We Speak Music
Jake Exavier Serves Smooth, Soulful Assurance on ‘Just What U Like’
Jake Exavier’s latest release, ‘Just What U Like’, is a refined R&B slow-burner that speaks to both heart and heritage. With each line and note, the Louisiana native shows off the hallmarks of a true storyteller—honest, intimate, and self-aware. The track opens with a warm, head-nodding groove and builds into a confident, vocal-forward performance that feels like a whispered confession wrapped in velvet. It’s Exavier at his most magnetic, effortlessly layering sensuality with sincerity.
What stands out most in ‘Just What U Like’ is how easily it moves between eras. Produced by Rochad Holiday and recorded by Curtis “Sauce” Wilson—two-thirds of the revered ‘90s group Somethin’ for the People—the track weaves in nostalgic harmonies and lush chord progressions reminiscent of golden-era R&B. Yet nothing feels dated. Instead, the single pulses with a modern energy that places it comfortably among today’s top-tier R&B releases.
Lyrically, Exavier goes straight for the emotional jugular. “Got what you want and just what you need,” he croons, sounding less like he’s trying to persuade someone, and more like he’s letting them in on a truth they already know. It’s a clever lyrical balance—intimate without being invasive, seductive without being flashy. The result is a slow jam that invites the listener in with subtle charm and keeps them there with undeniable groove.
What’s more, ‘Just What U Like’ continues to prove Jake Exavier’s ability to push the genre forward while respecting the path that came before him. His vocal phrasing, songwriting sensibility, and ear for melodic flow are sharper than ever. There’s a maturity in this track that signals his evolution—not just as a singer, but as a curator of mood and meaning.
With ‘Just What U Like’, Jake Exavier positions himself as not only one of the more compelling voices in modern R&B, but one of the most intentional. This isn’t just a vibe—it’s vision. And if this single is any indication of what’s next, listeners are in for something truly special.
We Speak Music
Megan Burke Turns Personal Experience into Pop Catharsis on ‘Not All Men, Apparently’
Megan Burke’s debut EP Not All Men, Apparently arrives with a title designed to provoke conversation, but beneath its pointed framing lies a deeply personal collection of songs rooted in lived experience. The project sees the Irish artist tackling themes of heartbreak, deception and emotional recovery with an unfiltered honesty that has become increasingly rare within contemporary pop.
Produced by Hungarian hitmaker Áron Somody, the EP documents Burke’s journey through a series of difficult relationships, transforming private frustrations into universally relatable songwriting. Rather than presenting neat resolutions, the songs lean into complexity, examining the lingering impact of toxic dynamics while charting a gradual path towards self-awareness. It is this willingness to confront uncomfortable truths that gives the record its emotional weight.
Among the collection’s standout moments is Make Me, the focus track that introduces a welcome sense of levity. Written as a break from the darker material surrounding it, the song captures a more playful side of Burke’s personality, embracing independence and spontaneity without abandoning the candid perspective that defines the wider project. Its inclusion adds balance to a release that might otherwise feel relentlessly introspective.
Burke’s rise has been built largely on her ability to connect directly with audiences, amassing a substantial online following while earning notable milestones including a No.1 iTunes chart position and performances at some of Ireland’s biggest venues. With Not All Men, Apparently, she delivers her most cohesive artistic statement yet, confirming her status as a compelling new voice in Irish pop and a songwriter unafraid to tell difficult stories.
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