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Live Review: JessB, MIIESHA, Aluna: Best Songs of The Week

1 May 2020 | 11:41 am | Emma Jones

Each week, we receive countless submissions of exciting new music, so we’ll be taking you through a weekly wrap up of all our favourite new tunes every Friday called #TrustedForTaste. Follow our Spotify playlist to never miss our updates!

For more new music and news, head to the Purple Sneakers website. Read on for new music from JessBMIIESHAAlunaJordan DennisMAY-AHartleyThe GoodsHancoqLupa J and DAY1.

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JessB - Pon It

JessB is such a star, and it feels really good to see her finally starting to get the recognition she deserves. With 'Pon It', she once again shows everyone just how talented she really is, delivering rapid rhymes over a dancehall influenced beat and a thick bassline. Showing just how much she's pushing her skills, JessB does not miss with this one! If you're absolutely loving it like we are, you can catch her performing it to the world this weekend with Jameson and NTS Radio's Remote Utopias (more info here).

MIIESHA - Hold Strong

MIIESHA is one of the most exciting and promising acts in the country right now, and if you needed anymore convincing that this was true, you only need to hear her latest single, 'Hold Strong' to hear exactly why. Taken from her forthcoming collection of songs, Nyaaringu, out May 29th, 'Hold Strong' sees MIIESHA pair her heavenly voice with harder-hitting production, making for a hypnotic listen from start to finish. It's a very special release from her too, with the artist explaining the concept behind the song. Having moved away from home I was starting to see more of how the media portrayed my people and my community and felt I needed to speak on it," she said. Keep your eyes peeled for more MIIESHA when Nyaaringu drops - we've got a feeling this is not a record to miss!

ALUNA - Body Pump

The Aluna part of ALUNAGEORGE has stepped out on her own with a forthcoming solo body of work on the way, and today we have the first taste of this with 'Body Pump'. Out now on Diplo's Mad Decent label, 'Body Pump' is a soaring slice of dance pop that comes with an incredible message from Aluna herself. "Having enjoyed being the main ingredient to many successful dance records, I started wanting to create the whole dish. In the past when performing on the stages of my white male peers, I always felt like a visitor being one of the few Black women I could see, so it never fully occurred to me to claim dance music as my music, as an artist, even though it was at the heart of my connection to music. Then I looked at the history of dance music and saw how, for example, Chicago House, known as the invention of house music, was pioneered in the Black and Latino LGTBQ+ communities which gave me inspiration to stake my flag in the ground as a Black woman in dance music by taking control of production and songwriting with my own vibe.” HERE. FOR. IT!

Jordan Dennis - Doc Marty (Ft Denzel M and ThatKidMaz)

Rising Melbourne-based hip-hop artist Jordan Dennis is a name you might already be familiar with, but with his latest release he has levelled up and has put everyone on notice. Admittedly this song came out last week, but we only heard it this week so it still counts! Titled 'Doc Marty', he's teamed up with Denzel M and ThatKidMaz to release the track via his own label imprint with The Orchard and The Operatives, Jordan Dennis Records, and proves he is absolutely one worth keeping both eyes firmly fixed on. Trading spitfire raps over a distorted, almost menacing beat courtesy of Duan, the three rappers go toe to toe on the track with Dennis looking like its no big deal as he shows off his versatility, effortlessly switching from nonchalant flows to blistering rhymes. With plenty more still waiting in the wings, it's all systems go for Jordan Dennis right now!

MAY-A - Green

Sitting somewhere between BENEE and Taylor Swift, newcomer MAY-A returns this week with her latest single, 'Green'. The 18-year-old Byron Bay-raised, Sydney-based songwriter already has a few tracks out in the world, but with 'Green' she has well and truly arrived. Honest, intimate and gentle yet still commanding, 'Green' is an breezy indie-pop gem with electronic flourishes to keep you hooked.

Hartley - Feel Too Much

Rising star Hartley is back with another hard-hitting, self-assured cut of alt-pop in 'Feel Too Much'. Sounding like someone you do not want to fuck with, she channels the likes of BANKS with her stunning vocals over deep, dark electronica, and pairs this with her expert songwriting to craft a bop that will remain in your head long after you've finished listening. Co-produced by producer LÂLKA and mixed by Simon Lam (Kllo), 'Feel Too Much' is an ode to that overwhelming feeling when you've got way too much in your head. Another winner from Hartley!

The Goods - Shots (Ft. Disco J and Touch Sensitive)

The Goods have released their new album this week, and with it comes one of the smoothest disco cuts we've heard in a long time titled 'Shots'. Funk-filled and outrageously groovy, The Goods deliver exactly that, teaming up with Disco J and Touch Sensitive for some added flair. One of Sydney's finest acts in its emerging electronic soul scene, The Goods know how to make you feel damn good with their music and 'Shots' is exactly what we need right now.

HANCOQ - NBA

Another Melbourne name that should be on your radar, Hancoq is back with a distinctly 18+ release this week titled 'NBA'. Channelling early-naughties Neptunes vibes in its production thanks to teaming up with rising producer HamleyHancoq flexes his versatility as she shows off a distinctly different flow to his previous release, 'Ego'. Out now on his own label, Mirage RecordsHancoq continues his hot streak with 'NBA' and with more where this came from, he's not going anywhere any time soon!

Lupa J - Limbo

A longtime favourite of ours here at Purple SneakersLUPA J has released her first single for the year with 'Limbo'. Combining cinematic pop and EDM-influenced production, Lupa J channels the likes of Charli XCX has she seizes the hallmarks of traditional pop and flips them on their head and inside out to make her own mark with a futuristic, self-assured approach. Written at a time when she was heartbroken and angry, Lupa J explained that the meaning behind 'Limbo' is deeper than you might think on first listen. "It definitely is about admiration, but it’s a very scathing and cynical take on myself and how I experience it," she said. Described as "the stadium lights to her new arena" after her 2019 dual-single release "was a torchlight guiding the way to her new direction," we're absolutely here for Lupa J and this exciting new direction. We can't wait to hear more!

DAY1 - Riding

19-year-old Brisbane rapper DAY1 continues his hot streak with 'Riding' this week. Already receiving a co-sign from A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, the newcomer is hellbent on making his mark this year and following on from previous singles 'BOSS' and 'One Time', 'Riding' shows off not just his impressive flow but his ability to make an earworm of a hook as well. Explaining the inspiration behind the song, DAY1 said, "Riding is choosing the priority between your girl and your mates. Although your priority may be one way, your preference may be another." Simple, but effective, DAY1 has come out swinging in 2020 and this is just the start!

Words by Emma Jones

Images: JessB - supplied; Miiesha by Clare Nica; Aluna - supplied

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