We recommend: The best new global music
Editor’s note: We’ve pulled together the best new tracks and albums—both international and Indian—that dropped in the last four weeks. Tune into July's playlist on splainer’s Spotify.
‘Patterns’ by Laura Marling: Ahead of a full-length album that’s out in October, the English folk singer-songwriter gives us a glimpse of what’s in store for us. It is every bit enchanting in melody and lyrics—talking about the “patterns in repeat”.
‘I've Been Evil’ by Spirit Of The Beehive: A little melancholic. A little sweet. A little dark. And a whole lotta shoegaze—the 90s genre of washed out, guitar- led slow rock—make this a treat for fans of the comeback genre. If you’re looking to get back on the newfound zillenial shoegaze train—this is a good band to get started on.
‘Big Dawgs’ by Hanumankind: The massive song is putting Indian hip-hop on the global map. Its insanely viral music video—that features desi motorcyclist stuntmen—and women (!) in the infamous ‘well of death’ has caught the attention of YouTubers, fellow artists and fans from across the world. With producer Kalmi’s gritty beats and Hanumankind’s seamless flow—this is a rap treasure you cannot miss!
‘Sandpaper (feat. Bruce Springsteen)’ by Zack Bryan: Here’s a country track that will remind you of the ones you may have heard growing up! Not to mention, Bruce Springsteen sings a stripped-back version of his song ‘Sandpaper’ to perfectly complement the song.
‘Love You Got’ by Kelly Lee Owens: Silky vocals contrast the metallic production on this dance-pop track. A bumping beat and inward leaning lyrics come in feel-good waves if you’re familiar with electronic anthems. Groove to this during your workout or errand runs.
‘Jupiter’s Faerie’ by Johnny Blue Skies: The seven-and-a-half-minute song is a soft, contemplative piece on lost love and lost friendship due to passage of time. It starts off mournful, but builds into a strong chorus.
‘The Fences Of Stonehenge’ by Wild Pink: Big riffs and some personal lyrics make a sweet ode to classic rock. Stereogum likens it to Bryan Adams. We agree. “How long can you phone it in? I thought you were above it”—John Ross the primary songwriter and vocalist of the band reflects. Turn this up on your morning drive, or try jamming to it with your buddies and an electric guitar.
‘Tough’ by Quavo and Lana Del Ray: Here’s a collab no one expected. The ‘Summertime Sadness’ alternate popstar Lana’s eerie and hypnotising voice blends in with hip-hop rapper Quavo’s beautiful baritone. Bonus: this cool music video.
‘Inquietude’ by Tenue: The Spanish screamo (an emo subgenre of metal) band—starts out slow with a brass section—and then gets wild real soon. Frenetic, melodious (yes, we promise), and headbanging—it’s everything you need to soundtrack your screaming at the world when you get those ‘Sunday scaries’. Some lovely piano and the afore-used brass section return at the end of this glorious punk journey for a full-circle moment to get you ready for that Monday.
‘Backyard Lover’ by Merce Lemon: Plucky, acoustic guitar. Feathery vocals. Americana twists. This is fresh folk at its best. Lemon wistfully sings about the titular lover in her backyard as a swinging arrangement sparkles over the whole composition. This one makes a great palette cleanser for your playlist.
‘Love Bites (feat. Tove Lo and SG Lewis)’ by Nelly Furtado: This dance pop number brings us back to the heydays of when pop queen Nelly Furtado ruled the charts. This is a part of British producer SG Lewis and Swedish pop singer Tove Lo’s club forward EP ‘Heat’. It is groovy and catchy—and has a cool visualiser.
‘The Ocean’ by worlds greatest dad: Just fun, sunkissed sounds—that take you—yes, straight to the ocean! This could soundtrack a great day out as you picnic at the beach in the rom com montage inside your head. To clarify the genre—it’s pop rock at its aughts-homage best.
July 2024’s best albums
It isn’t always about a single. Below are the album releases from the past month that are worthy of your extended time and attention:
‘Charm’ by Clairo: This is the third album from the YouTube pop star who is best known for her lo-fi music. In this album, she takes that echoey style and combines it with a warm retro RnB vibe—filled with drums, synths, flutes and cymbals. The whole album is cohesive in sound and yet each song is distinctly different. We love the tracks ‘Sexy to Somebody’ and ‘Juna’—both of which are swooning and sexy! The Guardian is in high praise for the artist and calls the album “a new high-water mark.” For Pitchfork it is “the quotidian details and the tiny imperfections that make Clairo’s music uniquely alluring.”
‘MERI JAAN PEHLE NAACH’ by Yashraj: Electrifying Indian sounds, rich samples and a compilation with some of the best up and coming rappers from the game—Yashraj has produced a textually resplendent 7-track EP. Disco, funk and retro Bollywood sonics come together for a 360 degree immersive experience. You’ll love this if you’re an audiophile or dabble with music production—or simply a vintage music or hip-hop fan.
‘Blood On The Drums’ by Ashton Irwin: For those who don’t know, Ashton Irwin is the drummer of the popular Australian pop rock band ‘5 Seconds of Summer’. His second album actually has two parts—‘The Thorns (Side 1) and ‘The Roses (Side 2)’—both conceptualised during the pandemic. The entire album gives a sense of 80s pop—again heavy with disco and funk elements complete with catchy melodies and synths. Instead of electronic drums, we get the taste of real ones!
PS: Standout tracks from each album have been added to splainer’s July 2024 playlist on Spotify!
