New Songs Sunday: A quick review of this week's tracks

1. Adele – Easy On Me

The queen of modern soul is back. Adele Adkins has returned after five years with the single “Easy On Me” as well as announced a new album – her fourth – named ’30’. The British songstress had undergone a tough divorce recently while also having to help her young son deal with the separation. She admits to making mistakes and pleads for her child to “go easy” on her as she was too young to know what was right. The singer reminds us of what the game has been missing for all these years by using those powerpack vocal chords to good use and delivering an amazingly catchy hook.

2. Qveen Herby – Abracadabra

The American singer and rapper has treated her fans – called Qveen Scouts – with her latest offering, the extended play called ‘Halloqveen‘. A highlight from this Halloween-themed EP is “Abracadabra”, a fun and sassy track. It seems to borrow influences from Iggy Azalea’s “Dance Like Nobody’s Watching” (feat. Tinashe), with the influence being heard most strongly in the chorus.

3. Mallika Mehta – Bling & Pictures

Mallika Mehta a.k.a the ‘Adele of Mumbai’ delivers a beautifully produced ‘pop-rap’ song titled “Bling & Pictures” with some soft rock touches. At times, Mehta’s vocals might induce listeners to question whether she is indeed rapping or simply singing, but the song still shows how far the Mumbaikar has come since her covers. The artist boldly

declares her intention to stay in the music industry – no matter how tough – not for glamour (bling) or fame (pictures) but because music is her passion.

4. Joy Crookes – Trouble

The British-Irish-Bangladeshi singer released her much-anticipated album ‘Skin‘ on Friday. But not before teasing us with her fourth and final single, “Trouble”. “Trouble” is a lavish production with many layers which will make you guess what the mood really is. Is it sad? Playful? Romantic? Or snarky? The mood feels ambiguous. We hear sound effects peppered throughout: telephones ringing, swords clashing and voice messages at the end.

5. Courtney Barnett – Smile Real Nice

The Australian artist presents us with “Smile Real Nice”, the lead single from ATV+ original series ‘Harriet the Spy’. Courtney captures a sense of child-like wonder and unabashed freedom in the lyrics as well as the music. She also seems genuinely sunny here compared to her jaded and cynical album before, and we’re happy for her.

6. BENEE – Somebody That I Used To Know

The New Zealander covers the classic pop song “Somebody That I Used To Know” by Gotye. It’s a herculean task to pull off such a widely admired and defended track but BENEE covers it effortlessly. The artist’s voice is so beautiful it feels like a knife cutting through soft butter.

7. Tierra Whack – Art Show

After the letdown that was “Walk The Beat“, the Philadelphian rapper returns to form with “Art Show”, the new track from ‘Pokémon 25: The Album’. It’s certainly the highlight of the album and reminds Whackamaniacs of why they love her art so much. It’s colourful, inviting, friendly and non-judgemental, all while being creative and full of love – love towards art and love towards people.

8. WHOKILLEDXIX – mondays! (feat. Pussy Riot)

WHOKILLEDXIX are a hip hop/punk duo from Connecticut who first gained fame through TikTok with their music. And now, they have collaborated with the legendary Russian punk-protest band Pussy Riot. Their track “mondays!” feels like a cross between THE ANXIETY (Willow Smith and Tyler Cole) and 100 gecs. The latter because of the gratingly loud but somehow catchy-as-hell production à la Dylan Brady, and the former with the punk edge and the angst associated with it. There’s also a hint of hyper-pop here with the singer’s fixation on Mondays and hating it. The hyper-pop genre tends to lean heavily on lyrics about mundane struggles but maximizing them enough to make them dramatic.

9. Artz & Bugy – Yallah Habibti (feat. IAMDDB)

IAMDDB, Artz and Bugy get together to make a passionately earnest love song. It’s soul, dance and club music all wrapped in one.

10. Lavida Loca – Queen of the South Freestyle (Shaybo Diss)

The two British rappers, Lavida Loca and Shaybo, have been in a feud as rappers usually do. Loca disses Shaybo with this dynamite of a banger song. We will be waiting for Shaybo’s reply.

11. Hyd – The Look On Your Face

Produced by AG Cook, this new pop song is uncharacteristic of both the producer and the singer Hyd as this is a more guitar-based pop song, at least in the beginning where there is a ‘Melodrama’-era Lorde feel to it.

12. Pinkpantheress – Reason

British TikTok star Pinkpantheress has released her mixtape ‘to hell with it‘ and all the songs in it are gems. Check out the track “Reason” where the 20-year old displays her soft voice like Sarah Midori of Kero Kero Bonito. Produced by Pinkpantheress and Zach Nahome, it is a pleasure to listen to it.

13. Summer Walker – Ex For A Reason (feat. JT)

The rapper JT of hip-hop duo City Girls features on this R&B track. It’s a welcome collaboration between her and Summer Walker. “Ex For A Reason” is an upbeat song with empowered lyrics although it veils a wounded heart.

14. Priya Ragu – Good Love 2.0 (Soulwax Remix)

The Tamil-Swiss artist Priya Ragu presents us with a version of “Good Love 2.0” remixed by the Belgian band Soulwax. It takes too long for the beat to drop but it’s still a catchy track. One might want to check out the Little Dragon remix as well.

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New Songs Sunday: A quick review of this week’s tracks