...And we’re back into it. 2015 is well and truly here and the new music is rushing once again. It seems, however, that the only musicians not taking an extended break is rappers because they are unleashing music like nothing else. Joey Bada$$ has an album dropping, so does Action Bronson and ILOVEMAKKONEN seems to release new music every 23 minutes. Here are 10 songs you must pass by your ears this week.
Future Brown- Room 302 (Feat. Tink)
Future Brown is an electronica supergroup of sorts and they seemed to have mustered up a nice musical friendship with Tink. She featured on their debut, Wanna Party, and now returns for Room 302, the opening track off their forthcoming record which is out February 23. Room 302, is an after-dark banger that does for Tink what Shlohmo did for Jeremih.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/future-brown/room-302-feat-tink[/soundcloud]
ILoveMakonnen- Super Clean
Super clean probably best describes the style of production on the latest track by iLoveMakonnen. It’s the slickest thing he’s done yet, characterised by an aqua-inspired synth. It actually sounds like the type of thing you would hear on Tinashe’s debut album, which incase you haven’t heard it, is a very good thing. As for iLoveMakonnen he just does his thing. He sounds a little drunk and maybe a little high. It’s all good.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/noisey/ilovemakonnen-super-clean[/soundcloud]
Sam Smith- Leave Your Lover (Motez Remix)
Just about every producer on earth has picked up on the fact that Sam Smith’s voice is very suited to a dance-beat (thanks Disclosure). Motez has taken on Leave Your Lover off Smith’s criminally ignored debut, In The Lonely Hour. He takes the track straight to the clubs, laying down a deep-house beat and chopping and screwing the vocals for some great climaxes.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/motezmusic/sam-smith-leave-your-lover-motez-remix-sutured[/soundcloud]
Action Bronson- Actin Crazy
Action Bronson cancelled his Australian tour for the 401st time this year to concentrate on finishing his album, Mr. Wonderful. While we’re sure many disgruntled Australian fans would disagree with that title, there’s no denying that Actin Crazy is a very good song indeed. Bronson has borrowed Drake’s producer Noah 40 Shebib for a demure, melodic beat that he runs all over with his characteristically aggressive rapping.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/actionbronson/action-bronson-actin-crazy[/soundcloud]
Years & Years- King
We’re still not quite sure why Desire wasn’t a huge hit, but it took everybody about five years to realise Charli XCX was brilliant, so we’ll have patience. King, however, is an absolute banger and if it’s not picked up by radio everywhere then we’re going to have to have words. The vocals are, as always, silky smooth and the instrumental is inspired by the tropics but also planted firmly on ‘90s dance floors. This is the type of song that everyone will forget and then in 15 years it will be played on a golden oldies radio station and commuters will simultaneously lose it.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/yearsandyears/king[/soundcloud]
Susanne Sundfør- Delirious
The last time we heard Norwegian songstress, Susanne Sundfør, she was trilling all over Royksopp’s Running To The Sea. It was a dark, sordid affair, but her latest solo track Delirious is far more effortlessly enjoyable. It starts with dark, brooding vocals and we instantly fear we’re headed back to the sea, but then this strobing bass sets in and she delivers one hell of a chorus. She says she wanted to write a “cinematic” song and she’s done exactly that. It’s an expansive, lush pop song.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/susannesundfor/delirious[/soundcloud]
Dan Shake- Out Of Sight
The dancefloor has become such an intellectual place with all these producers laying down intricate melodies and vocal melodies that are not so much to be enjoyed as they are considered. It’s refreshing to hear a producer go four-to-the-floor and produce an instant classic which is exactly what Dan Shake has down with Out Of Sight. The track meshes together live instrumentation with electronic elements, taking us back to the days when Detroit Techno rained supreme.
The Fader is hogging it, so you'll have to go here to listen.
Jimmy Napes- Give It Up
You may not know of Jimmy Napes by name but chances are you’ve heard plenty of the songs that he’s written. He’s served up songs for Disclosure, Sam Smith and Mary J. Blige, to name a few, and now he’s stepping out on his own, prepping an EP for March, The Making Of Me. Give It Up is our first taste of the EP and sees him team up with half of Disclosure (we’re not sure if it’s who Azealia Banks would classify as the ugly one or not). The track is a straightforward, RnB-pop tune and shows that he’s got some serious vocal chops.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/jimmynapes/give-it-up[/soundcloud]
Joey Bada$$- Teach Me (Feat. Kiesza)
We saw Joey Bada$$ at Falls Festival over New Years and we’re pretty sure that he doesn’t need Kiesza to teach him how to dance, but she’s giving it a shot anyway. Teach Me is a bonus track on his forthcoming album, B4.DA.$$ and is pretty different from anything he’s done in the past. It sits firmly in the lane of pop and has the potential to be Joey’s biggest hit to date. Is now a good time to contemplate why Kiesza hasn’t had much success since Hideaway? The girl’s on fire.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/kanyetothestream-1/joey-badass-ft-kiesza-teach-me[/soundcloud]
Charli XCX- Doing It (Feat. Rita Ora)
Charli XCX’s, Sucker, came out in December for much of the world, but she’s making the UK sweat it out until February (probably because they were one of the only countries not to send Fancy to number one). As a gift for sticking in there, she’s added Rita Ora to one of the highlights of the album, Doing It. The two singers actually sound quite similar so it’s a really difficult spot the difference between the original and this. But if this is what it takes to get her a number one, then so be it. We couldn’t care less if she threw Celine Dion on the track as long as people got to hear XCX. She's coming to Australian shores in April, head here for all the details.
[soundcloud width="750" height="200"]https://soundcloud.com/charlixcx/charli-xcx-doingit-ft-rita-ora[/soundcloud]
If you can't be bothered reading, cut straight to the chase below:
https://soundcloud.com/the-in-terns/sets/10-songs-you-need-to-hear-5
