A star in the making

The title of the most original release of the year thus far goes to 070 Shake with Modus Vivendi. Gorgeous vocals soaked in auto tune are digitally manipulated to bring about stunning harmonies that soar over expansive arrangements.

Real name Danielle Balbuena, this 22-year-old New Jersey native has star written all over her.

‘‘Where did you sleep last night’’ she begs in

The Pines, before unleashing a powerful, aggressive chorus, complete with a rush of deep reverberating bass thumps.

Microdosing is as pretty and evocative as the title implies. There is so much colour and beauty in the music with its strangely androgynous feel.

This may be odd to admit, but I couldn’t work out whether it was a man or a woman singing the whole way though.

Aesthetically it’s modern R’n’B but it’s heavy string sections and tendencies towards abstract trip hop gives it a fresh feel.

Her previous work includes credits for Pusha T and Kanye West, where she may have picked up a few aural tricks.

Her production is crisp with pinpoint precision making it obvious that this intimate, sensual record was crafted with utter obsession.

Mac Miller was just beginning to reap the rewards of his musical success when he died in 2018.

The rapper’s fan base mainly consisted of young white teens who related to his lackadaisical raps and emo veneer, but he was evolving as an artist.

Circles, a posthumous release is sadly the best thing he did. Beginning with a sweet gentle autotuned croon, he sings more than raps and although he’s not a strong singer by any means, his laid-back charm quickly wins you over.

Strong melodies are so simple they’re almost childlike, which is ironic as much of this album is about a man who seems like a lost little lad.

An obvious reference is Beck, with his halfsung, half-rap pastiche pop, but even closer would be 1990s band The Eels with their lazy, melancholic drawl set against the chirpiest of tunes.

It was to be a turning point and would have been a bold move in a career tragically cut short. Knowing his fate makes some of the lyrics painfully prescient.

Late in his life he went through some very public personal problems. Circles shows that underneath Miller craved a simpler, happier existence.

It was leaked late last year but has only now become available officially, DEUCE by Choicevaughn is one of the summer’s best EPs.

All six tracks feature in-form rapper Tom Scott. In particular End of the Weak stands out as speaking to a generation of people in New Zealand who are living without long-term dreams. Fantastic.