Charli XCX has a need for speed on her latest single “Speed Drive” off the Summer blockbuster Barbie soundtrack. Alongside producer EASYFUN, Charli interpolates the classic “Hey Mickey” by Toni Basil and adds some pop sheen with Robyn’s “Cobrastyle”. The high octane bop is a bubblegum pop, electro queer dream and fits nicely into the Barbie music universe.
A couple days into summer Busta Rhymes and BIA delivered a bop produced by Hitmaka that deserves a spot on your rotation. “Beach Ball” plays like spring break album cut from the mid 2000s. Over a hard hitting bassline and spacey production, the lyrical duo captivate with their respectively raunchy bars and signature unfazed tones. Bia holds her own as she opens the song, “Fly you out to P.R. / can't put you in no Dior / Look into my eyes / you could tell I want a D-boy.”It’s so satisfying to hear Busta’s iconic voice on this playful cut reminding me of some of his laidback records from The Big Bang era (“I Love My Bitch”, In The Ghetto”, “How We Do It Over Here”). “Beach Ball” is under two minutes and thirty seconds making it more enticing to keep it on repeat.
Coi Leray recently dropped her second album COI to mixed reviews but one song easily sits on top of her bop pyramid. “Phuck It” is a nasty, icy, Daft Punk inspired ear worm that’s begging to go viral (no p power). Coi’s presence on the track is dripping in confidence but the chorus is what keeps the track on repeat. Interpolating “Technologic”, an autotuned robotic voice commands you to “Fuck it / feel it / zip / unzip it.” No foreplay needed.
If I wasn’t paying attention to the lyrics of Benny Sings latest single “Pyjamas” I’d imagine myself swaying to the bossa nova inspired groove under the sweltering sun in Brazil with a wine glass in hand. The playful collaboration with Remi Wolf ponders the potential adventures of a man with a low libido and his partner. While Remi’s character wants to make love, Benny would rather slow things down and enjoy the simple joys in life.
There’s a whimsical energy to the song that gets more infectious with each listen. Kenny Beats adds his magic touch to this breezy affair and has me curious to hear the rest of the musical choices he made while executive producing Sings latest album Young Hearts. With “Pyjamas” being my first taste of Benny Sings music, I’m excited to hear what else can be found on his 8th studio album.
Sammy King for ES Magazine
FLO is officially teasing a new era. After reigniting the excitement for girl groups in 2022 with their undeniable debut single “Cardboard Box”; Renée, Stella and Jorja have garnered countless co-signs from legends in the music industry, blessed us with flawless live vocals and continue to top themselves with each new release honing in on their nostalgic R&B sound. “FLY GIRL” will be their first single of 2023 and judging from the bold, summer ready sound, FLO is coming for wigs and dance floors all around the world.
https://t.co/JIyQcW1hSH pic.twitter.com/g8yXLiI4cg
— FLO (@flolikethis) March 14, 2023
Missy Elliott’s classic hit “Work It” can be heard on the sassy hook before FLO adds their signature confident bars:
“If you're a fly girl, get your nails done
Get a pedicure, get your hair did
See, you're tellin' me I'm pretty, but it's obvious
I don't need no man to tell me where the party is.”
I’m analyzing a 30 second snippet like it’s the full masterpiece so lemme collect myself and patiently wait for this bop to drop. In the meantime make sure you have your tickets for one of their upcoming shows and add a couple of their joints to your rotation if they aren’t already on replay as we speak.
Omar Apollo is currently alongside SZA supporting her sold out S.O.S. stadium tour and while new fans are falling in love with his earnest lyrics, charming voice and beautiful face (just me?) I’m STUCK on his latest single “3 Boys”. Apollo is in a dilemma on the sonically sparse record. While there’s seemingly a lot of fish in the sea, when your heart is fixated on one person trying to move past that connection can feel impossible.
The troubadour’s rich vocals float on this dreamy track as he tries to consider taking his ex’s advice and moving on. “I know there's some things you can't speak, but thoughts of a third make me weak,” we’ve all been in this emotionally grueling scenario and hearing it in music form feels therapeutic. Instead of texting my therapist, I’ll probably text my ex (that’s not really my ex that only responds on the weekends) 3 boys make me weak too Omar I feel your pain….
Something about an expertly crafted pop song restores my faith in humanity and Tyla is preparing for Global superstardom with her growing success. The South African singer is effortlessly blending Amapiano, Pop and R&B to deliver music made for the dance floor. Her debut single “Getting Late” dropped in 2019 showcasing her irresistible, airy vocals over a hypnotic Kooldrink beat. Two years later she dropped a visual for the bouncy cut and and the colorful, choreography-filled visual has garnered over six million views since its release.
Tyla is upping the ante with her latest single “Been Thinking”, a playful, uptempo groove that exhibits a star in the making adding to the popularity of the Afropop genre. Theron Thomas (Saweetie’s “Best Friend”, and Tricky Stewart help Tyla bring “Been Thinking” to life and I hope they also contribute to Tyla’s debut album. Her love for early 2000s Pop and R&B can be heard in the singles dropped so far and with a new deal with Epic, touring with Chris Brown and a stellar debut at the 2023 Milan Fashion Week, I can’t wait to see what this year brings this new artist.
Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding are 3/3 with their latest trance collaboration “Miracle”. It’s been nearly a decade since the hitmakers dropped a song together, their last being “Outside”, a euphoric cut from Harris 2014 project Motion. “Miracle” is brimming with 90s nostalgia as Harris supplies the sparking synths and throbbing bass on the rave ready production.
Goulding’s angelic vocals compliment the relentless trance beat and I can’t wait to hear this song get mixed with Snap!, Real McCoy and the rest of the dance gems in the 90s era. Calvin has a busy 2023 in the works with a return to Coachella and new music influenced by his uptempo trance upbringing. Fingers crossed he finds time to drop the visuals for his collaboration with Tinashe and Normani. I haven’t forgotten about “New To You” Mr. Harris!
Kelela gives us another vibe to immerse ourselves in with “Contact”, the fourth single off her highly anticipated album Raven, dropping on February 10th. With each song, I find myself lost in a dark, crowded room with Kelela’s hypotonic sounds blaring through the speakers. The Take Me Apart songstress has mastered the art of making dance music that offers the listeners a sanctuary to escape. “Contact” commands your full attention as Kelela’s silky vocals embrace the relentless house beat produced by LSDXOXO.
Kelela announced her second studio album Raven back in September setting the tone for a project that’s meant to provide space for the Black femme queer collective to love, heal, scream, learn, dance and feel every emotion as we empower ourselves in spite of a system that succeeds when we’re at our lowest. In an interview with Dazed, Kelela highlights the inspirations and personal work that was the catalyst for creating this body of work and the dedication can be felt in these initial glimpses of a project five years in the making. Kelela helped usher in a wave of Black women that deserve to be honored for their musical contributions. Her debut album Take Me Apart that dropped in 2017 still sounds like the future and is the foundation for the genre blurring that’s happening with artists like Ravyn Lenae, Mahalia, NAO and Amber Mark to name a few. These artists carry the torch of genre bending Black artists that can never be placed in a box. It’s so satisfying to see an artist fully in her element create music that heals.
Kelela's production, layered storytelling and atmospheric feel of each record is a breath of fresh air and a reminder there shouldn’t be a rush to drop music that’s meant to be lived with and potentially become timeless. “Contact” reminds me of my early days in New York anticipating a moment to escape in packed gay clubs around the city. Dancing to distract myself from whatever problem was prevalent at the time. Basking in a moment with someone special that made a crowded dance floor feel intimate. Mentally preparing for the rest of Raven to become my soundtrack for 2023.
Rebecca Black is currently eating all your faves up and you probably have no idea. “Crumbs” is the latest single from Black’s forthcoming debut album Let Her Burn and it’s a liberating affair that belongs on the sweatiest of dance floors and the top of every pop playlist with taste. Hearing “Crumbs” feels like musical escapism as the brilliant production glitches, throbs and matches the sexy energy burgeoning from Ms. Black. This song would fit nicely between a Britney Blackout cut and a Janet Damita Jo dance number, Rebeccca’s pop influences alongside her chaotic blend of electronic, dance, hyperpop sounds like heaven.
“Crumbs” is the first of three singles leading up to the album and offers up a dark contrast to the dreamy “Look At You” and most recent indie vibe “Sick To My Stomach”. Rebecca’s production choices are versatile and showcase her refreshing songwriting. Black has utilized her viral fame to support her growing artistry and it’ll be dope to see if the mainstream can accept an artist that’s working hard to carve out a lane for herself and deliver a meaningful body of work. Fans of Charli XCX, Muna, Poppy and Slayyyter should add “Crumbs” to their rotation (if they haven’t already joined the Rebecca Black wave).