With her latest single ‘Waste My Time’ taking TikTok by storm, Essosa has officially become everyone’s “new favourite pop/R&B girlie”. Within just two weeks of the release, not only did the British-Canadian-Nigerian singer-songwriter and dancer surpass 1 million streams for the first time, she also gained co-signs from artists such as Kaytranada and FLO. But while virality has never been her focus, all the love that the 22 year old has been receiving on the 90s-inspired track comes as “a huge relief” as it confirms that music is truly her calling.

When it comes to her artistry, Baby Rose trusts that committing herself to honesty and innovation will birth timeless music, and that’s certainly what her new album Through and Through is. Having already distinguished herself through her signature smoky vocals and poetic vulnerability on her debut album To Myself (2019), the 28-year-old is continuing to carve out her own lane with her latest project. Recorded between LA, Atlanta and Nashville, the 11-track LP embodies that fact that Rose doesn't write music to fit into a box.

Entering the new year as a Spotify chart-topper, South London’s Pritt is set on changing the game in 2023. With a style that blends R&B with her Carnatic training, Pritt’s artistry is not only a form of self-expression, it is also how she educates and makes an impact. We recently caught up with Pritt to learn a little bit more about who she is and her musical journey.

For our Sounds and Sonics series, we caught up with Joya Mooi to unpack her new studio album 'What’s Around The Corner' track by track.

With her own intergalactic flair, New York-born, Japanese-Puerto Rican R&B artist Mai Anna is unpacking the beauties and complexities of love and life. The dreamlike production of the 22 year old's latest single ‘Jupiter’ naturally feels futuristic and familiar as her artistry lies in the intersection between novelty and nostalgia.

To put it simply, Tasha Angela is where etherealness meets emotion. Drawing on elements of soul, indie, r&b, pop and jazz, the Toronto-based singer-songwriter-pianist is carving out a sound that’s uniquely expressive and transcendent. Describing herself as a “creative humanitarian”, she hopes that the music that she creates from her emotional journey can help others on theirs.

By exploring heritage and the freedom of fantasy, Chloe Bodur’s new EP, RÜYA, is a sensual serenade.

Proudly hailing from Bahia, Brazil’s rising alt-r&b star Juniper is translating her journal entries into music that touch the soul.

Latanya Alberto is slowly but surely establishing herself as a creative force delivering stories of real depth through her music.

Stress kills creativity. Research shows that when our stress feels uncontrollable, it negatively affects how we perform creatively. According to Mind UK, while stress isn’t normally considered to be a mental health problem, it can be both a cause and a product of poor mental health. So, given that PoCs are “at higher risk of developing a mental health problem in adulthood but are less likely to receive support for their mental health”, stress management needs to be a priority for PoCs navigating the creative industries.

Extract: "Mind also identified a lack of support as a key factor making students particularly vulnerable to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. We need a culture of consciousness and care for those within our community, who may otherwise suffer alone." // This piece is a part of Co-op's inaugural issue of The Lookout, a student safety magazine written for students by students.

Extract: "In viewing the mind as a reimagined definition of "home”, identifying that emotional (dis)comfort can arise from smell-evoked memories definitely plays a role in understanding this personal space."// This piece is a part of the first print edition of SISTAH ZINE, a media platform dedicated to women's liberation. (sistahzine.bigcartel.com)

The backlash that resulted from the comparison of Snoh Aalegra to Sade on Twitter highlights a lack of understanding of the relationship between inspiration and artistic individuality.

For VICE UK, I spoke to five university students about their opinions and experiences as one of the few Black people on their courses in the arts and humanities.

Over an oat milk hot chocolate in East London, anaiis engages in a raw discussion that moves from her music to our society, reflections, realisations, and more. Indicative of her individuality, the absence of romantic love in anaiis’ music and her exploration of abstract themes led to a conservation that uncovers more about the identity and philosophies of the Toulouse-born, London-based singer-songwriter.