Whether you’re a fan of R&B, K-pop, Americana – or better yet, all three – this week’s #OutToday has got something for you. Listen to the new releases from rising Nigerian artist Tems, Americana group The Band of Heathens, and K-pop phenomenons EVERGLOW.
Tems – For Broken Ears (Tems)
Temilade Openiyi, AKA Tems, is a Nigerian singer, writer, and producer redefining the Nigerian music scene. A native of Isale Eko, Lagos Island, Tems fuses classic Nigerian musical influences with influences from R&B and Neo-soul, finding great inspiration from artists like Lauryn Hill, Asa, Amy Winehouse, and more. Recently, Tems was featured in Complex’s “10 Nigerian Artists to Watch 2020” and her new EP For Broken Ears will only continue to launch her. From feel-good uptempo “Damages” to 2000s-reminiscent “Ice T,” Tems demonstrates her versatility in not only her sounds but her portrayal of emotion and feel. Listen to For Broken Ears out now.
The Band of Heathens – Stranger (BOH Records/MRI)
Austin-based band The Band of Heathens are back again with their new studio album, Stranger. Though the title of their new album references the famed existential Albert Camus novel and Robert Heinlein’s sci-fi classic “Stranger in a Strange Land,” Stranger takes on an entirely new meaning in 2020. “The strangest [time to release an album]” co-founder Ed Jurdi says, “maybe no time stranger. Since we started, there have been sweeping, revolutionary changes in the music business, but, in this global pandemic, we’re just a microcosm.” The band recorded Stranger in Portland, OR with producer Tucker Martine (The Decemberists, My Morning Jacket, Modest Mouse). Featuring ten songs, from “Vietnorm,” inspired by bassist Jesse Wilson’s stoned viewing of Cheers, to the rhythmic “Truth Left,” which takes on the politicization of information, The Band of Heathens manages to bring everyone together with Stranger.
EVERGLOW – ‘-77.82x-78.29’ (Genie Music)
South Korean pop group EVERGLOW present their 4th EP, -77.82X-78.29. Composed of the 6 members E:U, SIHYEON, MIA, ONDA, AISHA, and YIREN, EVERGLOW have established themselves as a leading K-pop group, racking up millions of streams and YouTube views. Their newest EP features 4 singles, the title song “LA DI DA” which is an uptempo electro-pop hit, dance-pop track “UNTOUCHABLE,” R&B-inspired “GXXD BOY”, and the powerful closing track “NO GOOD REASON.” Listen to -77.82x-78.29, out now!
