Halsey – ‘The End‘
After a year of relative quiet, Halsey returned this week with an Instagram post, exploring her health struggles and tagging both the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Lupus Research Alliance. In ‘The End’, she opens up about the messy entanglement of love, death and things to fight for: “When I met you I thought I was damaged goods/Had a fucked up childhood/and there’s poison in my brain/and in my blood”. The lyrics are deeply affecting, but so is the music, a gentle acoustic ballad that has been beautifully produced by Michael Uzowuru and Alex G.
Dylan – ‘Perfect Revenge‘
If Haim suddenly went 80s glam, you might end up with something close to Dylan’s ‘Perfect Revenge’. A synthy, lovesick banger about making sure that your ex can not and will not move on, it’s got enough of a cheeky wink to keep it playful, embracing the pop-rock rebel spirit that Dylan is fast becoming known for.
Beabadoobee – ‘Coming Home‘
“An American state makes me feel so far away” sighs Beabadobee on ‘Coming Home’, a sweet oompah ballad that longs for the domesticity of home. It’s the perfect teaser for forthcoming third album This Is How Tomorrow Moves, suggesting a softer new direction without giving too much away.
Confidence Man – ‘I Can’t Lose You‘
Ever thought about getting naked on a helicopter? Aussie partystarters Confidence Man have been there, done that, bringing an indiscrete dose of euphoric Eurodance to the forthcoming festival season. As one YouTube commenter puts it, “I’ve never come across an act that balances irony, sex, beauty and fun so equally”
Yuneki – ‘Like Honey‘
A star on the rise, 17-year-old Londoner Yuneki has the laidback, conversational vocal inflections of Corinne Bailey Rae, Amber Mark and Olivia Rodrigo, but a clear narrative of her own, telling a classic tale of ‘right boy, wrong time’. With a debut single this sweet, who knows what treats may come next?
