R&B/Soul

Empress Of's "Void" feels like a euphoric cross-genre culture clash, a dance party in a summer storm. Dorian Lopez/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Bill Withers, photographed here in 2006, was an artist more concerned with writing stories about humanity's pain than landing a pop hit. Reed Saxon/AP hide caption

Frank Ocean performs at the 2017 Panorama Music Festival on Randall's Island in New York. Angela Weiss/Getty Images hide caption

Idles plays a Tiny Desk Concert on May 13, 2019 (Claire Harbage/NPR). Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption

Lil Uzi Vert's Eternal Atake transports us to another galaxy. Gibson Hazard/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Bongeziwe Mabandla's "masiziyekelele" sends you racing through the streets of Johannesburg. Justice Mukheli/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Allen Stone plays a Tiny Desk concert (Max Posner/NPR). Max Posner/NPR hide caption

Tarriona "Tank" Ball plays a Tiny Desk (Home) Concert. NPR/NPR hide caption

Alex Isley's "Gone" perfects the art of subtle, fear-inducing seduction. Lauren Desberg /Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Lilly Hiatt's song "Candy Lunch" is featured in this roundup of music out of Nashville. David McClister/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Rex Orange County plays a Tiny Desk Concert (Kisha Ravi/NPR). Kisha Ravi/NPR hide caption

Jordan Mackampa. Josh Shinner/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Devon Gilfillian. Andile Buka/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Baby Rose Donte Maurice/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Begonia Leeor Wild hide caption

Parisalexa. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Jonah Mutono. Forest Aragon/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

BIRTHH's angelic ascension will help you temporarily escape reality. Sha Ribeiro/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Chika plays a Tiny Desk concert (Max Posner/NPR). Max Posner/NPR hide caption