Two bands get together to cover another band while pop bigwigs Normani, Mabel and Charli XCX release pop tracks that will conquer our Spotify, and the air plays. Doechii, Sudan Archives and Ravyn Lenae are smaller artists destined for bigger things. And Will Joseph Cook makes a lo-fi version of a track that was already lowkey. Altogether, it’s been an amazing week for popular music.
1. Normani – Fair
The “Wild Side” hitmaker returns with a melodious and understated little tune titled “Fair”. It’s slow-tempoed, sensuous, lyrically sad but musically elegant.
2. Mabel X Jax Jones X Galantis – Good Luck
The English singer collaborates with the hottest producers to make an empowering electro-dance track that could give Dua Lipa’s “New Rules” a run for its money.
3. Princess Nokia – No Effort
The New York rapper returns to her much-loved ‘1992’ era with the old-school hip hop sound and tomboy flair. It’s a grand welcome after Nokia’s slightly underwhelming and stylistically distancing “Boys Are From Mars”. We are so happy (and even feeling nostalgic) to see her pay respects to the audacious young artist she used to be with “No Effort”.
4. Charli XCX – Every Rule
Charli XCX and her favourite producer AG Cook serve us a sweet romantic ballad with “Every Rule”. The lyrics tell us a colourful and gripping story and the song itself combines Charli’s hyperpop past with oldish sounds. It’s a perfect pop tune to conclude the rollout of her singles. The singer’s new album ‘Crash’ came out on Friday. Check it out!
5. Doechii – Persuasive
The rapper promises exciting things with every track she graces. “Persuasive” seems to sample Azealia Banks’ “Yung Rapunxel” and has that strange ability to sound quietened and loudly chaotic at the same time. There’s a hint of seductive vogue music while the rapper – in true Doechii fashion – gives us flows upon flows. The artist recently signed with the label Top Dawg Entertainment which is known for repping SZA, Kendrick Lamarr and Isaiah Rashad. In other words, Doechii is destined for the stars.
6. Still Woozy, Remi Wolf – Pool
The young and talented Remi Wolf has that unmistakable star quality with some uncanny similarity to the musical styles of BENEE and Billie Eilish. Commends to Still Woozy for giving the young artist the space to shine. “Pool” is a pretty little bedroom /dream pop tune to warm our cold little hearts and help summon the summer.
7. Mahalia – Whatever Simon Says
British singer Mahalia cuts the BS in this straightforwardly bold song about staying true to yourself and rejecting societal expectations of you. And honestly, with the amount of young fans the singer has, we laud her for the positive message.
8. Ravyn Lenae – Light Me Up
Ravyn gives us another spellbinding and magical romantic track. While listeners may be split on Lenae’s voice and singing style, the production is undeniably effective in seducing us.
9. Sudan Archives – Home Maker
Brittney Denise Parks, AKA Sudan Archives, is a superbly talented singer and violinist who shook the global music stage in 2019 with her album ‘Athena’. After a three-year slumber, the artist is back with a brilliant pop-dance track with confident lyrics about being so special to your lover, you are like their home-maker.
10.Smallgod – Falling (feat. KiDi & Darkoo)
“Falling” is an afrobeat/afropop track which is an excellent lesson in harmonious artistic collaboration as Ghanaian rappers Smallgod and KiDi, British rapper Darkoo and producer DJ Breezy put their all in.
11. Brynn Elliott – Beautiful Things
L.A.-based singer Brynn Elliott gives us a pleasant acoustic-backed pop song about loneliness, loss and silver linings. Co-written by Natania Lalwani, this song is guaranteed to be a warm comforter to fans of Grace Potter, Nina Nesbitt and Ella Henderson.
12. Renata Zeiguer – Picnic In The Dark
With the title track “Picnic In The Dark”, dream pop artist Renata Zeigeuer gives us the slowest single so far from her upcoming album. Thematically, the lyrics are quite close to the themes of her album such as sifting through your memories without being sure of
anything, quite like sitting down for a picnic in, well, the dark. The track is like an elegant piece of orchestral lounge-music that will remind you of last week’s “This Is The Life” by Son Lux and Mitski.
13. Ducks Ltd. – Head On (feat. illuminati hotties)
Toronto’s jangle pop duo Ducks Ltd. collab with Sarah Tudzin-led project illuminati hotties to give us a cover of the much-loved classic “Head On” by legendary Scottish rock band The Jesus and Mary Chain. It’s a wonderful throwback to the yesteryears and the music will leave our hearts soaring while simultaneously compelling us to revisit the original version.
14. Will Joseph Cook – Little Miss (lo-fi)
Will and band make a lo-fi, stripped back, slowed down version of their pop hit “Little Miss” and it is one of the best “lo-fi” versions any artist has done recently. “Little Miss (lo-fi)” has a relaxing but humorous, and altogether charming, sound to it that Cook’s fans will love.
Check out the “New Songs Sunday” playlist on Spotify.
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