After the 2014 release of ‘1021,’ London-born, Toronto-raised, and LA-based artist Rochelle Jordan went through years of business- and health-related difficulties, finally coming out the other end with last year’s emotion-drenched ‘Play With The Changes.’ A new remix album, featuring brilliant work from DJ Minx, Byron The Aquarius, Machinedrum and other notable acts, lifts Jordan’s theme of rejuvenation into a thrilling new phase
The start of a new regular column.
Welcome to
Clash staff writer
Shahzaib Hussain navigates the cosmos of the newest and most essential releases. Each month’s roundup features a Focus Artist Q&A, a Next Wave artist recommendation, a breakdown of his favourite songs and projects and a retrospective highlight revisited through the lens of dewy-eyed nostalgia.
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Focus Artist – Shungudzo
Shungudzo has arrived at a time when we desperately require a new manifesto. The Zimbabwean- American’s an activist, aid worker and journalist, her holistic worldview informs the music she makes, ensuring every song she releases carries its own personal memorandum on how to navigate an undemocratic world.
Los Angeles-based
Rochelle Jordan has unveiled the third cut from her newly-announced third effort âPlay With The Changesâ.
Following singles Got Em and All Along , the KLSH and Machinedrum-produced Next 2 You is a glowing vitrine for Jordanâs versatility as an underground rave Queen; her 90s R&B siren-like vocals skate over celestial synths and a club-indebted 2-step beat.
âWhen KLSH first played me this beat, I thought it was so jarring and unconventional that I fell in love with it,â says Jordan. âIt really took me back to the days when I obsessed over Deadmau5 and Artful Dodger, but this was a very futuristic sound I hadn t quite heard before. It s as strange as it sounds, as it feels, and is as beautiful and unique as I love for my music to be. As far as the lyrics go, the song is about what it says. I m trying to get next to you.