Tanaka Makoni is back with a fresh release, 'The Streets'. It is not too long ago since I was listening to her previous hit 'Lust' and I am still relishing that one just as much as I did the first I hit play. Nevertheless, this new gem extends Tanaka's target with a soul direction and a pop flavour which is contagious.

It all gets underway with a soft overture with a brass section popping out with jazzy feel. Also, the vocals and the beat come in synchronously, and they bite with vigour. Vocally, Tanaka flies high with a tone which is often hard to come by with a newcomer. Also, she sings with a flow which is empowering and her words effortlessly drop from her mouth, proving that she is one of the most exciting artists in this space.

Musically, the track stays relatively simple throughout, but it works by giving the vocals the air time they deserve. As a result, once we are into the chorus, Tanaka leaps out with confidence, and she sings a message of her upbringing. She sings about the truths of her hometown London, and it is easy to get onto her wavelength.

However, the vocals do take up a lot of the mix, and she rarely takes a step back. It may be advantageous for her to give the instrumental some space, possibly for a bridge to come out and give the structure a change. Nevertheless, her message is piercing, and it feels as though she is talking directly at us.