Emerging singer Dora Jar has an expansive, shape-shifting sound, with songs that run the gamut from hip-hop to dreamy pop to imaginative story songs about characters such as mermaids.

But in this episode of Press Play at Home, Jar strips her sound back to its introspective and acoustic roots. She cozies up indoors for a performance of "Multiply," a track from her 2021 Digital Meadow EP.

"Multiply" is a master class in yearning: Set against a gentle, cyclical acoustic guitar line, Jar's breathy vocals create a stark contrast against the intensity of lyrics like "'Cause you got my body all open" and "I think about you 25 hours a day."

The soothing aesthetic of Jar's performance adds to that juxtaposition. Sitting cross-legged against a backdrop of windows, the singer performs the song with just an acoustic guitar as trees gently sway behind her.

While the visuals might soften the intensity of the song's message, they also underscore the intimate nature of Jar's songwriting. Though Jar's music oscillates between different genres and styles, she presents a quiet confidence about her sense of self as an artist — a skill that she had to hone, as she told NME. 

"When I met producers, they were overpowering me. I realized I have to be a boss, I need to know their language to communicate what I want," she explained. "Now, people realize I don't have a specific sound, I am the sound, so it's been easier to experiment. I don't want to land anywhere. I just want to keep evolving."

Recently, Jar's musical evolution has taken her to some pretty enormous stages: She opened a run of shows on Billie Eilish's Happier Than Ever Tour earlier this year, including two sold-out nights at Madison Square Garden. 

Watch the intimate performance above, and keep checking GRAMMY.com every Thursday for more episodes of Press Play At Home.

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On "Dear Life," R&B singer Genia pens a farewell letter to her lover — while simultaneously reflecting on how the intense saga crumbled her.

"I can't take anymore/ Put my pride aside, thought you could save me," she cries in the first verse. "These days, I don't know what I need/ You destroy me from the inside out/ If I go off the deep end/ You'll be sure not to bring me back."

In this episode of Press Play, watch Genia deliver a stripped-down performance of the vulnerable track alongside her guitarist.

The California native released "Dear Life" on Nov. 10, via Def Jam Recordings. She has also dropped three more singles — "Like That," "Know!," and "Let Me Wander" — leading up to her sophomore mixtape, 4 AM In The Ville, on April 19. 4 AM is a sequel to her debut, 4 PM In The Ville; both projects are inspired by Genia's experience of growing up in Victorville, California.

""[The songs] explore the different stages of grief in a relationship," she revealed in an interview with Urban Magazine. "The second tape is really me touching on falling in love, betrayal, anger, and rape."

Watch the video above to hear Genia's acoustic performance of "Dear Life," and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Press Play.

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Now in her early twenties, R&B rookie Kenya Vaun would give anything to return to her childhood adolescence — the days of block-turned-house parties and no bills.

"Feels like it was only yesterday/ And life was so easy yesterday," Vaun raps in the chorus of her new song, "Yesterday." "If I had the chance to do it again/ I'd do it the same/ The joy and the pain/ The coldest of winters/ The summertime rain/ No, I wouldn't change my yesterdays."

In this episode of Press Play, watch Vaun deliver a live rendition of the track, straight from the recording studio.

"Yesterday" arrives on Vaun's latest EP, The Honeymoon Phase, which dropped March 22 via 300 Entertainment. She also released an accompanying music video, filmed in her hometown, Philadelphia.

"'Yesterday' talks about my experiences when I was younger because that is a huge part of what made me who I am today," Vaun said in an interview with Rated R&B. "Seeing how times are today, it's kind of like, 'Dang. Imagine if I grew up during this time.' I don't know how I would be, like, for real."

Watch the video above to hear Kenya Vaun's nostalgic performance of "Yesterday," and check back to GRAMMY.com for more episodes of Press Play.

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On "Constellations," pop singer and social media star Jade LeMac has stars in her eyes after a passionate moment in love.

"Your freckles lead the way/ I trace your constellations," LeMac sings in the chorus. But as the two leave each other's arms, it's like they're a galaxy away: "Now, you're gone in the blink of an eye/ I try to remember what you look like/ Orion's Belt in the sky/ Closest thing to you other than my mind."

In this episode of Press Play, LeMac delivers an at-home performance of "Constellations," stripping down the wavy track with just an acoustic guitar.

Initially released in 2021 via Arista Records, "Constellations" was LeMac's debut single, and eventually became the title of her 2023 debut EP. Nine months after releasing Constellations, LeMac delivered another EP, titled Confessions — and on March 1, she gave it the deluxe treatment.

"['Constellations'] started this whole journey, and I wouldn't be here without it," she said in a statement about the song, which went viral on TikTok after being featured in Netflix's My Life with the Walter Boys. "I have learned so much about myself, my songwriting, and storytelling."

Watch the video above to watch Jade LeMac's lovesick performance of "Constellations," and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Press Play.

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On "In 2 Deep," R&B newcomer Chikoruss makes one thing clear: he's blasé about any potential lover's relationship status. If he feels a spark, he'll follow that connection and consider the consequences later.

"I know you got a man, but I don't care," he boldly declares in the first verse. "Honestly, you should really make more time for me/ F— around, find out, you gon' see/ No matter, they say this love the same."

In this episode of Press Play, Chikoruss performs an acoustic rendition of the assertive single.

"In 2 Deep" is the Montreal native's premiere track with 300 Entertainment. As Chikoruss explained in a press release, the song is special to him because he made it during his first trip to LA. "It was the day I dropped my debut single, 'Body Language,'" he recalled. "I was beaming off of the good energy from the release."

Chikoruss' rookie year also saw the singer opening up for Bryson Tiller at the Toronto show of his 2023 tour. As he continues to craft "the Chikoruss sound," his goal is to create more tracks like "In 2 Deep," which channel the 2000s with a feel-good, modern approach.

Watch the video above to hear more about Chikoruss' fearless pursuits in love in this live performance of "In 2 Deep," and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Press Play.

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