by Liam Dawe

Montreal-based Hua Li’s ripe fruit falls but not in your mouth is a lush, genre-bending exploration of vulnerability and power. Blending silky R&B melodies, experimental pop textures, and introspective rap verses, the album is both audacious and intimate.

Standout tracks like the hypnotic “Sanctions of the Heart” and the unapologetically raw “Part Time Muses” showcase both Hua Li’s versatility and maturity as a vocalist/lyricist. With its evocative storytelling and intricate production, ripe fruit falls fits comfortably on our shortlist this year.

Read our interview with Hua Li here