Empress Of (feat. Rina Sawayama) – Kiss Me

Last year Empress Of delivered one of the best pop songs of 2022 with “Save Me”, and following the accompanying EP she’s kept a little quiet on the new music front during 2023, but she’s ready to reclaim her throne. “Kiss Me” hears her teaming up with Rina Sawayama for a sultry pop moment that takes us back to the early 2000’s. The song is all about infatuation and the lust you feel when you fall for someone. With lyrics like “Just touch my lips and pull my hair. To come with you, I’d go anywhere”, she delivers a fiery soundscape along with a hypnotic production that will have some great choreography inspired by it. 

Ed Sheeran – Magical

While there might not be any official singles from Ed Sheeran’s seventh studio album “Autumn Variations” (out now), I’m going to make “Magical” an honorary single of the week because it’s THAT good. This is classic Ed Sheeran at his finest. Even if you aren’t currently in love you will be able to feel the warmth of this track and reminisce positively on a time where you have felt this way. “Is this how it feels to be in love? This is magical” he admits during the soothing chorus. Produced by Aaron Dessner, the song is soft and gradually builds with a cinematic tinged flare that will have you vividly feeling and seeing all the emotions. 

PinkPantheress – Mosquito

PinkPantheress is on a roll right now. Following a recent string of singles, the UK singer-songwriter is back with “Mosquito” which is a quintessential PinkPantheress track. Taking it back to the beginning, this track feels like her earlier material with a pop and R&B blend with uptempo drums mixed in. It has this almost drum and bass feel to it while still having that minimalist touch that her earlier material has. Growing on you with every listen “Mosquito” feels like a smash hit in waiting for her. 

Del Water Gap – NFU

Del Water Gap has just dropped his brilliant brand new album “I Miss You Already + I Haven’t Left Yet”, and he’s ready to turn your heartbreak feelings into a cinematic lens. The album’s focus single “NFU” is one of his best yet, and captures the raw intensity of holding onto someone while you try to let them go. He sings about meeting up with his ex while they’re seeing someone else and knowing its bad but still holding on dearly as you love the feeling of being close to them. “I’m not fucked up, I just miss the way that you talk. And I’m sorry, I still love you, you say it’s okay but it’s not” he sings during the anthemic chorus. The production is layered like a 80’s or 90’s pop-rock song and feels like it could easily fit in the soundtrack for “The Breakfast Club”. 

Mike Sabath – Life

Mike Sabath is an acclaimed producer who has worked on some of your favourite tracks from artists like Shawn Mendes, Lizzo, and most recently produced Raye’s phenomenal debut album. But he is also an artist in his own right who has brought together a genre-bending soundscape with honest lyricism. Following the release of his debut album “Being Human” earlier this year, he’s offered the new track “Life” which poignantly reflects on the confusion we all experience. “Every time I turn around I see people tryna take me down. Can we just have a moment when we look into each others eyes and we’re not on the verge of cryin” he sings. The whole song feels like an unconscious stream of thoughts as he tries to find himself in a world that is constantly putting pressure on us with so many expectations. The song body builds with a flurry of gritty guitars and production before perfectly ending with a spoken word intro where he confesses, “I hope you’re doing well. I’m honestly not quite sure how well I’m doing. I miss everyone. I miss my family. I miss you. I miss my old self. Life.”

NEIKED (feat. Ayra Starr) – You’re Hired

NEIKED are taking us back to 2016 with their tropical summer tinged afro-pop single “You’re Hired” featuring Ayra Starr. The playful track is all about falling for someone when you first start getting to know them and are experiencing all of those firsts that feel cinematic. “I wanna go on a late night drive. Wind in my hair and your hand on my thighs. Stop at the lights and you kiss me like fire. Are you tryna be the man I admire?” Ayra sings before admitting “If you’re tryna bе my man, you’re hired”. The vibrant production feels in line with some their biggest hits like “Better Days” and “Sexual”, and has this freshness that is addictive. As we head into summer in Australia, this might just be our new beach trip anthem. 

Two Door Cinema Club – Sure Enough 

Two Door Cinema Club have returned to get us moving again with the electric new singe “Sure Enough”. The Northern Irish trio chaotically brings in a flurry of synths and gritty production as they in-turn create an anthemic track that feels like it’s born to be experienced live. Written as a commentary on the world, they question if we truly want to know the truth or if we’re okay with the lies we’re fed to try keep a sense of calm. “Won’t somebody tell me what’s going on? Well, it could be heavy. Is that what you want?” they sing. It doesn’t shy away from being in-your-face, and definitely delivers a sonical punch.