Sunday Spin: New Releases From Jackson Wang, Jae Stephens, Fujii Kaze and UMI, TAEYONG, and SEEN

Autumn just rolled in, and EnVi has the perfect soundtrack to transition into the new season! Whether you’re easing into the chill with comforting R&B tunes or wanting to relive the heat of the summer with confident pop anthems, this week’s Sunday Spin has all of the above and more.

Jae Stephens – “Expensive & Difficult”

Citizens of AUDACITY rejoice because Jae Stephens has officially opened the gates to a new era! Jae Stephens asserts herself as the rightful president of AUDACITY with eleven tracks that are emblematic of her pop princess identity. “Expensive & Difficult” homes in on the diva attitude to the highest degree topped with a glamorous, Y2K-inspired pop beat à la Britney Spears and Nelly Furtado. Just from the title alone, you can catch Jae Stephen’s “audacious” drift.

She tells it as it is: “The last one sat me down and said I was the problem / Said I’m too full of me and that’s where we agreed / ‘Cause I’m so full of everything, what else could he put on it / I need a man who can keep up, but won’t compete.” Jae Stephens is unafraid to have the audacity that some could not even dare to express a fraction of, but that is what makes this project all the more unique. 

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Tinashe – “Nobody Wanna Dance Anymore”

Tinashe’s long-awaited eighth studio album. Popstar feels like an autobiography personal to the singer-songwriter and her expansive career. However, tracks like “Nobody Wanna Dance Anymore” prove it exists far beyond the conventional autobiography. “Nobody Wanna Dance Anymore” is an industrial pop track with rock-adjacent harmonies that feel reminiscent of tracks from artists like Nine Inch Nails. 

As the song’s title suggests, Tinashe brings forth a critique many club-goers and people in music-based circles have experienced with the rise of “cringe culture.” She describes her desire to dance as one unjustly scrutinized by people. She keeps it straight in the second verse: “I’m just havin’ fun, they can judge all they want / You got a lotta friends, but they don’t wanna dance / Too cool with their sunnies and their baggy pants / But I’m drippin’ sweat, I don’t need the clout.” Tinashe also mentions others having different intentions or ulterior motives when they witness her perform, but there is nothing she wants to do more than dance. 

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Rocco – “Someone I Never Had”

There’s nothing quite like the addictive limbo of a situationship, and Rocco fully embodies it in his new single, “Someone I Never Had.” The Filipino American singer tackles the complicated feeling of missing someone who was never really his in this angsty pop-rock track. Centered on the question “Why do you miss someone that was never really yours?,” the song dives into the frustration of a relationship that never had a clear label, beginning, or ending. With his signature vocal flair, Rocco turns vulnerable verses into an anthemic chorus to express not only his confusion but also his frustration of being held down by a situationship. 

Three months after the release of his EP A Comedy Romantic (Act. 1), “Someone I Never Had” opens up the next chapter in his sonic narrative inspired by the romantic comedies of the ’90s and 2000s. As a teaser for his next set of storytelling songs, Rocco is setting the stage for A Comedy Romantic (Act. 2) and is fully tuning into his pop-punk side. 

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SEEN – “Up Up Up”

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SEEN is making a big splash in the Indonesian music scene, setting their agency A-List Entertainment on the forefront of a homegrown resurgence of boy and girl groups. Their debut was marked by the release of concurrent singles “Morning Boy,” a funky track that combines elements of 2000s R&B and new jack swing beats, and “Up Up Up,” an explosive dance-pop song that sonically isn’t a stranger to K-pop fans’ ears. 

The four-piece of Dandy, Jason, Albian, and Noel switches smoothly between sections in English and Indonesian, adopting a cadence suitable for both languages. It’s actually this very method that makes usually corny lines — “Saat kau di rumah sendirian / Dengarkan suaraku / Kita tetap dekat lewat lagu ini” (When you’re at home alone, listen to my voice, we stay close through this song), for example — sound like a smooth pick-up line. SEEN demonstrate that there is a place for Indo-pop in the global music scene, one way or another.

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Jackson Wang – “Thank You”

Jackson Wang keeps things simple and full of gratitude in his latest single, “Thank You.” As his first release since signing with Roc Nation management, the song takes fans on a journey down memory lane. Wang reflects on the people and moments that have shaped his journey, from his early days as an athlete to his years in the music industry. The track’s intimate, minimalistic production and repeated “thank yous” keep the light on Wang’s soft vocals and heartfelt message. 

The global superstar’s love and appreciation for his fans is interwoven into his accompanying music video, which he co-directed with Ojun Kwon. Shot entirely on the new iPhone 18 Pro, the black-and-white visual brings together 30 fans from around the world, who were secretly invited to take part in the special project. As of now, Jackson Wang is still on his “MAGICMAN 2” world tour, running his Asia dates this October. Still, despite his busy schedule, he knows how to warm the hearts of his fans with “Thank You.” 

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Fujii Kaze, UMI – “You”

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Long-time friends Fujii Kaze and UMI transport listeners into a world filled with groove and glitter in “You.” Ahead of Fujii Kaze’s tour and after UMI’s announcement about creating a full R&B album, the pair collaborated to turn Fujii Kaze’s “You” into a full-bodied duet. The addition of UMI’s soft yet powerful vocals intertwined with Fujii Kaze’s allows the single to become something much more electrifying. 

“You” is a letter of admiration to a lover, friend, or even yourself. The song has encouraging lyrics that can be described as affirmations and mantras for everyday support. During the chorus, Fujii Kaze and UMI join together to profess, “Everything that you want is in you / And everything that you’ve been waiting for / It’s in you / Don’t you ever forget / In this world there’s no one else but you.” This joyful track reflects both singers as they often fill people’s social media feeds and real lives with words of power and inner strength. This time around, though, they double their impact, and it’s truly the ideology the world needs right now. 

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TAEYONG – “Wacka Wak”

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Neo City’s all-rounder leader is back with another certified dance earworm in his latest single, “Wacka Wak.” The song is “Neo” at its finest with an industrial hip-hop sound that pushes genre boundaries. The song premiered on Mnet’s latest dance program, Street World Fighter: Directors’ War, where some of South Korea’s most prolific dance directors were tasked with turning this track into a full performance. 

“Wacka Wak” is all about TAEYONG embracing his top-tier status and the grind he endures to maintain it. He leads into the infectious chorus with the blunt statement: “I’m top tier, you mid, you’re wack.” The program’s directors play around with this idea with formations that put TAEYONG directly above the other dancers and diss-like gestures as point choreography. Whether you’re tuning in for another creative performance by TAEYONG or just looking for an undeniable energy booster in your playlist, “Wacka Wak” is a track you don’t want to miss.

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Niko Rubio – “dream” 

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Niko Rubio is back with “dream,” another building block of her October trip hop debut album, late night swim. While her single “tokyo” was a groovy journey and “kitty” was a laidback drop, “dream” is a perfect combination of the two. “Dream” brings the liquid ebb and flow to this nocturnal adventure as Rubio starts her newest track: “I feel caught in the way, taking my time / Why do you stare when you’re standing in line?” 

The singer then goes on to describe life as a catwalk and a dream, as she reminisces on failed encounters and relationships, calling them nothing but a “trip.” Infusing her new trip hop sound with her original reggae tunes, “dream” transcends typical genre. However, it still includes signature qualities of both, such as continuous deep bass, warped instrumentals, and bubbling percussion. Rubio has gone far enough to call this her “favorite reggae song [she’s] ever made.” 

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Anthony Ramos – “Wasn’t Even Lookin’”

Anthony Ramos’s name rings a different bell depending on who you ask. Theater kids often know him as Hamilton’s John Laurens/Philip Hamilton or the titular role of Usnavi in the film adaptation of In The Heights. The latter would also be familiar to movie buffs, but it’s probably credits in Monsters and Men or A Star Is Born that earned him better cred among Letterboxd devotees. He’s even made his rounds on TV, with most recent appearances in The Beauty and The Shards shaping him up as Ryan Murphy’s new it-boy. But behind all that is a solo music career that has been simmering since his debut EP in 2018.

He might not release music too frequently (the last drop before this year is in 2024), but every time he does, it always scratches a certain itch. His older catalog is a smorgasbord of different R&B blends and an homage to his Puerto Rican culture. But Ramos has been tapping into a distinct salsa sound while working alongside producer Sergio George. George’s fingerprints are heard all over “Wasn’t Even Lookin’,” from his deft skills as a legendary pianist to the rich arrangement that includes quintessential salsa instruments like congas, cowbells, maracas, timbales, and a güiro. Switching between English and Spanish, Ramos glides through the song with the exhilaration of discovering love in the least expected places. And it’s all translated visually through a music video that captures a night out on a vibrant barrio.

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ILLIT – “Swingin’ Magic”

After a streak of techno-leaning sounds of a post-BRAT pop soundscape, ILLIT is returning to their original form. The group is continuing their opening theme song duties for the second cour of Studio Pierrot’s anime Magical Sisters LuluttoLilly with “Swingin’ Magic.” 

This track brings ILLIT’s sound back to the glory days of “Tick-Tack,” “Cherish (My Love),” their breakthrough songs “NOT CUTE ANYMORE,” and “Magnetic.” But “Swingin’ Magic,” much like its title, brings a new jack swing groove to the group’s well-known laidback, midtempo, sugary pop confections. The track is bouncy and airy like the anime itself, creating a whimsical ambiance befitting the anime’s story. 

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Midnight Generation – “Norway”

Mexican retro funk band Midnight Generation share their unique twist on the sounds of a bygone generation with “Norway.” The track exemplifies Midnight Generation’s dedication to reviving the sounds of disco and retro-futurism. “Norway” blends the aforementioned genres and styles with French Touch for a dreamlike tune warm with nostalgia. 

This track ushers in a new era for the musical quartet following an eventful festival junket alongside their support on Empire of the Sun’s North American tour. “I wrote ‘Norway’ while on tour at the Trevarefest festival in a small fishing village in Norway,” singer-producer Fernando Mares shared in a press release. “The song was inspired by the beauty of the place—and by one of us meeting a girl while there. It’s about an impossible love, and the hope that maybe one day we’ll make it back there and finally take that trip together.” The song’s message coincides with its old-school sound as the lyrics sentimentally reminisce on the past. If you find yourself still romanticizing your summer memories, “Norway” is the perfect addition to your playlists. 

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Other tracks in this week’s Sunday Spin playlist include “Advisor” by 4EVE, JOSH CULLEN and Jay Park’s “Like Me,” “Danceteria Afterhours” by Madonna and Charli xcx, and Grace Aimi’s “Foolish Ways,” Listen to everything mentioned and more, curated by Team EnVi only for you on Spotify.

Want more of the latest releases? Check out our previous Sunday Spin!