While our local music calendars continue to fill as May marches on, this week we’re praising Karma Rivera’s new single—especially the acoustic version—in addition to a visit from Coco Jones at the end of the month. Plus! June will see Esperanza Spalding lending her talents in closing out the programming of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
MUST LISTEN:
New release(s) from Portland-relevant artist(s).
“We Gotta Thing” by Karma Rivera
Karma Rivera stays working. The Mercury recently directed readers to the silly new track “PDX (Wooden Roof),” a celebration of PDX airport’s artful ceiling, for which Rivera contributed writing credits and vocals. On April 16, Portland-based emcee Karma Rivera showed once again that she’s (still) got her foot on the gas, this time with new single “We Gotta Thing.” Like many of her recent releases, the new song sees the artist rap melodically, sounding good doing it. Written with heartfelt honesty, exhibiting righteous move-on energy, the track is the latest in a string of addictive singles. Feel the heat coming off the track: “Twin flame chose me I had to get back to it / What don’t serve me I had to put my back to it / Never understood why the hate come attached to it / I got good energy you gon have to match to it.” The acoustic version is particularly striking—sounding radio-ready in the best way possible—featuring acoustic guitar and backing vocals contributed by local singer-songwriter Lana Shea.
ADDED TO THE QUEUE:
Some upcoming music buzz to add to your radar.
Coco Jones / Lady London
Despite her Disney-powered, pop-focused career beginnings—like starring as Roxie in the Disney channel movie-musical, Let It Shine with Tyler James Williams—Coco Jones has been hard at work, breathing life back into her music career, since signing to Def Jam Records in 2022. You may know Jones as Hillary from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air reboot, Bel Air, but she's proven her chops as an authentic R&B star. A full-bodied vocal tone shines across her impressive range as she thoughtfully embodies her relatable lyrics, singing with immense feeling and vocal precision. In April, Jones finally released her full-length studio debut Why Not More? In addition to her wildly popular single, “Here We Go (Uh Oh),” the album includes the romantic “You,” and “On Sight.” The moving “Taste” is a beautiful interpolation of Britney Spears’ hit single “Toxic.” At her upcoming Roseland Theater appearance, we’ll also look forward to hearing highlights from her 2023 EP, What I Didn't Tell You. Adding more heat to the bill is rapper-songwriter Lady London from The Bronx, New York. (Roseland Theater, Sat May 31, 8 pm, all ages)
Metropolitan Youth Symphony featuring Esperanza Spalding
In celebration of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony’s 50-Year anniversary, bassist, singer-songwriter, and composer Esperanza Spalding—our Grammy-winning Portland-born queen—will give the world premiere of her new piece Dispelling the Lie of Lies. Commissioned by MYS, Spalding will showcase her eclectic skillset, which ranges from jazz to bossanova to neo-soul to R&B. She’ll join symphony and jazz students onstage for the premiere and play some of her other works, including “Ebony and Ivy.” The evening will also feature performances of works by other incredible composers, including Midnight In Carlotta’s Hair by the great Wayne Shorter. (Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Tues June 17, 7:30 pm, all ages)
