It’s a good time to be a Zara Larsson stan. Day-one fans finally get to share their favorite pop star with the rest of the world, as everyone is catching on to the megastar we always knew she was. It took a viral dance moment on tour and a slow-burning hit to get everyone’s attention, but now that the world has hopped on board, the Midnight Sun era feels quite literally never-ending! More than a year after its release, and with the Girls Trip remix album giving it a fresh spin, Midnight Sun is showing no signs of slowing down. The era is officially getting its fourth single, and the choice could only be ‘Blue Moon’. This was hands down our favorite candidate for the job. It feels like the little sister to ‘Midnight Sun’: a little less summery, less loud and much more romantic. Perfect for extending the era into the colder months. The song has always been one of the album’s highlights, with MNEK and Margo XS doing another incredible job of crafting a perfect pop song that lets Zara’s fun personality shine through while sounding unmistakably Zara. An official single deserves a big-budget music video, and the Swedish hitmaker doesn’t disappoint. The world Zara and her fans have been building around the Midnight Sun era since its September 2025 release provides the perfect moodboard for a whimsical blend of fairytale fantasy and Y2K aesthetics. We didn’t know we needed Zara as a mermaid and Tinker Bell on our 2026 checklist until we saw the video for ‘Blue Moon’.
Are you ready for the most surprising and unexpected collaboration of the year? Irish band Fontaines D.C. have teamed up with none other than ROSALÍA for their latest single. ‘Where Is Gone?’ is the third and final taste of their upcoming fifth studio album, set to be released this Friday. Unlike the previous two singles, ‘Marianne’ and ‘Tongue’, this time we’re slowing things all the way down. Expect a moody yet romantic song that feels just as haunting as it does beautiful. And surprisingly, ROSALÍA delivers all her lines in English. This collaboration goes down in history as the first-ever collaboration for the Dublin-based band. Five albums into their career, they’ve clearly waited for the right match before joining forces with another artist. On paper, the pairing might seem unexpected, but hearing their voices blend together makes it all click. What initially feels like an unlikely match turns into a collaboration that leaves us wondering why these two worlds didn’t meet sooner.
We’re not hiding the fact that Nia Smith is one of our favorite new talents on the rise. She simply never disappoints with her music. This summer, she blessed us with Payback Is A Dog, a seven-track EP packed with killer songwriting and music perfectly suited to those sunny days. Now that autumn is here, Nia is slowing things down with her brand-new single. On ‘Mr Right’, the production remains stripped back, allowing her incredible voice to shine in all its glory. But it’s not just about the vocals. The song comes with a beautiful message for anyone still waiting to find their perfect match. As Nia explains, “A song for those who haven’t found their perfect match yet, don’t let the wrong people convince you that your heart is asking for too much.” It’s a reminder that wanting love that meets your standards isn’t asking for too much, and that there’s no need to settle for someone who doesn’t give you what you deserve. Sometimes, waiting for Mr Right is worth it.
Your Sunday is getting a delicious genre-blending moment with big Y2K vibes. Bronx-born singer and songwriter Mia Lailani has been making waves since 2018. Throughout the years, she has explored personal songwriting about love, heartbreak, growing up and finding confidence in yourself. Her Puerto Rican roots are always part of the picture, with some of her music moving between English and Spanish to reflect her cultural background. Music clearly runs in the family, too, as her brother Devan Ibiza has been her longtime producer. On her latest single 'Substance', Mia is hosting a boyfriend casting call. The lyrics leave no doubt about exactly what she’s looking for and what she doesn’t want in a man. She is quite literally running auditions for a boyfriend, and if the Y2K-inspired, old-school DVD-style video is anything to go by, the guys are lining up to audition for the role. We love this fun, confident and flirty moment!
Snoh Aalegra has mysteriously made her comeback to music. ‘Run Free’ appeared on YouTube without the usual streaming release, leaving us with a beautiful, simple visual, a handful of lyrics and plenty of questions. Is this an official single? Is it just an interlude for the new era? Honestly, that only makes the whole thing feel more intriguing. What we do have is Snoh doing what she does best: delivering soulful, heart-tugging vocals over a cinematic soundscape that feels like the closing scene of a coming-of-age film. With its vintage ’80s R&B influences and understated production, ‘Run Free’ feels nostalgic without getting stuck in the past. The visual follows suit, with Snoh cruising through winding, tree-lined roads in the back of a vintage BMW, as if she’s escaping something she hasn’t quite figured out herself. It’s intimate, melancholic and just mysterious enough to leave us wanting more. After years without a full-length project, every little clue feels like a reason to get excited. A new era might be on the horizon, with A Legendary Love rumored to be the next chapter, but for now, Snoh is keeping us guessing. All we know is that she’s been at the top of our ‘please come back!’ list, and it finally looks like she’s answering our prayers!
She delivered one of the best pop albums of the year and isn’t ready to end the era anytime soon. With WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA, Slayyyter cemented herself as one of pop music’s current it girls. There is no denying that her ability to blend hyperpop, electro-pop and trashy Y2K dance-pop is a force to be reckoned with. Pairing maximalist, club-ready production with provocative lyrics, distorted synths and a playful, unapologetically raunchy pop-star persona, she serves up a sound that feels like early-2000s pop stardom colliding with underground club culture. The album is now officially getting a counterpart with the upcoming release of wor$t man in america. The latest single, ‘i think he’s got a girl’, is a huge, ballad-like pop-rock song that sits somewhere between Sky Ferreira and Avril Lavigne. Slayyyter explained, “When I made this song it made me feel like a main character going thru some bullshit on the OC season finale or something.” And honestly, we can absolutely hear it. The song has all the drama, heartbreak and cinematic energy of a season finale that leaves you staring at the screen as the credits roll.
After more than a decade of building his name in Los Angeles, AZ Chike stepped into the national spotlight alongside Kendrick Lamar in 2024. Following appearances on Kendrick’s now-legendary ‘peekaboo’ and ScHoolboy Q’s Blue Lips album, the South Central rapper now enters a new chapter with No Rest for The Wicked, a versatile major-label debut balancing West Coast street rap with melodic and introspective moments. Album opener ‘Mercy’ takes on the important role of inviting us into the new era. It does an excellent job of grabbing the listener’s attention from the second it starts playing. The album title is repeatedly chanted before a soulful choir takes us to church, only to pull us right back out and leave us in the West Coast streets with raw rap verses. The opening track is quite the rollercoaster, but somehow this wild ride sets exactly the right tone for what’s to come. We are pleasantly surprised to see JSMN taking on the role of one of the guest appearances on No Rest for The Wicked. We’ve been massive fans of the singer ever since his impressive releases such as ‘Bout It’, ‘Cruel Intentions’ and ‘Talk Is Cheap’. The Albanian-American singer has been exploring a new, more alternative and experimental sound with his own music. Having him make a comeback to the soulful music we know him for is an absolute blast. The romantic ‘Need Your Love’ sees both AZ Chike and JSMN offering their best over a slow-tempo, R&B-leaning production. Tyler, The Creator appears not once but twice on the album. ‘Look Like My Mama’ was released prior to the album and came paired with a cinematic video referencing Napoleon Dynamite, Sinners and Men in Black. The video gives the song exactly what it deserves: a big-budget visual for a big, energetic song. The track is one of the best uptempo rap songs we’ve received in 2026. It’s powerful, fun, exploding with a pleasant aggressiveness and simply feels like an anthem. When hearing ‘Negative’, you can almost envision Kendrick Lamar on the track. Which makes complete sense, as the song was originally meant to appear on Kendrick’s successful album GNX. Eventually, AZ Chike decided to keep the song for himself, as it was a better fit for his own album. He gave the song his own twist but never forgot its origin story. In the first verse, he respectfully name-drops Kendrick: “Bitch, when? Have you ever met a guy, shawty, that didn't sin? Time to pull out the coupes, let me call Ken.” The album perfectly finds a balance between his signature energetic L.A. rap on songs such as ‘Lamb Truck Keys’ and ‘God’s Favorite’, melodic, almost funky and sexy offerings like ‘Packed Up’ and ‘The World Is Ours’, while not shying away from sharing more vulnerable moments dealing with family, grief, relationships and personal struggles on ‘Wonder’ and ‘Rock Bottom’. AZ Chike delivers a statement with perfect timing. He proves he is more than a feature. He is the moment.
After the sudden and sad cancellation of the remaining European leg of her Cruel World tour due to a band member being hospitalised, the show must go on. Even though she might not be performing the songs from her latest album live for now, fans are still in for a treat as the album campaign is far from finished. November 13 will see the release of the deluxe version, including brand new songs. The first taste of the deluxe Cruel World ... So It Ends version comes in the shape of the glossy, disco-inspired ‘Too Cute To Be Lonely’. The fun and flirty song sees Holly playing with a more playful sound while keeping things classy and romantic as always. She sings, “Are you sleeping all alone tonight? Baby, I'm way too cute to be lonely. So when the music and the party die. I think I should be the one that you're holding. Don't leave a girl upset in such a pretty dress.” Hopefully, replacement tour dates will be announced soon so we can enjoy the live version of this one.
Fresh from her intimate performances celebrating 10 years of her debut album For All We Know, Nao got right back into the studio to record new music. Singing reimagined versions of the songs from her debut album inspired her to create new music. Seeing the news, we can only hope that the new releases sound anything like the 2016 album. To this day, the album remains one of our favourite records ever released. The production, songwriting and insane vocal delivery were simply out of this world. The first releases from her upcoming fifth studio album Autumn are ‘Eugene’ and ‘Save The World’. We fell in love with ‘Eugene’. It reminds us of her debut album, but in a more mature, confident and calm way. The song is titled after D’Angelo’s middle name, as the singer has played a huge part in Nao’s musical journey. Of course, we hear his inspiration coming through on the song. It’s a beautiful devotion and ode to the late singer that he would have loved to hear.
Harmonized pop-R&B songs, big vocals and synchronized, highly choreographed dance routines. Soulidified are bringing back the definition of a ’90s boyband. Put Bradley Rittmann, Shade Jenifer, Malik Heard and Landon Boyce in one room and you get the ultimate boyband throwback to the days when they were dominating the charts. The band have freshly signed a record deal with Atlantic Records and are ready for their next chapter. Last week, we were lucky enough to already get a taste of the brand new single ‘Man Ain’t Me’. The live performance cemented it as a certified banger, complete with catchy lyrics and infectious dance moves. Now that the song is out on streaming platforms, we have it on repeat. Speaking of repeat, at the end of the accompanying video the guys tease that their next release is going to be ‘Repeat’. And trust us, this is another one that will convince you why Soulidified are going to be your next obsession.
“Walk by faith, not by sight” is the motto for the day. Lil Nas X makes his long awaited big return to music as he releases the official lead single of his upcoming sophomore album. The phrase was his mother's favorite and that it has been resonating with him increasingly as he moves through life. His mother, Tamikia Hill, sadly passed away in August 2026. Before announcing the song, he posted a video of himself listening to a voicemail she had left him. In the message, she encourages him to keep his head up, not give up and, importantly, to “walk by faith, not by sight.” ‘World’s Greatest!’ marks a special release for the young rapper. It’s by far his most personal song to date. It won’t come as a surprise that Lil Nas X wrote the song completely by himself. It carries a theme of resilience, self-belief and moving forward despite everything that has happened to him recently. He looks back at where he came from and how he is navigating through the complications that come with fame. The video perfectly reflects this idea by connecting his present-day self with his childhood self. We see him rehearsing choreography and then scenes that recreate moments from his younger life. The video ultimately ends with a dedication to his mother, including her voice. Musically he delivers a heartfelt upbeat big pop moment while still having a healthy dose of hip-hop coming through his raps. The production itself and some of the vocal delivery leave us wondering if Outkast had a massive influence on the creation of the song. We love to see Lil Nas X strip back and fully rely on his talent, rather than hiding behind huge stunts and characters (which we equally love of course!).
Let’s start this month with a big breath of fresh air. Meet Bam Rigby, your next favourite indie-rock-infused pop artist. And yes, if you’re wondering why his face feels familiar, he used to release captivating music under the name Kentö. His return to the spotlight comes packed with a new artist name, a new sound and a whole lot of energy. The lead single from his upcoming debut album Sometimes I Forget To Breathe feels authentic and raw. Its nostalgic feel is intentional, thanks to the choice to go as analog as possible while recording the song. ‘Silhouette’ was recorded using live instruments and run through real vintage equipment to capture the indie-rock sound in its full glory. For the final touches, Bam Rigby got Andros Rodriguez to master the track. His impressive catalogue includes work with Justin Timberlake and Florence + The Machine. We already featured the song in our ‘Seven Songs To Add To Your Summer Playlist’ feature. But with the excellent video finally released, we simply had to make sure you take the song with you from summer season into autumn.
Bree Runway is making her big return to the music scene. Her comeback song is an absolute show-stopper. With ‘BAGS OF YEN’, she reminds us all why we fell in love with the British-Ghanaian singer in the first place. Her music has always felt like a British version of Missy Elliott, complete with the stamp of approval from the legendary hitmaker herself, who featured on Bree’s ‘ATM’. Along with the single announcement, she wrote a heartfelt letter on Instagram to her fans, giving some insight into why she has been releasing music inconsistently. The music itself, however, sounds anything but apologetic. It’s another confident, maximalist pop song doing the absolute most. It’s tongue-in-cheek, fun and loud! Her raps are clever as ever and so much fun. This is a very, very pleasant welcome back to Bree Runway!
Fresh off her mini-tour and an incredible performance on the UK version of Saturday Night Live, Rachel Chinouriri is ready to continue the promotion of her upcoming sophomore album. So far, we’ve received the singles ‘One song away from crying’ and ‘Make believe’. Those lucky enough to catch one of her recent live shows have also gotten some exclusive first listens to other songs appearing on the new album. The third single, however, is brand new to everyone. The week is off to a great start thanks to Rachel Chinouriri as she releases ‘Broken Chair’. On the song, it seems like she is touching on alcohol abuse. This theme isn’t entirely new to her, as she has sung about it on earlier projects. She gets raw and real over a production that keeps getting bigger and bigger as the song goes on. It’s the kind of build that almost feels like a summary of a night out. You start slowly, and as the drinks start flowing and the vibes start growing, so does the chaos, while the good times become more dominant. We love the songwriting on this one. “I love drinking till it's over. You all love me till I'm sober. I'm walking home the morning after. Your friendly neighbourhood disaster.” And then there’s: “You look used and abused and discarded. But not me, I'm the life of the party. You look sad, so sad. But not me.” Another great taste ahead of the October 16 release of I think I spoke too soon.
Tinashe truly has been called every name music critics can come up with. She’s been called a one-hit wonder, fans have criticized her for being a sellout releasing music that her label wanted her to make, and she’s been in and out of the ‘Khia asylum’ multiple times. One thing is for sure: she keeps her haters up at night. The longevity of her career proves she is the last one laughing. All the hiccups, flaws and genre-hopping throughout her career truly shaped the popstar she is today. On her eighth studio album POPSTAR, she owns this identity more than ever. She jumps between R&B, hyperpop, EDM, synth-pop, West Coast bounce, trap and funk while still sounding unmistakably like herself. While for some artists this would end up sounding messy or like a treasure hunt for their sound, the genre-hopping feels completely intentional for Tinashe. The album campaign so far has delivered one of the best roads to an album release in recent memory. Lead single ‘Too Easy’ perfectly captures Tinashe being in full control of herself and her sound. The production itself is playful and flirts with several genres at the same time. With cheeky and confident lyrics such as “I know that I'm a superstar and they hate to see I've come so far. But I can't help that I make it look so easy,” she sets the perfect tone for an album with a statement title like this. Stardom isn’t always rose-coloured and glamorous. Being at the top of your game can get lonely. Tinashe reflects on the downside of her fans constantly labelling her ‘underrated’ on ‘Empty Stadium’. The emotional songwriting happens over a hauntingly beautiful synth-pop production. She sings, “Last night I saw a dream so vivid that I woke up sick. In an empty stadium, looking at the walls, seeing no exits. When I realize I'm alone, I've been singing so long and nobody hears it and I'm standing on the stage just waiting for applause.” Before adding the heartbreaking truth she lives as a star eight studio albums deep: “Don't wanna die underrated.” Everyone who is still hoping to grab the title ‘Song of the Year 2026’ can start giving their hopes up. At least if it’s up to PinkPantheress. She hands the title to Tinashe for the second single of the album. “Crash out by Tinashe is song of the year I’m so sorry but she’s taking it,” she stated on X. On the trap and hip-hop-influenced R&B track, Tinashe delivers undeniable West Coast energy. Vocally, she isn’t aiming to show you every trick she has up her sleeve. She keeps it cool and almost conversational as she delivers the song with full attitude. The album is filled with songs where Tinashe simply perfects her craft. They have that trademark sound she has been building and curating over time. On ‘Nobody Wanna Dance Anymore’, however, she takes us by surprise. We hear a sound we haven’t heard her play with yet. The song features a blend of traditional country music with rock-style electric guitars, big drums and a high-energy, pop-tinged hook. We love how she never stops exploring new sounds to make her music feel fresh and exciting. The album’s title track perfectly captures the central theme of what it means to be a pop star. It explores the duality of living in the spotlight, touching on the intense glamour of Hollywood while reflecting on her success in the music industry. Before we dive into ‘Popstar’, we warm up with ‘The Show Must Go On’, which consists of a repetitive, sped-up chant of “popstar, popstar, popstar…” These nineteen seconds act as the perfect interlude. Tinashe perfectly captures what life must be like in the spotlight for those who don’t get to experience the life she lives. She does it in a bigger, stranger and more experimental way than she ever has before. Nothing is off topic as she grabs your hand and lets you tag along through the highs and lows of stardom. The project shows that eight albums deep, there is still room to perfect your craft, stay true to yourself and keep taking new genres along for the ride.
Powerhouse vocalist Maeta has always had a voice that demands attention. After first breaking through in 2019, the singer has continued to build her own lane, embracing the imperfections in her voice that make her sound so real while keeping that otherworldly quality that made us fall in love with her in the first place. Now she’s ready to open a new chapter, returning with brand new music that reminds us exactly why we’ve been keeping an eye on her. On her last project Endless Night, the singer collaborated with KAYTRANADA. The project was filled with glossy dancefloor fillers with an R&B edge to them. This time around, we slow down the pace and go full R&B. Maeta switches things up for a more traditional sound where her vocals really get to shine through. Her flow over the beat is incredible. This marks an exciting start to a new era for the ‘Cool Cat’ singer.
Iconic British girlband Sugababes are finally picking up where they left off in summer 2025. The original lineup got back in the studio and started releasing big pop bangers. Everything seemed to go their way. They were playing a sold-out tour, released the up-tempo pop perfection of ‘Jungle’ and ‘Shook’ and delivered a beautiful ballad with ‘Weeds’. Yet none of this led to an official new album. Now we are finally ready to continue the album campaign. Today, the trio finally announced the release date for their upcoming self-titled album. Along with the announcement, we received the brand new single ‘Ghost’. It’s an instant Sugababes classic. It has their signature sound, but this time around it’s filled with their rich, raspy, grown vocals. They are not here to play around. The opening verse perfectly visualizes the video: “Buried that body a long time ago. Dugged myself a deep dark hole. Put you inside, yeah just to free my soul. It was ritual, had a funeral.” This might go down as the longest album campaign in history before the actual album release, but well, good work takes time. We can’t wait for February 12th 2027.
Jhené Aiko proves why she is one of the biggest names in female R&B right now. Just a few days before its release, the singer announced out of nowhere that she was releasing her fourth studio album. Without a single leading up to the release, we received a whopping twenty never-before-heard tracks on Westside Whimsy. Whoever doubted the singer can put some respect on her name. The bold move led to her first Billboard number one album of her career. On top of that, it’s the first female R&B album to reach the number one spot in 2026. We can’t stop listening to the Kendrick Lamar feature on the project. It marks the first direct collaboration between Aiko and Lamar in over a decade and their third collaboration to date. ‘So Good’ is a midtempo duet exploring mutual devotion and romantic attraction. The track has that warm, late-’90s synthesizer feeling with a relaxed rhythm. Around the 2:30 mark, Kendrick takes the opportunity to turn the production into a more hip-hop-leaning sound as he delivers his funky rap. The two once again prove to be a magical duo.