Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion – Bongos

Following their chart topping collaboration “WAP” in 2020, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion have reunited for another viral-ready moment. “Bongos” is as fierce, dominating and infectiously catchy as its predecessor, and it welcomes you into this bouncy sonicial world that is a little intentionally annoying, but ultimately addictive. With lyrics like “This pussy tight like a nun” and “this ass sit like a stallion” you know that they aren’t holding back for this song, not even one bit. It’s very in your face, and from the first listen you will be ready to listen again to try decipher every ridiculous line they throw at you during the near 3 minute duration. 

Leigh-Anne feat. Ayra Starr – My Love

Leigh-Anne is reintroducing herself as a solo artist following the Little Mix hiatus and she’s already given us the euphoric “Don’t Say Love”, and now she’s ready to turn up the heat. “My Love” hears her teaming up with Nigerian rising star Ayra Starr with a production that explores her roots. This is a song that Little Mix could’ve never done, and that is the most exciting thing about it. It’s unapologetically Leigh-Anne, and boldly heralds in this new era for her. The afro-pop track is rhythmically charged and has this liberating energy that will have you absolutely transfixed and ready to hit replay over and over again. Exploring the importance of self-love, she reminds herself that no one can love her as much and as passionately as she can love herself, and it’s a sentiment that we should all remember on a daily basis for ourselves. This is a very impressive follow up to “Don’t Say Love” and it will have you getting more and more excited for what else is to come from her. 

MS MR – Saturn Return

It’s officially the end of an era. MS MR dominated a lot of our playlists in the early to mid 2010’s, and after a hiatus while they’ve worked on their solo material (LPX / alexmaax) and other ventures, they’ve finally confirmed that it’s the end of the road for them. But they didn’t want to close the chapter without giving fans one final taste of new music. To celebrate the 10 year anniversary of their debut album “Secondhand Rapture” they re-entered the studio to work on a b-side that never got released, but they ended up writing something completely new which felt like the perfect farewell to this project, and spoiler alert… it is. “Saturn Return” immediately feels like an essential MS MR track, and pillows in perfectly with the sonical landscape of their first record. Lyrically reflecting on their 10 years together and the wild journey they’ve been on, they capture the raw connection they had as friends that continually brought them back together through all the craziness. “Two souls, so close, again and again and again” they sing during the ethereal chorus. 

Saying goodbye to MS MR feels bittersweet, but this song feels like the perfect way to remember them by. 

Tkay Maidza – WUACV

Tkay Maidza is currently setting the foundations for her sophomore album “Sweet Justice” out November 3, and it’s shaping up to be a bold, brash and confident collection of tracks. Following the release of recent singles “Silent Assassin” feat. Flume, and “Ring-a-Ling”, the Zimbabwean-born, Australian-raised, Los Angeles-based artist has dropped the next taste of what’s to come. “WUACV” feels like the centre-piece so far. It’s an unapologetically confident track that hears her spitting some serious bars and giving this piercing sonic that will make you sit up and pay attention. “Woke up and chose violence. Watch me kill the silence. I can’t sleep in silence” she quips during the hook. The dark and brooding production has this sharp twist to it which will have you ready to hit replay so you can feel that dominating energy again as it’s only 2 minutes in duration and leaves you wanting more. 

Katelyn Tarver – Ignorance Is Bliss

“What If?” – That is the question that haunts all of us at one point or another. It’s a very human. Question to ponder because we aren’t meant to know how something will play out, and it’s normal to want to see the other side but it’s also better just not knowing. Katelyn Tarver has been asking these sort of questions a lot in a string of new singles including “Parallel Universe”, “Starting To Scare Me” and “What Makes A Life Good?”, and it feels like it’s all lead up to this next track. “Ignorance Is Bliss” is an upbeat guitar and drums led track that sonically sits in a similar place to “Hurt Like That”. It’s a song to cry to while dancing and question everything that has led you to this point. There are some really profound lyrical moments on this track that will have you feeling like she’s written the song straight from your brain. Here are some of my favourite lyrics from the track;

“What if everything I used to believe in was all for nothing? What if one day you wake up and tell me that you don’t love me? What if I’m too late? What if I’m lost? What if I find out I’m doing it wrong?”

“And why when it’s bad I feel like I deserve it, and when it’s good I just feel guilty?”

“I guess ignorance is bliss. But it’s also a bitch”

“Am I the only one who’s been wondering how all the pieces fit? We’re all gonna die, and everyone seems fine”