Those who’ve ascended to the ranks of pop royalty such as Cardi B and Justin Bieber are discerning when it comes to picking the producers they work alongside. Luis Martinez Jr. has shared the studio with both, earning his first No. 1 spot on Billboard’s R&B chart in 2022 for the silky, downtempo beats that made ‘Peaches’ one of Bieb’s biggest hits yet. Collaborating with artists of a Top 40 pedigree builds instant clout, but we think the Florida producer’s musical creations stand strong on their own, particularly those associated with his emerging solo project, shndō.
Take ‘Erase Me’, a glimmering, future house cut featuring the songwriting of the Arizona-based artist Bella Renee, which arrived via Dim Mak in late February. At two-and-a-half minutes, the tune is an algorithmic weapon, but what it lacks in length it makes up for in emotion. Packed with filter-drenched progressions, skittering breakbeats, and textured toplines that could give any of Skrillex’s modern melters a run for their money, it’s clear that shndō’s crossover era is in full effect. Megan Venzin
For fans of: Tchami, Skrillex, Young Marco
or fans of: Tchami, Skrillex, Young Marco
