Release Radar: February 2023
At the end of each month, Afterglow presents a staff-picked list of new albums and singles that left a lasting impression on our ears.
Written by Afterglow Staffers
Here are our favorite albums and singles released during February 2023. For more reviews of recent releases, check out our album review page!
Shiny Singles We Loved This Month
“Dreaming” by Jane.
Heartbroken and yearning, Jane.’s haunting latest single, “Dreaming,” showcases powerful vocals set to dark instrumentals. With despondent lyrics, the ode to the disillusionment of love and society evokes feelings of helplessness while also remaining hopeful against all odds. — Trisha Dasgupta
“Gonna Go” by serpentwithfeet
With ethereal vocals alongside syncopated beats, seprentwithfeet’s newest single, “Gonna Go,” is not a typical love song. The R&B singer’s voice shines over stunning basslines, producing a funky tune about messy situationships. — Trisha Dasgupta
“Black Is The New Gold” by Brooke Combe
A profound message of African American cultural pride, Brooke Combe’s latest super-charged single is far from reserved. The soulful three-minute track boasts a groovy bassline, euphonious backing vocals, and a laidback drumbeat to create a compelling anthem of perseverance, resiliency, and inner strength. — Catalina Perez
“Teeth” by Ergo, Bria
Released on Valentine’s Day, “Teeth” bleeds of rage against those that belittle songstress Ergo, Bria, capturing the essence of what it feels like to hate every word that comes out of someone’s mouth. With an album on the way, the Atlanta artist leans more towards punk and hardcore with this track, highlighting her ability to move between genres by shifting from her original indie rock sound. The singer also showcases the versatility in her voice, as she switches between an eerie whisper, punching vocals, and sickening screams. — Isabel Alvarez
“Float” by Janelle Monáe ft. Seun Kuti and Egypt 80
After five years without solo project music, powerhouse songstress Janelle Monáe released “Float,” an anthem for feeling the gravity of doubt melt off your shoulders. Accompanied by the amplifying horns of Seun Kuti and Egypt 80, Monáe champions her growth into becoming someone whose confidence elevated her into a person who can’t be held down. — Isabel Alvarez
“Get Away” by Amaria
Tampa native Amaria conjures a coastal escape as her sultry voice floats above hypnotic instrumentals in latest R&B groove, “Get Away.” “I'll take you places that you've never known / I'm thinking we can get some time alone,” invites Amaria from the passenger seat of an open-air car, gentle breeze caressing her hair, in the single’s dreamy accompanying music video. — Wayne Lim
“Camille” by chlothegod
Soulful vocals, a twangy lead guitar, and a jivey bassline command attention in Chloe “chlothegod” Chavis’ newest R&B track “Camille,” just as the eponymous ex-lover retains the North Carolina singer’s adoration in her yearnful lyricism. — Wayne Lim
“73%” by Algiers
Energetic, tough-edged, and fiery, Algiers’ newest single is a powerful, gritty statement. The song features a bold, unique blend of no wave, post-punk à la Gang of Four and PiL, along with spoken, spitfire vocals that feels natural despite being a band with many mastered styles under their belt. The song is a ticking time bomb that progresses in intensity until it finally blows up in one final punch of vocal fury. — Avirat Thakor
The Rebirth of Marvin by October London
Image courtesy of Death Row Records
Indiana-based R&B artist October London’s soulful and suave nature is evident in his latest release, The Rebirth of Marvin, a sensual album exuding harmonious melodies and passionate desires. The project opens with angelic ballad “Sensual Conversations,” which boasts an introduction by Snoop Dogg, and cultivates the heartfelt tone for the rest of the album. The ethereal introduction, defined by a flowing harp, celestial harmonies, and soft murmurs of brass instruments, makes way for London to smoothly serenade his lover. “Many men have loved you (Many men) / But none of them quite like me,” he croons. The track revolves around London’s amorous disposition towards his lover, assuring them he would treat them right. The final track of the album, “You Look Better,” opens with a synthy trumpet riff and a percussion-led instrumental buildup and release that establishes the track’s solid, yet laid-back rhythm. In this fervent end to the album, London entices a woman and expresses his affection for her by reassuring her that she would be better off with him, as communicated in the lyrics, “Girl don’t you see / You look better when you’re with me.” Dripping with passion and infused with soulful falsettos, the mellifluous sound of The Rebirth of Marvin establishes an aura of romanticism and charm, through an allusion of Marvin Gaye’s legacy and an accentuation of an alluring, suave ambience. — Catalina Perez
Support October London on Spotify.
Somewhere Over The Mystic Moon by India Sky
Image courtesy of India Sky
The visionary talents of multidisciplinary neo-soul artist India Sky are unleashed on her newest record, Somewhere Over The Mystic Moon. Featuring dreamy soundscapes and autonomous sonic universes, the album carries a dense, yet lush sound built by layers of synths and vocals. Sky has vast experience with many artistic disciplines, having worked as a video director, producer, choreographer, and performer, which results in a musical work that feels just as much as an abstract visual experience, as it is a musical one. The work gives the confidence of an accomplished artist yet feels personal and intimate. From the dramatic lush synths on “Begin Again” to the harrowing vocal layering on “Like A Wave” and the otherworldly micro-universes in brief interludes like “Mirrors” and “The Moon,” the attention to detail here is truly something to behold, and the fact that this is a debut makes it an incredible artistic feat. — Avirat Thakor
ebony by Ebony Riley
Image courtesy of Renell Medrano
Ebony Riley’s voice is as smooth as — and her lyrics flow as seamlessly as — her runway walk. The Detroit native’s first foray into the music industry after making a name for herself as a model is bouncy, versatile, and unforgettable: ebony is full of both the joie de vivre and the agonizing heartache that come with love and life, both old and new. Album opener, aptly titled “Open,” features Riley’s airy vocals over an understated beat made of snaps as she sings that “this love got [her] open.” Not one to shy away from displaying variance in her music, “Draws” features a repetitive chorus style set over a funky synth. Both Riley’s lyrics and her tone are choppier on the prodding “Why,” which features James Fauntleroy. The EP’s final track, “Save Me,” brings the album full-circle as she bemoans that she “Gave up half of what [she] had” over a twinkling backing track reminiscent of the first song’s. Ebony Riley’s ebony is an R&B masterpiece and a triumph, all packed into an EP in which every moment of the seven-track collection overflows with genuine heart. — Arundhati Ghosh
Support Ebony Riley on Spotify.
The Crowned by Che Aimee Dorval
Image courtesy of Icons Creating Evil Art UK
Rich with regal imagery incorporating themes of love, disillusionment, and greed, Che Aimee Dorval’s newest album, The Crowned, is an illustrative record inspired by a childhood spent with hippies and punk rockers alike. Dorval blends ’70s rock with indie beats to make a charming alt-pop sound that any Mitski or Lana Del Rey fan would enjoy. With her booming, impassioned voice, Dorval breathes life into her poignant lyricism that explores lust and desire within songs like “Lionize” and “Want That Soul.” In the latter, Dorval sings, “A final blaze, that primal phase is heaven found / I’m in the deep, I’m losing sleep,” drawing striking metaphors for devotion and love. Her incredible imagery is matched with brilliant production, with pulsating beats and syncopated basslines that work seamlessly together to invoke a sense of pining and desperation. Dorval’s artistry shines bright in The Crowned, full of vivid lyricism and punchy production bound to be loved by indie darlings everywhere. — Trisha Dasgupta