#WeekendPlaylist: This Week’s Best New Songs
Catch up with the latest from Rex Orange County, Rema, Orion Sun and more.
(Aaron J. Thornton/WireImage via Getty Images)
New albums from Rex Orange County and Lucky Daye lead the latest drops of the week. If you listened to Lil Durk’s new album and Megan Thee Stallion’s new song with Dua Lipa, here are a few more tracks for you to check out.
Rex Orange County - “OPEN A WINDOW” (feat. Tyler, The Creator)
Rex Orange County’s gentle and earnest vocals contrast perfectly with Tyler, The Creator’s resolute tone on “OPEN A WINDOW.” Though they sing and rap about escaping from an unbearable environment, the song is innocent and sweet. Both artists thrive on the groovy string-forward track produced by Rex Orange County and Benny Sings.
Lucky Daye - “God Body” (feat. Smino)
A master of R&B falsetto, Lucky Daye doesn’t hold back on “God Body.” On the second track from his new album, he sings about sharing confusing-yet-passionate love. Smino jumps in for a quick verse near the end after a horn-dominated instrumental break.
Rachel Chinouriri - “All I Ever Asked”
Rachel Chinouriri’s “All I Ever Asked” is a vulnerable gem. She sings about unfulfilled love on the emotional track with gentle harmonies created by her light, raspy vocals layer with synths to create a gorgeous soundscape.
KayCyy - “THE SUN” (Prod. Gesaffelstein)
KayCyy's "THE SUN" is a spacey track with heavy synth production by the legendary French producer Gesaffelstein. The rapper’s unique vocals jump octaves to cover every base on this trap-leaning song. KayCyy sings about his soulmate and the universe in the chorus — “I don't need the stars, the moon, the world if you bring me the sun.” If you need a loose track to vibe to, this might be the one.
UMI - “sorry”
UMI’s crystal clear vocals explore self-love and introspection on “sorry.” UMI pens a heartfelt chorus, apologizing for her past — seeking healing words of comfort during tender moments. The track is atmospheric with its soft guitar strums and echoes but has an element of strength with weighty kicks.
Omar Apollo - “Killing Me”
Omar Apollo’s fourth single from his upcoming album is a delicate song about intense love. His soft vocals and a few lines in Spanish perfectly convey the romance of “Killing Me.” Omar Apollo co-produced the stripped-back track alongside Carter Lang, Mike Hector and Oscar Santander.
Orion Sun - “pressure”
Orion Sun’s pillow-soft vocals sing about overpowering pressure and letting loose on “pressure.” The muted piano intro leads into a vibrant bassline on the beat produced by Orion Sun, Rodaidh McDonald and Nascent. The entrancing song will make you want to ride “'round California in the car/Windows down, top-down.”
Yuna - “Pantone 17 13 30”
Part of Yuna’s new EP, “Pantone 17 13 30” is best described as breezy. Yuna paints vivid pictures of summer love on the relaxed BIAKO-produced track. “Pantone seventeen, yeah, thirteen, thirty/The color of my skin when you tell me that you love me.”
Kali - “Standards”
Kali makes her “Standards” clear on the drill-influenced track. Kali Uchi's breathy, deadpan vocals make her self-worth unmistakably apparent and her expectations crystal clear. $K provides an 808-driven beat that emphasizes Kali’s standards.
Rema and AJ Tracey - “FYN”
Rema and AJ Tracey celebrate their youth on “FYN.” Nigerian singer/rapper Rema’s bouncy, high-pitched vocals pair well with British rapper AJ Tracey’s deep tone, making a compelling choice of sounds on the Kel P and KDaGreat-produced beat. Jazzy instrumental elements and strings elevate the track to a one-of-a-kind summer song.