Cooler sounds inspired by the past prevail as we transition from February into March. These new (and not so new) artists have something to say, check them out below and let us know what you think!

Artist: Amber Olivier

Track: Can’t Trust

Hot Take: Pronounced Olivier (Oh-Liv-ee-ye), the London native takes on 90’s R&B melodies with her nostalgic, yet fresh self-titled debut. Boasting productions from Masego & Brent Faiyaz,  fluttering with intimate and atmospheric melodies “Can’t Trust” is a standout that definitely harkens back to a specific time in R&B where “it was just me, Monica & baby girl” (Brandy “Should I Go” 2004).

Artist: Leon Thomas

Track: Favorite (ft. Buddy)

Hot Take: Getting his start on the Nickelodeon show Victorious (more recently from Issa Rae’s Insecure), Leon Thomas III has been acting, performing and songwriting for over a decade. Penning four songs on fellow co-host Ariana Grande’s debut album and eventually his first Grammy win as a part of Toni Braxton & Babyface’s duet album as a producer/writer. “Favorite” sees him crooning about the best parts of a brand new love over an interpolation of Raphael Saadiq’s “Still Ray” (one of my favorite songs ever, that samples rap classic “Still D.R.E.”).

Artist: Txs

Track: Big Girl

Hot Take: The Dallas native was discovered singing on Instagram by songwriter/producer Rico Love and flew to Miami to work on her new music. What came from that union was her debut album “Everything Is Bigger”, an 11-track opus to young love and heartbreak including the declaration intro track “Big Girl”. Check this project out everywhere.

Artist: Beano French

Track: Darling Baby (ft. Annie Miller)

Hot Take: Leading with a bass walk, the West Philadelphia native croons like a Motown classic (and samples Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me”) until a series of 808 and claps slide in that bring this classic sound into 2018. The first project from Beano French features only 8 songs but enough of a well-rounded sound to anticipate more from this new artist. Check out “Roll With Me” as well from his debut project “Just Beano”.

Artist: BA

Track: She Ready

Hot Take: Versatile-style emcee BA, and highly anticipated up-and-coming Chicago artist who has a special talent for blending smoothing vocals with hard hitting bars show his best of both world skill set on this new club banger.  Produced by @ep1dmc and mixed by @cole_kruggel. His debut album is due later this year.