Besides the weather obviously heating up these couple of months, summer marks the arrival of dessert-indulging, frequent hangs with the besties and new outdoor adventures. We’ve put together a list of tracks you ought to have on your Spotify playlist. Time to hit the ‘Play’ button!
Halsey – ‘Strangers’ (Feat. Lauren Jauregui)
Alt-pop megastar-in-the-making, Halsey delivers an ode to fleeting romance with a welcomed assistance courtesy of Fifth Harmony’s Lauren Jaurequi on ‘Strangers’, off the #1 album Hopeless Fountain Kingdom. Their distinctive, raspy tones mesh well together, trading verses over a pulsating beat throughout. It’s a modern day love song that breaks barriers, and one that looks set to catapult these two budding talents to new heights of fame.
The xx – ‘I Dare You’
For summer nights, put on The xx’s ‘I Dare You’ to capture the essence of youth succinctly in under four minutes. Romy and Oliver trade lines about both the excitement and heartbreak of falling in reckless, passionate love – perfect for looking back on an old relationship or fanning the flames of a new crush. Fingers crossed the band puts this on their setlist at their upcoming Indoor Stadium gig on 25 July!
Phoenix – ‘J-Boy’
You can always count on French band Phoenix to come through with summery indie anthems a la previous successes ‘1901’ and ‘Entertainment’, and their reign continues with Ti Amo‘s first single ‘J-Boy’. Featuring mesmerising synths and explosive guitars in true Phoenix fashion, the track bursts with hands-in-the-air jubilance that would light up the mood of any party.
Camila Cabello – ‘Crying in the Club’
Fifth Harmony’s ex-member traded in twerk-ready girl-group bops for the searing dance floor filler ‘Crying In The Club’ as her first single, and it’s certainly paid off. The self-empowering number might bear resemblances to Sia, but Camila takes charge with her honest delivery and personal message. And with lyrics like “Let the music warm your body like the heat of a thousand fires”, is there a song that is any more summer-appropriate?
Terror Jr – ‘Appreciation’
Not much is known about pop trio Terror Jr, even after they burst onto the scene after ‘3 Strikes’ was featured on Kylie Jenner’s lip gloss commercial, sparking rumours that she was the anonymous lead vocalist of the indie outfit – but that was quickly debunked. Famous family connections or not, there’s no denying the catchiness and clever lyrics of the group’s discography, which includes 2016’s Bop City and Bop City 2: TerroRising, released just last week. One clear standout is ‘Appreciation’, an electropop thumper about showing gratitude to a lover. The terror has clearly risen, and we couldn’t be more excited.
Lorde – ‘Sober’
“Will you sway with me? Go astray with me?”, Lorde asks on the eclectic ‘Sober’, and how could we say no? The seductive, captivating song is touted to be the second single lifted off her sophomore album Melodrama, and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be. Produced by Bleachers frontman and frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff, he scatters hushed whispers and trumpet horns to make this another instant Lorde classic.
G-Dragon – ‘SUPER STAR’
You don’t need a USB port to listen to G-Dragons triumphant new album Kwon Ji Yong, and its highlight ‘SUPER STAR’. The rapper’s signature swag compliments the bouncy instrumental fervently, with him in search of somebody to love – something we doubt he’s lacking.
The Killers – ‘The Man’
Every summer playlist needs a soaring rock song, and who else but The Killers to fill that void thoroughly. Our Las Vegas rock gods make their overdue comeback with ‘The Man”, where charming lead singer Brandon Flowers declares he’s the titular character fronted by groovy bass, disco funk and a backing choir – and we don’t disagree. The glam-rock track is a sign of greater things to come from the band in the form of their upcoming album Wonderful Wonderful, due out later this year.
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