Remember Clairo’s viral YouTube break-out with the laptop-recorded Pretty Girl last summer? What a difference 9 months (and almost 15 million views) makes! Today, the 19-year-old songwriter and producer from Boston released her first ever EP, diary 001. “I decided on this title because, to me, each song feels like a different diary entry from a different time in my life,” she shared on Instagram. “It is the end of a chapter for me, and I’m excited to show you what I’ve got next.” Considering this first chapter is ending on a total high with features from Rejjie Snow and Danny L Harle ( B.O.M.D is the opener for today’s playlist) we’re very excited to be gazing longingly into Clairo’s bright future.
It’s all going on today!i-D coverstar A$AP Rocky shared his new album, TESTED, that seemed to come straight out of the blue. Apparently not, though, as features from Skepta, FKA Twigs, Kodak Black, Frank Ocean and Kid Cudi suggest it’s been quite the project. Our favourite track, the introspective Lauryn Hill-sampling Purity with FrOcean made the playlist. We hope he finds peace of mind, too.
Another playlist highlight is What Would Meek Do? from Pusha T’s DAYTONA. Out today, the entire seven track album was produced by Kanye, who features on the aforementioned track. “Literally this is nothing more than the outcome of our music therapy sessions,” Pusha T said about the release. Into the artwork? It’s a photograph of Whitney Houston’s drug-filled bathroom circa 2006 that Kanye paid $85,000 to license. A worthy investment or kind of disrespectful? Answers on a postcard, please. Listen out for him referencing the infamous poop-di-scoop song and be sure to take a look at the accompanying merch by Cali Thornhill Dewitt, if you’re into that sort of thing.
Heaven-sent Moses Sumney figured out exactly what would make this gray Friday a lot better — reworks of his single Make Out In My Car by Sufjan Stevens, James Blake and Alex Isley — and released it into the world overnight. Brilliant. The Sufjan Stevens number made the playlist today, because, well, it’s fucking beautiful. Also quite beautiful, we find, is jazz. Great London jazzer Kamaal Williams released his new album, The Return, today and we’ve selected stand-out tune High Roller for our round-up.
Heard of Shygirl yet? The South London singer, DJ and NUXXE-associate alongside Coucou Chloe and Sega Bodega released an EP called Cruel Practice today. Full of dark club music, it’s got us all excited – listen to our fave track, the well-named O. That not enough for you? There’s also new music from Jorja Smith, the return of Irish singer Bonzai as Corella, the first we’ve heard from handsome Manila R&B artist No Rome, and the debut output from Norway rapper Pen Gutt. You’re welcome.