Sunday Spin: New Releases From Yasmina Moonlight, keshi, PABLO, and NCT WISH
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.
Marking the halfway point of the month, this week’s playlist brings you a vibrant mix of recent releases from both emerging and popular artists within the Asian diaspora. From fresh voices making their mark to established stars dropping new tracks, dive into a sonic journey that celebrates the rich and diverse sounds shaping today’s music scene. Whether you’re seeking the next big thing or catching up with your favorite artists, this roundup has the essential tunes you need to stay up-to-date.
RINI – “Far Away”
Next Sunday doesn’t feel so far away when RINI pulls us back into his timeless tracks. Released on September 6, the Filipino-Australian singer invited listeners into his world full of soul and intimacy in his highly anticipated EP Lucky 7. Featuring previously released singles “Matter To You” and “Your Ecstasy,” Lucky 7 isn’t just a testament to the artist’s personal growth; it’s also a journey of self-discovery. “Lucky 7 is a seven-track EP that delves into my experiences over the past few years. It blends R&B, Funk, Rock, and Alternative elements, capturing emotions of longing, reflections on the past, and hopes for the future. These songs are part of a larger project I’ve been developing, chosen as the lucky few that made it onto the EP,” says RINI in a press release. Betting on himself, the R&B artist dives into a soul-searching journey throughout this heartfelt record about falling in love.
For this weekend’s installment, Team EnVi chose RINI’s concluding track in the album “Far Away.” Decorated in dreamy synths and heavy bass beats, “Far Away” opens up with chimes and band sounds that immediately pulls the listener in. RINI’s velvety vocals are only amplified through the stunning rock-fusion R&B. Singing a heartfelt confession in his lyrics, “’Cause you make yesterday / Not feel so yesterday / You transcend time and space / Where I’ve been, you’re there, baby / With every step you take / Just know that I’m on the way / It’s like you didn’t leave today / You make far away not feel so / Far away,” RINI expresses the unwavering trust held between two lovers. The song was inspired by the singer’s six year long distance relationship where they developed a close connection despite the distance and hardships it threw at them.
Yasmina Moonlight – “Habibi”
Yasmina Moonlight makes a stunning debut with her single “Habibi (My Baby).” Produced by the talented Moh Denebi and mastered by GRAMMY Award winner Dave Kutch, the track is a vibrant mix of pop, Arabic, and Hindi influences.
It’s a catchy anthem that dives into the themes of heartbreak and the challenge of moving on. Despite its upbeat tempo, the song is beautifully tragic. Yasmina’s lyrics capture the pain of saying goodbye to someone she once held dear, her “habibi.” Even though the decision to part ways is heart-wrenching, she knows there’s no turning back. Her love for this person may always linger in her heart, but she’s determined to not return despite not being able to find another to replace the one who took her heart.
Yasmina Moonlight, formerly known as Yasmina Alidodova, was born and is based in Dubai. She made a memorable appearance on X Factor Dubai in 2023, where she captivated both fans and judges with her angelic voice. With her debut single “Habibi (My Baby)” already making waves, it’s clear she’s on the fast track to becoming a breakout star.
REHMA, Shreaa Kaul – “TRIP”
If you’ve been looking for a perfect hot girl track to end your brat summer then look no further cause EnVi’s got you covered. Serving glamorous looks and vocal prowess, Pakistani-American artist REHMA and Indian-American artist Shreaa Kaul take the mic with “TRIP.” The song marks the singer’s second collaboration following Shreea’s 2021 single “Ladke,” one of the first female collabs within the South Asian diaspora to surpass one million streams on Spotify. In this hypnotic, high-energy track, REHMA and Shreaa are all about empowerment and allurement. Produced by Chilean artist Alé Araya, the two singers combine themes of self-confidence, allure, and the intoxicating effects of partying. Riding reverberating bass beats, “TRIP” evokes the exhilaration of nightlife and the celebration of living in the moment.
Consuming listeners headspace with the catchy lines such as, “Tonight, I might pull out my black dress / The one that’s short and tight and backless / Plungin’ so low exposin’ my breasts on it, breasts on it, yeah / It’s the way that you stare me down / Your mind escaped to thе clouds / Which head are you thinkin’ with right now, now?,” REHMA and Shreaa set a lively atmosphere through their unwavering confidence and song’s concept of freedom and indulgence.
REHMA and Shreaa Kaul continue to musically bridge their South Asian roots with the sound of western pop and R&B. With one track at a time, the two songstresses aim to pave the way for new generation brown artists in the music scene with their unique fusions and cultural expression.
REHMA Socials: IG | TK | X | YT
Shreaa Kaul Socials: IG | TK | X | YT
NCT WISH – “Dunk Shot”
Spanning across several units and even solo acts, K-pop megagroup NCT has something in store for listeners of any genre. NCT’s final unit, NCT WISH, was formed under the survival program NCT Universe: LASTART, and consists of the team’s youngest members. As their name suggests, NCT WISH motivates listeners to achieve their wishes and dreams. Debuting in February of this year with the EP WISH, NCT WISH continues to spread positivity with each upbeat release. The sextet’s newest track, “Dunk Shot,” is no exception.
“Dunk Shot” is the pre-release single for their first mini-album Steady, slated for release on September 24. “Dunk Shot” encourages listeners to chase their dreams and aspirations, comparing life’s journey to a basketball court. RIKU raps, “Yuh, toss nervous jitters into tomorrow / Dribble and bounce ‘em.” Aligned with the title, several elements of this release tap into the basketball motif. The track infuses basketball dribbling sounds with a refreshing synth and a new jack swing reminiscent beat. The paired choreography includes plenty of signature basketball moves, like dribbling and shooting. These elements are in full display in their music video, where the members support each other in a basketball team.
PABLO – “Drowning in the Water”
Drowning in emotions and dripping with angst, multi-faceted Filipino singer-songwriter PABLO, member of Filipino boy band SB19, released his eight-track album ALON on September 13. Starring his bilingual rap track “La Luna” originally released in 2022, ALON showcases PABLO’s boundless skills in crafting sound and writing an emotive collection of tracks. Out of the selection of riveting ballads to hair-raising rap performances, Team EnVi decided to dive into PABLO’s emotional track “Drowning in the Water” — a powerful expression of deep emotional turmoil and longing within a romantic relationship. Introduced with the soft playing of strings and haunting echoes, PABLO opens the song with his lush vocals. As PABLO slowly leads us into the first half of the chorus, listeners experience an exhilarating profession towards heartbreak. As the second verse makes its appearance, the sound of the band is amplified and PABLO’s distress intensifies.
With impassioned lyrics such as, “Cause you see, they say, “There’s a lot of women in this world” / But don’t you know that you are all that I see / And baby, what I’ll feel when you leave it’ll be like drownin’ in the water / Faster and after, breathing gets harder” PABLO captures the intense emotional struggle of someone who feels a profound connection to their partner but is grappling with the realization of a broken relationship. Using the imagery of drowning and vocally expressing the difficulty of breathing, PABLO highlights the depth of their emotional pain and the sense of being unable to function without their partner. “Drowning in the Water” is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the agony of separation.
If you can’t get enough of PABLO’s artistry, the singer is set to release his next eight-track album LAON next week on September 20. He is also set off on his UNA tour starting September 15 with special guests J2X and W3.
Keshi – “Soft Spot”
Do you have that one person who can just tear down all the walls you’ve built around your heart? Someone who’s got you totally wrapped around their finger? We’ve all been there and it’s rough, but keshi perfectly caught that vibe in his track “Soft Spot” off his newest studio album, Requiem. Like most of his other songs on this latest album, “Soft Spot” delves into the feeling of vulnerability and love with soft vocals and a slowed indie beat. Keshi confesses that, though he doesn’t like anybody else, with the song’s muse, it’s different—he’ll do anything just to feel their touch. Over and over, he repeats, “You know I got a soft spot for you.” It’s the kind of song that captures what it feels like to be head over heels, even when you’re trying not to be, and the other person is completely clueless about the power they hold over you. So if you’re simping over a someone, this is a perfect track to add to your playlist.
In celebration of his sophomore studio album, the Vietnamese American artist will be kicking off his Requiem world tour in Toronto, Ontario on November 6. The tour spans thirty-five stops across North America, Europe, and Asia, giving fans worldwide a chance to experience his newest tracks, like “Soft Spot” live.
Chuột Sấm Sét – “sẽ có cách nào đây”
After taking almost a yearlong break from solo music, Vietnamese Indie-Rock artist, Chuột Sấm Sét, has returned with his new single “sẽ có cách nào đây (there is a way).” After a successful release in June from his band Đá Số Tới, Chuột Sấm Sét is now bringing fans a dreamlike, slower tempo while traveling into Dream Pop and R&B. Produced by bandmate KET, the song’s instrumentals feature a heavy drum and an atmospheric guitar. Self-written, his lyrics explore the complications and hesitancy of telling someone how you feel in fear of rejection.
The vocals are drastically different from what Chuột Sấm Sét previously did with songs like “đôi mình” and “anhmuonsao.” He’s chosen to drag out the notes to add to the moody elements and show strong romanticism. “Sẽ có cách nào đây” marks Chuột Sấm Sét’s seventh solo song. As his discography progresses, he continues to explore themes of love, nostalgia, and the complexities of relationships. If you’ve been catching feelings this summer and are trying to cuddle up with that special someone in autumn, “sẽ có cách nào đây” is the perfect song for your seasonal soundtrack.
Charli xcx, Troye Sivan – “Talk talk”
It might be the middle of September, but BRAT season is far from slowing down. From parodying the album text, to calling everything lime green “brat-coded,” the BRAT phenomenon is emblematic of 2024 pop culture. Charli xcx’s fanbase, angels, have been eagerly awaiting what is next following BRAT’s summer anthem acclaim. On the cusp of Charli xcx and Troye Sivan’s collaborative tour junket, the Sweat Tour, fans were treated to a remix by the two artists. Sivan hopped on a remix of BRAT’s fifth track, “Talk talk,” marking the third collaboration remix from the album. The remix is part of BRAT’s deluxe version, Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat, soon to be released on October 11.
The track still contains its original hyperpop elements, but the remix features more of a house sound. A classic house piano sound carries Troye Sivan’s sultry delivery of the refrain. Sivan boldly confess his feelings around a budding romance. He realizes, “‘Cause we talk that talk /and we talk all night / And the more I know you, the more I like you.” After countless speculations about her involvement on the remix, Dua Lipa opens and closes the track. As prompted in the lyrics, “Talk to me in French, talk to me in Spanish;” Dua Lipa does just that. With iconic features and new sonic approaches to beloved tracks, there is undying hype for each new remix. After the two Sweat Tour protagonists joined forces, listeners are eager to see what else the deluxe album holds.
Charli xcx Socials: IG | TK | X | YT
Troye Sivan Socials: IG TK X YT
Party Nails – “Same Old Song”
Performer, mixer, and producer extraordinaire Party Nails, also known as Elana Carroll, is back with her single “Same Old Song.” Over the summer, we heard beautiful melancholic songs from Party Nails like “Someway Somehow” off her EP with the same name. With her new release, she’s gifted us with a refreshing song as we hold onto thoughts of warmer weather as fall approaches. Sitting within the glitter pop genre, the instrumentals offer a simple, peaceful drumming and steady retro guitar. Though the track keeps an upbeat melody, the lyrics are reflective of Carroll’s time growing up and the juxtaposition of being an adult and feeling like a kid.
Though singing to “you” throughout the song, Carroll is really singing to her younger self and the memories she has made as a child. Carrol reminisces singing, “I think I’ll stay a little while / Remember all our times a little while / I wish that I could have been with you.” Having felt easily embarrassed and insecure while young, she feels she missed a part of her childhood while worrying about what could happen, rather than enjoying every moment. Carroll contrasted this worrisome and weary topic with the uplifting backtrack, and in the end, created a timeless song about a sensitive but beautiful universal experience.
Make sure to look forward to a performance of Party Nails on November 15 alongside Letters to Cleo as well as her third album set to release early in 2025.
Nemahsis – “spinning plates”
Combining art with protest, the unsure with the strong, and the withered with the flourishing is “spinning plates” by Nemahsis. With multiple singles and one EP under her belt, greatness from Nemahsis isn’t new. But in her debut album, Verbathim, she has a lot to say about the matters that are most important not only to her, but the world. Living in Toronto as a Palestinian, Nemahsis has been using every ounce of her voice and platform to speak out for Palestine. In effort, she has refocused her songs and press to bring awareness to Palestinian people.
With her single “spinning plates,” Nemahsis has expanded on the narrative of being flawed and uneasy while still yearning for love and closeness to another. In her music video, while throwing clay she sings, “spinning plates / I was always gonna break” as she destroys the art piece she was creating. Through lyrics and actions such as these, Nemahsis brought her words to life, forming her song into a piece of performance art. The music video is black and white and the set was kept very simple, only her and a potter’s wheel. Finishing the song covered in clay with her creation in ruins she sings, “I don’t wanna love you back / ‘Cause when you see, I’m not all that / It’ll hit you like whiplash.” Though “spinning plates” ends on a helpless and introspective note, Verbathim is an album for regrowth and reflection. Nemahsis is certainly destined for excellence from here.
Other tracks in this week’s Sunday Spin playlist include “Giddy Up” by Chinese-American indie artist Ginger Root, “Wax & Feathers” by Bali-based alternative pop-rock band MANJA, and “High” by Korean singer-songwriter Seori. 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!
