After releasing one of the best pop songs of the year (and a couple of Nicki Minaj collaborations), Ariana Grande's next single from the forthcoming 'Sweetener' is a sultry ode to female sexual empowerment. "When all is said and done you'll believe God is a woman," she sings, before commanding her lover to "lay me down and let's pray." Sex here is religion and if the breathy vocals, sensual production and video full of feminine imagery don't convert you, the celestial harmonies at the end surely will.
Add to playlist.
Childish Gambino - Summer Pack EP
Following the politically charged This Is America, Donald Glover switches to the other extreme with his 'Summer Pack' EP. After all, it's too hot to do anything in the summer besides slowing down, finding love and dancing. The glossy R&B production of Summertime Magic and Feels Like Summer is heady and sun-soaked, two tracks devoted to simple pleasures.
Add to playlist.
Sigrid - Schedules
Schedules is the final track from Sigrid's 'Raw' EP and it's the most uptempo and colourful of the lot. "I think we're a hit," she notes as she takes a risk on a new relationship, synths bubbling away giddily underneath. This is Sigrid at her most fun and cheeky.
Add to playlist.
benny blanco - Eastside (with Halsey & Khalid)
Producer and songwriter Benny Blanco has worked with some of the biggest names in pop, from Ed Sheeran, Maroon 5 and Justin Bieber, to Rihanna, Katy Perry and Jessie Ware. Now he's releasing a single as an artist in his own right, joined by vocalists Halsey and Khalid. It's a mix of different elements - dancehall beats, wistful guitar, and R&B melodies - that come together under Blanco's expert hand for a nostalgic take on young love.
Worth a listen.
Allie X - Not So Bad In L.A.
If Lana Del Rey were to go synth pop, it would probably sound a bit like this: a drawling vocal singing biting lyrics about America over hip-hop beats. There's wry humour here poking fun at the consumerist culture of the West Coast city, but the sultry beats are intoxicating.
Worth a listen.
MØ & Diplo - Sun In Our Eyes
This inseparable pair are releasing the obligatory summer track - the first from the Danish singer's forthcoming album 'Forever Neverland'. With production based on a plaintive piano hook, it's a look back at a summer romance that blinds you like the sun. It's probably most notable, though, for this amazing lyric: "I'm a dog searching for answers." Aren't we all?
Worth a listen.
