Some music news is unavoidable. Over the last few months, social media has been bombarded with content regarding The Eras Tour, Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For,” and Olivia Rodrigo’s upcoming album, Guts. However, there are plenty of new releases that have been buried as a result, so here are a few gems you might have missed:
1. Speed Drive by Charli XCX- June 29th
One of the lesser-known songs on the Barbie soundtrack, “Speed Drive” is the perfect blend of nostalgia and electronic pop. XCX has a knack for creating dynamic anthems that demand to be blasted out of open car windows on the highway. With lyrics like “Hot ridin’ through the streets, on a different frequency/ Know you know just what I mean, we’re runnin’ through the red lights,” this hit is just begging to be a road trip staple. If you’re a fan of her other songs, particularly “1999,” then you need to check it out.
2. Make it Better by Gabrielle Aplin- June 30th
Aplin expresses a heart-wrenching yearning for a change in perspective but questions whether a healthier mental outlook will actually improve her life. “I just wanna/ Be at a level where I feel like normal/ Nothing special, just like me,” she sings, “Would that make it better?/ Or am I stuck in my old ways?” It’s a question we often ask ourselves, whether we are simply too broken to mend, and a question that’s never fully answered.
3. hell is a teenage girl by Nessa Barrett- July 14th
The titular song from Barrett’s second EP, “hell is a teenage girl” is a slick declaration of rebellion against a history of abuse. Barrett is no stranger to penning songs calling out societal standards that have negatively affected her mental health. “I’m too sensitive when I start to cry,” she sings in the first verse, “But I’m a cold-hearted, uptight bitch when I keep it inside.” She’s ready to fight back, declaring that women are “delicate and dangerous/ You should be afraid of us.” The song holds an enchanting, empowering allure that’s only emboldened by a gorgeous music video.
4. House on a Hill by Eric Nam (ft. Em Beihold)- July 21st
This song pokes more holes in the American Dream than a piece of Swiss cheese. Its joyful tune masks lyrics that question whether success will ever equal fulfillment. “What if nothing ever fills me up? What if being happy isn’t what I thought?” the singers enquire during the chorus. “House on a Hill” is an upbeat reminder that contentment is often far more important than society’s traditional standards of success.
5. Spinnin by Madison Beer- August 18th
“Spinnin” is the fifth single from Beer’s upcoming second album, Silence Between Songs, which will be released on September 15th. The lyrics fully encapsulate the inability to move on from traumatic experiences, resulting in one becoming trapped in an endless loop. “Did the world stop spinnin’? Am I frozen in time?” she laments, “‘Cause the birds stopped singin’, are we flawed by design?” The music video adds to the song’s gorgeous atmosphere, with breathtaking cinematography that draws inspiration from films like Groundhog Day, The Truman Show, and Inception.