Liam Bailey’s fourth EP Brand New comes on the heels of the singles “You Saw The Devil In Me” and “Brother, Why You Gotta Love Her.” The five-song EP reflects Bailey’s soul, reggae and rock influences in a collection that could qualify as ideal driving music. The British singer explained the new music in a press release: 

“The EP is heavily inspired by a lot of new music I’ve been listening to recently & I’m especially loving the synths I’ve been hearing. I linked with Rich Cooper with this fresh sound in mind. The way we worked was really cool; we mainly jammed around until we caught a vibe that felt right to keep going with. We had lots of great musical spaces to write my recent truths against a different sound to what I’m used to. Although I couldn’t help going old school on “Hold Tight” with Fred Cox – the song has s been on repeat at home, it’s proper uplifting which is rare for me.”

He just shared the video for “Hold Tight” and Brand New is available on all the streaming platforms. 

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[youtube id=”NqjPqsry7no”]Lizzo drops the video for “Cuz I Love You” on Valentines Day and it is a dramatic toast to love. The black and white clip has moments of glamor and bohemianism as the rapper declares her feelings in front of a group of men. At times she belts out her words like a blues singer in between her rapped lines. “Cuz I Love You” is the title track of Lizzo’s new album coming April 19th just days before she starts her tour with two dates at Coachella. 

India.Arie’s current single “What If”  questions the course of African-American history if people like Martin Luther King Jr., Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou had not pursued their ambitions. It is a motivational song encouraging everyone to remember that they are the change they seek in life. The song’s introduction during Black History Month is timely and just a few days (February 15th) before Arie’s Worthy album is officially available in stores and on streaming platforms. 

[youtube id=”KWeuJf_VdXI”]Watch Fatoumata Diawara perform “Negue Negue (Let’s Have Fun)” at the premier showcase for the 61st Grammy ceremony. The artist brought her guitar along and demonstrated why her 2018 sophomore album Fenfo (Something To Say) resonated with so many people. Diawara’s performance was also a celebration of her nomination for Best World Music Album.