There is a peculiar friction to the digital textures of Skylarka and her new album, "Somnorine". It’s supposed to be chiptune-influenced synthwave, but listening to it feels less like browsing the internet and more like chewing on aluminum foil while watching Blade Runner on a CRT monitor that’s slowly degaussing. It’s a sensory contradiction bright, crystalline pop hooks wrestling with the deep, existential dread...

Nyinée, a Nigerian singer on the rise, just released her new song called “Tolotolo.” A song about a sweet, loving, and clearly romantic kind of love. The song comes off as a tune of a love relationship, with soft touches, longing looks, and lighthearted teasing. The joyful and culturally rich word "Tolotolo" fits the mood of the song perfectly. In many social situations in Nigeria, people...