SXSW favorite Aisha Badru released a haunting and intriguing new single early this month that caught our attention. "Fossil Fuels" is significant for many reasons, from Aisha's captivating voice to its lyrical content, this song hits all the right notes. Lines like  "Flowers cannot bloom without precipitation/ And lovers will not last without reciprocation" and "I kept you warm 'til I was ashes" are so well-crafted while also introspective. These lyrics are only made better with the moody dubstep-like music that accompanies them making this song both vulnerable and intense all at the same time. Dynamically "Fossil Fuels" becomes larger as it goes along, bringing us more into it as it strongly unfolds. You'll ponder what Aisha has to say but you'll also just love how it sounds when she says it. If this is any indication of what Aisha has in store for her album Pendulum out next month, there's much to be excited for.

Los Angeles genre-bending artist Moses Sumney released his gorgeous and ethereal debut album Aromanticism into the world this September. Sumney has made a big impression on artists like Solange and Sufjan Stevens for good reason. His infusion of soul and folk come together on this album in a way that leaves us begging for more. A prime example of this heavenly blend is found on the third song of the album, “Plastic.” A previous version of the song can be heard on the first season of Issa Rae’s HBO series, Insecure. This new version serves as one of the more simplistic songs on the album, featuring just a fingerpicked electric guitar, a synth and Sumney’s captivating voice. The hook of the song repeats the line “my wings are made of plastic,” each time sung in a slightly different way than it was before, continuing to imbue the phrase with new meaning. This song of vulnerability, self-awareness and secret-spilling is the kind that you can leave on repeat and get lost in for hours.