New Music Friday: 6 new albums from El Michels Affair, Curtis Harding, Venna and more

New Music Friday delivers six essential albums this week, featuring standout releases from El Michels Affair, Curtis Harding and Elmiene alongside notable projects from Venna and Steven Bamidele. This week’s new music releases span soul, R&B, and  jazz offering a focused look at classic craftsmanship and modern experimentation. From cinematic soul suites to shapeshifting jazz and shoegaze-tinted pop, these are the albums to stream now. This recap is curated by HYFIN, your trusted source for Black music and culture.

Essential R&B and Soul Releases

Elmiene — “Heat the Streets” (Polydor/Def Jam) — 

The British-Sudanese singer’s first full project since last year’s pair of EPs arrives as a concise mixtape steeped in plush, contemporary R&B. Elmiene’s agile tenor threads through acoustic and synth-sheened arrangements with a diaristic touch, situating him alongside the new U.K. soul vanguard while nodding to classic songcraft. Lead cut “Useless (Without You)”—produced by Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman—anchors the set’s intimate tone, while a faithful close with “You’ve Got a Friend” spotlights his interpretive range.

Curtis Harding — “Departures & Arrivals: Adventures of Captain Curt” (ANTI-) 

Harding’s fourth LP extends his gospel-soul lineage into widescreen sci-fi, a concept record about a pilot lost in space that still locks into earthbound grooves. Strings arranged by composer Steve Hackman swell around Harding’s weathered croon and self-produced songs, with credits that include mixing by Aaron Glemboski and mastering by Joe LaPorta. “There She Goes” unfurls as a warm, mid-tempo welcome, while “Banh Me” and “The Power” lean into his psych-soul instincts without sacrificing melody. 

Steven Bamidele — “THE CRASH!” (Tru Thoughts) 

The Nigerian-born, London-based singer-producer follows 2023’s debut with a richer, 12-track set that folds soul, indie, jazz and electronics into compact, reflective songs. Bamidele’s production favors tasteful textures over flash, opening with “If It Matters” and peaking on collaborations like “The Fool” (feat. Sly5thAve) and “Withdrawn” (feat. Scarlett Fae), plus cameos from Célia Tiab and Cam Thomas. It’s a quietly ambitious statement that rewards front-to-back listening. 

Must-Hear Jazz & Instrumental

Venna — “MALIK” (Cashmere Thoughts) 

South London saxophonist-producer Venna—whose credits stretch from Burna Boy to Yussef Dayes—steps confidently into album mode with a collaborative, groove-heavy debut. “MALIK” assembles a wide circle (Jorja Smith, Smino, Leon Thomas, MIKE, Yussef Dayes, Rocco Palladino and more) across jazz, soul and rap silhouettes, sequenced like a late-night radio suite. Highlights like “Myself” (feat. Jorja Smith), “Mr Popular” (feat. Smino) and “Eternal Reflections” (feat. Yussef Dayes) showcases a leader fluent in both bandstand dynamics and producer detail.

El Michels Affair — “24 Hr Sports” (Big Crown) 

Leon Michels returns with a crate-wise, cinematic soul album inspired by ’80s/’90s Sports Illustrated graphics and gospel motifs, stacked with marquee guests. The tracklist pairs the group’s grainy funk with vocal turns from Clairo (“Anticipate”), Norah Jones (“Carry Me Away”), Florence Adooni (“Say Goodbye”), Rogê (“Mágica”) and Shintaro Sakamoto, plus a posthumous sample from Rahsaan Roland Kirk; the set follows 2023’s “Glorious Game” with Black Thought. The sequencing plays like a broadcast—“Anticipate” is an instant add, while “Carry Me Away” offers a tender mid-album pivot.