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.

Linking up with esteemed Singaporean hip-hop luminary Akeem Jahat and rising singer-songwriter Marian Carmel, local production team Soul Dot conjures a laid-back neo-soul jam on “what are we?”

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. 

As far as Leeray’s melodies on Semicircle goes, it’s a winner through simplicity. Or as he puts it, done wasting time on bullshit.

Teaming up with singer Marj, Wednesday’s Child delivers a perfectly soulful and groovy ode to holding on and unwanted goodbyes.

Tim De Cotta’s When I Met You is an understated profession of love infused that is deceivingly simple and groovy to no end.

On Tek It Slo, YRFN and Khally come together for a slick pop bop on love and lust.