new music
Page: 11
Some of today’s biggest stars are kicking off Veteran’s Day weekend with a slew of new music for fans to enjoy on their day off. From Jack Harlow unveiling his viral “Lovin on Me” and Dua Lipa performing magic tricks with “Houdini” to new sounds from PinkPantheress and The Kid LAROI, music lovers of every […]
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.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Fonseca, “Canto a la Vida” (Sony Music Latin)
[embedded content]
To the sounds of vallenato, Colombian trop-pop icon Fonseca sings of good memories on the new single “Canto a la Vida.” The song is the second preview of his next album in which, as he revealed to Billboard Español during a Latin Music Week panel, he wants to pay tribute to Colombian music while rediscovering the sound of his beginnings. With clarinet, percussion, guacharaca, guitar and, of course, an accordion, Fonseca recreates a classic vallenato and distances himself from the pop sound of his most recent projects, while recounting his successes and recognizing that there is an important song that he needed to sing. “That is why today I sing to life / For the memories that are not forgotten / Let the memories live / Let the stories live / That today live in photographs,” he sings in the chorus. The accompanying video encapsulates a little piece of the essence of Colombia with its costumes, dances, instruments and other typical elements. Without a doubt, “Canto a la Vida” is a song to spread the feeling of gratitude for life and the experiences that make us who we are today. — LUISA CALLE
Santiago Cruz & TIMØ, “Golpes Contra Las Paredes” (Santiago Cruz)
[embedded content]
Colombian singer-songwriter Santiago Cruz recruited breakout trio TIMØ – currently nominated for a best new artist at the Latin Grammys – for a new heartbreak anthem, “Golpes Contra La Pared.” Written by Cruz and produced by Juan Pablo Vega, the indie pop-rock song addresses feelings of anger and frustration when imagining what an ex is doing with a new lover. “And here I am, banging against the walls, not accepting that you were and are no longer, it is no longer our room,” goes part of the chorus. Cruz said in a press release that he sat down to write the song “expressly with the idea that it would be a collaboration” with his TIMØ countrymen. “It’s an upbeat, powerful song, with some anger, and it’s going to be a lot of fun to play live,” he added. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Banda MS ft. Gloria Trevi, “Y Que Soporten” (Lizos Music)
[embedded content]
Banda MS is no stranger to outside-the-box collaborations, and their latest single is no exception. The band teams up with pop queen Gloria Trevi for “Y Que Soporten,” marking the first collab between the Mexican powerhouses. To the tune of a traditional-leaning banda sinaloense song — with brassy instruments leading the way — Banda MS’ Alan Ramírez and Trevi trade verses about bumping into an ex who seemingly wants to restart a failed relationship. “If my love was ever his, then let him swallow his pride, it’s going to be super hard for him to find someone to replace me,” they declare. Banda MS has most recently collaborated with Ice Cube (“¿Cuáles Fronteras?”), Yahritza y Su Esencia (“Solo Que Lo Dudes”) and Fuerza Regida (“Santo Patrón”). — GRISELDA FLORES
Omar Montes & Nicky Jam, “Oye BB” (Sony Music Latin)
[embedded content]
In a first collaborative effort that was made possible by a tattoo artist-friend they have in common Omar Montes and Nicky Jam unleash “Oye BB.” Produced by Tunvao, Jota Rosa and Jon Leone, the song is a hard-hitting, fast-paced reggaeton beat that perfectly interlaces Montes’ dark, raspy vocals with the Puerto Rican artist’s more sugary tones. In “Oye BB,” the breakout Spanish star and Jam are trying to seek the attention of the girl they like: “I’m only asking for one percent and I’ll give you my heart,” chants Montes. The chorus is more flirtatious, where both acts sing, “Hey, baby, you smell delicious/ But you’ll be more delicious once I taste you/ Hey, baby, every weekend/ I’d do it to you better than the last so that you stay.” A music video directed by Borkinson features the two artists at a house party. — JESSICA ROIZ
Dawer x Damper, “Bochinche” ft. Miracali (Discos Fiera)
[embedded content]
Tearing through the invigorating, scant beats informed by the sweltering vibes of Colombia’s Pacific coast, brothers Dawer x Damper arrive with “Bochinche,” featuring Miracali. Bolstered by their laid-back but assertive rap bars, the song title can be interpreted as a kind of gossip in Colombian slang — the theme around the group’s upcoming mixtape, which they announced today to arrive early 2024. “When something happens on the corner, everybody peeks out, everybody wants to know,” Dawer explains in a press release. “The neighbor, even though she’s in the kitchen making the sancocho, sticks her head out the window to find out. In this song, we talk a little about the neighborhood, about how the street behaves, how our city behaves, more so in our Aguablanca neighborhood in Cali.” The single also stars another pair of siblings, Lil Keren and Young Kali, from the group’s local scene in Cali. The Afro-Colombian duo are currently nominated for best long-form music video for their 2022 album Donde Machi. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Stream the New Music Latin playlist below:
As you peruse through this year’s Grammy nominations, why not listen to some top-tier new tracks from your favorite queer artists?. Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
From Kim Petras’ new collaboration with David Guetta to 070 Shake’s hypnotic new song, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
David Guetta & Kim Petras, “When We Were Young (The Logical Song)”
[embedded content]
When you combine a legendary French DJ, a German-born pop princess and a British rock group, you get something pretty magical in return. With “When We Were Young (The Logical Song),” Kim Petras teams up with production superstar David Guetta to put their own twist on a Supertramp sample, making for a chaotic joyride through the pair’s shared Eurodance DNA. Pulsing with house pianos and a relentless German techno beat, Guetta’s electronic flourishes fit perfectly with Petras’ powerhouse vocal as they look back on the good old days.
070 Shake feat. Ken Carson, “Natural Habitat”
[embedded content]
Among her many talents as an artist, 070 Shake’s ability to create a sonic universe in the span of less than four minutes has always reigned supreme. Yet on her latest single “Natural Habitat” featuring Ken Carson, Shake shows just how good she is worldbuilding. Over the course of this hypnotic, deeply chaotic new track, the rising star immediately employs disorienting distortions to throw listeners off balance as she spins a story about feeling stuck inside a lover’s head. With a fiery verse from Carson and some top-tier songwriting, Shake perfectly encapsulates her song’s delirious message in this mystifying new track.
Dove Cameron, “Sand”
[embedded content]
With her latest single, Dove Cameron asks a nearly-philosophical question of her listeners from the outset; “What’s worse — being wanted but not loved, or loved but not wanted?” For the duration of “Sand,” the pop singer-songwriter’s latest track off her forthcoming album Alchemical: Volume 1, Cameron examines the end of her relationship with omniscient clarity, declaring that their romance was doomed from the beginning because “you couldn’t love the way I can.” The swelling, orchestral accompaniment is only further punctuated by the singer’s vocoder-assisted chorus, making “Sand” an entrancing piece of heartbreak that’s as fragile as its namesake.
Sleater-Kinney, “Say It Like You Mean It”
[embedded content]
There is a quiet fury to Corin Tucker’s voice on “Say It Like You Mean It” when she tells her lover, “I need to hear it before you go.” That underlying frustration permeates Sleater-Kinney’s new song, as Tucker and Brownstein pay tribute to the messy, bitter, infuriating ending of a passionate love affair. With a droning riff diffusing the background of the song, the pair go to work deconstructing both their sound and their own emotions on this thrilling, heartbreaking new song.
Aurora, “Your Blood”
[embedded content]
Best known for her haunting, ethereal voice, Norwegian pop star Aurora is ready to give that voice something important to say. On “Your Blood,” Aurora pushes aside the nihilism that tends to weave its way through modern conversation to embrace empathy and compassion, singing to a friend to share their burden with her. Accompanying that weighty goal is a truly undeniable pop banger, fueled by sparkling synths and cheerful guitars, accentuating her missive of hope with a glittering pop spectacle.
Peach PRC, “Like a Girl Does”
[embedded content]
Australian pop sensation Peach PRC is not known for her subtlety — and on “Like a Girl Does,” she raises her curt songwriting to a new level. The glitching new track sees the singer once again lambasting silly boys in her music, but this time bringing the Sapphic themes explored throughout her discography right up to the forefront as she proudly declares that a man who tries to “change your mind with his d–k” simply couldn’t “love like a girl does.” The playful, catchy melody immediately worms is way into your ear, and within moments, you’ll find yourself throwing your middle finger up at the nearest f–kboy.
Laura Jane Grace, “Hole in My Head”
[embedded content]
After a mind-numbing week of work, sometimes you just need some catharsis — luckily, Against Me star Laura Jane Grace is here to deliver you the goods. On the short-but-oh-so-sweet “Hole in My Head,” the rocker plugs into a fuzzy punk sensibility to celebrate the mood-shifting beauty of a good rock song. Sure, Grace argues, you could try and numb the monotony and the pain of your day to day life — but “that would be a real bore.” Instead, press play on this song and let all that pent-up rage out for a minute and a half.
Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:
For fans who have been begging Jack Harlow to release the full song inspired by his viral snippet posted to TikTok, the wait is over. “Lovin on Me,” which samples R&B singer Delbert “Dale” Greer’s 1995 track, “Whatever,” in the hook, is set for release on Friday (Nov. 10), the 25-year-old rapper announced on Instagram. […]
With the spooky season officially behind us and the end of the year fast approaching, it’s time to start finding even more new songs from your favorite queer artists before 2023 wraps. Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
From Kevin Abstract’s complex new album to Cat Burns’ introspective new single, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Kevin Abstract, Blanket
[embedded content]
Starting something new can often bring up old wounds, a fact that Kevin Abstract is embracing fully on his new album Blanket. Throughout the lush, 13-track project, the former Brockhampton member disengages from his present and clings onto the past, seeking out comfort when being offered none in the moment. Imbuing the ew LP with a shoegaze, indie-rock sensibility to further amp up that sense of deep nostalgia, Abstract encapsulates the feeling of searching for meaning when you are in need of it most.
Cat Burns, “Know That You’re Not Alone”
[embedded content]
Cat Burns knows what it feels like to be stuck in place — and she wants to make sure that others in the same boat get a chance to look up for a change. The driving ethos behind “Know That You’re Not Alone” sits comfortably in the song’s title, as Burns bluntly and easily explains her journey with self-worth, anxiety and therapy. With a boisterous, uplifting chorus, the rising UK star doesn’t offer any easy solutions for anyone experiencing the same kind of situation — she just wants them to know that there are many others who’ve been there, herself included.
Tokischa, “Candy”
[embedded content]
Dominican superstar Tokischa is back, and she’s ready to party. With “Candy,” Tokischa embraces the dembow stylings to deliver a fast-paced, slickly produced ode to getting high and keeping the vibes correct. With rapid-fire Spanish bars and a beat that simply won’t quit, “Candy” aims to get you partying right alongside Tokischa — and by all measures, it’s an unmitigated success.
Matt Rogers, Have You Heard of Christmas?
[embedded content]
After the self-proclaimed Queen of Christmas announced that the season had finally arrived, comedian and singer Matt Rogers wasted absolutely no time. On Have You Heard of Christmas?, Rogers gives you everything that you hope to hear on a Christmas album — huge vocals, excellent production, well-executed guest verses (yes, MUNA, VINCINT, Leland and Bowen Yang all make appearances throughout), and oodles of holiday cheer. Once you mix in Rogers’ razor sharp commentary and wit into the mix, you have an all-time great Christmas project on your hands, and one you’ll be playing for many holiday seasons to come.
King Isis, “Make It Up”
[embedded content]
Still finding yourself clinging to the Halloween season? King Isis is here to give you all the eerie vibes you could want on “Make It Up.” The droning rock track sees the up-and-coming artist embrace some nihilism as they look back on a failed relationship with a mix of apathy and trepidation. As Isis asks their ex “What will it take for you to hold me down or help me up,” the relentless melody joins them, offering a foreboding sense of danger to this enigmatic (and excellent) new song.
Teddy Geiger, Teresa
[embedded content]
After a lifetime of coming to terms with the concept of transformation, Teddy Geiger is fully embracing the concept with her latest LP Teresa. Taking on the less-than-literal persona promised by the title, Geiger dabbles in a new dream-pop soundscape throughout the cohesive album, conjuring up an ethereal plane of pleasure and pain with every successive song. “It’s been really nice to focus on what it feels like, what it sounds like and what it looks like for me as an artist at this point,” she told Billboard back in August, upon announcing Teresa. “It took some time, but I’m now feeling really focused on myself and my artistry.”
Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:
This week in dance music: we talked to the legend Green Velvet (who assured us he doesn’t actually feel legendary) and rounded up the best new dance projects out this week.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Joy (Anonymous), “JOY (Up The Street)”
[embedded content]
The Label: Astralwerks
The Spiel: Joy (Anonymous) emerged out of London in the wake of the pandemic with a brightly energetic hybrid of electronic music that’s as emotive as it is effective in getting crowds moving. (And if that sounds like someone else you know, bear in mind that the duo is friends and collaborators with fellow parenthesis enthusiast Fred again..) The sophomore Joy (Anonymous) album, Cult Classics, demonstrates the pair’s efficacy with music that’s tightly produced, extremely warm and as deep as it is playful. Made over the last year, the album’s foundations were forged at Imogen Heap’s house in east London, where the guys — Henry Counsell and Louis Curran — invited a fleet of collaborators over, with the fun and humanity of those sessions evident throughout the no-skips LP.
The Artists Say: “This has been a journey sonically and emotionally over the last two years,” the pair wrote on Instagram. “you are the reason this record got finished, it was your reactions and feedback in the Joy meetings that made realize it was done, so thank you! this is just another journal entry in our tide based journey so keep an eye on it for more things to come.”
deadmau5, “Ghosts ‘N’ Stuff” (Jauz Remix)
[embedded content]
The Label: mau5trap
The Spiel: In the 14 years since its release, deadmau5 and Rob Swire’s “Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff” has become an all-time classic, a simultaneously of-the-era and totally timeless song that some producers have cited as the reason they started making electronic music. A remix thus seems like an impossible and/or superfluous task, but Jauz’s new edit (only the third official remix in the track’s history) demonstrates an inventive freshness, with the Bay Area producer keeping the bones of the original — including the entirety of Swire’s call-to-arms vocals — but paring down portions, extending segments and adding a kind of wavy mechanical touch that altogether really works. The track drops ahead of deadmau5’s headlining shows this weekend at Red Rocks Amphitheater, with Jauz, Good Times Ahead and Volaris on support act duties.
The Artist Says: “Making a remix for a song as revered and respected as ‘Ghosts n’ Stuff’ is honestly almost an impossible task,” says Jauz. “It was intimidating and humbling, to say the least. But it was also a great exercise to remind myself how to stop putting pressure and expectation on myself, and just make whatever comes out naturally. I made eight different versions of this remix and this is the only one that really felt like ‘me.’ Thanks to Joel and the team for letting me remix one of the greatest electronic records of all time. It was an honor and such a cool experience”
Tiga, Hudson Mohawke & Jesse Boykins III, “Silence of Love”
[embedded content]
The Label: Love Minus Communications
The Spiel: Tiga and Hudson Mohawke continue their LMZ project with “Silence of Love,” on which vocalist Jesse Boykins III uses his almost painfully gorgeous voice to repeatedly request, “Won’t you meet me in the quiet?,” over a track that builds to an immersive lushness that’s anything but.
The Artist Says: “It’s a song,” Tiga writes, “about finding the essence of life in the quiet space that only love can provide.”
PEEKABOO, Eyes Wide Open
[embedded content]
The Label: Peekaboo Music/Create Music Group
The Spiel: PEEKABOO’s debut album came hot out of the gate, with its lead single “Badders” (featuring Skrillex, Flowdan and G-Rex) racking up seven million streams in the two months since its release. That track was just a preview of the heaviness the Detroit producer serves throughout his debut album Eyes Wide Open, a 13-track collection of thick, sometimes spooky and thoroughly tough-as-nails productions, with collaborators including Zeds Dead, Grabbitz and LYNY.
The Artist Says: “Thank you all so much for supporting me on this journey so far,” the producer writes. “The last 5 years have been the craziest of my life and I’m so grateful to everyone in this community.”
Nicole Moudaber & The London Community Choir, “Rise Up”
[embedded content]
The Label: Nothing Else Matters
The Spiel: We all have those tracks that make us scream “I love this song!” when they come on in the club. For Nicole Moudaber, one of those song’s is Soul Providers’ 2001 single “Rise,” which the techno producer and the London Community Gospel Choir put their own mega-joyful spin on with today’s “Rise Up.” The track is more of a house production than Moudaber’s usual techno output, but the way she pairs the wall of synth with the choir’s exclamations to keep rising conjures a certain dark club toughness that will get dancers reaching for the light.
The Artist Says: “This single has always resonated with me on a deeply personal level, but it is also so relatable on a universal level – considering all that is happening in the world right now,” says Moudaber. “The message ‘Rise, Rise Up, Dust off and do it again’ is such a powerful message: together we can come together and rise up to the next level. We recorded with eight members of the London Community Gospel Choir and let me tell I had goosebumps! I think we made a little piece of magic that day. I am so happy you guys can all finally hear it”
Megan Thee Stallion dropped “Cobra,” her first single under her own independent music and entertainment entity Hot Girl Productions, on Friday (Nov. 3). The three-time Grammy-winning artist revealed in an Instagram Live last month that she wasn’t signed to a label anymore. “This part of my album is very much so funded by Megan Thee Stallion […]
Looks like Dua Lipa is signing up for a new era. Are you coming with her?
After deleting all prior posts on Instagram, the 28-year-old pop star shared a cryptic teaser video Monday (Oct. 31) full of possible clues regarding long-awaited new music. Her hair dyed bright red, Dua closes her mouth on a gold necklace with a key-shaped pendant and shows a split-second flash of a stack of Polaroids, after which a series of seemingly random numbers flash onscreen: 4, 8, 9, 9, 14, 15 and 21.
The clip is set to what sounds like a snippet of upcoming music; following a descending line of piano notes, Dua sings the words “Tell me all the ways you need me” before a funky bass line kicks in.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“🔑✨sign up dualipa.com,” the Argylle actress wrote in her caption.
On the star’s website, fans are prompted to “Sign Up” for “happiness, passion, love, joy, optimism, energy” and “fun.” After plugging in your phone number, expect a message welcoming you to “Dua’s text community.”
The teaser comes more than three years after Dua’s last album Future Nostalgia, her massively successful sophomore effort which spawned the single “Levitating.” Though the singer has remained busy with acting projects, her Barbie soundtrack contribution “Dance The Night” and various musical collaborations — most notably “Cold Heart” with Elton John and “Sweetest Pie” with Megan Thee Stallion — fans have been antsy for a new album for months.
Many have already started decoding the elusive numbers tacked onto Dua’s teaser, with some concluding that the digits are code for the name “Houdini.” The famed magician notably passed away on Halloween, the same day Dua’s teaser went live. The key in Lipa’s mouth may also be a Harry Houdini reference. During the magician’s public stunts, his wife, Bess, would often pass him the key to his handcuffs via a kiss. The cover of Kate Bush’s 1982 album The Dreaming – which shows the art rocker kissing a chained man with a key in her mouth – is a reference to Houdini.
See Dua’s new teaser video below:
Happy Halloweekend! Help prep for your spooky festivities this Halloween season with some new tracks from your favorite queer artists. Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
From Ashnikko’s annual Halloween single to Serpentwithfeet’s excellent new track, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Ashnikko, “Halloweenie V: The Moss King”
[embedded content]
For the last five years, Ashnikko has blessed our eardrums with a ghoulish new single around Halloween — and 2023 is certainly no exception. Replete with raging guitars and eerie synths, “Halloweenie V: The Moss King” conjures up a new creature from Ashnikko’s vivid imagination. With her typical industrial breakdowns and flaming hot lyrics, the alt-pop star makes The Moss King your newest nightmare, and ensures you’ll keep the haunting going by replaying her song over and over again.
Serpentwithfeet feat. Ty Dolla $ign & Yanga YaYa, “Damn Gloves”
[embedded content]
Don’t threaten Serpentwithfeet with a good time — let him show you just how good a time you can have. With his latest single “Damn Gloves,” the rising electro-R&B star gives in to his deepest, dance-fueled desires, letting his lover know all the various ways he could pleasure them. His crisp, clean vocals drift over a pounding dance beat, while hip-hop superstar Ty Dolla $ign joins him for a sexed-up verse of his own, and rising South African soul artist Yanga YaYa joins for a short-but-sweet bridge. It’s a steamy, thrilling new track that demands your attention.
Baby Queen, “I Can’t Get My S–t Together”
[embedded content]
We’ve all been in that headspace where it feels like everything you’re doing is just absolutely incorrect — so Baby Queen wrote you a whole song about it. On “I Can’t Get My S–t” together, the up-and-coming alt-pop star gives voice to chaotic thoughts that insist she’s screwing things up. While that might sound dire, don’t worry — Baby Queen’s tongue rests firmly in her cheek as she crafts this effervescent pop tune, ensuring whimsy and delight alongside the song’s impending mental breakdown.
Blondshell, “If It Makes You Happy” (Sheryl Crow cover)
What happens when you combine an exciting new alternative band with the classic songwriting of Sheryl Crow? You get magic, as Blondshell prove with their incredible cover of the rock icon’s “If It Makes You Happy” for Amazon Music. Keeping the spirit of Crow’s original intact, while adding their own distinct layer of grungy angst, Blondshell encapsulate the song’s raw power with this fiery, boastful rendition of an all-time great song.
Brandy Clark, “My Favorite Christmas”
[embedded content]
If you’re already looking forward to the winter holiday season, then Brandy Clark has you covered this Halloweekend. On “My Favorite Christmas,” the country icon embodies the holiday spirit with a moody, wistful new song. Listing out all of the things that she expects from the holiday season, Clark comes to the gorgeously-sung conclusion on the song’s effortless chorus, as she declares that “My favorite Christmas was you.”
Check out all of our picks below in Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist:
Another week means another chance to find some new tunes from your favorite queer artists. Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
From Charli XCX & Sam Smith’s new team-up, to Kali Uchis’ hypnotic new single, check out just a few of our favorite release from this week below:
Charli XCX & Sam Smith, “In the City”
[embedded content]
As you prepare for a night out on the town this weekend, allow Charli XCX and Sam Smith to offer you a guide on your festivities. On “In the City,” the pair’s new duet, Charli and Smith celebrate the contagious, communal energy of an evening spent on the dancefloor. Over a shimmering synth-pop beat and euphoirc melodies played on house-style pianos, the duo encourage you to go find what you’re looking for “In the City.”
Kali Uchis, “Te Mata”
[embedded content]
Sure, Kali Uchis might be the devil in her ex’s story — but she doesn’t really have a problem with that. “Te Mata,” the rising Latin superstar’s latest single, sees Uchis taking back the narrative from a toxic situationship, all while lounging over a lush, cha-cha melody. With her velvety voice, Uchis lets her ex know in perfect Spanish that her “days are no longer gray,” and that “I finally realized that I deserve much more/ And that kills you.”
Dove Cameron, “Lethal Woman”
[embedded content]
Where Uchis is ready to move on from a toxic ex, Dove Cameron is looking to get just a little bit hurt. “Lethal Woman,” the lead single off of the singer’s forthcoming debut album Alchemical Volume 1, is Cameron’s ode to the kind of lover that will make her feel everything from pain to euphoria. Over a glitching industrial beat, Dove describes her ideal mate in detail, while declaring that she’s “not a masochist,” but just wants someone who’s “sharp like a knife under the table.”
Slayyyter, “Monster” (Lady Gaga cover)
When it came time for Slayyyter to pick a pop diva to emulate on her new Spotify Single, she chose 100% correctly. Covering Lady Gaga’s classic “Monster,” Slayyyter perfectly takes all of the elements of Gaga’s theatrical performance that made the original so good, while imbuing the song with her own brand of slinky, dark-pop sensibility. It helps that her voice has maybe never sounded quite as powerful as it does on this ridiculously good cover.
Kevin Abstract, “What Should I Do?”
[embedded content]
Leave it to hip-hop virtuoso Kevin Abstract to write an all-time great indie song. While “What Should I Do?” might not be exactly what fans of his expect to hear, the track practically bursts with the sense of longing and complex emotion that Abstract has proven himself to be a master at portraying. As the strums of an acoustic guitar accompany his intentionally pitch-shifted vocal, Abstract desperately tries to move past the intrusive thought of an ex he’s still hung up on, constantly begging them to please “don’t touch me, it turns me on,” while trying to find anything to get his mind elsewhere.
Maddie Zahm, Now That I’ve Been Honest
[embedded content]
After making a name for herself writing gorgeous, diaristic songs and sharing them with her massive TikTok audience, singer-songwriter Maddie Zahm is ready to show you all that she’s capable of. Throughout her debut album Now That I’ve Been Honest, Zahm flirts with every genre of pop music she can get her hands on, including angsty pop-punk (on the f–k-you anthem “Bedroom”), delirious funk-pop (on Sapphic Anthem “Lady Killer”), and straight up stadium-level pop (on the euphoric “Eightball Girl”). But fear not — her confessional songwriting is still the star of her debut, making Honest a cathartic, must-listen experience.
MICHELLE, “Glow”/”Agnostic”
[embedded content]
Supergroup MICHELLE is back, and they’re better than ever. With their new double single release, the NYC-based collective tries their hands at some new sounds to raving success. On “Glow,” the sextet dive headfirst into blissful bedroom pop as they let a potential lover know that “we’re never gonna happen.” Meanwhile, on “Agnostic,” the group basks in a chilled-out indie rock sound as they take stock of a love they’ve left behind. If this pair of tracks are any indication of what direction MICHELLE is headed in, then we highly recommend you join them for the ride.
King Mala, “Bug”
[embedded content]
Misogynists, beware — King Mala is on an extermination spree, and she’s got you in her sights. “Bug,” the latest release of the pop singer-songwriter’s forthcoming EP Split Milk, follows Mala as she begs toxic, self-important men to please, for the love of God, stop talking. Deliciously punchy bass lines punctuate her incisive lyrics, as she declares that these “insufferable” and “unbearable” men are little more to her than insects — and she’s more than happy to start squishing them.
Check out all of our picks in Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below: