Jams of the Week: 808ink, Anuka, Hana, Shama Rahman, Third Smoke
This week we’re rolling with 808ink, breaking off scrubs with Hana, and summoning the water spirits with Shama Rahman.
*** Listen to even more new music on The Fresh List playlist ***
‘Come Down’ by 808ink
South London crew 808ink (pictured) have come through with a tight selection of neon-tinged hip hop on their major label debut, When I’m About, You’ll Know. It’s all bottles, rhymes and good times with producer 808Charmer and rapper Mumblez Black Ink. ‘Flexing’ side A and B, and ‘Handy’ are all banging tunes. But it’s the man-with-plan machismo of ‘Come Down’ that we can’t get enough of. It’s a like A Tribe Called Quest-Busta Rhymes jam for the grime era. Trust: the flex is strong with this one.
‘Used’ by Anuka
Anuka is making art of personal anguish. ‘Used’ is Anuka’s expression of how her obsession for someone else caused her to lose her sense of self-worth. singer, songwriter and producer from the Netherlands. Sounding like Annie Lennox meets Dido and a rhythmic tension, we’re here for this pop therapy.
‘Personal (feat. Hana)’ by London Rebels
London Rebels (aka LDNRBS) is a multidiscipline arts collective, and are best known right now for its radio show of the same name – broadcast on PulseRadio. Last month, they released Shades Reloaded – an updated version of their 2017 project, showcasing new music by UK R&B and hip hop artists. It’s worth giving the whole thing a spin on SoundCloud. But if you only listen to one track, check out Personal featuring Hana for some slow, smoky break-up music that’s somewhere between Janet Jackson and Kali Uchis.
‘Personal Grey’ by Shama Rahman
If you’ve had a particularly exhausting day, the languid embrace of Shama Rahman’s reflective songs is nourishing. Cushioned by hypnotic guitar and sitar music, Rahman speaks this calming vocal mediation into being. Hear more of Rahman’s gorgeous music on her Truth BeTold EP.
‘Maya’ by Third Smoke
Irish rockers Third Smoke caught our ear recently with ‘Maya’. If there’s one thing that U2, The Script and Imagine Dragons all share it’s a knack for anthemic crowd-pleasers with big chords and big choruses. These fellas are chasing down that energy with admirable gusto. Give the group’s Maybe in Time EP a listen.
*** Listen to even more new music on The Fresh List playlist ***
Image: courtesy of 808ink