Liv.e & Karriem Riggins share the second single, “HOWWEFLOW,” from their GENA collaboration project and reveal the release date for their album. “HOWWEFLOW” seeks to find the funk in an R&B loop with Liv.e’s sensual vocal repetition and Riggins’ steady snare. It sounds like a warm-up to a much bigger party, a bit more than an intro. The video pokes fun at the madness of office life from the perspective of an artist. An overhead shot captures Liv.e sleepy and surrounded by a ton of work papers that have probably exhausted her. GENA popped out with “Circlesz” after doing shows together in Detroit and New York. They made the decision to record a whole album together as GENA after finding common ground as artists. The Pleasure Is Yours comes out February 27th on Lex Records. They have a show coming up January 31st in London at ICA and tickets are on sale now. 

Liv.e and Karriem Riggins have partnered as the duo GENA and dropped their first single, “Circlesz.” The name is an acronym for God Energy Naturally Amazing and inspired by Tisha Campbell’s character Gina from the ’90s TV series  Martin. The L.A.-based R&B singer and Detroit drummer/producer started playing together as GENA earlier this year. “Circlesz” is a retro trip from the soul jazz tinkling of the keyboard and overall arrangement to the video that looks like the 1980s set from The Tonight Show. It’s amazing to hear that Martin is still influencing new artists in 2025. Riggins recently worked with Common and James Poyser to create “Victory” for the NBA on Prime 2025/2026 theme music. Liv.e released her PAST FUTUR.e album last year and is currently on tour with Earl Sweatshirt. Stay tuned, as there is more to come from GENA.  

Karriem Riggins releases his To The Jungle album via The Madlib Invazion Music Library founded by Madlib and Egon during the pandemic. Riggins works out various rhythm patterns with a collection of songs that will entertain beat junkies and provide source material for producers. The drummer also released “Massamba Afundance” with Madlib from their forthcoming joint album YHWH is LOVE. Their newest collaboration will be the first release on Riggins’s Law Of Rhythm label he co-founded with Jae Barber. YHWH is Love comes out on March 1st. 

[youtube id=”h2QidDR9ofg”] Kandace Springs covers The Stylistics’ “People Make The World Go Round” in a concert setting for the official video. Springs is back after her 2016 Blue Note debut album Soul Eyes. “People Make The World Go Round” is from her three-song Black Orchid EP produced by Karriem Riggins. The singer and pianist is the opening act for Hall and Oates on their North American tour that starts May 1st.