Future trap is the new wave of trap music that has been making waves in the electronic scene, with artists like Flume and Hermitude completely changing the game, drawing from influences from hip-hop, house, and garage to seriously push that boundaries of what electronic music can bring to the dance floor.

I love this genre because of it's one I've always found myself in the mood for, whether I'm in need of a morning pick-me-up, having a bad day, or just in need of motivation to get work done. It's emotional and vulnerable, but at the same time, stirring, passionate and even uplifting. If you're finding a genre that commands a presence, you've come to the right place.

The drops in the 26 songs in this playlist "f i r e" transform these emotive songs that feature smooth, deep vocals into incredibly badass, strong synth tracks. I've started with a stunning new release from What So Not (which consists of Emoh Instead, and formerly Flume): "Gemini," with George Maple's airy vocals that bring a gorgeous depth to the song. I first heard Maple's music when she collaborated with Flume in the song "Bring You Down" in 2012.

Another new release in this playlist is Flume's remix of "Lay Me Down" by current pop and soul king Sam Smith. While the anticipation really builds in the beginning, I do feel that it drags out a bit throughout the entire track, while not providing as big of a satisfying drop as his remix of "Tennis Court" by Lorde (also included in this playlist).

My "f i r e" playlist is getting me pumped for the What So Not and Flume concerts coming up. If you like what you hear, snag their tickets here and here.

I've been into darker 'alternative R&B' music lately -- we're now in the era of left field R&B -- as I've found it accompanies late nights and moody days really well. While The Weeknd, Frank Ocean and James Blake
have already become well known in the new wave of male experimental R&B singers, female vocalists like
Banks, FKA twigs, Tinashe, SZA, Lykke Li, Megan James from Purity Ring, and Jhené Aiko represent some sultry voices that beautifully contrast with often intense and experimental downtempo beats, as well as influences from hip-hop and trap. The result is beautifully dark, intense music that gives off a heavy, badass and sometimes acidic aura. Listen to my playlist "N I T E" below. You'll also find some features from rappers like Ab Soul and Kendrick Lamar.

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In this playlist, I'd like to highlight music from Banks. What I love about Banks is that in live performances, as in this NPR Tiny Desk concert (below), she sounds exactly as she does on her record -- something I usually expect but is often not the case. Her voice is breathy and vulnerable, and her tracks are layered with gorgeous samples, including one from a rising, yet still underrated producer Shlohmo (see "Brain"). While wearing mostly black, Banks maintains a delicate and still-feminine presence -- a powerful singer who I think you should stay on the lookout for; I have a feeling she'll be popping up in the mainstream soon.

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Thanks for listening! Stay turned for next week's post.