Sunday Spin: New Releases From Emei, ONE OR EIGHT, BGYO, and Luna Li
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.
What better way to celebrate the last Sunday of August than with EnVi’s curated rotation of tunes! Jam-packed with tracks that will have you moving to the groove, this week’s Sunday Spin holds irresistible songs you don’t want to miss.
ONE OR EIGHT – “Don’t Tell Nobody”
Don’t tell nobody, but Japanese boy group ONE OR EIGHT have officially debuted and it’s better than ever. After captivating the hearts of millions across the internet with their riveting pre-debut performance video “KAWASAKI,” ONE OR EIGHT members MIZUKI, NEO, REIA, RYOTA, SOUMA, TAKERU, TSUBASA, and YUGA came back dripping with confidence and spunk in their energetic debut single. Showing off their signature hip-hop and pop fusion, “Don’t Tell Nobody” flaunts its catchy melody and fluent code-switching between Japanese and English rap. The dance-pop track adopts a dynamic production, profound vocals and rap performances, and an outspoken declaration to mark the world with their world-breaking sound. With the lyrics “To hell with all the reasons / I don’t feel the shame / You could call it an addiction / cause now we like the pain / I come with some issues / but you might be my worst / We’re showing everybody how a bad thing works,” ONE OR EIGHT embody the meaning of “All or Nothing” as they trailblaze with nothing but grit.
The track was notably produced by industry experts DJ Smallz 372 (Nicki Minaj ft. Lil Uzi Vert “Everybody”), GENT! (Doja Cat “Agora Hills”), and David Stewart (BTS, ENHYPHEN, Ava Max) while also featuring rap lyrics by Lucien Parker (Kanye West x Ty Dolla $ign “STARS”). Alongside the highly-anticipated single, the music video mirrors the song’s high intensity and authenticity as ONE OR EIGHT exemplify Japanese culture through their spellbinding choreography, hype lyrics, and streetwear aesthetic. ONE OR EIGHT can’t stop doing the things they’re doing, and team EnVi have no complaints here!
Emei – “Rabbithole”
Oops! Looks like Team EnVi fell down the rabbit hole this Sunday Spin with rising contemporary pop star Emei’s latest single. Following the monumental success of her debut album SCATTERBRAIN, “RABBITHOLE” marks the introduction into the pop star’s new era, which is loosely inspired by the classic children’s tale Alice in Wonderland. Through her unfiltered storytelling and modern-pop flare, Emei dives deep into the emotional complexities of her mental turmoil, as the track touches on the star’s experience with panic attacks and spiraling.
Kicking it off with delay synths, “RABBITHOLE” leads listeners into a sonic soundscape enamored with whimsical instrumentation and notable kick-and-snare beat. Working once again with producer Boy Blue, the executive producer who produced Emei’s debut EP, the electro-pop track cleverly transitions between smooth to quick pacing, inducing a haunting yet exhilarating listening experience. With her familiar slurry vocals and lyrics, “Breathe in, breathe out / No stress, no doubt / Don’t cry, don’t shout / Breathe in, breathe out / Shut up, pipe down / I’m good for now,” Emei mimics her effort to counter the emotional distress as she illustrates her personal battles against the human psyche.
“‘RABBITHOLE’ sounds and feels like falling and panic and your mind racing,” said Emei in a press release. “We play with whimsical magical touches and racing sounds and all sorts of breakdowns. It touches upon how even though I’ve tried mantras and affirmations and breathing exercises, it often just makes me fall deeper and deeper down into the rabbithole.”
A new run of Emei’s worldwide tour dates kicks off this fall on September 16 in Melbourne, Australia, followed by performances at Austin City Limits in Austin, TX and MetaMoon Music Festival in Brooklyn, NY. This tour is Emei’s first headline show.
Zy The Way – “Blue Collar”
With their full-length album arriving in November, Zy The Way released a new single this past Friday. Titled “Blue Collar,” the Taipei-based jazz band creates an evocative track that blends a 3000-year-old poem with a modern jazz flair. A lone saxophone softly introduces the song, painting a landscape of heartache and longing. Leader Caitlin MaGee adds another emotional layer by singing the love poem in the original Chinese: “You with the blue collar, / How my heart yearns for you, / Though I cannot go and visit, / Why won’t you write?”
In the press release, Dr. Annie Luman Ren from the Australian National University translates the poem from the Shijing 詩經 (Book of Songs) and also includes necessary historical context. As Dr. Ren noted, “Unlike the contemporary association of ‘blue collar’ with manual laborers, in Imperial China, the term refers to young scholars donning blue collars. In Chinese, the color ‘qing’ 青, which can mean both green and blue, evokes a sense of youth, freshness, and vigor.” When listeners are aware of this background, the timelessness of “Blue Collar” grows even stronger. By pulling inspiration from ancient and contemporary sources, Zy The Way have solidified their unique place in the global music industry.
RINI – “Your Ecstasy”
Filipino-Australian artist RINI further cements his rising star status in the R&B space with his latest track “Your Ecstasy.” The sexy and sultry single is a tantalizing cut from his forthcoming album, Lucky 7, which will be released on September 6 via Warner Records. With about two million monthly listeners on Spotify, “Your Ecstasy” has been hotly anticipated. And boy is this psychedelic and moody track the perfect soundtrack for deliriously hot summer nights.
Alt-rock leanings and heavy bass reflect the lyrics that make listeners’ hearts pound. In fact, you could say that we’re drowning in RINI’s ecstasy as he croons, “Just do whatever you want to me.” The music video captures this mood of the track with the hazy and warm refracted light that colors the silk sheets of the heart-shaped bed. Now we’re caught under RINI’s spell — but hey, we’re not complaining.
XTIE (ft. Anniina) – “Lost In Between”
Go get your girls because “Lost In Between” by XTIE and Anniina is here! Produced by the Hong Kong singer-songwriter herself, XTIE dropped a clip of her making the foundations of the new electropop track one month ago. With the Hong Kong skyline in front of her, the red-headed all-around artist moved along to her beat as she soaked in the sunny day. It was a moment where anything and everything was possible.
Written by XTIE and Finnish artist Anniina, “Lost In Between” isn’t afraid of digging deep into vulnerable truths. Hard-hitting and honest lyrics such as “Caught myself in between / Put one foot in front of the other ones / Just keep my balance / But at least I’m standing on the direction / That I have chosen” grab listeners’ attention from the first listen. Together, the two collaborators voice the challenges female artists in the music industry face and the frequent imposter syndrome many experience. Since XTIE is one of the 4% of female producers, “Lost In Between” is an especially personal story. But bright spots exist, like her collaboration with Anniina. In fact, they first met at a K-pop songwriting camp in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic was still at its height so they met remotely; however, this year XTIE and Anniina met in person in Seoul to film the music video for “Lost In Between.”
The new track follows XTIE’s 2023 seven-track EP APOLLO-23. “After releasing my debut EP last year, I have been working in secret this year. I have since set up my own label, and participated in multiple festivals and shows across Asia, UK and the USA to promote my new works,” the artist shared in a press release. These exciting developments are not the only recent career news for XTIE — she is now a voting member of the Recording Academy for the GRAMMY Awards as a producer and songwriter, too.
XTIE’s Socials: IG | TK | FB | YT
Anniina’s Socials: IG | TK | FB
BGYO – “Trash”
Our favorite P-pop group BGYO have returned with “Trash,” their most recent all-English single. Produced by the GRAMMY award-winning Lostboy and Tele, this track pulls us into BGYO’s infectious groove with a blend of charisma and retro flair. The song delves into the thrill of infatuation, with the group harmonizing about the desire to win over their love interest. The chorus keeps a steady, catchy rhythm, making it feel like an invitation to hit the dance floor.
But it doesn’t stop there. The music video for “Trash” takes the song’s energy to the next level. Each member starts off in a different job, only to drop everything in pursuit of the girl who catches their eye, leading to a whirlwind of chaos and charm. The retro-inspired video wraps up with a playful twist, as the group cheers on their dream girl driving off with someone else — because if there’s one thing BGYO are about, it’s lifting each other up, no matter the outcome.
As BGYO continue to redefine the P-pop scene, “Trash” demonstrates their ability to connect with a global audience. With upcoming performances at the 626 Night Market in Southern California and the Fiesta Filipino cultural festival in Calgary, the quintet shows no signs of slowing down.
Luna Li – “That’s Life”
“That’s Life” is the latest single off of Canadian songstress Luna Li’s new album When A Thought Grows Wings. A dreamy indie-pop track, “That’s Life” details a relatable sentiment that Luna Li and her peers could live by. With lyrics like “You know / I’m letting go / I just can’t be bothered anymore” and “That’s life / You don’t have to think twice,” the album title makes sense. These are common thoughts that have grown wings into a beautifully apathetic butterfly of a record.
The song starts with an arpeggio (from a harp? Or a guitar, she plays both) that transports you directly into Luna Li’s world. Through “That’s Life,” she is right on track with her ambition to “…immerse people into a world of magic, creativity, and music,” as she told EnVi three years ago. The song winds down with Luna Li’s almost haunting stacked vocals that give off a sluggish feeling like waking up from a deep dream. “That’s Life” leaves you with a sense of calm resignation, perfectly capturing Luna Li’s ability to turn regular introspection into something captivating. Catch tracks like “That’s Life” live on her upcoming “When A Thought Grows Wings” tour.
Maanu – “Saamnay”
Pakistani artist Maanu is back with “Saamnay” just a few months after his mega-hit duet “JOHL” with Annural Khalid. The latter track became the most-played song in Pakistan on Spotify for the first week in August this year — which only means Maanu had to keep his streak going. Luckily, he’s true to this, not new to this.
“Saamnay” allows Maanu to slow things down following more high energy singles like “JOGI” and the “4U (Remix)” with rapper Emiway Bantai. With his soft, calming vocals combined with the deep timbre of his tone, “Saamnay” is almost lullaby-like. The stripped-back production and stacked harmonies let his voice shine. The song hits like a much-needed hug on a day where everything goes wrong.
The music video continues the ethereal sentiment with a visually melancholic vibe. Maanu sits alone in a room that goes from day to night as raindrops of the windowpane flow upwards slowly in reverse. If you ever need an introspective song to soundtrack your life, look now further than “Saamnay.”
Other tracks in this week’s Sunday Spin playlist include “Goodnite” by PiXXie, “Sexy in the Air” by TAEMIN, Chinese girl group Gen1es’ “Hourglass” and “One and Only” by British Indian singer-songwriter Dhruv. 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!
