T.G.I.F.! As we dance into the weekend, we present to you a handpicked selection of our favorite new releases of the week. In our Spotify playlist, music enthusiasts can find the finest new releases of all genres, anything from long-awaited singles of established stars to newcomers. Find all our favorites - and many more - below!
FEELING LUCKY by NILÜFER YANYA
Today, West London-born singer-songwriter Nilüfer Yanya drops her three-track EP Feeling Lucky?, following the 2019 release of her debut album Miss Universe, a semi-conceptual album revolving around themes of beauty, pressure, and superficial wellness. Nilüfer Yanya's first release in this troubling year of 2020 takes a more raw, unfiltered approach to the singer's signature sound. Sonically, it's a mix of expertly layered and dramatically engineered vocal productions, grungy e-guitar-riffs, and heavy bass-playing. This EP makes for a great soundtrack to fake-smiling through your last day at work before raising your middle finger up high and dancing into your long-awaited week off.
BIG FREEDIA'S SMOKIN SANTA CHRISTMAS by BIG FREEDIA
New Orleans drag artist and rapper Big Freedia has long earned her spot in the hall of fame of sassy, fabulous, out-and-proud rap queens. Be it thanks to her vocal appearance in Beyoncé's 2016 music video to "Formation", or her sample on Drake's "Nice For What" - everyone has heard Freedia's iconic voice before, whether they are aware or not. This holiday season, fans and fans-to-be seem to have been extra good: Big Freedia serves up a sweet Christmas treat with "Big Freedia's Smokin Santa Christmas". The EP is a Christmassy rap fest for the naughty queers and queens among us.
11 RAZONES by AITANA
Spanish pop singer Aitana's sophomore album 11 RAZONES is a cumulation of everyone's inner angsty teenage girl's favorite things: a crystal clear voice à la pop sweetheart Camila Cabello, lyrics to cry about your douchey ex-boyfriend to, and a 2000's pop-rock sound reminiscing of early Disney Channel stars' releases. With an elevated 2020 aesthetic, Aitana's title track serves as the European version of Miley Cyrus' 2008 "7 Things", and is the perfect not-so-guilty pleasure track to dance around in your underwear while singing into a hairbrush to.
CROTCHROCK EP by SHITKID
ShitKid was born in 2016 when Swedish artist Åsa Söderqvist released her first EP on Soundcloud, unknowing of the refreshingly weird, bratty, and honest fan-favorite she was to become. Fast forward to 2020, after Söderqvist united forces with bassist and songwriter Lina Ericsson - today, the now-duo released their fourth (!!!) EP of the year. CROTCHROCK is a punk-poppy, grungy brat fest full of daring lyrics and surprisingly melodic e-guitar noise that provides the soundtrack to a non-existing feminist road movie in our minds.
NAUGHTY OR NICE by BADMÓMZJAY
"Rappe nur ein Jahr und alle wissen wer ich bin!", raps German-Polish hip hop star on the rise Josy Napieray, better known as badmómzjay, one of Germany's most interesting 2020 rap newcomers. With her signature bright German-English flow, red hair, long acrylics, and the seldom-seen lack of autotune, the 18-year-old artist has seen levels of success in her relatively fresh musical career that some artists twice dream of to this day. Today, badmómzjay released a Christmas song full of seasonal references and jingle-bell sound effects. While this one might not be ideal for one's family dinner playlist, it definitely serves naughty rhymes and proves that this young woman was gifted talent aplenty.
Find this selection of hand-picked gems and a colorful mix of new releases of all genres in our brand-new Spotify playlist!
