Seven years of local beatmaker showcase A Beat Happening, and Fountaine flows fast for "Skyrocket (Jump'n)." by Jenni Moore The latest culture buzz out of Portland this month includes some exciting music- and non-music related updates—like the delightful and wholesome news that Portland-based rising R&B star and DJ Zyah Belle and rapper Covi. got engaged! We’re also thrilled to hear the new single from Fountaine, news of an album on the way from Isabeau Waia’u Walker, and to applaud local showcase A Beat Happening on its seventh anniversary! MUST SEE:  Upcoming local event(s) featuring local artist(s).  A Beat Happening’s Final Show of 2024 As we mentioned in the intro, producer- and DJ-focused showcase A Beat Happening celebrates seven years of its beatmaker-focused series this month. Hosted by resident DJs Luvjonez and Free Tillman, in its new home of art space and cafe L’Atelier Yaffe, the stacked afternoon lineup includes Mijo (Global Based), stalwart producer-DJ Sir Nai, beatmaker Foliage Beats, emotive bass-heavy vibes from Kaeli Hertz, hip-hop producer/DJ Surebert, and DJ Wicked. This is the anniversary show and also the last chance to catch a regular A Beat Happening in 2024. The show is still free and open to all ages—and that alone is worth celebrating (L’Atelier Yaffe, 111 NE MLK, Sun, Oct 20, 4 pm, FREE, all ages)           View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by A Beat Happening (@abeathappening) "Skyrocket (Jump'n)," Fountaine  We were selfishly sad and simultaneously supportive when Portland rapper Fountaine decided to relocate to Los Angeles earlier in the year, but the Northeast Portland-raised emcee-producer remains relevant and listeners will want to check out a recent collaboration with Portland-based producer Weezbeats, for the new single “Skyrocket (Jump’n).” Following up his other 2024 single, “Bruce Wayne,” Fountaine flows fast over the bouncy, effervescent beat, and melodically raps the song’s chorus: “I got what you need, I got what you like/ I got what you want, I got what they don’t”—which feels right in step with the emcee's known persona as the life of the party. We are happy to see (via Instagram) that the rapper-producer has a forthcoming project in the works called Messier 7—the fifth album with production from Weezbeats and Fountaine himself—and we won't have to wait too long. It's release date is October 15!  ADDED TO THE QUEUE:  Some upcoming music buzz to add to your radar. Heavyweight, Isabeau Waia'u Walker We're big fans of Isabeau Waia'u Walker, a multi-cultural Kānaka Maoli artist and singer-songwriter from Wailuku, Maui who's currently based in Portland. Her self-described “bright gloom” and “joy-adjacent” songs are powered by calming vocals and an emotive lyric-driven songwriting style we can't get over, so it's great news that Walker is gearing up to release her second LP on October 25. In contrast to the soothing songs on her debut full-length Body, Walker's new collection revolves around stints with love, loss, and sacrifice. She acknowledges her own flaws, failures, and moments of confusion, but even when the worst has happened, she’s never leveled by the blows—hence the boxing-reference in the title Heavyweight. We're seeing Walker pop-up supporting a number of bills in town, like Pretty Girls Make Graves, but the current release show on the books will kick off at the Showdown on Dec 7. (The Showdown, 1195 SE Powell, Sat Dec 7, 8 pm, $18, tickets here, 21+, w/ annie annie and Ryan Oxford) <a href="https://isabeauwalker.bandcamp.com/album/this-is-heavyweight-lp-pre-order">this is HEAVYWEIGHT | LP Pre-Order by Isabeau Waia'u Walker</a>