This week's Heat Check selects come largely from iconoclasts who have already zeroed in on their individual aesthetics: a singsong rap soulman, an alté sensation, a noise-rap radical and more.

The music of Mariana de Miguel is always changing — and her intimate, simmering El Tiny performance is an effortless flash of all she's capable of.

Russell and her talented band embody healing community; watch a performance of songs from her astounding, unclassifiable album Outside Child.

The self-taught violinist, producer, and songwriter doesn't just experience or consume global sounds; she interacts with them. Natural Brown Prom Queen feels like a world tour of her brain.

The East Atlanta emcee brings a serious attention to detail to this stripped-down performance of tracks from his new album plus some earlier career-defining songs.

The jazz duo known for dazzling, brilliant live performances delivered at the Tiny Desk, with a set of songs from its debut album.

This performance from the French producer and multi-instrumentalist has all the shivers of ASMR with all the emotive joy of a warehouse electronic fête.

The R&B goliath caps off our Black Music Month celebration, highlighting a catalog chock-full of hits spanning 25 years.

The R&B goliath caps off our Black Music Month celebration, highlighting a catalog chock-full of hits spanning 25 years.

The genre-melding R&B artist Ravyn Lenae brings a funky, futuristic set to the Tiny Desk.

The genre-melding R&B artist Ravyn Lenae brings a funky, futuristic set to the Tiny Desk.

This Juneteenth, pianist Lara Downes remembers the freedom that has been hard fought and hard won.

This Juneteenth, pianist Lara Downes remembers the freedom that has been hard fought and hard won.

A cold and methodical ranking of Saturday Night Live performances by Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Lizzo, Billie Eilish, Young Thug, Arcade Fire, Saweetie, LCD Soundsystem, Camila Cabello and more.

A cold and methodical ranking of Saturday Night Live performances by Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Lizzo, Billie Eilish, Young Thug, Arcade Fire, Saweetie, LCD Soundsystem, Camila Cabello and more.