Oculate UK: This Week In Music

What the bloody hell is going on? It's like 20-something degrees?! And Jorja Smith just dropped a bassline tune?!?! What a goddamn time to be alive.

For a longer listen, we'd recommend Wretch 32's 'HOME?', and Mychelle's debut album 'Good Day'.

There's also standout singles from Olympia Vitalis, Fimiguerro, Deema, Nilüfer Yanya...

We'd suggest you start with our This Week In Music playlist, and take it from there.

Read our full thoughts on the best of the best below, and find the playlist at the bottom.

Welcome to TWIM!

Jorja Smith - The Way I Love You

Jorja Smith may have just dropped, to borrow a phrase from TikTok, the SONG OF THE SUMMER. Here she is again, she did this with Little Things last year (almost to the day), and now she pops up with another one to get the crowd moving. Except, this time Jorja's on bassline! It suits her exquisitely. She's moving chameleonic at the moment, popping up with a dance banger here, and a rap verse there. Not to mention her bread and butter incredible singing voice which stays with her always. This one is a proper heater. Get The Way I Love You on the speakers at turn it all the way up!

Wretch 32 - HOME?

Wretch 32 is an undeniable, indisputable, irrefutable LEGEND of the game. Like we didn't know that already, he's just released new album HOME?, and it's something to behold. Longevity is a skill that few can master, yet Wretch makes it look easy. He's diversified his sound time and time again, with his songwriting and song-craft only becoming more polished. There's something for everyone on there, and everything is fantastic. Salute to one of the finest musicians this island has ever produced. Give HOME? a spin from start to finish.

Mychelle - Good Day

It’s a Good Day indeed, thanks to Hackney native and singer-songwriter Mychelle, who is rounding off our week with the perfect amalgam of jazz, soul, and stellar songwriting, impressively in the form of her debut album. We do advise you enter with emotional caution if you’re a victim of any recent breakups or situationship-induced head-f*ckery, as Mychelle is nothing but candid and glittering in her storytelling on this project. At times, she recounts the hair-pulling inconveniences of love, and at others, she’s craving, pining, and pedestal-putting relationships that will never be, as well as the tender companionships that truly deserve it. There’s a moment of relatability for everyone on this project, and with a selection of tracks that sound this good, how could you resist?

Olympia Vitalis - Angel Patience

We are absolutely MA-HOOOOSIVE fans of Olympia Vitalis, and truthfully, how could you not be? Still quite early on in her journey, she is going from strength-to-strength with every neo-soulified R&Banger she drops. The latest is no exception, seriously, Angel Patience is mesmerising. Her voice is rich and impactful, and her songwriting always strikes a chord. If you haven't yet, and I can't stress this enough, TAP-THE-FUCK-IN.

Fimiguerro - Tartan

Bloooody hell I don't know where to begin here. It feels like Fimiguerro makes something almost entirely different, yet entirely within his own sound every time he releases. Tartan is no exception. The flow switch for this one is mad. It pays homage to the iconic Harlem Spartans in the best possible way, and when those hi-hats kick in?! Yeah it's silly. Fimi is one of, if not the most, exciting voice in UK rap right now.

Nilüfer Yanya - Cold Heart

It may be a gorgeous 24 degrees out today, but throw the fans aside because Nilüfer Yanya is back just in time to cool us down with a Cold Heart. Returning with her first single since her highly praised (and rightly so) third studio album My Method Actor, ‘Cold Heart’ is exactly as its title suggests: a breezy, crisp and spacious concoction of yearning strings and brooding meditations. It feels like an effortless postlude to the elegant stoicism she exercised on My Method Actor, so I think we can safely say we’re in good sonic hands this summer as Nilüfer continues her intriguing 2025 run.

Deema - UK Jetski

Deema is on itttt right now! Not even a week has passed and he’s already blessed us with another bouncy UK banger, UK Jetski. This one practically demands a destination-less drive, volume maxed out and repeat locked in for the foreseeable. As he taps into Jersey club with the glitching pulse of a futuristic arcade, Deema’s ‘UK Jetski’ is addictive and a testament to his sharp instinct for what his fans crave. This one is most definitely Oculate approved.

Johnny Venus & 6LACK - So Beautiful

So Beautiful, yep, Johnny Venus and 6LACK, I’m definitely feeling beautiful with this one… it’s almost making me blush. Okay so this one did come out a little while back, but the video just dropped today - and we wanted to show it some love! Providing a sensual and tender offering is no new feat for the Atlanta R&B icons, as their smooth and atmospheric alliance goes to show, making vulnerability feel like a flex. I can already picture this one leading to a candlelit evening, late-night thoughts and maybe even a few deep sighs.

Youngs Teflon - Keep The Change

DO NOT play with Youngs Teflon. Countless times he's proved himself in the top-bracket when it comes to coldest pens in the rap game, and his new album Keep The Change hits right in the top bins. Something about this project feels different. It feels more succinct, the creative direction is on point, it all just feels special. Knucks and Clavish even pop up with some killer contributions. Youngs is the type to have people coming with their best material just to keep pace. This one's proper.

AntsLive - Carpe Diem

Who would’ve thought AntsLive would be delivering some uplifting end of week motivation, playfully instructing us to seize the day in his newest EP Carpe Diem. I suppose it’s easily done when you’ve got pink limousines, jet skis and neon planes to play with, all of which we’ve seen the North London mainstay enjoy, but we appreciate the sentiment nonetheless! Carpe Diem is a delectable four-track offering that exudes Ant’s signature suave and is teeming with an inevitable, head-bop-inducing quality. Yep, this one’s getting multiple plays from us this weekend.

Check out all the above, and some honourable mentions, in the playlist below:

List curated by Matt Sharp, Amalia Castle and Liam Tyler.