Reviews

Hip-hop, R&B, Singapore Stuart Yong Hip-hop, R&B, Singapore Stuart Yong

Nic Soze : Lost

Contemporary R&B has been stuck at a creative bottleneck for a while now, and Nic Soze’s Lost isn’t doing much to help. Its influences are clear from the start; submerged vocal samples, crooning sing-rap vocals, lyrics about a nondescript romance with a nondescript partner.

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Post-punk, Indonesia Oto Sequeira Post-punk, Indonesia Oto Sequeira

Temarram : Dua Empat

Temarram's “Dua Empat” is a slow and drawn out piece that successfully captures the themes of introspection, meaningless and escapism – a welcomed modern take on the stylistic conventions set by their 80s new-wave influences.

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Hip-hop, Singapore, Indonesia Stuart Yong Hip-hop, Singapore, Indonesia Stuart Yong

Kenzo : Glass Box, Vol. 2

Conjuring vivid scenes of manholes and overcoats, Kenzo’s Glassbox Vol. 2 defies the brittle nature of its name. Unabashed and unconcerned with fragility, the project is reminiscent of a grimy city sprawl with streets ruled by crime. Just like the rumble of urban traffic, percussive samples, sirens, crunchy guitars and turntable scratches thrillingly weave in and out of its beatwork.

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R&B, Singapore Isaac Chiew R&B, Singapore Isaac Chiew

nkei : No

Teaming up vocalist Raizel Gonzales (of Woes fame) and producer Ian Lee (AKA eelnai), R&B duo nkei present a tasteful and emotionally potent take on the genre with their heartbreaking debut single, No

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Hip-hop, Singapore Isaac Chiew Hip-hop, Singapore Isaac Chiew

St47ic: Altior Potentia

On their return, St47tic flex witty lyricism and a truculent attitude over woozy trap production. Yet, despite Altior Potentia meaning “Higher Power” in Latin, the track unfortunately doesn’t transcend its more derivative tendencies.

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