Zodiac

You might not be familiar with Jeremy Rose's name, but there's a good chance you've heard his production. Credited for originally producing three songs for Canadian R&B rising star the Weeknd, including "What You Need," "Loft Music" and "The Morning (Original Version)," the Toronto, ON-based producer later parted ways with Abel Tesfaye in a split that was anything but amiable. Rose has claimed he's yet to receive any money for his work. It's an unfortunate series of incidents, but that shouldn't overshadow the strength of the producer's debut EP under the Zodiac moniker. These five tracks showcase Rose's ability to capture a range of moods, from sullen piano interlude "Loss Config." to the chopped-up vocals and horns on the more upbeat "Girlgirlgirl." Elsewhere, the dreamlike "Come" gets a soulful assist, courtesy of Chicago singer-songwriter Jesse Boykins III. His recent signing to Grammy Award-winning UK producer Paul Epworth's new imprint, Wolf Tone, only confirms that we'll be hearing a lot more from this guy in the near future.