Well, itâs been a deeply concerning start to the year as far as current events go. One thing our felonious president canât restrict or control (or at least hasnât tried to yet) is the music and art we create and consume. As we look ahead to February, there are at least two unmissable shows to put on your local music calendar: a Latin-infused edition of The Thesis with headliner Julimar, and an eclectic music / cultural event celebrating Black History Month featuring Kingsley and more. Plus, get into the vibey new R&B single from Mal London. This is local music you should be listening to Hear in Portland!
MUST SEE:Â
Upcoming local event featuring local artist(s).   Â
Julimar Headlines the Thesis
One of the most consistent local music showcases in townâand certainly the most stalwart hip-hop concert series in Portlandâthe Thesis' February vibes are Latin Core, so guests should come ready to move. After Verbz warms up the early crowd, things will heat up with a sets from DJ Perreo Princess and MichoacĂĄn rapper Doble D (who currently hails from Washington state), OC Note (AKA one half of the rap duo Alta Vocez), and Seattle artist RIIO. It all comes to a head with headlining emcee Julimar, known for her collaborations with other local artists like rapper Karma Rivera. On January 17, Julimar dropped an uptempo, danceable song called âPeso Pesao,â which translates to in English as âheavyweight;" itâll be worth it to leave your warm homes to come shake ass to the entrancing single. And as always, you can look forward to some surprise special guests. (Lollipop Shoppe, 736 SE Grand, Thurs Feb 6, 9 pm, $10-15, tickets here, 21+)
MUST LISTEN:Â
New release(s) from a Portland-relevant artist.
âOutta Sight // Mind,â Mal London
A couple months ago we were stoked to sing the praises of Mal Londonâs fourth album, Forever Hold Your Peace, which dropped in October. The rapper-singerâs vibey and smooth alternative R&B shined for its pretty sonics, effortless flows, and chill romantic vibesâthe type of stuff youâll want to add to your Valentineâs Day playlist. Mal London is known for maintaining a consistent release schedule, whether itâs a fresh music video, or building up to a cohesive full-length project, but we were still pleasantly surprised to stumble upon yet another enjoyable new single from the artist called âOutta Sight // Mind.â We werenât the only ones to take note of Londonâs newest release; deservedly, the song has caught the eye of the folks over at Spotify, and landed on the platformâs weekly âFresh Finds R&Bâ playlist.Â
ADDED TO THE QUEUE:Â
Some upcoming music buzz to add to your radar.
The Blacker the Berry II: Celebrating Black Creatives featuring Kingsley with Veana Baby, The Dutchess & more
Thank goodness pop singer Kingsley moved back to Portland last year. The artist took an entire year off from making music, and weâve been missing the artistâs buoyant, helium-laced vocal timbre, empowering radio-ready songs, and vibrant personality. Black History Month provides an opportunity to catch her headline the second installment of the Blacker the Berry: a showcase of Black artists at the Old Church. Having reportedly moved on and up from primarily writing songs about her heartbreak, Kingsley is poised to perform her newer material, like the pop house modern disco vibes displayed on 2024 single âMy Love,â which is catchy as hell and has a celebratory feel. That being said, weâre still very much into her relatable heartbreak anthems like âAll Me (featuring Haley Johnsen),â and 2021âs âTherapy.â In addition to Kingsley, Blacker the Berry II features a stacked lineup of Black female artists from R&B singer Veana Baby, rapper The Dutchess, and poets Ladeè and Camille Terry. The event will also include vendors like Black Honey Wellness and Bare Beauty, as well as an onsite art gallery. (The Old Church (Cheshire Cat Lounge), 1422 SW 11th Ave, Sat Feb 22, 7:30 pm, $22-30, tickets here, all ages)