Lots of great new singles and releases coming out this week. You’d be forgiven if you were struggling to keep up. Don’t worry, we got you. Here are our favourite new tracks from this week.
As always, follow the Nialler9 Weekly playlist for access to the freshest new music.
1.
Noname
Blaxploitation
A powerful examination into the state of race relations and racial tensions in America right now. Chicago MC Noname’s ‘Blaxploitation’ is littered with flashes of lyrical genius. Simultaneously autobiographical and allegorical, Noname jostles between delving into her own experience as a black woman and criticising the sterotypes which plague society at large. Oh yeah, last but not least, the jazz instrumental is absolutely blistering. Track of the week.
2.
Marie Davidson
Work It
An instructional life coach and dance banger all at the same time, Marie Davidson’s ‘Work It’ is ten tons of fun. It’s impossible to not move to that beat, with plenty of additional percussion adding groove atop groove. “Sweat to be a winner” is the motto this song lives and dies by and if you are going to exert yourself this week, do it to this song.
3.
Yves Tumor
Honesty
The surprise release of Safe In The Hands Of Love from experimental noise artist Yves Tumor managed to create quite a stir amongst fans of all things art-pop, ambient and industrial. The album is a mixed bag with plenty of forgettable tracks. However, when Tumor gets it right on Safe In The Hands Of Love it’s total immersion. ‘Honesty’ is the best track from the record, a gritty industrial number infused with a sexual tension. Get your fix now.
4.
Charli XCX
Focus (Yaeji remix)
One of 21st-century pop’s standout talents, Charli XCX has managed to utterly dominate the charts since the turn of the decade. Her influence is everywhere, from solo projects to mega features to numerous songwriting projects.
‘Focus’, one of her singles released earlier this year, gets the remix treatment from ultra trendy Korean-American DJ and producer Yaeji. Considering the strength of the material the DJ had to begin with, it’s no wonder the end product is as lush as it is.
5.
Villagers
Ada
Villagers’ The Art Of Pretending To Swim has been the focal point of much critical discussion amongst Irish listeners this week. With so much to unpack and a ton of depth in quality to analyse, it’s hard to pick just one highlight. We’re going to go with ‘Ada’. Written about English mathematician Ada Lovelace, this sprawling track showcases the best qualities about the album as a whole. O’Brien’s wistful lyricism, top-notch production and the clever blend of acoustic and electronic aesthetics.
If you’re interested in finding out a little bit more about The Art Of Pretending To Swim, check out our in-depth review of it here.
6.
Mutual Benefit
Come To Pass
Melancholy folk music from New York-based recording artist Jordan Lee, better known as Mutual Benefit. Taken from his newest LP Thunder Follows The Light ‘Come To Pass’ is warm, haunting and heartbreakingly beautiful.
7.
Laoise
Again
Yes yes yes. Galway native Laoise has released some heavenly pop music in ‘Again’. From the very first time you hear that synth progression you’re totally invested, you can’t help it. The artist’s vocal delivery is sleek, as is the very 80s inspired beat behind the track. Directed at an absentee lover, the lyrics definitely follow a pop formula but remain effective all the same. If you like the Charlie XCX track you’ll love this one too.
8.
Fia Moon
Take
This isn’t the first single release from Fia Moon to catch our imaginations this year. The artist has been making a strong push toward acclaim and ‘Take’ is bound to only help keep pushing toward that direction. An EDM pop fusion, Moon teamed up with producer Slang to give us this new banger. We’re certain there are plenty more exciting things to come from the Irish artist.
9.
Whenyoung
Give Up
Limerick group Whenyoung put out their strongest material to date last week with ‘Give Up’. There are all sorts of style and genres being blended on this new single. Pop for sure, but a healthy dose of indie-rock too. Coupled with a compelling music video, the track gives the group a tangible sense of being on the up and up.
10.
Maria Kelly
June
Maria Kelly is one of our favourite new Irish artists. We’ve featured her music plenty of times this year, including ‘Dark Places‘, her single which focused on mental health issues. Kelly headed over to Berlin at some stage in the summer and ‘June’ is the first of the material, written over there, that we’ve been treated to.
A sweet folk melody compliments the themes of alienation and loneliness presented in the lyrics superbly. With an EP on the way, titled Notes To Self, Maria Kelly is an artist who should be on the watch list of music fans across the nation.
