Larsson's life is far from ruined, after the success of her debut album and featuring on Clean Bandit's Symphony. Ruin My Life isn't the all out pop banger we may want, but it's a yearning synth-ballad about the desperation of longing for a toxic relationship. News of the second album is set to follow soon.
Worth a listen.
Post Malone & Swae Lee - Sunflower
You can't walk two metres without hearing Post Malone somewhere. The American rapper has certainly made a career out of a solid Drake impression and Sunflower is no different, with its downbeat melodies and pleasingly squelchy production. His style is notably sanitised for its inclusion as part of the upcoming Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse animated film, but it's not quite Kendrick Lamar for Black Panther.
Worth a listen.
Dua Lipa & BLACKPINK - Kiss and Make Up
At this point, Dua Lipa has become a global superstar. Partnering with K-Pop group BLACKPINK is therefore a canny move for all her Asian fans, though it's hardly the first time she's done this: Calvin Harris, Diplo, Sean Paul, Martin Garrix and Miguel have all been on her hit list. Kiss and Make Up is pretty much what we've come to expect from Dua, which is fine even when her ubiquity is starting to dull our excitement.
Worth a listen.
The 1975 - It's Not Living (If It's Not With You)
The return of The 1975 has been pretty lacklustre so far, but It's Not Living... is a return to form - least of all because it has a proper structure and actual melody. The stadium guitars and heavy snare drum bring back the upbeat '80s pop-rock sound we know and love, juxtaposed with lyrics that depict Matty Healy's heroin addiction. This is smart pop that could be an off cut from the band's previous album - definitely a good thing.
Worth a listen.
Friendly Fires - Heaven Let Me In
Love Like Waves earlier in the year was a brilliant summer tune that was criminally overlooked. Heaven Let Me In sees the band turning to full on house music. Choppy and funky, this is a bold but natural development of their sound - though it may upset longtime fans.
Worth a listen.
Mariah Carey feat. Ty Dolla $ign - The Distance
Brush aside the inclusion of an overly featured rapper for relevance, and this is a seductive return from Mariah with a bass line that is downright filthy. Vocally it's more limited than the songs she's known for, even though it's a familiar R&B groove. And that bass...
Worth a listen.
Tove Styrke - Vibe
Styrke is known for her down to earth, relatable pop that continues with Vibe. "I thought we had a vibe," she sings in the chorus, questioning the reality of a failed relationship. It's taken from her album 'Sway' released earlier in the year - if you've slept on it, now's the time to check it out.
Worth a listen.
Cher Lloyd - None Of My Business
Yep, she's still going. None Of My Business is Lloyd's first solo release since 2016, and it's a sassy kiss-off to an ex-lover: "Damn, I heard that you and her been having issues / I wish you the best, I hope that she can fix you," she sings in the chorus, "but baby this is none of my business." It's a sultry comeback that goes some way to shaking off her bratty image.
Worth a listen.
