Sudan Archives: Confessions

Sudan Archives (aka Cincinnati-born, LA-based Brittney Parks) returns with a single from her forthcoming album Athenao—out 1 November on Stones Throw Records. Beginning with emotive violin, played by Parks herself, the song’s infectious beat and breezy vocals then appear. The result is simultaneously symphonic, hypnotic, mellow and proudly feminine—and the Nathan R Smith-directed video follows suit. “Confessions, a female flip on classic rap music videos …

Vagabon: Water Me Down

Part chill-pop, part eclectic electronic, “Water Me Down” by Vagabon (aka Cameroon-born Laetitia Tamko) entices with its ethereal and buoyant melody. While she sings of disappointment (“You know me better than that / You know I hate it like that / It really waters me down”) there’s an upbeat energy to her vocals. The Maegan Houang-directed and Derek Nemechek-choreographed video adds to the storyline, flooding …

Mallrat: Drive Me Round

Australian singer/rapper/producer Mallrat (aka Grace Shaw) released her third, and most polished, EP Driving Music earlier this month. From it, “Drive Me Round” is at first a gentle, drifting tune (complete with echoing background chants), but when the beat drops the track turns into a rich, synth-driven bop. Concurrently melancholy and upbeat, the song is a glittery couple of minutes long, and sees the Mallrat’s …