Have You Heard It? 13 R&B Artists for Your Rotation

Have You Heard It? is The LA Note’s running look at new music landing on our desk. Each edition rounds up artists worth a first listen: a quick intro, the song to start with and where to find them. This one is all R&B, with 13 artists stretching from Los Angeles to Oslo, early-2000s throwbacks to Italian R&B with afrobeats running through it.

Press play, find a new favorite, and follow the ones that stick.

1. Laiyla: “I’m the Prize”

Laiyla makes R&B for anyone who misses the sound and the visuals of the early 2000s, then adds a modern, feminine point of view. “I’m the Prize,” released September 3 and co-written with producer Ahmad Pollard, is a confident, playful record about knowing your worth and refusing to chase anyone’s attention.

Find Laiyla: Watch on YouTube · Instagram @songbird.laiyla

2. 3amsoundz: “my baby”

Detroit-raised and now building in Los Angeles, 3amsoundz brings an emotional, late-night touch to “my baby,” a record about attraction, attachment and complicated love. The cinematic video opens the door to the upcoming project summer gave you back.

Find 3amsoundz: Watch the video · Spotify · Instagram @3amsoundz

3. ĒLYN: “CIRCLES”

Kansas City-born and LA-based, ĒLYN follows the single “Lovely” with “CIRCLES,” a soulful look at love, self-worth and the patterns that keep pulling us back. The song asks what happens when loving someone starts to cost you pieces of yourself, and finds the courage to choose you.

Find ĒLYN: Spotify · All links · Instagram @thatselyn · linktr.ee/Elynofficial

4. NAYO DEZ: THE CURE

Haitian-American R&B singer NAYO DEZ has played more than 250 live shows, and her nine-song project THE CURE is built around real stories of healing, resilience and identity. She is previewing it with a listening party on October 30 at Mrs. G’s Lounge & Restaurant in East Orange, New Jersey, ahead of its November 1 release.

Find NAYO DEZ: Pre-save THE CURE · Listening party tickets · nayodez-thecure.netlify.app

5. West Munroe: Ecstasy

West Munroe lives somewhere between rock, soul and alternative R&B. The Houston-born, LA-based artist plays guitar, bass and keys, and writes and produces his own records. His 13-track album Ecstasy, out October 23, puts the guitar front and center on songs about desire, movement and emotional discovery.

Find West Munroe: Spotify · Instagram @westmunroe · westmunroe.com

6. ChylMusic: “hot chocolate: Silver chrome petals”

Koren Rolle records as ChylMusic, an Atlanta-based R&B and hip-hop artist, songwriter and producer whose path runs through Miami, North Carolina and Los Angeles. The project is built on the human side of music: real vocals, lived emotion and imperfect experience. “hot chocolate: Silver chrome petals” is a good place to start.

Find ChylMusic: Apple Music · Instagram @chylmusic

7. Voyce Butler: “All Damn Day”

Houston singer, songwriter and producer Voyce Butler wrote, performed and produced “All Damn Day,” released October 9. It is a grown, smooth slice of contemporary R&B, and Voyce is giving it the full campaign treatment with radio, interviews and live performances.

Find Voyce Butler: Watch on YouTube · Instagram @voycebutlerofficial · voycebutler.com

8. Devecia Mack: “Glow Girl”

Devecia Mack’s album Summertime YaYa moves through R&B, pop, dance and Caribbean sounds with her voice at the center. Start with “Glow Girl,” an uplifting R&B-pop record about confidence and celebrating women.

Find Devecia Mack: Spotify · Instagram @devecia.mack · deveciamack.bandzoogle.com

9. Nina Vina: “After Midnight”

Originally from Kristiansand and now based in Oslo, Nina Vina reached the Top 20 on Norwegian Idol in 2020. Her single “After Midnight,” out September 25 on Magnus Records, pairs playful flirtation with a relaxed R&B groove, funk-tinted bass and a big pop chorus.

Find Nina Vina: Spotify · Instagram @ninavinaofficial · ninavina.com

10. PINAR: “Almost Believe”

Born in Germany with Turkish roots and now based in England, PINAR kept her songs private for years. Her debut single “Almost Believe” is slow, atmospheric and a little dark, sitting in the uneasy space between doubt and hope, carried by intimate vocals and layered harmonies.

Find PINAR: Spotify · Instagram @isthatpinar

11. Ludia Venus: “OASI”

Ludia Venus makes her own version of Italian R&B and lets afrobeats run right through it. Start with “OASI,” then keep going through “Dinamite” and “BERLINO (Blu).”

Find Ludia Venus: Spotify · Instagram @ludiavenus

12. Dripz: “DE MÁS”

Venezuelan artist Dripz moves between alternative pop, R&B and electronic music and builds much of the visual world personally. “DE MÁS” (featuring AXO), released September 24, is rooted in vulnerability and wrapped in a contemporary, atmospheric sound.

Find Dripz: Spotify · Instagram @isdripzforyou

13. Karisse G: “Slap Up”

Edmonton’s Karisse G sits where hip-hop, R&B and melodic rap meet, building a career from Western Canada with a long-running producer and engineer partnership. His single “Slap Up,” released September 25, is about ambition, loyalty and growth.

Find Karisse G: Spotify · Instagram @karissegg · officialkarisseg.com

Frequently asked questions

What is Have You Heard It?

Have You Heard It? is The LA Note’s running look at new music landing on its desk. Each edition rounds up artists worth a first listen, with a quick intro, the song to start with and where to find them.

Which R&B artists are in this edition of Have You Heard It?

This all-R&B edition features 13 artists: Laiyla, 3amsoundz, ĒLYN, NAYO DEZ, West Munroe, ChylMusic, Voyce Butler, Devecia Mack, Nina Vina, PINAR, Ludia Venus, Dripz and Karisse G.

Which new R&B projects in this roundup are coming out soon?

West Munroe’s 13-track album Ecstasy is out October 23, and NAYO DEZ releases her nine-song project THE CURE on November 1, after a listening party on October 30 in East Orange, New Jersey.

How can artists be featured in the next Have You Heard It?

Artists, managers and publicists can send new music through The LA Note’s submission page. Include a streaming link, your Instagram and a few lines on the story behind the song.

More R&B on The LA Note

• Melissa B. Is Keeping Her Own Billboard Receipts
• Janeé Cherí’s “Sometimes Never” Turns a Father’s Absence Into a Song About Healing

Want to be in the next Have You Heard It?

Artists, managers and publicists can send new music through our submission page. Include a streaming link, your Instagram and a few lines on the story behind the song.