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28 Jul 2023

Pierce the Veil Scores First Airplay Chart No. 1 With ‘Emergency Contact’

Pierce the Veil hits No. 1 on a Billboard radio airplay chart for the first time, as “Emergency Contact” climbs from No. 3 to the top of the Alternative Airplay tally dated Aug. 5.

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The song reaches the summit in its 28th chart week, completing the second-longest trip to No. 1 this year, after Weezer’s “Records” took 29 weeks.

Before “Emergency Contact,” Pierce the Veil had appeared on Alternative Airplay once, with “Circles,” which peaked at No. 31 in 2016.

One other song from the band had made an airplay survey: “Pass the Nirvana” reached No. 39 on Mainstream Rock Airplay in 2022.

Prior to “Emergency Contact,” the band last boasted a Billboard song chart No. 1 with “King for a Day,” featuring Kellin Quinn. The collab led Hard Rock Streaming Songs for a week in August 2022 following its revival on user-generated content platforms such as TikTok. The act’s other No. 1, “The Divine Zero,” ruled Hard Rock Digital Song Sales for a week in 2015.

Concurrently, “Emergency Contact” vaults 17-12 on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay survey with 2.4 million audience impressions, up 7%, July 21-27, according to Luminate.

On the most recently published multi-metric Hot Hard Rock Songs chart (dated July 29), “Emergency Contact” ranked at No. 18. In addition to its radio airplay, the song earned 492,000 official U.S. streams in the July 14-20 tracking period.

“Emergency Contact” is from The Jaws of Life, Pierce the Veil’s fifth studio album. The set debuted at No. 1 on Top Hard Rock Albums in February and has earned 112,000 equivalent album units to date.

28 Jul 2023

Latto Makes Her Acting Debut in ‘Grown-ish’: Watch

Latto is officially bringing some big energy to the small screen. The 24-year-old rapper made her acting debut in a new episode of the final season of Grown-ish, playing a wine sales representative named Sloane alongside a number of other musical guest stars.

Fans can get a taste of Latto’s character in a clip from episode five of the Black-ish spinoff’s sixth season, which airs on Freeform every Wednesday. Smoldering in a red-orange blazer and skirt, the “Big Energy” artist brings a case of wines for Doug (Diggy Simmons) to try and takes her opportunity to flirt with him.

“You can’t rush fine wine…or fine women,” she tells him with a sly smile.

Originally focused on Yara Shahidi’s character Zoey Johnson, Grown-ish now centers around her little brother Junior, played by Marcus Scribner, as he navigates college life at his big sister’s alma mater. Latto is in good company this season, with Kelly Rowland, Lil Yachty, NLE Choppa, Anderson .Paak and Omarion all billed as guests on the show’s cast list.

In other Latto news, the Grammy nominee just scored her first ever Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit this week with “Seven,” a collaboration with BTS’ Jung Kook. The month prior, she found major chart success with her “Put It On Da Floor Again” remix featuring Cardi B.

Latto’s still fresh off her best female hip-hop artist win at this year’s BET Awards. And in March, she was crowned with Billboard‘s Powerhouse award at the 2023 Women in Music ceremony.

Watch Latto in Grown-ish above.

28 Jul 2023

JoJo Siwa Recalls Being ‘Blackballed’ by Corporations After Coming Out

Since publicly coming out back in 2021, internet star JoJo Siwa has made a point of being as outspoken as possible for her community — and apparently, some organizations did not appreciate that.

During her appearance on Thursday’s episode of The Viall Files (July 27), Siwa said that amidst the “overwhelming” attention she received after coming out, there were a few corporations that were upset with her decision to speak about her sexuality publicly. “I had a lot of people of corporations [who] told me that I made the wrong choice and that I shouldn’t have come out,” she said. “[They said] that I shouldn’t tell my young demographic that I’m gay.”

Siwa then went on to say that many of those same people then “blackballed” her from working with them. “They kind of shunned me from their corporations in a way,” she said.

While the prospect of being blacklisted by certain companies would be daunting to many, Siwa says she didn’t let it bother her. “I don’t want to work for a company [or] represent something that doesn’t support who I love,” she said. “If somebody has a problem with me telling little kids that it’s okay to be who you are and love who you want to love and do what you want to do, then we don’t need to be friends.”

It wouldn’t be the first time that Siwa locked horns publicly with a major corportation; back in 2021, the star called out Nickelodeon for not allowing her to perform original songs from her movie The J Team while on tour. “These are MY songs, MY voice, MY writing. Does this seem fair???” she wrote at the time.

Check out Siwa’s full interview on The Viall Files in the video above.

28 Jul 2023

Ian Connor Clears Up Beef Rumors In Text Exchange with ASAP Rocky: “No Pressure”

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Ian Connor is clearing up the rumored beef with ASAP Rocky after being dissed during the Harlem rapper’s performance at Rolling Loud.

Earlier this week, after catching wind of the on-stage disrespect, Ian Connor confronted ASAP Rocky via Instagram direct messaging, questioning the “Riot” rapper’s decision to call him a “b–ch” during his performance at the popular festival.

During a performance of the ASAP Mob track “Telephone Calls” at Rolling Loud Miami, Pretty Flacko revised the lyrics to take aim at his former collaborators ASAP Bari and Ian Connor.

“Call up young lord ASAP Bari, he a b–ch,” he rapped during his verse of the song, which appeared on the Cozy Tapes: Vol. 1 project.

According to the screenshot posted by Connor on social media, the creative consultant sent a post from the performance asking the Harlem native “the f–k is this about?”

To which Rocky responded: “Bout nuttin, u prolly wont believe me lol, word to tho, can’t blame u if u don’t,” ASAP Rocky wrote. “They runnin wit dat, I jabbed [at] bruh and 4got the lyrics mid-sentence, listen closely, ‘he da sht.’ Don’t feed into that yung, no plea coppin, but u know u good in my book we ain’t on [that] type of time.”

Despite the clarification privately, Connor wanted the AWGE founder to clear it up publicly before taking to social media to clear it up himself, posting the text exchange with the caption “No Pressure.”

“Tell them folks that Flacko, I look brazy even if it’s mistaken,” Connor added. “I been out here doin good staying sucka free to minimal bulls–t and now I’m all over the place for you taking shots at Bari. Instant Karma maybe but I can’t digg that.”

In a final screenshot, Connor indicated that he wasn’t happy about how the situation happened. “Don’t put my name in no songs from this point forward, y’all n—as is not Lil Durk and I’m not India,” he concluded.

While seemingly new to the industry, fans noticed that A$AP began to distance himself from Bari after he pled guilty in 2019 to a sexual assault charge. The charge followed a surfaced video of him attacking a nude woman in 2017. Connor, Rocky’s former stylist, has also faced a consistent swarm of sexual assault and misconduct allegations over the years; with at least six women accusing him of inappropriate, unwanted advances, culminating in Bari confronting and punching him over the allegations in 2016.

Despite the distance, Rocky spoke out regarding his relationship with Connor in 2020, during an interview with Kerwin Frost, where he seemingly showed support for Connor.

“I heard of people doing some real –ked up s–t,” he said. “I can say that he gets picked on more than people think. A lot of it is cyberbullying.”



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28 Jul 2023

Taylor Swift Breaks Record for Most No. 1s on Pop Airplay Chart As ‘Cruel Summer’ Becomes Her 12th

Taylor Swift rewrites the record for the most No. 1s in the history of Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart, as “Cruel Summer” climbs to the top of the list dated Aug. 5. The song becomes her 12th leader on the list, surpassing the 11 each for Maroon 5, Katy Perry and Rihanna.

Swift claims the mark all to herself with a song that has been out for nearly four years: Originally released on Swift’s 2019 album Lover, and now being promoted by Republic Records as a single, “Cruel Summer” has been gaining momentum in recent weeks, as Swift has been performing it on her current The Eras Tour, her first in which she’s been able to spotlight songs from Lover, which was released shortly before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each concert on the tour is divided into 10 acts, encompassing nine of her LPs; the Lover era kicks off the show, with “Cruel Summer” performed in the opening set.

Here’s a recap of Swift’s 12 No. 1s on Pop Airplay, which measures songs’ weekly plays, as tabulated by Mediabase and provided to Billboard by Luminate, on over 150 U.S. mainstream top 40 radio stations. (The chart began in October 1992.)

Just two weeks ago, Swift added her record-tying 11th Pop Airplay No. 1 with “Karma” from her most recent album, 2022’s Midnights.

Title, Weeks at No. 1, Year(s):

  • “Cruel Summer,” one (to-date), 2023
  • “Karma,” one, 2023
  • “Anti-Hero,” three, 2022-23
  • “Delicate,” one, 2018
  • “Look What You Made Me Do,” one, 2017
  • “Wildest Dreams,” two, 2015
  • “Bad Blood” (feat. Kendrick Lamar), five, 2015
  • “Style,” three, 2015
  • “Blank Space,” six, 2014-15
  • “Shake It Off,” two, 2014
  • “I Knew You Were Trouble.,” seven, 2013
  • “Love Story,” one, 2009

Meanwhile, “Cruel Summer” becomes the first Pop Airplay No. 1 from Lover. Lead single “Me!” featuring Brendon Urie hit No. 7 in May 2019, and “You Need to Calm Down” reached No. 9 that August. The set spun off two other top 20 hits: the title track (No. 16, November 2019) and “The Man” (No. 20, April 2020).

All charts dated Aug. 5 will update on Billboard.com Tuesday, Aug. 1.

28 Jul 2023

Eric Prydz Signs With WME In All Areas

Eric Prydz is making moves.

The Swedish producer is now represented globally by WME. The news marks Prydz’s departure from North American representation with CAA, where he signed in 2021.

Prydz continues to be managed by Michael Sershall at London’s Sershall Management. Prydz’s team also includes global press by Infamous PR. Prydz is among a WME electronic roster that includes Gryffin, Black Coffee, Solomun, Galantis, Steve Aoki, Martin Garrix, Peggy Gou, Claptone, CamelPhat and TOKiMONSTA.

The pioneering artist is in the midst of a busy summer, with a current 10-week residency at Hï Ibiza and festival dates including this weekend’s Tomorrowland, Untold in Romania, Creamfields in the U.K., Chicago’s ARC Music Festival and a headlining slot at Portola in San Francisco this fall.

During his 20-year career, the producer has made various styles of electronic music — progressive house, house, techno and more — as Prydz and under his aliases Cirez D and Pryda. Major hits include the enduring “Pjanoo” and “Opus.”

Prydz latest releases are under his Pryda moniker, with “The Return” out last week and its B-side “Of Me” out today (July 28) via Prydz’s own Pryda Recordings. Listen to “The Return” below.

Prydz’s touring HOLO show, which debuted at Coachella this past April, is widely considered a technical and artistic triumph. The show incorporates massive holographic images that seem to float in mid air, with Prydz himself playing music from behind the screen used in the show. Prydz’s Portola performance in San Francisco will mark the debut of HOLO in the city.



28 Jul 2023

Neal Langford, Former Bassist for The Shins, Dies at Age 50

Neal Langford, former bassist for The Shins, has died at age 50. The group’s lead singer, James Mercer, confirmed the news in a Thursday (July 27) Instagram post to the band’s official account.

“Just want to let you guys know one of the best friends I’ve ever had has passed,” Mercer captioned a black-and-white photo of Langford playing his bass on stage. “He was in several bands with me including the Shins. A very important figure in my life you could say. I mean this is the guy who talked me into getting over my shyness and up on the stage. He put me in front of the microphone!”

Mercer continued, “He was the catholic school kid who showed me how to sneak into the back of the old El Rey theatre and get a ‘free’ beer. An invaluable person! Who turned me onto Dinosaur Jr. and Interview Magazine and the Cocteau Twins and countless other piles of cool stuff. … There’s too much to the story but I loved him. And I owe him a lot. Neal Langford you were always loved and you always will be.”

NBC affiliate WITN in North Carolina reports that the musician, who was also a well-known hot air balloonist and co-owner of IBX Balloon Flight, was found him dead in Bath Creek near a private dock on July 21 by law enforcement in Beaufort County. Foul play is not suspected, and a cause of death was not revealed.

The bassist’s last update on his Instagram account came on June 23, when he shared a certificate of completion for successfully finishing a treatment program at the Walter B. Jones Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center in Greenville, N.C.

Langford and Mercer played together in a band called Flake — eventually renamed Flake Music — in 1992 that was based in Albuquerque, N.M. The band released one album, 1997’s When You Land Here, It’s Time to Return, that was later reissued by Sub Pop Records. The Shins was developed as a side project by Mercer and Flake Music drummer Jesse Sandoval in 1996; Langford joined the band in 1999 after Flake Music disbanded and former Shins members Dave Hernandez and Ron Skrasek left the band.

The bassist notably played on the group’s debut album Oh! Inverted World. The release — now regarded as a classic of the indie rock genre — peaked at No. 19 on Billboard‘s Top Alternative Albums chart and was later certified platinum by RIAA. The LP’s lead single, “New Slang,” was featured in the 2004 movie Garden State starring Natalie Portman.

See Mercer’s tribute post to Langford below.

28 Jul 2023

New Music Latin: Listen to Releases From Darell, Kany Garcia, Caloncho, & More

New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.

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Darell, Everybody Go to the Discotek (Sony Music Latin)

If the album’s title is any indication, Darell has just dropped an album that’s meant to dance and perrear, not all night long, but year-round. Everybody Go to the Discotek, named after his signature phrase, is home to 18 tracks that are not only crafted for a good time at the club but also showcases Darell’s musical versatility. At the core of each track is his distinct, deep, raspy vocals, but while some songs are hard-hitting perreos (“Deshidratado,” “Ponte Bonita,” and “Me Dice Daddy,” to name a few), the Puerto Rican act is as experimental as ever. “Lollipop” is a sensual merengue-bachata fusion, “Rulay” is a tribute to Dominican dembow “Funka” is a saucy Brazilian funk number and focus single “Wait Deh Man,” a reggae-infused collaboration with Nicky Jam, Wisin, and Luar La L. Other collaborators on Everybody Go to the Discotek include Ozuna, Myke Towers, Sech, Jory Boy, Maffio, Omar Courtz and Omar Montes. — JESSICA ROIZ

Kany García & Carin Leon, “Te Lo Agradezco” (5020 Records)

Kany García starts her new song with an imposing tuba beat that then gives space to a requinto-driven melody, with both instruments ultimately fusing to give life to this powerful pop ballad. For “Te Lo Agradezco,” the Puerto Rican singer-songwriter reels in regional Mexican star Carin Leon, whose signature vibrant vocals complement Kany’s equally potent voice, as they sing about being better off after ending a toxic relationship. “This love was too big for you, and you would say that I couldn’t live without you and now you’re looking for any reason to talk about me, oh love, you still have that urge to hurt my heart,” they sing, obviously striking a chord. — GRISELDA FLORES

Grupo Firme & Pipe Bueno, “Entre Botellas” (Music VIP Entertainment)

Pipe Bueno teamed up with Grupo Firme to create the ultimate heartbreak anthem, “Entre Botellas.” The unique vocals and fresh perspective of Pipe, along with the distinctive sound of Firme, reaffirms regional music’s ongoing success throughout the world, as “Entre Botellas” marks the debut collaboration between a Colombian artist and a renowned regional Mexican group. The song was penned by Eduin Caz and Abraham Hernández of Grupo Firme and narrates the tale of two friends who are catching up over drinks. As they discuss their recent love interests, they discover they have both fallen for the same woman. The duo then reminisce about their lost love while drowning their sorrows with a few more bottles. “Between bottles and already drunk, I don’t even remember that I love you and that I would like to be the owner of your kisses,” they sing in the chorus. — INGRID FAJARDO

Caloncho, “Wacha Checa” (Universal Music Mexico)

Caloncho brings us a romantic mid-tempo indie pop song with hints of reggae and folk that’s as “refreshing as mint,” to quote part of the lyrics. In “Wacha Checa,” the Mexican singer-songwriter invites us to open our eyes and appreciate the good things in life. “Let go of everything that weighs you down/ Leave behind everything that happened/ The occasion is so perfect, wacha, checa/ Where are you today,” he sings in his characteristic laid-back style, in Spanish. “[This song] is an attempt to make someone else see everything that is around them that it is beautiful, and that for some reason they are not seeing it from the correct angle,” the press notes say. The music video, starring Caloncho and his wife sharing everyday moments in their home, is just as sweet and serene. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Kurt, “Luz Prendida” (Universal Music Mexico)

Armed with an acoustic guitar and honest lyrics, Mexican singer-songwriter Kurt presents his new song “Luz Prendida.” Without embellishments or pretensions, Kurt describes the virtues and particularities of the muse of his inspiration that make him fall in love, creating a beautiful romantic ballad. “I didn’t think I would find you and that, instantly, you would teach me so many ways to love you/ You are the true proof, that love is not a waiting room/I want to be closer to you, seeing you already makes me happy/You are the true proof, that love takes time, but it always arrives,” he sings throughout the song. The video, set in an eclectic home where vintage and contemporary elements converge, shows the artist in his essence, accompanied by his instrument and his beloved. The song comes at a good time, as a friendly reminder not to lose hope and to keep believing that love can be found at the right time, even when breakup news takes over the headlines. — LUISA CALLE

Luiza Lian, 7 Estrelas | quem arrancou o céu? (ZZK Records)

Buoyed by psychedelic-leaning electronic music and experimental pop, Luiza Lian concocts a highly imaginative album on 7 Estrelas | quem arrancou o céu? (or 7 Stars | Who Ripped Out the Sky?) that twists and turns in unexpected ways. With unpredictable drum patterns, courtesy of longtime collaborator French/Brazilian producer Charles Tixier, and her ethereal voice (which can turn stormy in an instant), Lian’s fourth studio album puts a spotlight on her unflinching approach at making soul-stirring art. Languorous beats with occasional subtle distortions take the lead on “A Minha Música É,” while “Tecnicolor” displays a range of sound with vibrant vocal effects. “My music is a landscape for you to enter your own journey,” she sings in Portuguese on the intro track. As the press release notes, the album is “a profound reflection on how we distort our lives based on false reflections we see both digitally in our use of social media and materially in an increasingly consumerist society.” — ISABELA RAYGOZA

Check out more editor’s picks in the weekly playlist below!

28 Jul 2023

Travis Scott’s UTOPIA Sparks Album Of The Year Debate

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Travis Scott Performs At E11EVEN

UTOPIA, the latest studio album from Travis Scott, dropped Friday (July 28) and the early discussions online around the album were naturally centered on a particular feature. However, others are claiming that the Texas rapper has the best album to release in 2023, sparking a spirited online debate.

UTOPIA is getting a lot of burn on its first day of release due to the appearance of past collaborator Drake on the track “MELTDOWN” and the jabs made toward Pusha T and Pharrell Williams, although they weren’t mentioned by name.

Aside from Drake, UTOPIA has features from Beyoncé, Bon Iver, SZA, Young Thug, Playboi Carti, Future, 21 Savage, and more. Scott also lends his production to a bulk of the project working with the likes of Mike Dean, Hit-Boy, The Alchemist, Metro Boomin, WondaGurl, Pharrell Williams, Kanye West, James Blake, and more.

In our initial listen, the album borrows from some of the epic moments found on Scott’s previous studio album ASTROWORLD yet moves into the worlds of dance and electronic music without losing any of his usual punch.

It is too early for UTOPIA to claim the lofty title some are bestowing upon it, especially as some other heavy hitters are due to release albums this year including Drake.

For now, the chatter around the album is high as expected and we’ve got the reactions listed out below.

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Photo: Alexander Tamargo / Getty

28 Jul 2023

Friday Dance Music Guide: The Best New Tracks From Calvin Harris & Sam Smith, DJ Koze & More

This week in dance music: Beatport announced that it’s awarding $150,000 in grants to initiatives supporting diversity and equality in dance music, and we went behind the scenes of Toolroom Records — the U.S. tech house label currently celebrating its 20-year anniversary — with the imprints founders Mark and Stuart Knight.

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New music? We’ve got it. These are the best new dance tracks of the week.

Calvin Harris with Sam Smith, “Desire”

The Label: Sony Music Entertainment

The Spiel: Harris continues on the trance tip started with his March Ellie Goulding collab “Miracle” by pairing up with another old pal, Sam Smith. Together the duo also delve deep into the trance realm, with flecks of piano giving hints of Robert Miles’ genre classic “Children” while a galloping beat serves as a foundation for Smith to breathily declare, “You are my desire, and just the thought of you is keeping me awake.” The star of the show here is the squiggly synth line that Harris inserts throughout, giving the song a very late night club vibe that nonetheless will surely work on the many mainstages Harris is playing this summer.

The Vibe: Urgent. Anthemic. Maybe also acid?

DJ Koze, “Candidasa”

The Label: Pampa Records

The Spiel: The press release for the German producer’s latest notes that it’s “the result of DJ Koze’s inspiring stay in a secluded Benedictine monastery on the enchanting island of Sulawesi. Amidst this idyllic setting, he found the perfect environment to unleash his musical vision. He composed all of the music of ‘Candidasa’ while lying on his stomach, in an act of deepest devotion and self-reflection. In doing so, he fed exclusively on so-called heroin kebabs to immerse himself in a trance-like state of creative flow.”

This all might be true, or none of it might be true, or some of it might be true. In any case, the 10-minute experimental production is the kind of hypnotic, inventive, playful, kind of mystic music one would create if they were indeed in such a stomach-down trance like creative flow. The song comes from the two-track Wespennest EP, which are together Koze’s first new music since 2018 and part of the lead up to a new album coming in 2024.

The Vibe: Deepest devotion and much dancing.

Jungle, “Back on 74”

The Label: Caiola Records

The Spiel: Jungle return with the same kind of tight, breezy, throwback production that’s become their signature. A warm summer afternoon of a song, “Back on 74” comes with one of the intricately choreographed music video’s that have become the duo’s signature — this one leveling up as a first-of-its-kind interactive music video made with WeTransfer. The clip functions like an interactive art gallery, with viewers able to download works of art as they watch. When the viewer claims an artwork they like, it is pulled from the video canvas in real time, revealing a blank canvas in its place. Every viewing of the video populates with six different art pieces, pulled from a bank of 10,000 unique works created by the duo’s J. Lloyd.

The concept creates a different viewing experience for each person, with tickets for Jungle’s upcoming tour hidden in some of the downloadable artwork. For the next two weeks, the video is available exclusively at junglejunglejungle.wetransfer.com. The song itself is from the U.K. duo’s forthcoming album Volcano, coming August 8.

The Vibe: The classiest gallery on the internet.

Mia Moretti, “Sweet Juju”

The Label: Spaghetti Moretti Records

The Spiel: Fresh off DJing the Barbie premiere party last weekend (check her playlist from the event here), DJ/producer Mia Morietti demonstrates why she was the woman for the gig with a fresh, fun, extremely effervescent new single, “Sweet Juju.” The song sounds exactly as its name suggests, with Moretti layering a funky guitar lick with loads of hand percussion and whistles and crowd sounds and an infectious vocal hook into a track that really does sound like a party.

The Artist Says: “‘Sweet Juju’ is a NYC summery disco bop,” Moretti says. “I made this track during a cold New York winter, dreaming of the days when it would be too hot to do anything but dance. Sweaty block parties, impromptu stoop hangs, boombox bicyclists, funky bodegas and dark basement clubs are the summer moments ‘Sweet Juju’ is made for. It’s infectious, delicious and full of summer soul.”

The Vibe: What she said.

SIDEPIECE, “What You Need”


https://youtube.com/watch?v=eTmLZpMb038&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

The Label: Big Beat Records

The Spiel: The SIDEPIECE guys just know what they’re doing, adding another hypnotic tech house anthem to their catalog with “What You Need.” The song’s success is largely a function of an earworm vocal that adds melody over the track’s thumping, scintillating percussion which builds to a perfectly effective build and release, altogether cultivating the kind of party anthem these guys have made their name on. The song is part of a two-track release that also includes the similarly effective “Stimulate.”

The Vibe: You do actually need it.