These 10 releases by Singaporean acts in the past month include both uplifting tracks and sombre tunes.

While R&B trio brb. and singer, songwriter and producer Yao celebrate positivity in their perky singles, singers like Nathan Hartono and Dominic Chin are contemplative in their tracks.

Also on the list are turntablist and DJ Koflow's new album, as well as rapper TheLionCityBoy's ode to the circuit breaker period.

1. HIP-HOP/ELECTRONIC

AMAZING

Yung Raja, Alyph and Trifect

Hear it on: Spotify, Apple Music and other music streaming platforms

Watch it on: bit.ly/2GfQkAm

Rappers Yung Raja and Alyph team up with electronic producer Trifect for their new single, Amazing.

Yung Raja says that the uplifting song was designed to brighten up the listener's day. "I wanted to create something that makes people feel good, that has an uplifting and bright vibe to it."

Alyph adds that the song is dedicated to all listeners, regardless of age. "I wanted to write something which young kids could follow and young adults could enjoy, and something for the older generation to feel the music."

2. R&B/POP/ELECTRONIC

MORNING DANCE

Yao

Hear it on: Spotify, Apple Music and other music streaming platforms

Watch it on: bit.ly/2GkL4vr

Singer, songwriter and producer Yao's latest single Morning Dance is designed as an inspirational pop track to start one's day.

He describes the tune as an "expression of knowing that there is truly so much to live for and that being able to wake up alive every day is truly a blessing".

Yao, who first made waves with the 2018 single Scenery, won the New Kid On The Block prize in the inaugural Singapore Youth Music Awards 2019.

3. HIP-HOP/ELECTRONIC

METEM

Koflow

Hear it on: Spotify, Apple Music and other music streaming platforms

Watch it on: bit.ly/2Ga1UNv

One of the most prominent turntablists on the Singapore scene, Koflow is back with a new album, Metem. The palindromic moniker is taken from metempsychosis, a philosophical concept of the transmigration of the soul.

More than just a hip-hop album, the nine numbers see the veteran DJ expand his chops as a producer, crafting immersive instrumentals that take on genres from funk and drum and bass to dubstep and trap.

4. POP/R&B

DIG DEEP

Nathan Hartono

Hear it on: Spotify, Apple Music and other music streaming platforms

Watch it on: bit.ly/3lqp6af

Fresh from singing this year's National Day Parade theme song Everything I Am, Nathan Hartono (above left) has released the English version of his song Dig Deep. The Mandarin version was released in December last year.

The Singaporean singer-songwriter, who also directed the new music video, says the song is about the struggle of trying to be open.

"Dig Deep is a song about exploring one's vulnerability. It's never easy and is oftentimes a confronting process. The video to this song is a representation of that idea, of someone trying to face himself and making an honest effort to dig deeper into his heart."

To mark the song's release, Hartono donated meals to animal shelter Animal Lovers League.

5. INDIE POP/ACOUSTIC

PROLOGUE; EULOGIA

Deon

Hear it on: Spotify, Apple Music and other music streaming platforms

Watch it on: bit.ly/32NTNhh

Singer-songwriter Deon's EP prologue; eulogia features acoustic renditions of four songs from his third album eulogia; eulogy (2019).

He says: "I wanted listeners to experience the songs as they were written. Although it might be tough to pull back the layers and expose the core of my songwriting, I feel it brings me closer to audiences and provides a more intimate experience".

The tunes include Change Of Heart, which features fellow home-grown singer-songwriter Dru Chen. Other acts who appear on the EP include home-grown singer Mindy Kon and Shohei Uemura, the Japanese singer who appeared on the Netflix reality show Terrace House: Opening New Doors (2017 to 2019).

6. R&B/POP

DON'T SAY IT

Sarah X. Miracle

Hear it on: Spotify, Apple Music and other music streaming platforms

Watch it on: bit.ly/3lFvKJE

Don't Say It is the first single by Sarah X. Miracle, the new persona for bilingual singer-songwriter Sarah Cheng-De Winne. The empowering song from her upcoming three-part EP encourages women to recognise their self-worth and not feel sorry for letting a man down.

7. HIP-HOP

CIRCUS BREAKER

TheLionCityBoy

Hear it on: Apple Music, Spotify and other music streaming platforms

Watch it on: bit.ly/31zSL8T

The EP Circus Breaker by TheLionCityBoy (above left) was composed and recorded at home during the circuit breaker.

While the songs feature online collaborations with other hip-hop acts and producers such as Akeem Jahat and Kidmeddling, the rapper did a lot of the production work himself.

He used his iPhone to record himself and take notes whenever ideas came to him and audio-editing software Logic Pro X on his MacBook Pro laptop to put the tracks together.

"It was exciting to put this project together so quickly," he says. "Honestly, these last few months have been quite a roller-coaster of emotions, with us not knowing where 2020 will take us next. I know all I can do is just focus on my art, my family and my journey. I put all that energy into these tracks."

8. POP

DON'T YOU KNOW YET?

Gentle Bones and Tay Kewei

Hear it on: Spotify, Apple Music and other music streaming platforms

Watch it on: bit.ly/3lyWTy1

Singer-songwriter Gentle Bones (Left Pic: right), whose real name is Joel Tan, makes his Mandopop debut with Don't You Know Yet?, a duet with fellow home-grown singer-songwriter Tay Kewei (Left Pic: left).

He says of working with Tay: "As she is highly proficient in Mandarin, I was afraid she wouldn't like the song at first, so I am so happy she decided to come on board to team with me."

Tay says she was "elated" to work with Tan on his first Mandarin song. "I have heard his English works and they have never disappointed me as they were catchy with head-bopping tunes."

Described as the flip side to a typical fairy-tale love story, the lyrics explore how couples in relationships run through emotions ranging from love to heartache.

9. ELECTROPOP

ALONE

Dominic Chin

Hear it on: Spotify, Apple Music and other music streaming platforms

Watch it on: bit.ly/3lyUGTg

Singer-songwriter Dominic Chin opens up about living with anxiety disorder on his melancholic single, Alone. He says: "The song talks about feeling conflicted about my relationships, being totally defeated and yearning for some help while I fight my battles with feeling disorientated by all that is going on in my mind."

It is also a tune for those facing a similar predicament. "It's a song to let people who struggle with anxiety issues like me know that they are not alone, and that I, too, struggle with it on a day-to-day basis and I'm still here."

10. R&B

MY TYPE

brb.

Hear it on: Spotify, Apple Music and other music streaming platforms

Watch it on: bit.ly/31K67j2

R&B trio brb. are looking at the bright side of life with their single, My Type. As they say in a statement: "We hope to introduce a different energy into our upcoming releases. Our EP relationsh*t was rather sombre and we wanted to write happier songs this time round."

They are expected to release their sophomore EP next year.