Hinds – ‘En Forma’
Being a woman in modern society can often feel overwhelming. There’s constant discourse about our bodies and behaviour, while we have to balance our personal responsibilities with caring about the world around us (even when it feels like it doesn’t give us that care back). On their first-ever Spanish single ‘En Forma’, Hinds encapsulate all of that and more, pouring the rat race of womanhood into one urgent, insistent banger.
Nayeon – ‘ABCD’
For her second solo release, TWICE’s Nayeon dips into a retro Beyoncé pop bag. When ‘ABCD’, the lead single from her new EP ‘NA’, hits its chorus, it feels like a sibling song to ‘Crazy In Love’, while its verses are accented by Latin flairs. It all adds up to something summery and sultrily cool.
Lava La Rue – ‘Poison Cookie’ (ft. Audrey Nuna)
When Lava La Rue and Audrey Nuna teamed up on ‘Poison Cookie’, they took an Edgar Wright movie as a central sonic influence, knowing they wanted “it to sound like it could’ve been on the Scott Pilgrim vs. The World soundtrack”. The track, which will feature on La Rue’s upcoming debut album ‘Starface’, takes us into a crunchy, industrial-tinged side of outer space while the pair’s voices – Nuna’s sharp rap and La Rue’s softer tones – perfectly complement each other.
Victoria Canal – ‘June Baby’
Victoria Canal follows up her recent Ivor Novello award win with ‘June Baby’, a sunkissed track ready-made to soundtrack summer flings. Written with The 1975’s Ross MacDonald and George Daniel, it’s a breezy pop bop that conveys the thrills and fumbles of young romance and contains the kind of simple but striking songwriting that makes it obvious why Canal is being recognised for her penning power.
Charli XCX – ‘Spring Breakers’
‘Brat’ summer continues apace with the long-awaited release of this Charli XCX fan favourite. After first surfacing in an A.G. Cook DJ set back in 2023, the British pop icon finally gave it a proper release this week as part of the ‘Brat’ deluxe edition. It was well worth the wait – a ‘Vroom Vroom’-referencing ode to hedonistic chaos that’s as addictive as it is gloriously silly.
