Late-Night Synths and Intergalactic Heartbreak: Inside Qendresa’s “Rain in July”

Summer music usually aims for bright, high-energy festival anthems. But North West London singer, songwriter, and producer Qendresa is taking things in a different direction, soundtracking the humid, quiet hum of a fading summer romance.

With her new double single, “Rain in July” she reminds us why she’s one of the most compelling voices in the underground alt-R&B scene. The lead track, “Rain in July,” is a moody, neon-lit slice of electronic soul that deserves a spot on your late-night driving playlist.

The Sound: Retro Foundations, Modern Soul

Qendresa’s sound has always been tough to box into a single genre, drawing heavily on everything from classic 80s R&B to London’s deep-rooted sound system culture.

On “Rain in July” she layers incredibly smooth, magnetic vocals over a sharp, 80s-inspired drum sequence and a twinkling Rhodes piano. The production feels cinematic, perfectly capturing the heavy, atmospheric feeling of a late-night city skyline.

It’s an incredibly vulnerable track, written as a love affair was actively falling apart. As Qendresa puts it:

“I wrote these songs about a love that was slowly slipping away. Intergalactic heartbreak songs with otherworldly synths and haunting memories picking apart every word they said…”

Using the unpredictability of summer rain as a metaphor for a partner’s mixed signals, the track digs into the slow blur of a breakup. It’s heavy subject matter, but Qendresa delivers it with a cool, self-assured confidence that keeps the track feeling effortless.

The Visuals: 80s Anime Meets London Living

To bring the mood of the track to life, Qendresa teamed back up with multidisciplinary artist Sofire, who previously handled the artwork for Midnight Request Line.

The animated music video is a brilliant, stylized nod to independence and the divine feminine. Pulling visual cues from a mix of 80s anime, vintage comic books like Tank Girl, and classic PlayStation aesthetics, the video follows a lone female protagonist just taking her time, focusing on self-care, and reclaiming her space before heading out into the night in a retro BMW.

It perfectly matches the track’s visual identity—glowing, slightly nostalgic, and distinctly nocturnal.

Stream “Rain in July / Be the One”

Released via dream city discs, the two-track project is a seamless listen. The B-side, “Be the One,” acts as a natural extension of the story, using warping electric piano chords to explore the frustration of trying to move on when your head is still stuck in the past.

Whether you’re unwinding after a long day or out for a midnight drive, this one needs to be on your radar.