Intentions

megiapa’s debut album, Intentions, begins in media res. Opener “Open Your Eyes” kicks off as a full-band instrumental, with a rubbery bassline and swinging drum groove backing up the Ohio-born, LA-based songwriter’s vocal performance. It’s as if there’s only so much time to say what must be said, and any moment left empty is wasted. Though Intentions is a debut, it’s a thorough survey of her musical education, from her past life as a Chicago resident to more recent forays into the LA electronic-adjacent hip-hop scene—the city she called home during the completion of this 2026 collection. Released via Windy City mainstay International Anthem, Intentions is a bridge between these two worlds, like on the wobbly, deconstructed “To Enjoy”, which blends the crisp and banging drums of LA’s beat scene with the freewheeling electro-jazz of the Chicago underground. No matter where she calls home, though, megiapa’s music is rooted in the middle ground shared by jazz, rap and soul. Our Favourite Beat: the upbeat, free jazz and swing spirit of “11.11”.