Afrocritik Weekly Music Spotlight: Easing In
Yinoluwa Olowofoyeku
Hello, family.
Welcome back to your favourite weekly ritual of sonic discovery. We hope you’re doing well and that you’ve had a beautiful week. Happy entry into the second half of the year! We’re easing into it gently, with sweet and intriguing sounds to usher you into H2.
This week’s list is one of my favourites in recent memory, and there’s plenty of quality music coming your way. We’re also spotlighting a few fresh names you’ll definitely want to add to your watchlist.
June’s monthly spotlight has been slightly delayed by the everyday realities of life, but keep your eyes on our socials so you’re the first to know when it drops. In the meantime, if you’re an artist creating something you think we should hear, send your music to yinoluu@afrocritik.com. We’re always listening, and the best gems will be spotlighted for all to see (and hear).
Without further ado, let’s dive into this week’s brilliant selection, which comes in the form of:
NICE AND EASY: Soft sounds to ease you into the playlist and into H2 of the year.
Tim Lyre kicks us off with the grungy “Way/2/Me”. His long-awaited, incredible Spiral album is finally here, and it also gives “Storytime”, “Glorybound”, and “Pot of Gold”, all packed with immersive textures.
Emly cements her debut with the POV EP in collaboration with MBA For Africa, gifting us “More” and “Get Up”. She also lands a dreamy feature on the AfroHouse entry “Call On Me” by Damie and Dolapo Martins. From Awinnah’s Love at Home project, we find delicate gems like “I Touched Him”, “Tender Love”, and “Best Part”, a blend of new-age, soulful, folky gospel with poetic writing and serene production.
Runtown makes a sleek return on Soundgod Fest IV, offering moody, smooth, R&B-tinged Afro-Fusion on “Mood Swings”, “The Dangerous Hearts”, and “Bebe”. Ghanaian-Nigerian pair Lasmid and TML Vibez team up on Sweet Songs 4 You, a warm, sensual afro project that gives “Abena”, “Ghana Jollof”, and “Need Your Love”, wrapping us in sweet and easy energy.
NOTABLE PROJECTS: A number of projects that deserve your time and attention.
The Trifecta EP by London-based Dessireé gives us bold, cutting-edge, genre-fluid music with tracks like “Diamond in the Rough” and “Hell of a Show”. The We Are Lagos In Paris project introduces the Lagos In Paris collective, bringing electronic and Afro-electric fusions with tracks like “Afro G Western”, “Mali Spirit”, and “Sinatanale”.
Ayo Maff’s long-awaited Prince of the Street album lands with versatility, weaving wide-ranging Afrobeats and Street-Hop into “Oshimiri”, “Remind Me”, and “Realness”. Darkoo’s $exy Girl $ummer Vol.1 EP uses nostalgic sampling and interpolation to give new life to classics with a modern afro twist on “Options”, “Psycho”, and “Your Number”.
Jubed’s debut project From The Soil introduces interesting northern stylings and afrofusion, showcased beautifully on “Ruwa”, “Gabaya”, and “Kilode II”.
EAR-GRABBING SINGLES: Away from the projects, here are some single drops that caught the ear. “Be My Baby” by Adam Nabeel and MAUIMØON is a sensual, slow-burning love song that glows in its tenderness. Tanzania’s Harmonize teams up with Rudeboy for a Bongo Flava love song in “Best Couple”, blending melody and warmth with a soft touch.
Bayanni tries something different with the Zouk-flavoured “Namipa”, featuring the ever-rising Qing Madi. “Faya” is an energetic afro groove powered by the trio of Khaney, Meaku, and Denzel Wilson. “So Much Sense” sees Gabzy enlist Fireboy DML for a smooth, emotionally resonant banger with bounce and clarity.
SOUTH AFRICAN SIGN-OFF: Closing out with our usual trip to South Africa.
Musa Keys and Murumba Pitch team up on “Cina”, an Afro-House-adjacent tune that glides on melody and groove. CowBoii’s This Ain’t A.I album gives us “Hape Le Hape”, “uHambo”, and “Kuyafana”, soft, vocal-led Amapiano that soothes as much as it stirs. Smooth, melodic amapiano continues on “Safa iPiano” by Shaunmusiq, Young Stunna, and Myztro, as well as “Bhampa” by Vigro Deep, Zee Nxumalo, and Ch’cco.
Diamond Platnumz and Lintonto deliver bold Gqom energy on “Down”, a high-octane addition to the mix. We round off with emotive, pulsating Afro-House on “Naliya” by Batundi, Msaki, and Tresor, “Malaika” by Joki, Ruger, and Mugisho, and “Tholukuthu” by Jazzworx, GL_Ceejay, Thukuthela, and MaWhoo.
That’s a wrap on this week’s spotlight, but it’s only a glimpse of the full playlist. There’s much more waiting for you on the full list, so go take a dive. Hopefully, this playlist leads you gracefully into this new half of the year.
Hopefully, it soundtracks some more great moments for you. If you’re a budding artist hoping to get featured, or if you’ve just stumbled across a sleeper hit that deserves more ears, don’t hesitate to drop me a line at yinoluu@afrocritik.com. Let’s keep the circle of discovery growing.
Wishing you an uplifting, fulfilling, and inspired week as we enter the second half of 2025 with joy and intention.
Warm regards,
Yinoluwa “Yinoluu” Olowofoyeku is a multi-disciplinary artist and creative who finds expression in various media. His music can be found across all platforms, and he welcomes interaction on his social media @Yinoluu.
https://music.apple.com/ng/playlist/afrocritik-weekly-music-spotlight/pl.u-LdbqE75I21vAkDK