Music
kimaRA goes through vibes and real talk on new single “Expensive”

On his third single, “Expensive,” kimaRA shares a story with us. Rooted in elegant R&B grooves and sung with a confident but thoughtful tone, “Expensive” is greater than a flex track. In the process, it’s an exploration of desire, status, and the surreal nightlife world that inspired it. The song came to life at a summer spent bouncing by night and building his brand in Houston’s music scene. He was able to watch the flashiness, the glam, and the personalities of the city’s after-hours scene. Along the way, through dialogues and relationships with women who led lives he had never conceived of.
The production on this one is rich and textured, exuding energy and a bit of decadence. kimaRA’s vocal turn is buttery, he’s impressing some perspective. There’s a tension in the track, a push and pull between the seductive pull of luxury and the quiet distance of someone watching it all play out in front of him. It is seductive without being facile, personal without being preachy. “Expensive” walks the fine line between regard and scrutiny. kimaRA questions the high life and owns up to the cost, which can be exact beneath the glitter.
It’s easy to vibe along to, but it also encourages you to listen more, to pick up on the slight change in tone, the sense of wonder and wisdom that live together in the same song. As kimaRA further paves his way in R&B, “Expensive” proves to be a defining moment. It’s the pronouncement of an artist who’s found his voice, informed by lived experience. And it’s that realness that makes “Expensive” hit harder than your average nightlife soundtrack.
Music
C’est Ça lights up a flemish spark with global potential in new single “Sunrise”

C’est Ça offers a flickering ember of hope on their new single, “Sunrise.” But be prepared for an even bigger surprise: this fresh-faced foursome may look young, and they are, but they sound timeless. With the self-assured charm of a band that has a clear idea where it’s going and just the right amount of mischief to keep things grounded, C’est Ça offers an invitation to follow along, and for the moment, this beautiful debut is a fantastic place to start.
“Sunrise” doesn’t just open, it comes to life. It unfolds slowly, like light penetrating morning mist, and it’s suffused with emotional swells and melodic sophistication that are both intimate and anhemic. A warmth draws you in from the first few bars, and sincerity lingers well past the last chord.
The same youthful longing in the vocals, the ambient guitars that expand like open space, the unassuming but insistent push of a band starting to figure itself out. But make no mistake: C’est Ça isn’t here to copy. They’re making their way, a sunrise at a time. According to their Belgium promo girl, they have ‘the emotional depth of bands such as Athlete or Snow Patrol’; you can see why. “Sunrise” achieves that elusive balance between vulnerability and uplift, which makes you want to hit replay and have it serve as a soundtrack to your peaceful mornings in solitude or your late-night reflections.
But below the studio polish is something even more evocative: heart. Whether it’s their small-town foundations or shared big-city dream of being found, C’est Ça carry themselves with a down-to-earth optimism that feels both approachable and hard-won. If this track is anything to go by, C’est Ça are not just climbing; they’re on fire. “Sunrise” is a promise and a business card, a quiet rumble from a band eager to be heard.
Music
Papi Jay drops a love letter to his roots with “Dear Sacramento”

Papi Jay offers something tangible and personal in a landscape where the music world is inundated with relatively shallow chart toppers. His new single, “Dear Sacramento,” is a lyrical love letter to the city that formed him. It slaps differently with West Coast bounce and raw, honest storytelling.
From Sacramento, born and raised, Papi Jay reps the 916. It’s physically palpable in every bar, every beat, every breath of this track. “Dear Sacramento” presents a portrait of a city that flows with love and struggle, grit and grace. It’s more than hometown pride, survival, endurance, and a sense of coming up when the world won’t notice you. And Papi is not just saying, but living it.
Papi Jay produces the track, fusing a distinctive Cali groove with something more personal: his truth. There’s the bounce, sure, but beneath, there’s an undercurrent of emotion and lived experience that cannot be overlooked. You can feel the streets, the summer heat, the late-night dreams, and the early-morning grind. There is no filter here, just passion and perspective.
“Dear Sacramento” is someone who’s found their voice and isn’t afraid to use it. There’s a slick hook, piercing verses, and a production that keeps your head nodding while your heart tunes in. This is not background music, and it’s a declaration. This one’s a must-have for all real hip-hop fans with a message. And for anyone who’s ever felt sidelined, who’s hustled in silence, who’s shouldered an entire city on their back, this song is for you.”
That is what Papi Jay is saying: Sacramento made him, and he’s here to give back the love. In “Dear Sacramento,” he shows that the most powerful stories don’t come from watching us so much as from the places we come from and the voices that emerge from those shadows to be heard. This song is not only for the city; it’s from the town and deserves to be heard.
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