melt exclusive:
Anna Justen
“It's young Anna's dream to not have that turmoil but through the lens of this innocent viewpoint of a cat who, regardless of the screaming and the pain and the fear, was still a loyal creature always and loved purely despite the pain and the violence. Basically that's the concept of the album; it's his dream metaphorically.”
Read Above: Anna Justen, the Seattle-born singer-songwriter, has been carving out her own artistic path in Montreal for the past few years, and, with the recent release of her debut album, MiCHOU’S DREAM, has burst fully onto the scene as a dynamic, introspective, and sonically intriguing young artist.
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Featured Artist Profile
J.U.S, the rapper from Detroit-based group the Bruiser Brigade, has been an integral piece of the Detroit rap scene for over two decades. A well-regarded producer and recording engineer, J.U.S’s contributions to the genre still remain to be fully explored. Yet, his recent output, in collaboration with the artists he has come to know in that time, has finally showcased the extent of his talent, putting his pure musical skill and knowledge on full display.
J.U.S
“On the clock”- The Making of 3rd shift documentary
2024, Directed by Ryan Heinz
In compliment to their recent album, “3rd Shift”, veteran rappers Squadda B and JUS have released a documentary compiling footage of their months of writing and recording. Made in summertime Detroit, the album is, in part, based on the grind mentality of the Motor City. With beats by Squadda and flows by JUS, Fat Ray, and more, it has been one of the must-listens of 2024.
Normally based in Oakland, Squadda says that traveling repeatedly to Detroit in order to make the album was “Definitely needed. You’ve got to kind of get out of your comfort zone a little bit, and I'm very comfortable in Detroit. But still… you're not at home. You're not near your bed.”
Watch the documentary now to see how the two artists push each other out of their comfort zones in order to create a gem of a project.
Listen to 3rd Shift now on:
10 Questions w/ odelet
Odelet, the Detroit-born producer and multi-instrumentalist, has been experimenting between genres for multiple years now, and, with the release of their newest album, Angels (Revived), the experiment has reached new heights.
A dynamic blend of soul, funk, jazz, reggae, and other musical roots, the album encapsulates perfectly the genre-agnosticism that permeates Odelet’s creative output.
Currently based on the West Coast, their work in visual art has slowly become intertwined with their musical ventures, and the ultimate result, which is in part represented in Angels (Revived), has blossomed into a transformation of their creative process and manifestation of sound.
Artist profiles
Jay Exodus, the lyrically intent rapper from Buffalo, New York, has been in the game for over a decade now, but, since his artistic re-invigoration during the pandemic, has steadily been improving and becoming more comfortable in his sound, making a name for himself both locally and in the global hip-hop scene.
JAY Exodus
JaySanityy, the rapper and producer from Columbia, Maryland, has been making music from the time he was a child, and, through his years of work and the growth of his discography, has blossomed into an adroit and experienced songwriter, crafting tracks that push the bounds of his creative drive.
Jaysanityy
teether
Teether, the Melbourne-raised and London-based rapper and producer, has been leaning into the extremities of his sound with definite intention from the time he was a teenager, and, in doing so, has discovered a niche that bridges the grimy, boundary-pushing qualities of metal and punk with the wobbling atmosphere of psychedelically-leaning hip-hop.
Star Moles, the fantasy-driven singer-songwriter from New Hampshire, has always opted for the conceptual, the pure, and the melodramatic, and, with the upcoming release of Snack Monster, she has taken this potent combination to new heights, amping up her instrumentation and deepening her conceptual spirit.
Star moles
Cashbo, the rapper and producer from Jackson, Michigan, has been dreaming up lyrically-packed songs since middle school, but now, with his recent re-brand, he is ready to take the world by storm, crafting tracks that simultaneously capture the raw energy that he brings to the mic as well as the introspective qualities of his creative mind.