New music from some of Milwaukee’s busiest musicians

Back in May, we rounded up 11 Milwaukee musicians who were poised to have a big (and busy) Milwaukee summer. Among those 11, four have recently released new music. So let’s round those up, shall we?

If you’re in the mood for some jazz and/or jazz-funk, cue up Parallels Chapter V, the latest record from the ever-busy Kal Bergendahl Project. Like previous Parallels albums dating back to 2016, Chapter V is a smooth collection of instrumentals with titles like “The Morning,” “The Island,” “The Swamp,” and “The Firmament.” With a new album and countless upcoming gigs, The Kal Bergendahl Project is THE sound of Milwaukee summer.

Hanna Simone doesn’t stray too far from her soul and R&B roots on the new Love Letter, though the EP does feel like an artistic and personal reboot. Simone has never been better (or more honest) on songs like jazzy opener “Fighting” and hazy slow jam “Too Sweet”—the latter complete with a show-stopping feature from Emmitt James.

Speaking of “hazy,” there’s plenty of haze surrounding the new record from dak duBois. Trois is a 10-track journey through the ’70s-inspired mind of the in-demand Milwaukee musician, and the smooth, funky, psych-y follow-up to 2024’s TWO. There’s a lot to love this time around: “It’s Pronounced ‘Doob-Wah'” and “Love Bomb” are cosmic instrumentals, “Midwest Nice” is a groovy summer festival banger, and “Purged” is a straight-up psychedelic head trip. This is Milwaukee summer music at its most buzzed and sun-soaked.

<a href="https://dakdubois.bandcamp.com/album/trois">trois by dak duBois</a>

And finally there’s JUNGLE THIS JUNGLE THAT, the debut record from Milwaukee rapper 414JungleBaby. Apple Music calls it “one of rap’s most tantalizing debuts in 2026,” and that buzz is warranted. In addition to Milwaukee Song of the Summer contender “Yo Baby,” you’ve got the anthemic “Play A Beat,” the trilling “Gangsta,” and the self-confident “Too Easy.” Only two songs on the 10-track collection break the two-minute mark, making JUNGLE THIS JUNGLE THAT a perfect summer treat.