Oculate UK: This Week In Music

Featuring: Amine, hard life, Kwn, Loyle Carner, Jim Legxacy, AJ Tracey, GEE LEE, Jaykae, Zino Vinci, Katie Gregson-Macleod & more.

There's been some exquisite entries into the pages of music history in the last 7 days. Do you ever feel like you can't keep up with each chapter of that particular book? We hear you. Luckily, we have put together an expertly-curated list of highlights, so you can get on with your busy week, with the perfect soundtrack.

Below is Oculate UK's highlights of the last week's albums, EPs and singles, in no particular order.

Check out our full highlights using the playlist at the bottom.

Amine - Arc de Triomphe

What a treat we’ve been in for this past month, as Aminé continues the anticipated buildup to his forthcoming album 13 Months of Sunshine with yet another bouncy hip-hop bop in the form of ‘arc de triomphe’. Having teased this newest single on the prominent radio show and platform On The Radar, the Portland rapper knows how to draw in a UK crowd as he samples The Streets’ iconic ‘Has It Come to This?’ and going in as playful as ever on the skipping, two-step beat. His upcoming album, slated for next month, can’t come soon enough!

hard life - othello

It has been a hard life for hard life, formerly known as easy life when their easy life got harder and they had to change their name to hard life. You follow? The Leicester indie band have deservedly grown an adoring fanbase for their sweet, yet poignant songwriting and live performance. After dealing with the b*llends at EasyJet suing them for their vague similarity in name, the guys took some well-deserved respite. Back now, they give us othello, an excellent reintroduction. The future looks bright with this nod to Shakespeare, taken from the less Shakespearean-titled album, 'onion'. Lead-singer Murray sounds excellent on this first single, bring on the album, bring on the onion!

kwn - do what i say

Way to have us on the edge of our seats this past month, kwn. If you’re anything like us, you might have had the Walthamstow native’s velvety vocals singing the words “paint your nails” in your head on repeat, thanks to an addicting teaser that’s been doing the rounds online. Today, she finally delivered, dropping ‘do what i say’. On a momentous rise that includes co-signs and collaborations with Kehlani, Timbaland, Jordan Adentunji, and some of the brightest names in UK R&B, ‘do what i say’ only affirms kwn’s trajectory towards R&B greatness with one of her most sensual and catchiest melodies yet.

Loyle Carner - all i need

Loyle Carner is back?! Mr. Benjamin Coyle-Larner is one of those artists for which quality over quantity is a guiding light. For that reason, new music from him is BIG NEWS. His last new music (as the primary artist) was his acclaimed 2022 album hugo - a triumph. With fans chomping at the bit for something new from the south-London wordsmith, he has now delivered all i need & in my mind. Two soft, intimate, personal tracks. The first is vintage Loyle, with his deep rasp turning over emotional stones like an excavator. The second is equally impactful, but sonically different, with Loyle experimenting with his singing voice. There's a King Krule-ness to it - it sounds fantastic. Whilst both tracks are pretty understated and mellow, they are beautifully composed, and they make the perfect return for Loyle.

Jim Legxacy - stick

Continuing his journey to tell the stories that matter and to UK underground fans’ delight, Jim Legxacy is back with his newest single ‘stick’. Following a whole lot of love on his last offering ‘father’, ‘stick’ sees Legxacy muse on his experience as a Black British creative, accompanied by a minimal yet magnetic visual directed by Rohan Dil and partly shot on a (now retro) Blackberry. As we’ve come to expect from the young British visionary’s output, his mission to push the scene forward both sonically and creatively shows no signs of faltering.

AJ Tracey - Friday Prayer

Wooooooosh this is a big collab. AJ Tracey x Headie One x Aitch. Three undisputed titans of UK rap. They take it in turns to power through wordplay-laden verses with a crisp delivery. A soulful vocal sample provides the bed for skippy drill drums, and all three bring their best. They aren't doing too much, with calm delivery from each, but they are certainly doing enough. Friday Prayer is a windows down, volume loud type-beat. Defo going to be on repeat at Oculate HQ.

GEE LEE - Daybreak

With the uncharacteristically blue skies we’ve been granted recently, it’s likely you’ve got sunsets, tinnies, and pub gardens on your mind. To that, we say it’s time to dive headfirst into the sun-soaked mindset with the help of luminary rising producer GEE LEE and his new single ‘Daybreak.’ In his latest return, the London DJ and producer continues solidifying his position as a mainstay in the electronic scene with another groovy concoction of bursting synth lines and soulful vocals, worth a spot on your summer playlists.

Jaykae - Hooligan

ARE YOU MAD. For those who know - this is big. An album called Hooligan has been on the way from Jaykae for years. I don't even know how many, maybe ten??? Safe to say it's been a long time coming. Now this track arrives, featuring fellow Brum town LEGEND, The Streets. Mike is up to his usual unique delivery on the chorus, and Jaykae shuts down the verse with energy. That Hooligan energy. This is an anthem for Birmingham. Bring on the album!

Zino Vinci - Late Bloomer

Man, Zino Vinci is great. He still seems like the nicest guy in the 'UK Underground' scene, and musically, he is one of the very best. Today, he release new EP Late Bloomer, and it's excellent. Highlights include previously released single 'Stratford Job Centre', and brand-new 'City Needs Me'. The later has crazy visuals courtesy of Luke Annett - well worth a watch. Also noteworthy, BXKS' verse on 'Me Or You'. Zino Vinci is going from strength-to-strength.

Katie Gregson-Macleod - Mosh Pit

A consummate professional in the art of making-you-get-in-your-god-damn-feelings, Katie Gregson-Macleod is back with new single Mosh Pit. Her deft, silky vocal delicately cascades between soft guitar plucks, detailing a story of love with Dickensian-descriptiveness. No seriously, she is that good. What a voice, and what a songwriter. If she's not on your radar I firmly suggest she should be! But only if you have a box of tissues to hand. Thanks for your words, Katie.

Feux - PILL

This writer was lucky enough to catch a rendition of PILL, new single by UK singer-rapper-songwriter Feux last night (At the fantastic Stargazer Show in London - what a fun night). With each release Feux matures into his sound and style. The style taken on this was rather specific, with him donning a grey suit and orange headphones at all times. His character work is excellent, a bit like how Tyler The Creator does with his albums, Feux likes to create worlds around the music. I believe he is still developing this, but what he's shown so far is already brilliant. A sign of amazing things to come. And, PILL is a great song too - nailed it!

mustbejohn - Feel It Again

mustbejohn has before blurred the lines between genre, sometimes arriving with big, heavy dance bangers like Motive, sometimes with swooning indie sensibility in tracks like Lucy. Feel It Again firmly fits into the latter category. It showcases his best songwriting to date (yep, I said it!). The chorus is catchy and well-crafted, the verses are personal and open. His voice also sounds excellent. It seems as though John has been hard at work, and the results are exquisite! p.s the video is also well worth a watch.

Kokoroko - Sweetie

Kokoroko are a band who's talent speaks for itself. They have a beautifully relaxed yet vibrant jazz-funk thing going on, and it f*cking slaps. On a sunny day like this?! Put them on repeat. You will not be disappointed. Their new single Sweetie, taken from forthcoming album Tuff Times Never Last via Brownswood Recordings (a label that rarely, if ever, misses the mark btw), is divine. "Sweetie make my heartbeat bounce" is repeated over their signature jazz-swing. Kokoroko's music feels rich, soulful, and full-of-heart. The perfect way to begin your weekend.

Check out all the above, and some other honourable mentions, in the playlist below:

List curated by Matt Sharp, Amalia Castle & Liam Tyler.