Sunday Spin: New Releases From SHINee, Joji, FLO, Tinashe, and MC Abdul
Sunday Spin is EnVi‘s weekly music showcase, where we bring you the hottest global hits in our curated playlist. Join us every Sunday for new music that sets the perfect tone for your upcoming week.
It’s only the first weekend of June, but the weather is already heating up. The music scene is equally getting hotter, with a slate of new releases from different genres. There’s something for everyone this Sunday Spin, whether you want to turn the lively atmosphere up a notch with some dance-ready crowd pleasers or unwind and cool down with some downtempo R&B and rap.
Joji with The Kid LAROI – “Bluffin’”
Among a long list of artists establishing total creative control over their musicality, Joji is an unmissable name. After quite a long hiatus following his departure from 88rising, the Osaka-born Japanese-Australian musician finally dropped his fourth album, Piss In The Wind, last February. It showcased Joji’s trippy, alternative, lo-fi sound in a vulnerable way, a welcome shift as the record is the first release under his self-owned label Palace Creek.
The follow-up deluxe version added eight songs to the already expansive collection. Among them is “Bluffin’,” a dreamy and ambient reinterpretation of Joji’s signature sound. The fluid legato of the intro may lull you into a false sense of flowy R&B, evoking SZA’s “Good Days.” But it quickly picks up the pace with glitchy, chaotically choppy production as his floaty vocals mingle with those of The Kid LAROI. They take turns airing the grievances of being left high and dry, encapsulated by the repeated chorus: “You bluffin’ and you doublin’ down.”
Joji Socials: IG | TK | X | YT
The Kid LAROI Socials: IG | TK | X | YT
SHINee – “Atmos”
K-pop superstars SHINee make a triumphant return to house music with “Atmos,” a refreshing electronic pop anthem. The members, Taemin, Minho, Key, and Onew, are no strangers to house beats; their 2015 deep house track “View” is one of the group’s most notable. “Atmos” is a light, ethereal spin on the genre, perfect for an early summer release. The track opens with a glitchy, synth-based intro before launching into the pulsing house beat. The members take turns singing about the elation of spending time together with a loved one. “You shined / And the atmosphere grew lighter,” Taemin professes in the opening verse. “I get so close / Softly drifting in the future lingers here.”
The music video draws on the more ethereal and whimsical aspects of the track, complete with a film grain straight out of a coming-of-age drama. The four members wander around empty roads and tunnels, separated and lost. Their paths begin to cross as they drop and leave behind clues, such as broken glasses or tangled headphones. Following the clues, the members unite during the sweeping bridge, where the video explodes into an animated sequence. Each frame is tinted with shades of pearl aqua, SHINee’s official group color. Now united, the members dance through the final chorus under a shower of fireworks, stronger together. “Atmos” is the title track from SHINee’s latest EP, Atmos – The 6th Mini Album, which they premiered at their three-night concert series at the KSPO DOME in Seoul at the end of May.
FLO – “Don’t Break Her Heart”
British girl group FLO brings R&B excellence in their latest single, “Don’t Break Her Heart.” The three members, Jorja Douglas, Stella Quaresma, and Renée Downer, each promise to be the ultimate girl’s girl throughout the track. They sing over the smooth R&B beat, pledging to come after their best friend’s man if he hurts her. “If you break her heart / I will make you pay,” they harmonize in the chorus. “I’ll post up on your block / know your spots.” It’s the ultimate declaration of platonic love and girlhood, wrapped up in a slow-tempo vocal track.
The music video brings the song to life, featuring Douglas, Quaresma, and Downer as private investigators attempting to sniff out cheaters. Donned in trench coats and stilettos, the three track down their client’s unsuspecting boyfriend to the pet salon, the diner, and the barbershop to suss out his intentions. The video pulls humorous moments from the chorus ad-libs as the girls promise repercussions if they discover his cheating: “I will come for you (I will come for you, your mom, your nan, your dog, everything, woo).”
“Don’t Break Her Heart” marks FLO’s third single of the year, as well as the third single off their upcoming album, THERAPY AT THE CLUB. Slated for release on July 24, the 16-track album will be their second full album after last year’s deluxe album Access All Areas: Unlocked. Alongside “Therapy At The Club” and “Leak It,” “Don’t Break Her Heart” gives listeners a taste of what’s to come this summer.
FIFTY FIFTY – “Like a Bubble”
It seems like since their breakout hit “Cupid” — which made them the fastest K-pop act to appear on the Billboard Hot 100, within four months of debuting — the name FIFTY FIFTY had gotten lost in the shuffle. Sure, they’ve had appearances on the Barbie soundtrack, two more EPs, and a handful of K-drama OSTs. But, with the release of this third EP, Imperfect-I’mperfect, they’re re-establishing their presence within the current generation of K-pop.
One of its focus tracks is “Like a Bubble,” which dropped alongside the EP on June 1. Despite its name, the track doesn’t emulate any of the skittish, bubblegum pop sound the group is famous for. Instead, it sticks closer to a sparkling city pop sound with sprinkles of disco-funk grooves, evoking the way bubbles float carelessly through the air. It makes for a perfect soundtrack for an easygoing and laid-back stroll in the park.
Tinashe – “Too Easy”
After a momentous run with the success of Quantum Baby and viral remixes with Charli xcx and Disco Lines, Tinashe is back just in time for summer. “Too Easy” is all about basking in her newfound success with an enviable ease. She delivers the pre-chorus in a breathy falsetto: “I, I feel like a celebrity / If you’re mad, then go to therapy / But I can’t, I can’t help that I make it look so easy.” This track marks her first collaboration with Korean-American producer kimj, who works within the realms of hip-hop, hyperpop, and even K-pop.
In return, “Too Easy” becomes a melting pot of the aforementioned genres. “Too Easy” is less vocal-oriented for the multifaceted starlet, as the pulsating club beats in the chorus make way for another one of her many fortés — choreography. The track is a pre-release for a yet-to-be-titled upcoming studio album. With a runtime of just under two minutes, Tinashe takes listeners on a high-intensity ride that serves as a perfect opener for this new era.
MC Abdul, Nai Barghouti – “Wait For Me”
For many, music isn’t just a creative art form or emotional outlet. It can also be a way to amplify unheard voices, reveal untold stories, and become a source of strength and tenacity. That couldn’t be more true for the teenaged MC Abdul, who continues to use his sharp wit and melodic spoken word proclivities as a vessel for Palestinian voices since a video of his 11-year-old self rapping atop rubble drew eyes from around the world.
His latest release “Wait For Me” is no different. Now 17 and living in the United States, this song explicates on one of the darkest moments of his life after being separated from his family. The lyrics explicate him grappling with existential questions of the future and flashbacks to his past life amid the ongoing genocide in his hometown of Gaza. Interspersed in between are Palestinian singer Nai Barghouti’s melismatic ripples, imbuing an ethereally Middle Eastern flair to the otherwise hip-hop-fueled lead single, offering a glimpse into MC Abdul’s upcoming debut album dropping in the Fall.
MC Abdul’s Socials: IG | TK | YT
Nai Barghouti’s Socials: IG | TK | YT
iiso – “Best Friend”
The key to creating an addictive song for the summer? Being able to fully clear your mind while listening to it with the windows rolled down. For Korean singer-songwriter iiso, that part comes naturally with her newest release, “Best Friend.” Mixing UK-inspired garage beats with dreamy vocals, she transports listeners into a more nostalgic period of her life. Delivering a story that hits close to home for many, iiso conveys the realization and emotional turmoil of having a crush on your best friend. In collaboration with global producer Mura Masa, unrequited love is woven through lyrics like, “You always seem like you need me, baby but I know / That doesn’t mean you love me, just like I do.” The single also comes with a music video as she expands on a nostalgic tale with her signature Y2K aesthetic. Combining bubblegum visuals with sentimental thoughts, you’ll want to save this track for your next trip outside.
LIL LEAGUE from EXILE TRIBE, NEX and AA of BUS – “LOCA”
What happens when you unite the offshoot of a Japanese supergroup and two members from a Thai boy band that has been captivating many hearts? You get “LOCA,” the collaboration between LIL LEAGUE from EXILE TRIBE with Nex and AA, hailing from T-pop’s hottest twelve-piece BUS (which stands for because of you i shine).
The track is a glossy, tropical house track with a hint of Latin rhythmic patterns, as its Spanish title suggests. Alternating between Japanese and English, the six members of LIL LEAGUE alongside Nex and AA croon about a Grease-worthy summer loving. The boys aren’t afraid to get sweet — literally, by comparing their object of affection to a Chanel-scented girl dripping in honey or a Frappuccino that tastes like summer spice and gives them a sugar rush. Drawing even more comparisons to island light, golden tides, cruising in the heat, and a red hibiscus in the hair, this song is more than ready to get you in the mood for some summery romance of your own.
LIL LEAGUE from EXILE TRIBE Socials: IG | TK | X | YT
Natanya – “CANDYLAND!”
If you’re looking for the perfect sweet treat this summer, Natanya has got you covered. Following her previous single from April, CANDYLAND! invites listeners into her newest dream dimension. Produced with Oscar Scheller and Jenso, the rising British artist uses her signature combination of alt-pop and R&B to create the sweetest mix of cheekiness. By choosing to be upfront with her love interest, the track emphasizes acting on intuition instead of playing games. She playfully expresses her thoughts through innuendos like, “Innocencе of cinnamon, flavor is my favorite part” and “Better taste my candy, boy, if you don’t want a broken heart.” Filled with sugar, spice, and everything nice, this pop princess is the latest refreshing presence to grace the music scene. Set to perform at the All Points East festival in London this August, you still have time to claim your early listener ticket.
Other tracks in this week’s Sunday Spin playlist include “4 Flowers” by MAMAMOO, Earl Agustin’s “Baka Tayo,” “june” by NEW LORE, and Lauren Tung’s “cool…ok?!,” 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 here!
