Rosalía – LLYM
A little brighter and more twinkly than her usual genre-splicing, Motomami self, ‘LLYM’ interpolates the English title “Lie like you love me” with verses in the Spanish star’s native tongue. (Everyone always sounds better en Español, especially the line “Llevo coco, con canel”, otherwise referred to as “I bring coconut, with cinnamon”). Rosalía’s new track comes fresh from the singer’s performance at the Louis Vuitton Men’s Fall-Winter 2023 Fashion Show at the Louvre as part of Paris Fashion Week.
Lola Young – Annabel’s House
South London’s Lola Young has announced a new 10-track project, My Mind Wanders And Sometimes Leaves Completely, set to arrive on May 26. The 22-year-old BRIT nominee has described the forthcoming release as “my journey towards being a woman and figuring out who I am,” with new track ‘Annabel’s House’, an emotional piano ballad, leading the way. It arrives with a new video that bears a distinctive London edge on the tube.
Guvna B – Bridgeland Road
In August 2021, broadcaster and rapper Guvna B was a victim in an unprovoked attack. After six months and no answers, police closed the case. Sadly that seems an all-too-common predicament and Guvna B has chosen to write about it with the aid of award-winning actress Michaela Coel, whose words of encouragement to turn his experience into art appear on the track. ‘Bridgeland Road’ comes ahead of Guvna B’s forthcoming album The Village Is On Fire which will have features from Ghetts, DarkoVibes and Kae Kurd, and will arrive on 26 May.
Sam Smith – No God
Sam Smith’s vocals have never been in doubt. People might have found reason to criticise them away from their music, but when it comes to talent, it’s hard to say they’re lacking. Whilst new album Gloria might not be as cutting-edge as the BRIT, Grammy, Golden Globe and Oscar winner might like to think it is, there’s some commendable moments on the record – and it has its moments of unadulterated fun to hit you in the Friday feels.
Rita Ora – You Only Love Me
It’s an unapologetic pop song, and I admit won’t be for everyone. But new track ‘You Only Love Me’ from Rita Ora and represents the starting gun on 2023 for one of Britain’s most successful female artists. The track reflects on the vulnerability she expressed at the start of her relationship with acclaimed filmmaker Taika Waititi and is the first track to precede Rita’s new record set for release later this year.
Lil Yachty – the BLACK seminole.
Well, we didn’t quite expect that. Lil Yachty, whose clout started rising from tracks like ‘Minnesota’ in 2015, has dropped an album that takes a very different turn from previous releases (and noted by some for its influences stretching as far as Pink Floyd). Lil Yachty (real name Miles Parks McCollum) makes a self-referential nod to this in a lyric from the opening track: “The kid is now a man, and the silence is filled with remarkable sounds.”
Gorillaz (feat. Adeleye Omotayo) – Silent Running
With long-time Gorillaz associate Adeleye Omotayo (a member The Humanz Choir devised for the band’s 2017 album) stepping more up to the mic, we have ‘Silent Running’. It’s the fifth release in the run-up to Cracker Island, the upcoming record from Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett’s cartoon outfit. And, by all accounts, with its plodding alt-pop beat and Albarn’s typically melancholic vocals, it sounds pretty bloody Gorillaz-ey.
CLARENCE & THE MODERN LIFE – Leo with the Gun
This week’s release slate has contained some notable commercial pop stars, so try this on for size from CLARENCE, the brainchild of London’s Louis Matlock, who brings his Modern Life outfit to bear on his latest track, ‘Leo with the Gun’. Frenetic and varied, between post-punk and rap lyricism, it arrives after CLARENCE’s support slot for The Rolling Stones in Hyde Park last summer – which is quite the live, performative education.
NICOLAS – EVERYTIME I GO TO BED
French producer and artist Nicolas drops breakbeat-inspired tune ‘EVERYTIME I GO TO BED’, ahead of brand-new EP EMOTIONS WE TELL OURSELVES IT IS NOT OK TO FEEL set for release later this year. It will be the follow-up to his 2021 EP WHAT WILL BE LEFT OF US?, which was drenched in seductive beats and flare, with tunes to listen to on a night out and in the afterglow.
Bilk – Fashion
Bilk don’t mince their words. A lot of wannabe bands pretend to wear the swagger of Oasis or The Sex Pistols, but the Essex outfit (and whynow favourite) have a genuine rawness about them. Formed of Sol Abrahams (guitarist and lead singer), Luke Hare (bassist) and Harry Gray (drummer), their latest tune ‘Fashion’ takes on the phoneys and the influencers.
