNK” is an explosive, tongue-in-cheek reaction to anti-Asian American racism that reared its ugly head during the pandemic. Featured on INDEPENDENCE DAY — where Nasian has infiltrated the White House and now rules as “the youngest and sexiest president of all time” — the track fires farcical shots at racists and trust fund kids, with punk-president Nasian mocking them at every turn: “Pull up on a trust fund kid in a ‘Rari / Make a white boy do the accent ‘I so sowee.'” This anti-racist sentiment is masked by an aural assault of distorted production best described by the track’s title. “REDNECK PUNK” is an in-your-face act of resilience that doesn’t take itself too seriously. “Shut the fuck up / Shove this egg roll in your mouth I hope you choke on it / Take your trust fund cash / Roll a blunt with it and I smoke on it” – Katie Manners