Montreal avant-garde artist Elle Barbara released her album Word on the Street under the name Elle Barbara’s Black Space. For the record, she assembled an all Black musical group in order to break the barrier of what Black music “is supposed to sound like.” Watch as Elle Barbara talks about the album and shares the work of Montreal-based street artist André Serouille, whose anti-Kraft Foods campaign inspired the work.

STIGMATA is a sonic journey of healing, resilience, and self-expression. On their debut album, Seattle’s FEM du lit (Francesca Eluhu of Day Soul Exquisite) crafts a world where R&B, alternative, and electronic textures collide—unraveling the emotional weight of identity, judgment, and survival. We spoke with FEM du lit about the sound of STIGMATA, musical influences, and the power of music as a healing mechanism.

London artist ELI released her debut EP Full Form late last year. The EP showcases her songwriting and production mastery across genres like soul, trip-hop, and electronic. The four-song project explores themes of frustration, doubt, and alienation, creating an elaborate sonic landscape that mirrors its lyrical content. ELI, influenced by diverse musical genres, discusses her musical journey, genre-bending aspirations, and the evolution of her sound in our Q&A.