New Music Friday: The best releases out on June 17
Yaya Bey's latest, Remember Your North Star, tops this week's shortlist of the best albums out on June 17. Lawrence Agyei hide caption
Hear The Songs
Singer-songwriter Yaya Bey is a gifted storyteller who taps into deep emotions with a sly confidence, all set against a mix of soul, reggae, jazz and R&B. On her latest album, Remember Your North Star, she examines generational trauma, misogynoir, the power and importance of self-love and, ultimately, healing. We listen to several samples from across the record on this week's show and talk about Bey's journey of self-discovery.
We've also got new albums this week from Perfume Genius, Bartees Strange, the DJ and producer J. Rocc and more. Contributor and critic Christina Lee joins NPR Music editor Marissa Lorusso, Radio Milwaukee's Tarik Moody and host Robin Hilton as they share their picks for the best new albums out on June 17.
Featured Albums:
- Yaya Bey — Remember Your North Star
Featured Songs: "alright," "rolling stoner," "meet me in brooklyn" - Bartees Strange — Farm to Table
Featured Songs: "Mulholland Dr.," "Hold the Line," "Hennessy," "Cosigns" - Wild Up — Julius Eastman, Vol. 2: Joy Boy
Featured Songs: "Stay On It," "Touch Him When (Heavy)," "Joy Boy" - J. Rocc — A Wonderful Letter
Featured Songs: "Keep On (Yeah)," "Pajama Party," "Dancing With the Best" - Perfume Genius — Ugly Season
Featured Songs: "Teeth," "Cenote," "Scherzo"
Lightning Round:
- Erica Banks — Diary of The Flow Queen
- Harkin — Honeymoon Suite
- Kevin Gates — Khaza
- RY X — Blood Moon
Other notable releases for June 17:
- Alanis Morissette — The Storm Before the Calm
- Carlos Simon & Marco Pavé — Requiem for the Enslaved
- Flasher — Love is Yours
- Foals — Life is Yours
- Hercules & Love Affair — In Amber
- Infinity Knives & Brian Ennals — King Cobra
- Logic — Vinyl Days
- Mt. Joy — Orange Blood
- Sound of Ceres — Emerald Sea