Heaters: For Those I Love, Rejjie Snow & Æmak

We’ve been patiently waiting for the moment that Lil Nas X would pole dance into hell and it’s finally arrived.

After teasing ‘Montero’ for what feels like a lifetime he dropped the video today as a defiant message of queer expression.

Speaking on the video and single he said, “… this will open doors for many other queer people to simply exist. You see this is very scary for me, people will be angry, they will say I’m pushing an agenda. But the truth is, I am. The agenda to make people stay the fuck out of other people’s lives and stop dictating who they should be. “

Avant garde pop trailblazer Æ MAK shared her Class Exercises EP complete with icy synths and explosive songwriting.

It landed alongside a brilliant video for ‘New Friend’ from COLLECTIVE Films which sees Æ MAK take a twisted and chaotic trip through the capital.

David Balfe’s For Those I Love has been the most hotly anticipated Irish album of the year so far.

Following stunning performances on Other Voices and Jools Holland he’s shared a vulnerable and raw body of work informed by past trauma, shared experience, rave sounds whilst paying tribute to the late, great Paul Curren.

A must-listen.

Irish producers sohotsospicy & darkmavis’ delivery of abstract vocal samples and 140bpm club stompers on sodarksospicy is perfect the adrenaline shot to clear any lockdown brain fog.

Landing via Talamh it’s 16 minutes of experimental goodness and features two original tracks from the pair along with two remixes from both CNÁMHA and Sweet Philly.

Does The Alchemist ever sleep? Following a GRAMMY nomination for Alfredo with Freddie Gibbs the prolific producer has teamed up with Billy Woods and ELUCID AKA Armand Hammer for another slice of gritty rap goodness.

There’s features from Earl Sweatshirt, Quelle Chris and more.

Dublin’s Rejjie Snow has returned with a lullaby trap anthem. ‘Relax’ features grouptherapy and Cam O’bi who has worked extensively with Snow.

On the post on Instagram announcing the single Rejjie commented “Arigato next week”. New album who dis?

Landing through Belfast’s Touch Sensitive, Black Bones’ Night Drive is a forward thinking and at times claustrophobic body of diverse sounds informed by the pair’s penchant for crate digging.

The standout track comes in the shape of  ‘Punghi’, a searing and tribal offering.

Speaking on the EP they said, “For us the record was inspired by and made for those nighttime floors, that we clearly miss right now. Also late night drives on long open roads, where you can build up speed and get lost in sound.”

GhostKing Is Dead’s evolution is something to behold.

The cork-based songwriter has provided his most compelling effort to date in ‘I Don’t Need Help‘. Borrowing inspiration from the off-kilter arrangements of Vegyn and the honest lyricism of Justin Vernon, GKID is proving to be an artist comfortable taking the road less travelled.

Toronto singer LOONY has linked up with mid-west spitter Mick Jenkins for a certified head-nodder. ‘royal flush‘ sees LOONY shift through the gears before Mick provides a composed verse from the passenger side.

Newdad’s dreamy guitar-driven anthems have gained the Galway four-piece plaudits across the board.

Their debut EP Waves has arrived and threatens to propel them from the west coast of Ireland to the world.