Looking for some motivation to power through the start of another work week? We're feeling you and with some amazing new pop songs, we've got you covered.
These tracks from artists like Lizzy McAlpine, jxdn, Lava La Rue and more will give you energy to enjoy the week. Transfer any of these gems to your personal playlists — or scroll to the bottom of the post for a custom playlist.
Most Beautiful Pop Song of the Week: Kenya Grace, “It's Not Fair”
Kenya Grace stumbled onto a crackerjack formula with her breakthrough hit “Strangers” last fall, tapping into a burgeoning UK dance scene by playing drum'n'bass and dipping the TikTok-friendly pop hook into ethereal depression, which it is natural for those born in South Africa. The gentle, forgiving voice of the British polymath. “Strangers” made chart history after it went viral — when it hit No. 1 on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, the single became the first track written, produced and sung entirely by a woman to top the chart. However, Grace hasn't rested on her laurels, with her song continuing to chart in the top 10 for months as she released single after single ahead of a new project. The Aftertastewhich is expected to be released this Friday (March 22).
“It's Not Fair,” released a week before this project, is the strongest of these new tracks. As she does on “Strangers,” Grace works with shuffling beats and ruminates on romantic leads (this time focusing on a breakup that even her mom and friends are dealing with as hard as she is), but the drum-n-bass influence lit The gushing points of “Strangers,” as woodwind percussion and fused strings accentuate the sadness in Grace's voice. Soft contours still define Grace's vocal approach, but on “It's Not Fair,” her narration rises above a whisper: “So tell me, really, are you thinking about me? Are you happy with some other girl?” she asks on the bridge, the instruments dropping so that her confrontation resonates fully.
In nine tracks, The Aftertaste gives 'Strangers' a project to call home, while also expanding Grace's pop repertoire: 'Someone Else' takes on a bouncy beat while spinning a tale of club betrayal, while 'Hey, Hi, How Are You » spins forward with the giddiness of a late-night phone call. Grace's hit single may highlight the project, but a track like “It's Not Fair” shows she knows how to reinvent her sound in exciting new ways.
Here are some new pop songs worth checking out this week…
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Lizzy McAlpine, “I Guess”
Lizzy McAlpine's 'Ceilings' exploded last year thanks to its combination of soulful melodies and compelling storytelling, and while “I assume” it trades longing for frustration, the songwriting remains top-notch, and the widescreen climax at the end will make your heart soar.
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jxdn, “What the hell”
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Alice Merton, “Pick Me Up”
Years after 'No Roots' multiplied her audience, Alice Merton still finds interesting pockets of pop-rock: the kicky album/pick-me-up/1732273351?i=1732273788″ rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank”>”Call me” should please fans of Haim's production of the summer anthem, which oozes with desire as Merton pours out “newfound… CRUSH!”
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Goth Babe feat. Surfaces, “Mexico”
After the release of his record Lola nicknamed the Goth Babe last year, Griff Washburn quickly returned with an unusual summer playlist offering, tapping Surfaces to assist on this glowing single in which the word album/mexico-single/1731297043″ rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank”>”Mexico” it is elongated in a cry for adventure under the windows.
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Lava La Rue, “Push N Shuv”
London's Lava La Rue are preparing a debut LP described as a “conceptual psychedelic sci-fi romance album“. new single album/push-n-shuv/1727358048?i=1727358141″ rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank”>“Push N Shuv” it's an 80s-indebted slice of his bigger story, but it stands on its own as a tasty funky groove built around La Rue's ultra-cool attitude.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/lists/kenya-grace-its-not-fair-new-pop-songs-this-week/
