Jade – ‘Angel of My Dreams’
Even during her time in Little Mix, Jade has seemed like a wild card. As the final of the trio to launch her solo career, there’s no doubt been a lot of pressure and expectation to see in which direction she would go. Much like the cunty aura of ‘Wasabi’ – the track she fought to be included on the band’s penultimate album – her debut single is high-camp as it switches between being a sweet pop ballad and a bad bitch club anthem.
Kim Deal – ‘Coast’
Some artists have a trademark sound; or an ability to evoke a consistent type of feeling within a listener. Kim Deal is one of those artists who transports the listener instantly to a different world. Her familiar voice, one in which constantly seems as though you can almost hear the smile breaking on her face, sings of getting lost life’s simplicity and going with the flow, no matter the outcome – “Tried to hit hard but I blew it / But it don’t even matter / It’s just human to want a way out / It’s human to wanna win”.
Los Bitchos – ‘Kiki, You Complete Me’
Accompanied by an evocative music video which visualises the dramatic play on tension and release transpiring throughout the song, Los Bitchos’ new cut is a dream for someone with synaesthesia. Sprinkling a hint of their classic Cumbia sound with a touch of krautrock, and a heavy dose of psychedelia, it’s a vibrant explosion of character and colour. It’s an offering which proves that, with their knack for lightening the mood and bringing the vibes, Los Bitchos are the most obvious soundtrack to the summer that isn’t really giving summer.
Shelf Lives – ‘Where Did I Go?’
With one of their most frenetic offerings to date, Shelf Lives rage out against the mundane reality of a world dictated by social media – that everything is an endless cycle of regurgitated nonsense. This feeling is reflected in the repetition of the vocals and the way the song grows in intensity, anxiously leading you into believing there’s going to be a big drop, before dipping back into a bass-heavy oscillating synth line and the refrain: “How do I say / Get out my face?”.
Mabel – ‘Female Intuition’
Reminiscent of the late ‘90s and early ‘00s anthems when women ruled the charts, Mabel’s anthem of female empowerment is reminiscent of Aaliyah’s ‘Try Again’, as she sings about learning to trust her own instincts and celebrating the ability to be surrounded by other strong female figures. Highlighting those close to her, the visualiser features appearances from her mother Neneh Cherry, cousin Miquita Oliver, among other friends and family.