Blood Orange – ‘Vivid Light’
This gentle and vulnerable single from singer-songwriter Blood Orange is a masterclass in simple yet soulful production. ‘Vivid Light’ uses soft vocals and solitary piano chords, the wails of a flute echoing in background, and a haunting cello break, to further impress on the listener the feelings of despair expressed through lyrics.
Cardi B (feat. Selena Gomez) – ‘Pick It Up’
Cardi B reunites with singer Selena Gomez for this pop-rap fusion titled ‘Pick It Up’, found on Cardi’s long awaited sophomore album AM I THE DRAMA? We’re gifted sugar-sweet vocals from both artists, and – as expected – a fun rap verse from Cardi.
Cat Burns – ‘There’s Just Something About Her’
‘There’s Just Something About Her’ – the latest single from our good pal Cat Burns – is a bright, indie-pop tune that perfectly encapsulates the joy and embarrassment that comes with a blossoming crush. Recommended listening for all my sapphic sisters.
Erin LeCount – ‘808 HYMN’
‘808 HYMN’ is the latest single from one of our favourite singer-songwriters, Erin LeCount. Living up to its name, ‘808 HYMN’ is a hypnotising, electro-pop song with visceral vocals and an ethereal feel.
JADE – ‘Midnight Cowboy’
‘Midnight Cowboy’ is the fifth single from pop singer JADE’S debut solo album THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY! The song kicks off with an eloquently-spoken introduction from actor Ncuti Gatwa that feels reminiscent of a ballroom MC introducing the next category of the night.It flawlessly sets the tone for this sexy, bassy pop tune that sounds like how a crisp Diet Coke tastes; delicious and refreshing from the internet’s new favourite solo-star.
JELEEL! – ‘CALL ME!’
You would think this artist was born and raised in the UK with the way the music scene has embraced him, but American-born singer JELEEL! won over the nation’s hearts this summer with his back-to-back high energy bangers. After the success of ‘RHUDE GYAL!’ and ‘BANANA!’, ‘CALL ME!’ completes the hat trick of hits, giving us fans something to dance to as the summer season ends.
Kali Uchis (feat. Ravyn Lenae) – ‘Cry about it!’
A beautiful, 1950’s-inspired duet from two softly-signing divas. Cry about it! elicits a feeling of familiarity for long-standing Kali Uchis fans, as the song draws on the dreamy sounds and aesthetic of Por Vida.
Nia Archives and CLIPZ – ‘Maia Maia’
This exciting crossover from producers Nia Archives and CLIPZ incorporates the sounds of Brazilian Carnival and old-school rave to create ‘Maia Maia’ – the perfect jungle track.
Olivia Dean – ‘A Couple Minutes’
After a successful summer of performances across the UK – including a surprise set on the Strummerville Stage at Glastonbury – Olivia Dean has released her new album, The Art of Loving. The second to last track on the project, titled ‘A Couple Minutes’, is a sentimental love song akin to a hazy summer afternoon – airy, jazzy, and light, accompanied by angelic vocals as she sings of transitions and traces of past relationships.
RAYE – ‘WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!’
We love a lil’ bit of RAYE over here at BRICKS, and have been excitedly watching her rise to well-deserved stardom after becoming an independent artist in 2021. ‘WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!’, the fourth single release of RAYE’s this year, is a triumphant and glorious flex of her extraordinary vocal ability. The jazzy, upbeat, larger than life production inspires the desire to stomp your feet, as if swept away in a 3 minute praise-break.
Rema – ‘FUN’
FUN, from Nigerian singer Rema, is the fourth single release from the artist this year, following ‘Baby (Is It a Crime)’ in February – as the title suggests, sampling Sade’s popular 1985 song ‘Is It a Crime’ – ‘Bout U’ released in April and ‘Kelebu’ in August. The melancholic Afrobeats song has been gaining traction online, with a snippet of the upcoming music video going viral for referencing 2000’s American Hip Pop aesthetics.
Tame Impala – ‘Loser’
Tame Impala fans, come get ya’ll juice! We’ve been in a drought of new-music over the past few years, but the wait is finally over. Ahead of releasing his fifth studio album Deadbeat on 16th of October, the Indie-Pop artist dropped ‘Loser’ – a groovy, guitar-heavy single that reminds us of why we fell in love with Tame Impala in the first place.
Thundercat – ‘I Wish I Didn’t Waste Your Time’
This funky track from Thundercat combines synths, harps and electric guitar with sumptuous layered vocals, harkening that smooth, psychedelic sound we know and the artist for. The singer laments a past relationship in which he made mistakes. Ones that eventually lead to loss; of love, time, and even elements of himself.
TiaCorine (with JID) – ‘Backyard’
Two underrated but extremely talented lyricists go back to back on this explosive trap song. It’s clear TiaCorine and JID had fun while recording ‘Backyard’, as we hear them both bring a wealth of flows and pounds of charisma to the track. The collaboration gives us a taste of what to expect on TiaCorine’s forthcoming album CORINIAN, dropping 8th October. Pre-save the project here.
Wednesday — ‘Townies’
‘Townies’ is a grungy, electric track off Bleeds, the newest album from North-Carolina rock band Wednesday. With slinky vocals from lead singer Karla Hartzman, ‘Townies’ effortlessly creates a snapshot of a small American town, growing ever-darker as the leaves turn brown. True Twilight vibes, in the best way possible.
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