
Music


“This ain’t every man for themselves”: Rico Nasty calls for Black sisterhood
The Big Interview: Mixing sugary hyperpop with aggressive punk rap, Rico’s explosive album Nightmare Vacation is a cathartic release to cap a traumatic year.

Listen to MoMa Ready’s feel-good mix
The prolific NYC producer blends warm-hearted house and techno.

Rated by The Face: a weekly playlist
Jorja jumps on a remix of Enny’s Peng Black Girls, Chlobocop switches up her style and Blinding Lights gets a Rosalía rework.

Rounding up TikTok’s 10 biggest hits of 2020
Gen Z’s top app has released its most-streamed tracks of the year. Can you guess who made the cut? Find out here.
100% Tems: all eyes are on Nigeria’s spine tingling alté star
The producer, songwriter and singer talks horoscopes and that time she received eight birthday cakes in one day. Show-off.

Ain’t Gotta Pretend: Enny’s rapping about her reality
The south Londoner has teamed up with label boss Jorja Smith for a remix of Peng Black Girls.

Comedian Jordan Firstman makes a fun funeral playlist
The comedian and writer for Netflix’s Big Mouth has put together a tracklist with a big memorial service vibe.

MADANII & L:LUCID: the duo using trap and Iranian folk songs to unite Berlin’s creatives in a time of uncertainty

Rated by The Face: a weekly playlist
Bad Bunny rocks out, King Princess brings the pain and AJ Tracey secures the bag again.

Jorja Smith: the path worth taking
Liv Little finds the 23-year-old Walsall-born singer-songwriter on the cusp of an extraordinary second act – and offering up her full self for the first time.

Listen to Tijana T’s bittersweet mix
The Serbian DJ’s emotive selections will have you pining for the club.

100% Priya Ragu: the Tamil-Swiss singer inventing the genre-colliding sound of Raguwavy
The artist has defined her own style of music, blending soul, electro and pop with a nod to her South Indian heritage.

Watch Going In, a candid documentary about the UK rap scene
The film follows four artists who’ve turned their troubles and dreams into art.

Listen to Ruel’s tear-jerking playlist
It’s been a tough year. The Aussie pop singer has gathered some tunes which capture the mood.

Rated by The Face: a weekly playlist
Featuring NUKG from Conducta and JGrrey, NSG’s custard-praising hit and reggaeton rhythms from Kali Uchis.

Roy Blair: “I was completely lost from reality”
He's been up, he's been down. Now the 24-year-old singer-songwriter is ready to return brimming with confidence – and a house-inspired second album.

100% Amaarae: Afropop’s surreal rule-breaker
The Accra-based singer and producer talks signature dishes, classic Lil’ Kim looks and sending Trump to outer space.

Joe Black: the UK rap veteran now coaching football
The seasoned MC is teaching under-16s how to keep their eyes on the ball.

Legendary Liverpudlian radio station Melodic Distraction on community spirit in a time of creative crisis

Rated by The Face: a weekly playlist
Featuring Billie Eilish’s return, Amaarae’s sad girls anthem, and the West Midlands link up of Pa Salieu and M1llionz.

Watch Gia Ford perform her dark pop song Sleeping in Your Garden
The London-via-Sheffield songwriter steps into her fantasy world for the Lucent:APEX live sessions series.

100% Goya Gumbani: the rapper dissecting life, death and everything in between
As he releases his new five track EP, Truth Be Sold, the London-via-Brooklyn rapper talks misguided materialism and how we’re all just another piece in the puzzle.
Claudia Valentina is eyeing up pop stardom
The 19-year-old newcomer talks Hollywood dreams, big boss energy and taking on a shelved single from Selena Gomez.