Western Sydney’s SAHXL (pronounced Suh-heel) began his musical journey early, writing and recording songs in his bedroom at the age of 12. His early SoundCloud releases caught the attention of producers such as Khaled Rohaim (Rihanna, The Kid LAROI), while singles like 2021’s “MY MIND” deemed him worthy of inclusion in Apple Music’s Up Next Local series. Having since signed to Def Jam—the first Australian artist ever to be signed directly to the legendary American label, which is home to Justin Bieber and 070 Shake, among others—his debut EP is a polished mélange of trap, R&B, and hip-hop, with syncopated bass kicks, claps, and snare laying the foundation for SAHXL’s woozy, hazy melodies. Thematically, COME THRU follows the arc of a relationship from beginning to end, with opener “REDO @ LUV” finding the singer ruminating on the ups and downs of chasing his dreams while trying to maintain a relationship (“Girl, am I crazy for thinking you’re waiting?/Tell me, how long do I have ’til you’re leaving?”). By the time we arrive at penultimate song “ISN’T THE SAME,” distance is tearing at the seams of the romance, with closer “OVER” steeped in weary resignation at its demise.