Hear in Portland music this week: • The Thesis: Femme Edition • Majik9's upbeat "Dum Ditty Dum”" • André 3000 Soon to Flute at the Schnitz by Jenni Moore Welp, it’s officially fall, ya’ll! Before all the blacklight Halloween bashes commence, take note of two unmissable October shows, a new EP from Portland-to-LA singer-songwriter Moorea Masa, an upbeat single that's perfect for lingering summer moments—Portland won't slow its grill til November at the earliest—and a femme fatale Thesis. Finally! This is your music update, Hear in Portland. MUST SEE: An upcoming local event featuring local artists.  The Thesis: Yawa Been waiting for this one for a while, folks. Behold: An all-femme installment of monthly hip-hop showcase the Thesis, featuring soulful songwriter and producer Yawa (AKA Amenta Abioto) as the headliner! While the artist has yet to release a proper EP or album, she is kind-of everywhere right now and catching her partially improvised live performances—where she builds vocal and instrumental loops using a pedal looper and instruments like a kalimba— is a real treat. The rest of the lineup is similarly stacked with feminine and soulful vibe-bringers, like R&B singer-songwriter Veana Baby, up-and-coming rapper (and former Thesis opener) Tinizeee; and pop and R&B artist Rachel Wong, who will be making her Thesis debut. As always, expect some surprise special guests and resident DJ Verbz on the 1s and 2s. (Lollipop Shoppe, 736 SE Grand, Thurs Oct 3, $10 adv, $15 door, 21+) MUST LISTEN:  New release(s) from a Portland-relevant artist.  “Dum Ditty Dum,” Majik9 Speaking of the Thesis, that was where Portland-based singer-rapper Majik9 first impressed us—and the rest of the audience—with her magnetic stage presence, diverse skillset, and songs you can move your body to. Reminiscent of early 2000s club R&B and hip-hop sounds (à la Ciara), the emcee recently released a fun and upbeat new single called “Dum Ditty Dum.” If you hear a similar use of flute as the last single “Leave Ya Man,” which we touted in an earlier edition of this column, that’s because this track was made with the same collaborative producer Evvnflo! “Dum Ditty Dum” feels perfect for lingering summer vibes, patio DJ sets, or on a pre-funk playlist. Find it on all streaming platforms.  When the Summer Calls, Moorea Masa and the Mood We were thrilled to hear summer anthem “When the Summer Calls,” from Moorea Masa and the Mood, when it was released back in August 2023, but now we’re even more ecstatic to hear that the single is actually a title track for an EP. This album, Moorea’s gorgeous and tender delivery, and the message behind the lyrics are just what the doctor ordered. Opening track “Joyful,” is an instant favorite, in which Moorea asserts via soul-drenched vocals, about how her joy is her resistance. “And I know that they’ll try to tell me that I’m asking for too much / but it’s abundant and all around us and there’s enough for everyone/ so let us be joyful joyful joyful.” Among the seven tracks, there’s also the previously released single “Magic,” the artist’s love letter to the LGBTQIA community, the effervescent and funky “Protect Your Peace,” featuring singer and guitarist and the song's co-writer Emily Elbert (Esperanza Spalding). As a whole, the album is lovely. Other highlights include “Home to You,” which feels like realizing you’re eager to settle down and get comfortable with a special someone, the chill and sultry “Distraction,” and  “Dream Sweet,” co-written by Jess Best, which has a vaguely country vibe to it.  ADDED TO THE QUEUE:  Some upcoming music buzz to add to your radar. André 3000 at the Schnitz Apologies to delusional fans: There won’t be any rapping at André 3000’s October Schnitz show. This tour is in support of the hip-hop legend’s fascinating new direction: The flute-driven and experimental new age jazz project called New Blue Sun that dropped last November. The now 49-year-old emcee has explained the unexpected, but successful, musical move as an attempt to take up something new, something where he could be “a baby” in terms of skill. More of a writer than an off-the-dome lyricist, the artist sought to try his hand at a more experimental and freestyle process; he bought various flutes, and over the course of several months, became hyper-focused on practicing for the enjoyment of it. André 3000 was spotted in various parts of the world playing flute in public—from a Portland open mic night to the streets of Tokyo. The rapper-turned-flautist also just put out “an intimate album film” to accompany New Blue Sun, which sees the artist in major chill mode, arranging various objects like a candle and an orange traffic cone in a seemingly infinite blue-lit room. To be real, it is quite refreshing to see an artist—especially a rapper—accepting that he’s getting older, and doing it with grace, curiosity and not an ounce of resignation. (Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, Mon Oct 14, 8 pm, $59.50 & up, tickets here, all ages)