Lorde’s new single ‘Hammer’
The third and final preview of Lorde’s new album ‘Virgin’ lands like a kiss and a slap. She calls it “an ode to city life and horniness”. Over gauzy synths, she muses on gender, lust and cycle-synced emotion: “Don’t know if it’s love or if it’s ovulation”. Euphoric, murky and razor-sharp. Album’s out Friday.
SOPHIE’s newly released single ‘OOH’
Newly released as part of the tenth anniversary reissue of ‘Product’, ‘OOH’ is pure, crystalline SOPHIE - all fizzy pop maximalism and elastic bounce.
Vocalist Jaide Green, discovered by SOPHIE post-’X Factor’, recalls, “It was clear the lyrics were very significant to Sophie, however it didn’t feel like your usual heartbreak song, it was uptempo and happy. Even still, there was a strength behind the words. I thought it was a perfect fit, pure genius”.
If ever there was doubt, ‘OOH’ is a reminder that SOPHIE’s influence still pulses through everything fresh and exciting in pop today.
Westside Cowboy’s new single ‘Alright Alright Alright’
“It’s a punk song about a cowboy”, say Westside Cowboy, and they’re leaving it at that. Think galloping guitars and screeching feedback.
dexter in the newsagent’s new single ‘special’
Charmaine Ayoku blends breezy, lo-fi guitars and skippy beats with the intimacy of a voice note in this understated summer gem. Co-produced with Kurisu and SAIONTHEBEAT, ‘special’ is featherlight but emotionally forthright.
The Bloody Beetroots’ new single ‘NUMB’, featuring Tokky Horror
NUMB finds The Bloody Beetroots handing the mic (and a few wires to short-circuit) to Tokky Horror. The result is tense and twitchy - punk energy tangled with electronic chaos. This track resides somewhere between a sweaty underground club and a punk basement show.