1. CKay – CKay The Second
Source:CKay
Today, the emo-Afrobeats connoisseur enters the next phase of his career with his new EP, CKay The Second, out now via AWAL, his new label home. Spanning 6 tracks and including features from Sabrina Claudio (“again”) and Bella Shmurda (“nothing spoil”), CKay The Second showcases CKay’s evolution as he seamlessly fuses R&B and pop with Afro rhythms, creating a body of work that feels deeply personal yet effortlessly inviting. Over an upbeat production, CKay brings his signature romantic energy to what feels like a busy summer ahead, solidifying his place as Africa’s doting boyfriend.
CKay The Second marks an important milestone in CKay’s career as he aims to expand his unique sound to a global audience while leaning further into the emotional vulnerability and melodic richness that have defined his global breakout. The EP signals his most refined and intentional release yet, crafted not only to resonate with his loyal fanbase but to connect with new listeners around the world. There’s a song for every mood on the project – cue the club-ready banger “permit me” and my personal favorite, “tey tey!”
Beyond the music, CKay is gearing up for his highly anticipated Summer 2025 tour, which will bring his electrifying live presence to stages across key international markets. The tour represents a major step in his mission to bring his distinct brand of Afrobeats to a wider global audience — and cements his evolution from viral sensation to fully realized global star.
Since his rise in 2019, CKay continues to push creative boundaries while championing African culture on the global stage. His breakout single “Love Nwantiti” became one of TikTok’s earliest viral success stories as the most-used song of 2021, amassing over 2 billion streams at the time and becoming the first-ever No. 1 on the former Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs Chart. The song peaked at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned multi-platinum certifications in over 20 countries, making CKay one of the most certified Afrobeats artists in the world. He followed up in 2022 with his debut album Sad Romance, and his 2024 sophomore album EMOTIONS, diving deeper into themes of love and introspection, and cementing his place as a standout voice in Afrobeats. By the end of 2024, CKay was named the best-selling Nigerian artist of the year by the RIAA.
With billions of streams and a growing international fanbase, CKay is solidifying his place as one of Africa’s most influential contemporary artists.
2. Pixel Grip – Percepticide: The Death of Reality
Source:Pixel Grip – Topic
Today, Chicago electronic trio Pixel Grip have released their highly anticipated third independent album, Percepticide: The Death of Reality, now available on all streaming platforms. Accompanying the release is a fiery music video for the focus track “Reason to Stay”, alongside visualizers for all tracks – deepening the album’s visceral, immersive experience. Watch HERE.
The album follows a series of acclaimed singles including “Reason to Stay”, “Split”, “Stamina” and “Bet You Do”. Co-produced with Joo Joo Ashworth (SASAMI, King Tuff), and written over a three-year period between Los Angeles and Chicago, Percepticide: The Death of Reality is a raw excavation of trauma, catharsis, and rebirth. The trio comprised of Rita Lukea (vocals), Jonathon Freund (synth), and Tyler Ommen (drums)—confront personal demons throughout: betrayal, addiction, emotional fracture, and disconnection.
The result is a searing sonic narrative exploring the collapse and reconstruction of identity, connection, perception, and reality itself. Opening track “Crows Feast” sets the tone and eases listeners in with Rita’s haunting lyrics: ”Thought that I made a friend, it turns out you’re one of them, I open up my ribcage and let the crows feast. And then they come back the next day and say they’re hungry.” On “Bet You Do”, Pixel Grip takes it up a notch with Rita’s vocals on full display amidst the band’s signature blend of darkwave and synth elements. “Reason to Stay” offers a gripping and emotionally charged confrontation of betrayal with unrelenting force, balancing vulnerability and strength in equal measure.
Percepticide: The Death of Reality marks Pixel Grip’s first fully independent release, a bold testament to their unwavering creative autonomy and DIY ethos of their earlier work. The album is incisive, aggressive, tender, and turbulent—capturing the full spectrum of tragedy, triumph, and emotional clarity. Throughout, Pixel Grip continues to eclipse genre, fusing darkwave, electronic, post-punk, and avant-pop into something wholly their own.
Explaining the title, the band shares, “Percepticide is a portmanteau of percipere (to perceive) and -cide (to kill), signifying ‘the killing of perception.’ Percepticide: The Death of Reality is more than just an album—it’s a visceral experience, a statement, and a call to redefine how we see the world.”
Rita adds, “‘Percepticide’ is a cognitive distortion and a symptom of trauma—beliefs you hold to be true are shattered—as you question everyone and everything around you. My dream is that expressing my rage can help someone else feel empowered and, at the very least, less alone. You’re never stuck, and you’re never alone.”
Pixel Grip will support the album release with a North American headline tour this Fall. The Percepticide Tour kicks off September 23rd in St. Louis, and hits 26 cities across the U.S. and Canada, culminating in a triumphant hometown performance at Chicago’s Metro on November 14th. For full dates and ticket info, visit pixelgripmusic.com/tourdates.
Percepticide: The Death of Reality signals a thrilling new chapter for Pixel Grip’s evolution–bolder, darker, and more expansive than ever. With their signature raw energy and cinematic flair, the trio transcends expectations, forging a singular sound that’s as abrasive as it is hypnotic. This is a band fully stepping into their power, unafraid to confront the chaos and beauty of reality on their own terms.
Stream the new album, stay tuned for more news to follow, and catch Pixel Grip live as they unleash Percepticide to the masses this Fall.
3. The Marcus King Band – Carolina Honey
Source:Marcus King
The Marcus King Band unveils a further taste of new music with “Carolina Honey” out now via American Records/Republic Records. Listen/share the song HERE.
“Carolina Honey” follows “Honky Tonk Hell.” Listen/share the song HERE. Watch/share the lyric video HERE.
“‘Carolina Honey’ is all about how I met my wife and what a significant impact that chance meeting had on my life that one night after a show in Raleigh, NC,” says King. “I woke up still hurting from the night before – still feeling I didn’t have much to live for. I’d given up on any thought that I could ever be ‘happy.’ All that changed when Little Bird walked into my life. After my set, Briley came backstage to say hello – she started playing Linda Ronstadt and singing and for the first time I saw something or someone in front me that gave me ‘hope.’ Someone I wanted to be my BEST self for – Someone I wanted to grow old with, someone that made me want to grow old ‘at all.’ ‘Carolina Honey’ takes the listener through my mentality that day, my change of heart that night and my burning desire for her to feel the same way too.”
The beloved Marcus King Band Family Reunion music festival will return for its fourth installment this summer, taking place in Charleston, SC for the first time ever. Over the course of two days—August 23 and 24—the festival will see performances by the Marcus King Band, Jamey Johnson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Molly Tuttle, Hiss Golden Messenger and more. Tickets and more information are HERE.
This year finds King hitting the road with Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Eric Church and Dwight Yoakam. Complete list of dates below. King will be performing at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, TN on June 12. He recently took the stage at CMA Fest in Nashville, performing at Nissan Stadium alongside Brooks & Dunn following their release of “Rock My World (Little Country Girl)” on their Reboot II album. He also played Spotify House before joining forces with Jordan Davis for a special performance of their unreleased track, “Louisiana Stick.” Additionally, King surprised fans with a pop-up set at Chief’s for Sirius XM. He sat in with Lukas Nelson for his set at Chief’s as well.
Greenville, South Carolina-born, Nashville-based Marcus King started performing alongside his blues guitarist father when he was just eight years old. He made his solo debut with El Dorado (2020), produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. The album was met with widespread acclaim, with the Associated Press calling it “a definite high point of 2020.” It went on to earn King his landmark Grammy nomination for Best Americana Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.
He followed up the success of El Dorado with Young Blood (2022), also produced by Auerbach. His sophomore album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Blues Albums Chart, describing it as a “staggeringly confident work.” Last year King returned with his third album, Mood Swings, produced by Rick Rubin, of which Rolling Stone describes, “he…goes for something much more daring, vulnerable, and openhearted.”
4. ZADA – Breath Away
Source:ZADA
Today, rising singer-songwriter ZADA has released her new song “Breath Away”.
Recorded at Vancouver’s HippoSonic Recording…
