India Shawn - “Too Sweet feat. Unknown Mortal Orchestra”

India Shawn has returned with a new single featuring Portland’s Unknown Mortal Orchestra. It’s the much anticipated follow-up to 2020′s “Movin’ On” which featured a different high-powered collaboration with Anderson .Paak. “It’s been a goal of mine for years now to create the kind of music that I listen to. I’m happy I’ve finally manifested that with Too Sweet,” said Shawn. The Angelino singer’s gorgeous vocal delivery is truly captivating here and the musical accompaniment from Unknown Mortal Orchestra sets the table with a perfect combination of dreamy flow and R&B rhythmic groove.

Sorry - “Cigarette Packet”

London outfit Sorry has dropped a new track called “Cigarette Packet” which was co-produced with James Dring (Gorillaz, Nilüfer Yanya). “The sounds are quite metallic / silver / grey and the lyrical ideas are repetitive almost as if they are whispers / mantras / worries that you’d say to yourself and keep to yourself,” said vocalist and songwriter Asha Lorenz in a press release. Her signature phlegmatic vocal style is in full display on this track and fits perfectly with the musical strut that makes the song one of this year’s early highlights.

Ya Tseen - “Knives feat. Portugal. The Man”

Nicholas Galanin is an indigenous Tlingit and Unangax̂ artist from Sheet’ka (Sitka, Alaska). “Knives” comes from his debut record, “Indian Yard,” which he performs with the band Ya Tseen (which means “be alive” and is a reference to his Tlingit name Yeil Ya Tseen). “Knives” features fellow Alaska musicians (and Portland residents) Portugal. The Man. “Knives is a love song about softening a calloused heart and experiencing the edge of magnetic desire, romantic connection, vulnerability, and risk that love opens us up to,” Galanin said via a recent press release from his label, storied Seattle imprint Sub Pop. The pulsating musical drive of the song creates an atmosphere that draws listeners in while the vocal elements have a subtle beauty that are certain keep them engaged.