Jai Binó’s “More” Captures Melbourne’s Heat In Afro-Infused R&B Perfection

Sometimes music hits you sideways. You’re scrolling through new releases, half-listening to the usual suspects, when something stops your thumb mid-swipe.

That’s exactly what happens with Jai Binó‘s debut single “MORE” – a track that feels like summer condensed into three and a half minutes of pure magnetic energy.

The Melbourne-based artist has crafted something genuinely compelling here. His voice carries the kind of warmth that makes you lean in closer, while the production wraps around you like humidity on a perfect evening.

There’s an immediacy to “MORE” that feels both calculated and completely natural, as if Binó stumbled upon this particular combination of sounds while experimenting in his bedroom studio at 2 AM.

The track opens with percussion that feels borrowed from Lagos nightclubs, all polyrhythmic complexity disguised as simplicity. But this isn’t cultural tourism – Binó’s approach to Afrobeat influences feels lived-in, respectful, integrated rather than appropriated.

The way he layers his vocals over these rhythms suggests someone who’s spent serious time studying the masters, from Fela Kuti to contemporary artists like Burna Boy and Wizkid.

What strikes you first about “MORE” is its confidence. This is a debut single that doesn’t sound like someone testing the waters. Binó knows exactly what he wants to say and how he wants to say it.

The production choices here deserve special attention. Where many contemporary R&B tracks pile on the effects until the human voice becomes another synthesized element, “MORE” keeps Binó’s vocals front and centre.

The reverb is tasteful, the auto-tune minimal. You can hear the breath between phrases, the slight rasp that gives his voice character. It’s intimate without being invasive, polished without losing its soul.

Lyrically, the song operates on multiple levels. On the surface, it’s about romantic attraction – that pull toward someone who keeps you coming back despite knowing better.

But there’s something deeper happening here, a meditation on desire itself. The way Binó sings about being “fully present in a moment of connection” suggests someone who’s thought seriously about what it means to want something, someone.

The bridge section introduces a melodic element that feels almost conversational, as if Binó is working through his thoughts in real time. It’s here that the song reveals its true sophistication – this isn’t just a well-crafted pop song, it’s a piece of emotional architecture.

Each section builds on the last, creating a sense of momentum that carries you forward even as the groove keeps you locked in place.

There’s something almost cinematic about how “MORE” unfolds. You can picture it soundtracking a late-night drive through Melbourne’s inner suburbs, windows down, city lights blurring past.

The track has that quality of making ordinary moments feel significant, of turning a simple car ride into a scene from a movie you’d actually want to watch.

Binó’s vocal performance throughout is remarkably controlled. He never over sings, never pushes for emotional effects that aren’t earned. When he does let loose – particularly in the final chorus – it feels like a natural release rather than a calculated climax.

This kind of restraint is rare in debut singles, where artists often feel pressure to prove their range immediately.

The influence of artists like Khalid and 6lack is audible but not overwhelming. Binó has clearly studied the contemporary R&B playbook, but he’s not simply copying it.

There’s something distinctly Australian about his approach – a laid-back confidence that feels specific to his geography. Melbourne’s music scene has always had its own character, and “MORE” feels like a natural extension of that tradition.

What makes this track particularly impressive is how it manages to feel both current and classic. The Afrobeat influences give it contemporary relevance, while the song structure and melodic sensibilities feel rooted in R&B tradition. It’s the kind of track that could have been released in 2015 or 2025 and felt equally at home.

As debut singles go, “MORE” sets an impressively high bar. It suggests an artist who understands both his strengths and his audience, someone who’s ready to build a career rather than chase a moment.

The track feels like the beginning of something significant rather than a one-off experiment.

Jai Binó has created something that lingers. Long after the final note fades, you find yourself humming that central refrain, feeling the ghost of those Afro-infused rhythms.