As we cross into the second quarter of the year, the amount of music we consume continues to grow exponentially by the minute. With amazing songs dropping at an unrelenting pace, it’s not always easy to cut through the noise and sheer volume of it all to find the music that will accompany our melancholy, inspire our next creative breakthrough, allow us our loved ones more securely, or take us to a place of unencumbered elation.

That’s where our ‘Songs of the Day’ column comes in. We try to keep our fingers on the pulse of music from across the continent and beyond, bringing you exciting songs from talented musicians who are continuously trying to bounds of artistry with their music. Earlier this week, we brought you new releases from Nasty C, SGaWD, Headie One, Saint Bond, DAP The Contract and more. To begin the weekend, we’re bringing you new releases from Bella Shmurda, Zamir and Odunsi The Engine, Bianco, Yung D3mz and more. Enjoy. 

Bella Shmurda – “Party Next Door”

Over the past few years, Bella Shmurda has made it a habit to always deliver undeniably catchy music. He can’t seem to miss once and this time, he makes his return with new single “Party Next Door”, an uptempo Afrobeats banger set to take over the clubs this summer. Bella as usual just wants to enjoy life and he expresses that fact throiughout this number with lyrics such as “This is the time of our lives, I hope you’re feeling alive/You’re free to join me to party, from sundown to sunrise”. This is the first official single from his forthcoming project.

Zamir – “Love Hrts” ft. Odunsi The Engine

Former LOS member Zamir is back harder than ever and this time he’s replete with heartbreak quotes. “Love Hrts” produced by 44DB founder, Tochi Bedford features a stellar guest feature from Odunsi The Engine who makes the song a bigger moment with his genre-mashing sound. Both artists seem to complement each other perfectly, as they glide smoothly over the futuristic production. The memorable hook, “she wanna love hard/she wanna love heart” sticks with you from the very first listen and lingers on lips for long after. Very catchy tune, I must say.

Olayinka Ehi – “Someone Else” ft. Mannywellz

Fresh Meat alum, Olayinka Ehi is back again with a new relatable single. This time around, her release “Someone Else” finds her linking up with Mannywellz for a memorable anti-love anthem pefect for anyone going through it at the moment. “You always had love to give, you just had no love for me/You just wanted someone else” she sings over the song’s hook, as she expresses her emotions and her anger at an undeserving lover.

Backroad Gee – “Ready Or Not” ft. Nissi

UK-based Gambian rapper, Backroad Gee has done many important things for the culture. Earlier this year, he hosted a freestyle competition to his single “A Yo” which attracted a number of rappers from around the continent and within the diaspora. Psycho YP emerged victorious and since then, the British mcee has continued to show his love for Afropop artists. His latest single “Ready or Not” is a smooth-sounding piano-led number that finds both artists rapping and singing about their realities in this roughneck industry. “Been through hell and the wire didn’t quench my fire/I’m just an animal in my prime” sings Nissi over the song’s hook, encouraging listeners to stand firm despite the tough journey they may face.

Bianco – “Ole” ft. Laime

Nigerian rapper Bianco has just released his latest project titled ‘Aquarius’. The succinct 7-tracker with features from a host of talented artists including SGaWD, Dremo, LAIME and Bipuntato, makes an excellent showcase for his star power. Standout track “Ole”, produced by KD, a member of the distinct producer collective, 44DB is a resplendent love song directed towards a certain muse, and letting her know he’s ready to risk it all for her. He puts a spin on the popular 2 Face song “Ole” to convey the depth of his feelings.

Yung D3mz – “Dey 4 Me”

Following the release of his collaborative EP ‘Girls Like You’ with Boye The Genius and Uche B, Ghanaian producer, singer and songwriter releases his debut EP, ‘YUNG’; a 5-track project with “Fever” as the lead single off the project. After producing records for some of the hottest artists in Ghana such as Kwesi Arthur and Gyakie, the Afro-Fusion producer now wishes to step out from behind the board and orchestrate his own musical offerings. “Them never dey around when I was down and broke/dem never dey for me, most of you niggas never dey for me” Yung D3mz sings on this track as he takes us through the personal pains and experiences he has been through.

Mizzle – “Angelica” ft. Wande Coal

Artist and Record producer Mizzle releases his sophomore EP ‘In The Dark’, a 7-tracker with lead single “Smile For You” featuring Oxlade that fans have been eagerly waiting on. All the 7 tracks are produced by him as he employs help from a host of talented African acts including Wande Coal, Ninola, and Sarz to pass across his message. Standout number, the Wande Coal-assisted “Angelica” is a delicious love song about the beauty of a woman. Wande Coal and Mizzle complement each other perfectly on this mid-tempo track, where they both mix harmonies so perfectly and melodiously. The chemistry on this particular track is undeniable, performance-wise.

Dani Draco – “Trigger”

Ghanaian Afro-fusion artist and producer, Dani Draco is gearing up for the release of his latest EP titled ‘Higher Life’. Ahead of this, he’s shared promotional singles such as “Trouble” and $paceley-assisted “Paradise”, and now “Trouble”, which he produced himself. The guitar-led number finds the singer delivering a stellar performance showcasing his skilled lyricism and his ability to bend his voice to his will.

Featured image credits/Instagram