“Jaguar II” by Victoria Monét
A standout R&B record from one of this year’s biggest breakout stars.
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Welcome to a new edition of the Daily Music Picks newsletter!
Today’s music pick is an R&B standout from one of this year’s breakout stars, dabbling in everything from soul to dub.
Genre: R&B, Pop
Label: RCA
Release Date: August 25, 2023
Vibe: 👀
Even if you’re not familiar with the name Victoria Monét, you’ve undoubtedly heard at least a couple of the hits she’s masterminded for the likes of Blackpink, Selena Gomez, and Ariana Grande. This summer, she stepped out of the shadows and into the pop spotlight with Jaguar II, the follow-up to her impressive 2020 debut EP. It’s a well-rounded showcase for her abilities as both a songwriter and curator of some of the most immaculate R&B vibes around. I say that, but it’s safe to say this record doesn’t stick to one particular stylistic lane, dabbling in everything from glittering, 70s-era analog soul to Southern hip-hip to sun-soaked dub. Throughout, she exudes the laid-back confidence of a star in the making, never once straining for out-of-reach emotional payoffs or stooping to needy gimmicks that permeate every corner of our digital attention economy. She surrounds her voice with live instrumentation that’s lush and funky, an element that gives the proceedings a more organic feel. It feels hand-made, not thrown together quickly as if produced by some pop music assembly line.
One of this record’s strengths is how she breathes futuristic life into instantly recognizable genre homages. From the hazy “Smoke,” featuring a bass line that’s ALL the way out in front, to the feminist take on an Outkast template, “Cadillac (A Pimp’s Anthem),” Monét’s nods to the songs and movements that influenced her growth as an artist never drown out her charisma, which is the straw that consistently stirs the drink here. Perhaps most impressive is “Party Girls,” an excellent collab with veteran Buju Banton that’s as sexy a reggae cut as you’ll get this year. As. she told Harper’s Bazaar, her relationship with Banton’s music runs deep. “I was introduced to Buju through my mom,” she said. “[…] I just remember his voice really standing out to me—he has this rasp and this excitement to his voice.” Unsurprisingly, the feature spot also does wonders for Banton’s profile, who sounds more invigorated here than he has in years.
If nothing else, his late-summer gem signals Monét’s arrival as a major performer in her own right. Based on how quickly tickets for her headlining tour sold out online, the world is ready for her moment.
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