February is (finally) here and new releases are picking up steam in the 5th new music Friday of Q1. On the shady side of huge new releases from big machine artists, these burgeoning acts are making waves. Let us know what you think below!

Artist: Doja Cat

Song Title: Roll With Us

Hot take: Doja Cat returns with a light knocking trap lullaby after her standout 2014  Purrr! EP that sounds like a fun and natural follow up for the Kemosabe signee.

Artist: SG Lewis ft. J Warner

Song Title: Aura

Hot take: SG Lewis released one of the best songs of 2016 with “Yours”; artists with such command over their own sound can control any track. “Aura” takes us on a funky House trip similar to 2017 standout DEAN & Syd’s “Love”.

Artist: Aaron Camper

Song Title: Commandments

Hot take: One of my favorite voices of the year in what we would consider Contemporary R&B. “Commandments” kicks and glides through a moody throwback arrangement that blends a rap-sung hook borrowing the melody from Eminem’s legendary Dido-sung “Stan”. A fantastic arrangement that looks to Camper to cut his own sound lane in 2018.

Artist: St. Beauty

Song Title: Stone Mountain

Hot take: “Lately I’ve been way too hard on myself” beams the Atlanta duo on one of my favorite tracks from their debut project Running to the Sun. An ode to staying grounded and tackling your goals one step (or climb) at a time, St. Beauty shines on what is definitely a standout track of Q1.