Pop sees a strong presence this week with releases by Harry Styles, Shawn Mendes, Flume and Caroline Polachek as well as with more indie artists such as Alfie Templeman, Miso Extra and Natania. But so does R&B, with Ella Mai, ELIZA, and Mychelle. We get a few album announcements to look forward to, and hip hop songs as well, in what has been a crowded week for popular music.
1. Ella Mai – Leave You Alone
R&B singer Ella Mai has announced her upcoming album, ‘Heart On My Sleeve’, which will be released on May 6. “Leave You Alone” is a melodious and romantic tune that will melt your heart while also breaking it. Fans of Jaz Karis and AWA will love this one.
2. Harry Styles – As It Was
Pop heartthrob Harry Styles has announced his upcoming LP, ‘Harry’s House’ and dropped the music video for his latest track, “As It Was”. It’s a beautiful pop tune with a strong hook, heart touching lyrics and an overall vibe that fans of Alfie Templeman will recognize and love. This track makes Styles’ new album interesting and something to look forward to.
3. Shawn Mendes – When You’re Gone
Canadian pop star Shawn Mendes once again impressed with a beautiful pop ballad that, combined with longing lyrics, will melt all his fans and make them swoon.
4. City Girls – Top Notch (feat. Fivio Foreign)
JT and Yung Miami of the hip hop outfit, City Girls, deliver some stellar bars into a rap track full of straight heat. There is an attitude, audacity and self-assured pomposity that the duo has been known, and well-loved, for.
5. Natania – How You Doin
Indian singer Natania impressively includes all the different kinds of salutations in different languages in this upbeat, pop song. But the instrumentation and Natania’s style of singing here are something we have grown all too familiar with, with the track sounding like the sister to her previous single, “Confidence”, as well as her 2 EPs ‘Winning’ and ‘Pick It Up’. This is thanks to Lalwani’s frequent collaborator Ethan Roberts. The artist needs to switch her style and flow next time if she wants to continue surprising her audience.
6. ELIZA – Straight Talker
R&B singer ELIZA released the ultimate sensual album, ‘A Real Romantic’ in 2018 before dipping, only to be heard in a feature since. But now, she is back and with the track, “Straight Talker”, which seems like a different style from her previous light-headed, breezy songs. ” Straight Talker” sounds more angsty and disturbed with a haunting cinematic atmosphere which makes it a brilliant piece of music.
7. Lady Leshurr – Dear Mommy
Rapper Lady Leshurr gives a shout out to her mother, as well as all hardworking, loving mothers, with the rap song “Dear Mommy”, releasing the track on International Mother’s Day. Leshurr once again displays her mettle with the songwriting. But her voice almost seeps under the loud background music. Perhaps we needed better mixing there. It’s still an emotional and heartwarming banger.
8. Miso Extra – Great Taste (feat. NAYANA IZ)
British-Japanese DIY artist Miso Extra has dropped her debut EP, ‘Great Taste”, along with the title track, ‘Great Taste’. The pop track has a hypnotizing hook, Miso’s hauntingly delivered rap and dark lyrics against relatively cheerful music which make this track irresistibly catchy and delightful.
9. Flume – Sirens (feat. Caroline Polachek)
Singer Caroline Polachek channels her hauntingly siren-like vocals which she has come to be known for in this surprisingly terrific electro-pop tune, brilliantly produced by Flume and Danny L Harle.
10. Liam Gallagher – C’mon You Know
The former frontman of Oasis releases his single, “C’Mon You Know”, as a lead up to his upcoming studio album. It’s a clever choice of title for Gallagher has been known for his extremely funny tweets by ending his posts with “c’mon you know x”. The song itself feels a bit lifeless and washed up, like the 25th clone of the average Oasis song.
11. Pabllo Vittar – Follow Me (feat. Rina Sawayama)
Brazilian pop star Pabllo Vittar and British-Japanese star Rina Sawayama get together for a smashing new pop-dance track that will be an instant vogueing classic with some outstanding vocals, albeit a little rushed, and attitude for days.
12. Alfie Templeman – Leaving Today
Pop artist Alfie Templeman made two great pop bangwrs previously with the excellent “3D Feelings” and “Broken”. While “Leaving Today” is similarly ecstatic and filled with wonder, this author personally found it too loud, a little messy and eventually tiring, quite like Will Joseph Cook’s screamer, “4 AM”.
13. Mychelle – Forbidden Fruit (feat. ENNY)
UK singer Mychelle channels Hope Tala in an enchantingly pretty R&B-pop song which rapper ENNY compliments perfectly as the featured artist. Check it out for sure.
14. Kelly Lee Owens – Olga
Electronic producer Kelly Lee Owens releases a mysterious and atmospheric two-single release, Olga and Sonic 8 which might intrigue deep house enthusiasts.
15. Planet 1999 – crush
The French pop band comprises Caro, Alex and Charles. In conjunction with the label PC Music, release a quiet little hyper pop tune that is romantic, robotic and cute. But not many listeners outside of the hyper pop genre will obsess over it very much.
16. Peggy Gou – I Go (Maurice Fulton remix)
Maurice Fulton remixes Peggy Gou’s 2021 hit “I Go” as a part of her ‘I Go (Remixes’ EP. It’s a pleasurable and gorgeous electro dance mix with a hyper catchy beat. Although we do hope the Berlin-based artist can drop new music.
Check out the “New Songs Sunday” playlist on Spotify.
Also read | How Russia’s musicians are taking a stand against the war in Ukraine
