The biggest news in new music this week is the release of Troye Sivan's highly anticipated sophomore album, Bloom. I first discovered Sivan like many others, with the fantastic Wild, from his debut Blue Neighborhood. Though I may do a review of the record, time permitting, Billboard has a great take on it right here. I've listened to it a couple of times already and LOVE! In the meantime, here are four new tunes to whet your appetites this week...
Spice - Michael Brun, Kah-Lo
Now here's a bass-y, bouncy, groove-alicious nugget from Haitian producer Michael Brun, featuring the hypnotic vocals of Nigerian singer Kah-Lo. Check out Spice...
Deep Down - Zhavia Ward
Sadly, I've never heard of Zhavia Ward before, but with this soulful, rich jam I'm hearing shades of Lauryn Hill, a lil bit of Amy Winehouse and everything in between. Love! Check out Deep Down...
Body Talks - The Struts, Kesha
Kesha joins British band The Struts for a reworking of their song Body Talks and the result is some good old fashioned rock n roll. Check it out...
Singles You Up - Jordan Davis, Ryan Riback
Louisiana country singer Jordan Davis has had his debut song given a remix by Ryan Riback and the results are surprisingly good. Check out Singles You Up...
As always, there are even more nice new tunes to check out. Here are this week's honorable mentions...
Whoah, what a week in new music! It's only been a little more than twenty four hours now, and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed digesting all of the great, noteworthy stuff that's new this week. Which ones to share? For what it's worth, here goes...
Good Old Days - Macklemore & Kesha
Indie turned mainstream rap artist Macklemore has dropped his own solo project without his partner in crime Ryan Lewis and the newest single off the set, Gemini, is a tender, sweet ballad featuring the newly respected, mature Kesha. The song is radio friendly and has already caught quite the buzz, featuring in all of the major music magazines. Check out the vintage-esque video set at a campground...
Sexy Dirty Love - Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato's got a brand new album coming out this week and she's dropped yet another sexy tune from the set that's also catching a lot of buzz. This one is a lot more dance-floor friendly than her previous Sorry, Not Sorry, but still with a lot of rhythm and blues. Great voice, sexy jam! Take a listen to the track on Rolling Stone.
Starlight - Emeli Sandé
I love Emeli Sandé, but usually it's for the positivity and inspiration that she so often sings to. Well now Ms. Sandé has dropped a surprise dance single from her forthcoming third studio album and it is awesome! With a nice groove and her smooth, ethereal vocals, this one is a winner. R+Take a listen to Starlight...
Generous - Olivia Holt
Marvel's Cloak and Dagger actress Olivia Holt has turned singer with this new, irresistible, sexy finger snapper and toe tapper that I loved the very first time I heard it. Such a fun tune, and video! Check it out...
Hot Damn - The Shadowboxers
The Shadowboxers are Justin Timberlake's newest discovery just dropped their newest single and it is hot. The trio of Adam Hoffman, Matt Lipkins and Scott Tyler have been working with Timberlake all summer long and the results are amazing. Hot Damn is definitely within the realm of JT's sound, fast moving and dancey rhythm and blues that is very radio friendly. Take a listen to it on Just Jared, where the tune debuted on Thursday.
Deadly Valentine - Charlotte Gainsbourg
British and French actress and singer Charlotte Gainsbourg, whom I'd never heard of before today, has released a new tune from an upcoming album called Rest. The track is described by Spin's Anna Gaca as "dreamy [and] danceable," and I couldn't agree more with that assessment. The tune has a sort of strange, but funky bassline that's just immediately likable and the rest of it is, well, dreamy and danceable! Check out the "offbeat" video to Deadly Valentine...
Borrowed Time - Wyclef Jean
Two of my favorite songs of all time, Gone Till November and Perfect Gentleman, are from former Fugees frontman Wyclef Jean. Jean has been largely absent for the past several years, but that's about to change with his new Carnival III: The Fall and Rise of a Refugee, his latest album which just dropped on September 15th. I gave this song an extra listen because it is Wyclef, and I'm actually glad I did. The tune is a beautiful, socially conscious ballad that actually features sounds never heard before from the planet Jupiter, as recorded by NASA. Pretty cool, huh? It really is a beautiful song! Check it out...
Big Girls (Wiz Mix) - Salt n Pepa
Okay, so I can't find much on this freshly released track from Salt n Pepa, but I love it! It's sounds like it could have been an early recording, a little more rappish than pop, and I can't tell, but I think the recording samples Run DMC somewhere in there. Great tune! Take a listen...
A Different Way - DJ Snake, featuring Lauv
I've been a fan of DJ Snake for a couple of years now, and his latest, A Different Way, only adds to my admiration of his work. Ed Sheeran gets songwriting credits for the tune and smooth-voiced singer Lauv contributes the dramatic vocals. Of course, it is a DJ Snake track, so it's gotta be danceable, and ooh, the dance sequences in the song are actually what make it for me. Snake debuted the single in Paris atop the Arc de Triomphe...cool! Check out A Different Way...
Okay, okay, I need to stop here. You see, I told you there was a lot of great stuff this week, probably the most of any single week since I've been doing New Music Fridays. On top of these nine great songs, there are some really great honorable mentions that you should check out as well. Take a look...
Phases - ALMA, with French Montana Again - Noah Cyrus, XXXTENTACION Hillside Boys - Kim Petras Week Without You - Miley Cyrus Ain't Ready - Hoodie Allen Don't Look Back In Anger - Portugal. The Man. Lost in the Wild - Synead Move You - Kelly Clarkson Ready For It - Taylor Swift Anything - All Tvvns
There's even more, so stay tuned to John's Music World Song of the Day or Spotify's New Music Fridays to check em out.
Hello and welcome back to John's Music World New Music Fridays. It was another slow week last week in new music (I only tagged 7 songs...a new low!), but what did come out is exciting, including the new album by Kesha, some new Avicii, and of course a highly anticipated release from P!nk. Check out my picks for this week's hottest new tracks:
What About Us - P!nk
Friday (actually Thursday) saw a highly anticipated debut track from P!nk's long awaited new album, beautiful Trauma. The song is vintage P!nk, beautifully written and performed. I posted it as Song of the Day earlier, so check it out here.
Lonely Together - Avicii, featuring Rita Ora
Superstar deejay/producer Avicii released two new tracks this week, the up tempo Without You, featuring Sandro Cavazza, and this nice, sweet track featuring a new favorite singer, Rita Ora. Check it out...
Little of Your Love - HAIM, BloodPop
HAIM is a trio of sisters with sweet voices whose music I either love or hate. This new remix of their song Little of Your Love by BloodPop is da bomb. Check it out...
Let 'Em Talk - Kesha
I am loving this new Kesha! Her latest outstanding track, from her newly released Rainbow album is three minutes of fast-moving fun, plain and simple. Check it out...
Well, I told you it was a slow week, but an exciting one nonetheless. I hope you find something here to whet your appetite for new music. Stay tuned for more...
So far Kesha has released three tracks from her upcoming Rainbow album, due out next Friday, August 11th, and from what I've heard I am loving. Both the lyrics and the music are a departure from the sassy, brash and dance-oriented material she's so well known for. Her absence from the recording studio seems to have brought her to a new place, a more thoughtful and mature one. The songs Prayer and Hymn take on much deeper issues than, say Tik Tok, and are both tender ballads that are well-written and memorable. This one, my personal favorite so far, is downright honky tonk, with a lil bit o' Kesha thrown in. Check out the brash Woman...
