New Music Friday | Featuring ‘Popular’ by The Weeknd, Playboi Carti & Madonna

This week’s new releases sees tunes from The Weeknd, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Teenage Dads, Gotts Street Park and more.

The Weeknd (with Playboi Carti and Madonna) – Popular

Taken from the much-hyped new HBO series The Idol, which gets its general release in a matter of days, ‘Popular’ sees The Weeknd enlist Playboi Carti and Madonna. Whilst the new Sam Levinson TV show has certainly been criticised by some for its “toxic” attitudes, this new track is at least a classic, melodic Weeknd number.

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Trying To Find A World That’s Been And Gone Pt. 1

Another day, another Gallagher brother row… this time with Liam calling out brother Noel for an apparent “blasphemous” cover of Joy Division classic ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’. Noel will be hoping that hasn’t taken the shine off the release of his High Flying Birds’ latest record, Council Skies, out today, which includes serene number ‘Trying To Find A World That’s Been And Gone Pt. 1’ midway through.

Cate – Girlfriend

Canadian-born, London-based singer Cate arrives with new track ‘Girlfriend’. It bears an oft-heard message in the world of pop – a bloke who wants all the benefits of a relationship with no desire to commit – but packaged in a catchy, synth-struck way. Cate recently supported best mate Maisie Peters on tour and put on a popular show at Brighton’s heralded Great Escape Festival.

Foo Fighters – Rest

Written in the grief of having lost both drummer Taylor Hawkins and Dave Grohl’s mother, Virginia, Foo Fighters’ new album But Here We Are arrives today. Given such a weighty environment in which it was therefore created in, it has moments of real emotional heft. Its final track ‘Rest’ is the ultimate ode to saying goodbye for good. Its final line “Waking up, had another dream of us / In the warm Virginia sun, there I will meet you” is, quite frankly, a heartbreaking reference to Grohl’s mother.

Joe Armon-Jones, Maxwell Owin – Lost In The Function

Joe Armon-Jones has long-been plying his dextrous ability on keys to jazz quintet Ezra Collective. And now, he’s returned to the studio with Maxwell Owin to reignite a musical offering that previously saw the release of 2017 EP Idiom. The pair have a new album announcement, with Archetype set for release next week (9 June). ‘Lost In The Function’ provides a dark, alluring tease as to what’s in store.

Feeo – Strung

Taken from her new EP, Ah, hunger!, which arrived this week, ‘Strung’ is a beautiful, pared-back acoustic offering from the experimental London artist. With the EP taking inspiration from Feeo’s study into pagan and folk practices, this track gives you a sense of a spiritual call into the ether.

Teenage Dads – Speedracer

Having just wrapped up a UK tour with fellow Aussies (and whynow favourites) Lime Cordiale, Teenage Dads have dropped terrific new track ‘Speedracer’. With its assortment of tight-knit sounds, and laidback, Julian Casablancas-style vocals, it arrives with news of the band’s own UK headline tour taking place later this month.

Swim School – Over Now

Another track plucked from a brilliant new EP release, ‘Over Now’ arrives from the band’s latest project, Duality. As its title suggests, the EP explores the sense of feeling two things at once, as embodied in this cathartic track. The Edinburgh trio are fresh from their debut EU tour in support of Inhaler.

El Londo (feat. BlazeYL) – 10

Taken from El Londo’s collab-heavy Thanks Londo project, released today, ‘10’ provides a guest flow from House of Pharaohs member BlazeYL. Delivered over a serene, pared-back beat, it’s just one of the many underground sounds that features on this 15-track project, which also sees guest features from AntsLive, Capo Lee and FelixThe1st.

Gotts Street Park (feat. Pip Millett) – Got To Be Good

We love Gotts Street Park and believe you will too – if the Leeds trio aren’t already on your radar that is. Couple with the fact they’ve teamed up with Pip Millet, who lends her exquisite vocals, and you have yourselves a real treat. What’s more, ‘Got To Be Good’ arrives with news of Gotts Street Park’s debut album, On The Inside, set for release on 13 October.