Best New Music of the Week: Matt Maltese, Joji, RRILEY, and more

Every week, Buro. selects the best new music of the week so you don't have to deal with the white noise.

7 August

Fire by RRILEY (feat. Zamaera)

You might recognise her as a member of local pop-quartet, The Sam Willows. This season, RRILEY has broken out of her shell and is keen to make her mark as a solo artist with her latest EP, Alpha. It features pop-anthem Love Me Like A, groove-inducing mmm bye, and three brand new tracks. Fire, featuring rising Malaysian rapper Zamaera, spits fire and rhymes, mixing playful lyrics and power-pop trap staple beats that creates a vibe both empowering and catchy.

Daylight by Joji, Diplo

Japanese-born ex-online persona Joji has been tearing apart the airwaves with his melancholy yet insaitiably catchy songs about love and relationships. Just like previous singles Gimme Love, Run and Sanctuary, this latest collaboration with EDM heavyweight DJ and producer, Diplo, is taken from Nectar, which is set to drop on 25 September. Fall deep into a trance listening to Joji's melodic baritone layered with his soulful falsetto packaged with Diplo's iconic trap and bass combos —accompanied by a music video that features both artists dealing with a troublesome eldery boy band.

madhouse by Matt Maltese

Matt Maltese has gained his following by releasing track after track featuring grand ballad and baroque arrangements juxtaposed with unironically direct and candid lyrics. With the fresh release of his latest EP madhouse, he once again is able to sing about dark and depressing themes in a humourous and palattable way. “I’ve found that sometimes the majority of the emotional journey of love and life is actually the search for an understanding of it,” Maltese said of the new EP. “And these songs try and make peace with all of that, poke fun at it and, ultimately, embrace it.” Listen to the new title track below.

Tangerine by Glass Animals

We've been waiting to hear from UK-based psych-pop quartet Glass Animals for four long years. They sprung onto the scene with their first album Zaba back in 2014 and have continued to grow from then with the release of their critically-acclaimed psychedelic-pop album How To Be A Human Being in 2016. Two years ago, Glass Animals drummer Joe Seaward suffered a complex skull fracture in a cycling accident in Dublin, and had to undergo neurosurgery. He’s since made a full (astonishing) recovery. But for singer Dave Bayley, at his hospital bedside, it was a struggle to be as optimistic as Seaward’s other friends and family. The memories that resurfaced in this time are what inspired the new Glass Animals album, Dreamland. Catch shimmering and glittery synths, Bayley's iconic raspy and airy falsetto, packed into a nice hip-hop combo on Tangerine.

Woodlawn by Aminé

Adam Aminé Daniel, known mononymously as Aminé, burst onto the scene with his iconic flow and melodic pauses way back in 2016 with his debut track Caroline. The Portland-native is back with a full feature album. Titled Limbo, the 14-track collective features hip-hop stars Young Thug, slowthai and Vince Staples. “It’s something I’m really proud of and something I’ve been putting a lot of effort into for the past two years,” Amine said of the new album. “I haven’t really gone this in-depth with my music in a while, so it feels good.” Listen to Woodlawn, and hear Aminé's trademark flow in action layered over a slick woodwind sample and thumping trap beats.