Some weeks, the rotation has a very particular agenda.
This one seems to be somewhere between catching feelings, minding your business and remembering that good R&B will always have a place in the conversation.
Four records, four different approaches to getting your attention. A little romance, a little attitude and enough replay value to make the skip button feel unemployed.
Here's what's been in rotation.
RomMe: Spell
Some people catch feelings. Others apparently end up under a full-blown spell.
Australian singer and producer ROMME is exploring the latter, and judging by this record, he's not particularly interested in finding a cure.
There's something deliciously dramatic about describing attraction as a supernatural experience. But that's exactly what makes "SPELL." interesting. It captures that slightly irrational stage of infatuation where someone has an unreasonable amount of influence over your thoughts and you're not entirely opposed to it.
It's romantic obsession dressed up as R&B.
Healthy? Debatable. Worth adding to the rotation? Absolutely.
WESLEYFRANKLIN: Venetian Windows
There's something about a good bassline that makes a song immediately more convincing.
WESLEYFRANKLIN clearly understands this because "Venetian Windows" wastes absolutely no time getting comfortable in your ears.
The production is crisp, the bassline has a little attitude and his vocals glide over the rhythm without competing for attention. It's smooth R&B with just enough bounce to keep things interesting.
And while the lyrics suggest a situation that might be slightly more complicated than the production lets on, the song sounds entirely too good to concern yourself with the details.
This is the kind of record you play while driving with absolutely nowhere urgent to be. Windows down, volume up and suddenly the scenic route feels necessary.
BIJAN: Do U
First of all, why is this song less than two minutes long?
BIJAN has some explaining to do.
"Do U" is one of those records that makes an impression before you've had enough time to figure out exactly what you're listening to. There's a confidence in her delivery and an interesting contrast between the softness of her melodies and the edge of the production.
It's moody, a little unconventional and refreshingly uninterested in fitting neatly into one category.
What I appreciate most is that BIJAN sounds like an artist with a point of view. There's a certain freedom in the way she approaches her music that makes you curious about what else she's capable of.
My only complaint? Just as I'm settling in, the song is over.
Fortunately, the replay button exists.
AJ McQueen featuring Dajha Vu: Just Like Music
Now this is what I'm talking about.
"Just Like Music" has that familiar soulfulness that makes you feel like you've stumbled across something from another era, except AJ McQueen and Dajha Vu are bringing their own perspective to it.
There's a warmth to the production, a beautiful balance between the two artists and a kind of chemistry that doesn't need to announce itself.
AJ's delivery feels conversational, almost poetic, while Dajha Vu brings another layer of personality to the record. Neither is fighting for attention. They're simply making good music together.
And can we appreciate a love song that actually sounds like the people involved enjoy each other?
Imagine that. Romance without the emotional gymnastics.
The record is soulful, affectionate and a reminder that hip-hop and R&B have always made a particularly good couple.
Some collaborations sound like two artists sharing a song.
This one sounds like a conversation worth listening to.
Final Thoughts
There's something satisfying about a rotation that doesn't feel obligated to stick to one sound.
WESLEYFRANKLIN brings the groove, BIJAN makes a strong case for doing things her own way and AJ McQueen and Dajha Vu remind us that sincerity still sounds pretty good over a soulful beat.
Different approaches, but there's a common thread here. Personality.
These are the kinds of records that make music discovery worthwhile. Artists with something interesting to offer, whether it's a particular sound, an unexpected approach or simply a song that refuses to leave your head.
And frankly, my playlist is better for it.
