NEW MUSIC - LIZ - Say U Would

Initially a baffling addition to the Mad Decent rosta when she released the silky but over-produced R&B slow jam "XTC" last year, LIZ is now probably one of the most promising young artists on Diplo's label.

Having made a name for herself by dabbling in an array of 90s R&B stylings, LIZ's "Say U Would" is by far her sexiest and most seductive track since "XTC". Sparse, blissful keys are kept afloat by a jumpy hip hop beat as LIZ speak-sings her way through the 'dear diary' verses, as her harmonious acrobatic voice on the chorus recalls Aaliyah. And to reach this level of comparison so early in her career, when Aaliyah is almost certainly a huge inspiration on LIZ, is quite an achievement.

What's so great about LIZ is that with any other artist, this kind of R&B would sound outright pastiche and the wrong side of novelty in 2014. However, with LIZ, it sounds as fresh as if we were hearing these sounds for the very first time.

You can download "Say U Would", and the rest of her Just Like You EP, for FREE below on SoundCloud. My guess is that this will be her last free release, so snap it up boys and girls.

FOR FANS OF: Janet Jackson, Aaliyah, Mariah Carey

- Joe Copplestone, 4.4.14

LIZ - XTC

Now as much as I love Diplo's label Mad Decent, its dancehall, moombahton and trap based output never really had a place on a pop music blog like this. That is, until now. This will be, without doubt, a cheesy dated mess to many people, but it's an ultimate retro R&B guilty pleasure for me. A deep, langourous trap rhythm is sweetened no end by LIZ's (I'm assuming it's stylized in capitals) feathery, caramel croon and 80s-tastic grandiose keys. And yet, for me, it all comes together to make something quite gorgeous.

FOR FANS OF: Destiny's Child, Mariah Carey, Ashanti