“Wazzzzzup”

Hi guys! It’s that (slightly belated) time of the week again when I listen to the freshest tracks so that you know what to add to your playlist this week. Since my last article I have had a few ideas in how to structure this piece and I’ve included some features (see bold font) which will appear more regularly in future editions. The most exciting feature of this week’s update is the inclusion of a playlist which you can all follow on Spotify. Follow my account “grovesroad” to listen to this week’s playlist ‘NMF – Mabel This Time…’. If you really want to get interactive, why not give it a cheeky listen whilst you read? On to the tunes…

Obligatory pop

As always, this week’s playlist is dominated by the big hitters in Pop. Ariana Grande headlines the playlist with her new song ‘boyfriend’ which is notable for introducing the featuring duo “Social House”. The track itself is typical of Grande and capitalises on former success with similar sounding tracks ‘thank u, next’ and ‘break up with your girlfriend’ (“Social House” helped to produce the former). Grande’s style is extremely current and manages to blend an alternative-edge with mainstream appeal. She has a particular talent in making clunky lyrics sound attractive and catchy (how do you sing the comma in ‘thank u next’?!). But in ‘boyfriend’, it is Mikey Foster from “Social House” that impresses most by Swegway-ing through his verse with the smoothness of a Single Malt Scotch Whisky (I know, cringe – apologies). His switch into the lyric “Damn, baby, I’m a train wreck, too (Too)” melts, and his later transition into the second section of the verse (“I know we be so complicated”) is inflected with an embodiment of new age hip-hop.

Future Stars

It is not, however, the superstars of pop that feature prominently this week. Raye, Mabel, Anne-Marie and Ava Max are all dominant presences in the music industry and they have all released strong tracks which demonstrate their longevity. Ava Max has released her third major song after ‘Sweet But Psyco’ and ‘So Am I’ which officially puts to bed any claims that she was a one-hit wonder. Her new song, ‘Freaking Me Out’ misleadingly couples an upbeat, light tone with her characteristically dark and “freaky” lyrics. It feels empowering and it is great to sing-along to but probably won’t top ‘Sweet But Psyco’.

The most significant release this week was Mabel’s album, ‘High Expectations’. There are a few headline tracks which have featured in the playlist this week such as the beautifully written ‘OK (Anxiety anthem)’ which explores mental health in a thoughtful and sensitive way. However, the most striking feature of this album is the strength in consistency that Mabel has shown over the last couple of years. There are a few tracks on the 20-track album which have been previously released such as ‘Don’t Call Me Up’, ‘Made Love’ and ‘Bad Behaviour’, along with tracks such as ‘Finder’s Keepers’ and ‘Ring Ring’ which she has featured on. Mabel’s career as an artist began in 2015 and she already has a compilation of greatest hits from the past few years. My personal favourite from the new batch of tracks on this album is ‘Put your Name On It’ which is a characteristically “poppy” track and it sounds familiar in a good way. For now, Mabel can get away with her current style of pop which blends together electronic and R&B elements whilst retaining a freshness. For her next album, I would expect this sound to have developed into an evolved-form taking on new genres and features, or becoming an entirely new character altogether.

Notable Tracks

Towards the bottom of the playlist, as is common, we find the more interesting and unusual tracks that might not feature in everyone’s radar just yet, if at all. This week, we have a surprising inclusion from DCI Luther himself, Idris Elba. If you are not already aware that Idris Elba is a talented DJ/MC as well as Detective, then I can only apologise for the rock you’ve been living under. ‘Boasty’, was the sound of the summer but it is his latest track ‘On Life’ which typifies the largely “House” and sometimes “Jungle” inflected sound of his disography. Like “Boasty”, his latest track also features his vocals to some success.

It has been difficult to choose the tracks that need highlighting this week as there are so many that are worth talking about. Jadu Heart’s track ‘Whitefang’ is a fantastic introduction to the unique genre-bending duo who produce fantastic electro-indie pop songs. Specifically, the song Goes Orff at 3:20 and it is exceptional so listen out for that. Moreover, J Rick has released a short but mesmerising instrumental piece called ‘Here’. J Rick became known after producing tracks for Octavian such as ‘lightning’. His latest record is not lacking with the absence of an MC/ vocalist; the variation and composure shown in the production captivates equally.

Furthermore, I have included a number of “House” and “Funky” tracks that provide much-needed light at the moment. Tracks from Chasing Abbey, COBRAH and Franklin will hopefully introduce some sunlight into your life. ‘Drowning’ by Franklin, especially, will bring that Ibiza cheese into your bedroom.

Track of the week

Finally, we have made it to the track that tops my list for the New Music Friday. This track does not feature on Spotify’s list, but I came across it as I am a big fan of BJ The Chicago Kid already. BJ features with his vintage vocals on a new track by “Hermitude” (yet another electronic duo), called ‘OneThreeFour’ alongside Buddy who provides the main lyrics and vocals. There is too much to unpack in a single paragraph for this song, the production is complex, and it shifts into multiple different passages as it journeys through the listeners experience of the track. The vocals from both BJ and Buddy seamlessly bounce off each other and give the illusion of directing the instrumentals to adapt to their style as opposed to the reverse. I love this song and it is already in multiple of my playlists as it is relevant to many different moods and vibes. The variation and harmony between vocalist and Producer retain a sense of freshness that persists throughout each listen. Whilst “pop” can often age or become overplayed, Hermitude’s track will continue to feature amongst my favourite, timeless classics. For similar instrumentals, check out this week’s playlist and listen to ‘Sleepless’ by “Flume” and ‘Sunset Lovel’ by “petit Biscuit”. What a shameless plug…