The Japanese House: Something Has to Change

The Japanese House’s newest release “Something Has to Change” delivers those same four words over and over, seemingly to convince listeners and perhaps singer Amber Bain herself. Backed by an upbeat instrumental, the song is a dreamy chill-pop tune from Bain and her band—who appear for the first time together in the music video directed by photographer Nadira Amrani. The track will appear on The …

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 …