The Next Wave ft. JID, Nilüfer Yanya, and a classic Prince interview

Your weekly dose of music discovery from Pigeons & Planes has landed. [Pigeons Planes ](#) Stop trying to label everything. Music evolves in real time, and these days it's happening faster than ever. The problem is, when these new styles, scenes, and sounds get stuck with a label, the evolution almost always gets interrupted. It takes time for things to become fully formed, and if we all rush to define it before it has even defined itself, the forward motion slows down. Imposters come in and try to take advantage, the flagship artists usually try to skirt the label so they don't get boxed in, and outsiders take an interest because they see the buzz even if they don't understand the movement. In years past, underground scenes could develop quietly and gradually until there was a significant breakthrough moment, and it led to some of the most exciting eras in music—whether it was punk rock, grunge, drill, or trap. These days, before we even get a breakout star or mainstream hit, we get new genre names, playlists, round-up articles, and eventually a bunch of artists trying to avoid being stuck with a label (looking at you, hyperpop). Nobody wins. The urge to define new styles is always going to be there—when we're writing or speaking about music, there's a need to be on the same page and have some idea of what we're talking about. And we know, the term "genre-blending" is meaningless and overused, and we promise to try to stop using it. But when more specific genre labels get thrown around too early and too casually, the excitement is drained. We don't need to create a new subgenre just because of a common thread between a few artists on the rise. Trying to write about a new sound that you can't define is one of the most frustrating things as a writer, but it usually means you're writing about something interesting. If an artist or scene is so unique that you can't even properly describe it, don't force it into a box. Just sit back, soak it in, and give it some time to grow. We can worry about what to call it later. [Image](#) Atlanta rapper JID is on fire, and as part of his latest batch of songs he linked up with Denzel Curry on the "Bruuuh" remix. For anyone who knows anything about JID and Denzel, you already know it's a must-listen. [Hear it on the P&P Playlist.](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRiBpsDP0UBMoQJAWh0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD05MGYyODM2MWE4LTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPWE1NDg1ZGU1YjVhZDJkMSZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy9vcGVuLnNwb3RpZnkuY29tL3BsYXlsaXN0LzY1eFNuY0tRekc2U3VzZWg1Z2ZZUDElM0ZzaSUzREVwTEgwczFZU0Zxblh6Q2w1bkdCckElMjZ1dG1fc291cmNlJTNEaGl2ZSUyNnV0bV9tZWRpdW0lM0RlbWFpbCUyNnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbiUzRGhpdmVfZW1haWxfaWRfNjE1MDVXA3NwY0IKYCEDFiRgifd_X1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTJAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) Here's what JID told us about connecting with Denzel: [Image](#) [Image](#) [Image](#) Nilüfer Yanya If you aren't yet up on Nilüfer Yanya, what a treat is is to get to start from the beginning. The 25-year-old Londoner's 2019 full-length debut Miss Universe made good on the promise of early hits like "Keep On Calling," and 2020's Feeling Lucky? EP finds Yanya at an exciting turning point, more confident and experimental than ever. Her understated, breathy vocals leave room for inventive guitar work and big drums on the contagious "Crash," and "Same Damn Luck" is a gorgeous tapestry of fuzz, chorus, and swells over a deceptively simple backbeat. She has range, too, evidenced by the EP's bouncy closer "Day 7.5093." This last song reveals Yanya's talent for flourishes—a three-note falsetto here, an arpeggio there—that keeps her music a cut above and consistently entertaining. Looking ahead to 2021 she tells us, "I'm excited to be writing and recording for my next record for the majority of this year! I will be having some vinyl very soon for my Feeling Lucky? EP which will feature the remixes too! Also there will be another special release of my EPs coming and I’m really happy to say that my profits from that will go towards Artists in Transit—a collaborative arts project which brings creativity to those in hard times." Through all her music, Nilufer's lyrics remain unabashedly honest, asking hard questions and resisting platitudes with each verse. Yanya's music stays evolving, even as she's already writing at an incredibly high level. [Watch Music Video For "Crash"](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRiBpsDP0UBNkTPaHR0cHM6Ly9hcHAuaGl2ZS5jby9lbWFpbC9lbHQvP2hfc2lkPTkwZjI4MzYxYTgtNWE4Zjg0ZmRmYmQ5OWI3MDY0OWQwMTE3Jmhhc2g9YTU0ODVkZTViNWFkMmQxJm5leHQ9aHR0cHMlM0EvL3lvdXR1LmJlL1kxN3hLak1tTS1VJTNGdXRtX3NvdXJjZSUzRGhpdmUlMjZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtJTNEZW1haWwlMjZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ24lM0RoaXZlX2VtYWlsX2lkXzYxNTA1VwNzcGNCCmAhAxYkYIn3f19SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkyQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Image](#) [Image](#) Questlove When we asked Questlove to share his first memory of hip-hop, he recalled the exact moment: "I was doing the dishes when WDAS-FM premiered 'Rapper's Delight' October of 1979. I stared at the clock radio like it was Orson Welles' War Of The Worlds. Life-altering experience." Read more from artists, actors, and athletes on their first memory of hip-hop [here](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRiBpsDP0UBOYQRAWh0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD05MGYyODM2MWE4LTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPWE1NDg1ZGU1YjVhZDJkMSZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy93d3cuY29tcGxleC5jb20vcGlnZW9ucy1hbmQtcGxhbmVzLzIwMTYvMTAvY2VsZWJzLXJlbWVtYmVyLXRoZWlyLWZpcnN0LWhpcC1ob3AtbW9tZW50cyUzRnV0bV9zb3VyY2UlM0RoaXZlJTI2dXRtX21lZGl1bSUzRGVtYWlsJTI2dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduJTNEaGl2ZV9lbWFpbF9pZF82MTUwNVcDc3BjQgpgIQMWJGCJ939fUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MkBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), and look out for Questlove's incredible Summer of Soul documentary, which uncovers previously unseen footage from the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, including performances from Nina Simone, Sly & The Family Stone, and Stevie Wonder. The film was [just picked up by Hulu.](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRiBpsDP0UCMTCEEgFodHRwczovL2FwcC5oaXZlLmNvL2VtYWlsL2VsdC8_aF9zaWQ9OTBmMjgzNjFhOC01YThmODRmZGZiZDk5YjcwNjQ5ZDAxMTcmaGFzaD1hNTQ4NWRlNWI1YWQyZDEmbmV4dD1odHRwcyUzQS8vd3d3Lm9rYXlwbGF5ZXIuY29tL211c2ljL3F1ZXN0bG92ZS1zdW1tZXItb2Ytc291bC1kb2N1bWVudGFyeS1zZXRzLXN1bmRhbmNlLXJlY29yZC5odG1sJTNGdXRtX3NvdXJjZSUzRGhpdmUlMjZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtJTNEZW1haWwlMjZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ24lM0RoaXZlX2VtYWlsX2lkXzYxNTA1VwNzcGNCCmAhAxYkYIn3f19SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkyQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Image](#) [Image](#) Photo by Tim Mosenfelder Three Classic Interviews You Need To Watch We're still stuck inside, bored in the house in the house bored. Quarantine isn't over yet. But there's also still a world of interviews to explore and be inspired by on YouTube. Here are three of our favorites. Prince There are so many incredible Prince interviews out there, so many legendary quotes and moments reflecting on creativity, artistic and spiritual freedom, inequality, and much more. In this 1997 interview with Chris Rock, the artist formerly known as Prince is relaxed as he discusses organized religion, the connection between comedy and his music, and, in some detail, the conflict with his record label over owning his masters. [WATCH PRINCE AND CHRIS ROCK](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRiBpsDP0UCMTNEz2h0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD05MGYyODM2MWE4LTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPWE1NDg1ZGU1YjVhZDJkMSZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy95b3V0dS5iZS9neU5RaHotaGlnbyUzRnV0bV9zb3VyY2UlM0RoaXZlJTI2dXRtX21lZGl1bSUzRGVtYWlsJTI2dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduJTNEaGl2ZV9lbWFpbF9pZF82MTUwNVcDc3BjQgpgIQMWJGCJ939fUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MkBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) Nina Simone "I choose to reflect the times and situations in which i find myself. That to me is my duty. And at this crucial time in our lives when everything is so desperate, when every day is a matter of survival, I don't think you can help but be involved." We reference this interview a lot but it never gets old. It's one of many instances of Nina Simone speaking with clarity and unshakeable self-belief about her life and work. There's another clip from the same interview [here](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRiBpsDP0UCMTRE_Gh0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD05MGYyODM2MWE4LTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPWE1NDg1ZGU1YjVhZDJkMSZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2glM0Z2JTNEWTN5WHJTNVBiYTQlMjZhYl9jaGFubmVsJTNETmluYVNpbW9uZSUyNnV0bV9zb3VyY2UlM0RoaXZlJTI2dXRtX21lZGl1bSUzRGVtYWlsJTI2dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduJTNEaGl2ZV9lbWFpbF9pZF82MTUwNVcDc3BjQgpgIQMWJGCJ939fUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MkBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), too. [WATCH "AN ARTIST'S DUTY"](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRiBpsDP0UCMTVEz2h0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD05MGYyODM2MWE4LTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPWE1NDg1ZGU1YjVhZDJkMSZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy95b3V0dS5iZS85OVYwbU1OZjVmbyUzRnV0bV9zb3VyY2UlM0RoaXZlJTI2dXRtX21lZGl1bSUzRGVtYWlsJTI2dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduJTNEaGl2ZV9lbWFpbF9pZF82MTUwNVcDc3BjQgpgIQMWJGCJ939fUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MkBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) MF DOOM DOOM interviews are rare enough, but nearly two hours on video, including audience questions? It's unheard of. Back in 2011, as part of Red Bull Music Academy, DOOM went deep on his career from KMD to starting to wear the mask, how he created his unique style, the personalities of his multiple aliases, his relationship with Madlib and so much more. It's a must watch (or re-watch) for anyone interested in understanding what made the underground legend tick. RIP DOOM. [WATCH THE RBMA INTERVIEW](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRiBpsDP0UCMTZEz2h0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD05MGYyODM2MWE4LTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPWE1NDg1ZGU1YjVhZDJkMSZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy95b3V0dS5iZS9KR3UwYW9fcmRBayUzRnV0bV9zb3VyY2UlM0RoaXZlJTI2dXRtX21lZGl1bSUzRGVtYWlsJTI2dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduJTNEaGl2ZV9lbWFpbF9pZF82MTUwNVcDc3BjQgpgIQMWJGCJ939fUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MkBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Instagram](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRiBpsDP0UCMTdE1Wh0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD05MGYyODM2MWE4LTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPWE1NDg1ZGU1YjVhZDJkMSZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy9pbnN0YWdyYW0uY29tL1BpZ3NBbmRQbGFucyUzRnV0bV9zb3VyY2UlM0RoaXZlJTI2dXRtX21lZGl1bSUzRGVtYWlsJTI2dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduJTNEaGl2ZV9lbWFpbF9pZF82MTUwNVcDc3BjQgpgIQMWJGCJ939fUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MkBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Twitter](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRiBpsDP0UCMThE02h0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD05MGYyODM2MWE4LTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPWE1NDg1ZGU1YjVhZDJkMSZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9QaWdzQW5kUGxhbnMlM0Z1dG1fc291cmNlJTNEaGl2ZSUyNnV0bV9tZWRpdW0lM0RlbWFpbCUyNnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbiUzRGhpdmVfZW1haWxfaWRfNjE1MDVXA3NwY0IKYCEDFiRgifd_X1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTJAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [YouTube](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRiBpsDP0UCMTlE4Gh0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD05MGYyODM2MWE4LTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPWE1NDg1ZGU1YjVhZDJkMSZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vdXNlci9QaWdlb25zQW5kUGxhbmVzJTNGdXRtX3NvdXJjZSUzRGhpdmUlMjZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtJTNEZW1haWwlMjZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ24lM0RoaXZlX2VtYWlsX2lkXzYxNTA1VwNzcGNCCmAhAxYkYIn3f19SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkyQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Facebook](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRiBpsDP0UCMjBE1Gh0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD05MGYyODM2MWE4LTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPWE1NDg1ZGU1YjVhZDJkMSZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy9mYWNlYm9vay5jb20vUGlnc0FuZFBsYW5zJTNGdXRtX3NvdXJjZSUzRGhpdmUlMjZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtJTNEZW1haWwlMjZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ24lM0RoaXZlX2VtYWlsX2lkXzYxNTA1VwNzcGNCCmAhAxYkYIn3f19SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkyQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Image](#) © 2021 Complex Media Inc. 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