New Music Friday: Leven Kali, Ebubé, Alex Isley and More

This was a lighter week for new releases, with a handful of singles, a couple of EPs, and one album making the rounds. I’m expecting things to start picking up as we get closer to the summer months since that’s usually when artists begin dropping more music to help build those warm-weather playlists. After all the cold weather we’ve been dealing with, we’re definitely going to need some new soundtracks for better days ahead.

Here are some of the highlights from this week’s releases.

One of the more notable projects this week comes from Leven Kali with his album LK99. The project carries a strong sense of nostalgic soul and leans heavily into live instrumentation. Listening to certain moments on the album even gave me some vibes similar to Kaleidoscope Dream from Miguel. The effort behind the production and overall sound makes this a really solid listen from beginning to end.

Another project worth checking out is A Mile In My Mind from Ebubé. This EP leans more toward traditional R&B with a stronger emphasis on vocal performance rather than heavy production. It’s a refreshing approach that allows the singing to really take center stage.

On the singles side, Glenn Lewis returns with “Past Tense.” Glenn Lewis has been delivering quality music for years, and this new release keeps that familiar sound that fans have come to expect while still feeling modern.

Dee Gatti also continues her run of consistent releases with “Seasons.” She’s been putting out high-quality music for a while now, and this track fits right into that trend with a smooth and easy vibe.

I’ve been listening to Lily Massie for quite some time, and she has a knack for strong duets. Her new song “Cycles” with Byron Juane is another example of that chemistry. The two work really well together and create a solid collaboration that’s worth checking out.

OSO delivers a clean and straightforward release with “Bedtime.” The track centers around the idea that when his partner says it’s bedtime, it’s really a signal that there may be a little more going on than just sleep.

Alex Isley continues to lean into the sound she has perfected over the years with “Westside.” Her soft vocals layered over smooth production create a track that feels instantly familiar in the best way.

Neya also dropped a very smooth and laid-back single titled “All For Me.” It’s the kind of song that works perfectly when you’re trying to relax or build a playlist centered around calm, mellow vibes.

Finally, Nemchel returns with “Makeup Room.” It’s been a while since I’ve heard new music from her, but she shows she hasn’t lost a step. This release arrives about eight months after her last single and continues her streak of quality work.

Overall, it may have been a lighter week in terms of volume, but there were still plenty of quality releases worth checking out. If you want to see everything that dropped this week, be sure to browse the singles and albums sections here on RnBPlanet.

And as always, don’t forget to check out the RnB Pulse playlist, where we regularly rotate the latest releases to keep you up to date with the newest sounds in R&B.