Australian singer and rapper Tkay Maidza's second studio album, Sweet Justice, released in November 2023 through 4AD Records, marked a significant evolution in her artistic journey. This 14-track project showcases Maidza's versatility as an artist, seamlessly blending genres such as hip-hop, R&B, dance, and pop into a cohesive whole.

Maidza describes Sweet Justice as a personal diary, channeling her emotions and experiences from the past two years. The album explores themes of self-discovery, empowerment, and resilience, reflecting her journey of overcoming challenges and embracing personal growth. As Maidza continues to evolve and experiment with her sound, Sweet Justice serves as a testament to her artistic growth and resilience.

Sweet Justice is also Tkay Maidza’s first release to receive a Dolby Atmos mix, created by Tyler Scott at Clean Cut Collective in Los Angeles. Though the Atmos mix has been accessible via streaming services since November 2023, fans can now purchase it as a hi-res digital download in the IAA shop!

The album opens with "Love and Other Drugs," setting the tone with its introspective lyrics and catchy hooks. Lead vocals float between the front and side speakers (triggering the front wides on a 9.1.4 or 9.1.6 setup), with the drums locked to the front and electronic percussion floating up towards the height array. The Atmos mix makes limited use of the center speaker, supplying only low-level drum sound underpinning the front stage.

"WUACV" (Woke Up and Chose Violence) showcases Maidza's sharp lyricism over buzzing basslines, reflecting her assertive stance against detractors. The distorted bass fills up the front stage, while the double-tracked vocals remain mostly rooted in the side surrounds. "Out of Luck," featuring Lolo Zouaï and Amber Mark, blends Maidza’s pop sensibilities with R&B grooves. The layered vocals again wrap around the listener from the side speakers, while the thunderous drum beat stays locked to the front.

The Kaytranada-produced "Ghost!" is another standout, with its synthy pulses and danceable rhythm enveloping the listener from all angles. "Silent Assassin," a collaboration with Flume, offers a hard-hitting anthem of self-empowerment. There’s an especially cool moment at the end of that track, where the glitchy vocals take over the entire soundstage.

IAA offers immersive digital downloads in the lossless Dolby TrueHD format. While streaming services offer convenience and access to a vast library of music, they also severely compress the audio to save bandwidth. With lossless TrueHD, the inner detail and sonic clarity is much– better preserved for home listeners.

Sweet Justice is the eighteenth entry in an ongoing series of high-resolution digital immersive releases from IAA and Beggars Group, one of the world's largest and most-respected independent label groups. Beggars Group is home to 4AD, Matador Records, Rough Trade, XL Recordings and Young, as well as a growing publishing wing (Beggars Music) and a successful catalog imprint (Beggars Arkive).

Many more new album releases from Beggars Group are already available to stream in Dolby Atmos, including key titles from landmark artists such as Bartees Strange, Future Islands, Pixies, Fontaines D.C., Jamie xx, and more. Over the coming months, we plan to make more of this fantastic immersive catalog available in hi-res downloadable form through our online shop.

Purchase Sweet Justice in the IAA Shop!

About the Author

Immersive Audio Album is a marketplace where immersive and surround sound artists can sell their music.