#auto-tuned-pop

#auto-tuned-pop

We started from a very silly place,

R&B in the 21st century has been in a constant state of flux, tugged between safe traditionalism and blurry attempts at progression. For the last decade-plus that "progression" has seen R&B music become more indebted to trap records and the moody atmospherics of alternative bands like Radiohead, Coldplay, or My Bloody Valentine.

Natanya tears genres open and rebuilds them in her own image. Her drums swing loose and jazzy over heavy 808s; synths drift dreamily before snapping into gritty guitar riffs. Writing, producing and arranging all her own work, she weaves together neosoul silk, R&B groove, indie edge, and flashes of grunge, all carried by a buttery falsetto that nods to Aaliyah, Amy Winehouse, Janet Jackson and early Destiny's Child.

We tend to think AI music tools are just gimmicks for social media creators, or that they're limited to basic beats. But it's hard to dismiss them when companies like Google, Meta and Stability AI are pouring resources into generative audio models that can produce full compositions in seconds.

DJ Chris Lake posted DMs between him and Kelce re: Lake's remix of " Opalite." In them, Trav calls Lake "a legend 🙌 🙌" and that he loves everything the DJ comes out with. "Caught you and The Fish at Coachella a while back an is still one of my favorite sets of all time," he wrote. When Lake eventually sent the remix over, Kelce responded with 5 exploding head emojis and 6 fire emojis. That's an 11/10.