American Teenager – Ethel Cain
Second on Ethel Cain’s critically acclaimed debut album Preacher’s Daughter is “American Teenager,” a fist-pumping mix of dream-pop and alternative rock, filled with hazy guitars, wailing synths, and pounding drums. Lyrically, the eclectic Florida-born singer-songwriter ruminates about the frustrations and contradictions of her American childhood, a sentiment that’s especially evident in the song’s pulsating chorus (“A long, cold war with your kids at the front / just give it one more day and you’re done.”) Not many artists can make angst sound quite this ethereal, and this track is a fantastic anthem that feels both intimate and stadium-sized. —Ben Rothman
Olympus – Blondshell
As the first single from LA native Blondshell, this song’s heavy chords and silky melodies were a perfect introduction to the rock world. Haunting lyrics like “I wanna save myself / you’re part of my addiction” are a striking companion to the electrifying melody. Be prepared to have it on a loop, because “Olympus” is not the type of song that can be listened to just once. —Emma O’Connor
CUFF IT – Beyoncé
—Alexis Tyndall
#FREEMIR – Ghais Guevara
This song from up-and-coming Philadelphia-based rapper and artist, Ghais Guevara, off his new project “There will be no Super-Slave” is hard both in terms of its production and lyricism. This hip hop song features stark drill influences and heavy bass that are so captivating one might brush over what Ghais is actually rapping about. His political commentary is one that attacks the existence of war as a capitalist tool, with lyrics such as “But when my body becomes an example, they profit, they paddin the score.” More political commentary and sick hip hop instrumentals/bars are found throughout the rest of his project; go check it out! —Jianna Martinez
Good Will Hunting – Black Country, New Road
The fifth song off of London-based band’s sophomore album, Ants From Up There, embodies an honest sense of longing through its punchy guitar lines and drastic rhythm shifts. The band captures the authenticity of a very 21st-century approach to self-discovery, topped with pop-culture references and plans of moving to Germany: “She had Billie Eilish style/Moving to Berlin for a little while.” While the band’s debut album (For the first time, 2021) had notable Klezmer influences, the sound of Ants From Up There lends itself to a stylistic and emotional comparison to softer bands such as Arcade Fire and Neutral Milk Hotel. (CHECK OUT: I Love You Jennifer B, Jockstrap)
—Mavis Simpson-Ernst
Escapism – Raye ft. 070 Shake
Few songs this year hit as hard and as heavy as ‘Escapism’, the searing single from British singer-songwriter Raye’s upcoming debut album, My 21st Century Blues. Immediately and convincingly, Raye makes a name for herself, soaring vocally over lush production and a pulsing beat. ‘Escapism’ proves Raye’s talent as an artist to create monuments of music, and is an exciting taste of her upcoming album. —Jackson Weinberger
Bliss – Yung Lean (with FKA twigs)
You might know Yung Lean from “Ginseng Strip”, a novelty hit (and recent meme on TikTok) that the Swedish artist made at 16. You might NOT know that in the decade since, he has influenced everyone from A$AP Rocky to Charli XCX. “Bliss” starts Lean’s newest project Stardust off with a bang, with a simple but hard-hitting punk rock instrumental and speedy rapping that might sound stilted if it wasn’t so charming. Not to mention, the track contains an extra-rare feature from the princess of art pop herself, FKA twigs, whose frantic ad libs and breathtaking chorus elevate it to being one of Lean’s finest songs to date. Bliss on, indeed. —Ben Rothman
Bi – Young Miko
I may not know Spanish, but that has not prevented me from comprehending the musical prowess of the Puerto-Rican Young Miko through her project TRAP KITTY. The song “Bi” in particular caught my attention, as its seamless fusion of reggaeton, trap, and hip hop is quite impressive and impossible to not to enjoy. Just like the rest of the album. —Chandler Jean-Jacques
All I Ever Asked – Rachel Chinouriri
I have always loved songs that tap into a variety of emotions, so I was immediately drawn to this one. The lyrics are emotional, but the production is sort of victorious. I am always in the mood to listen to it, so it has stayed in my current rotation for nearly 6 months now. Rachel’s falsetto is perfect for layering and conveying emotion—this is the first song of hers I found, and I am so excited to have a new artist to explore. —Grace Weinswig
Haunted – Laura Les
After its cameo in season 2 of Euphoria, “Haunted” blew up on social media, and for good reason. Laura Les— one half of mainstream hyperpop pioneers 100 gecs—crafts an excitable melody, the ultimate fist-pumping music. Although the chorus is entirely unintelligible, it’s impossible not to try to sing along to Les’s autotuned screams. The high-pitched synth and computerized drumbeat rarely change throughout the song, yet before each chorus Les manages to craft a buildup that hypes the listener up all over again. If you liked “Haunted” but wanted more yelling, go check out “Hey Big Man,” a single from 100 gecs’s upcoming 2023 album. —Daisy Burckin
eyes – skaiwater
The London artist skaiwater has been active for a minute now, with his strong ties to Lil Nas X being his entry point as a rapper and producer. Interestingly, his sound mashes up hip-hop, Jersey Club, and R&B. He manages to make this romantic ballad sound perfect for hitting the hips on TikTok, distracting from the weight of his lyrics. “I feel like I lost my ribs,” he repeats like an Adam-adjacent over a dissonant Jersey beat breakdown. “eyes” is a perfect example of mixing a trending, bubbling sound with the artist’s high-pitched singing, trailblazing for the several Jersey-styled hits by bigger rappers like Uzi and NLE Choppa that spawned a few months later. –Kylie Morrison
Andrea – Bad Bunny
—Maïa Berthier
Billions – Caroline Polachek
Billions sees pop’s freshest provocateur lean into her ethereal eccentricity like no other, and features lush, trip-hop production that evokes a trancelike state. Polachek’s heady vocals lilt masterfully over East-Asian percussion; punches of theatrical choir echoes cleverly juxtapose the trap-infused synths scattered in its verses. With bizarre and beautiful lyricism – “Salty flavor / Lies like a sailor / But he loves like a painter / Oh, billions,” – Billions is undoubtedly Polachek’s most intricate song yet, and a perfect welcome into her mystical, Imogen-Heap-meets-Björk sonic dreamscape. Listen in your room with the lights off, and just bask in its decadence. —Anusha Wangnoo
Chicken Nugget – Rico Nasty
On her latest album, Las Ruinas, Rico exhibits her genre-bending prowess all while making a body of work that feels Nasty through and through. Lyrically, the song is simply poetic, as Rico speaks to her son about their journey through her career and the strength she derives from their relationship. A snippet of a voicemail from Cameron, Rico’s 7-year-old son, excited for his mom to come home, laughing and threatening to call Venom, yes, Venom from the Spiderman franchise, on her if she does not hurry up. This isn’t the first time Cameron has taken the mic, having his voice sampled in a snippet of an unreleased song Rico posted on TikTok about, you guessed it, Spiderman. —Danny Lee
CUUUUuuuuuute – Rosalía
The oscillating and experimental nature of Rosalía’s acclaimed MOTOMAMI—soaring vocal highs and wild reggaeton—all come together on “CUUUUuuuuuute,” a foray into excess and chaos. Opening with a sample from TikToker Ytiet, the song transitions into a pulsing bass, interspersed with vocal distortion and snare drums out of a marching band. Yet, just as the song reaches an apex, Rosalía yanks the curtain, floating into a piano ballad that reminds audiences of her vocal prowess. With such melancholy her vibrato trembles on the line, “Pero yo siempre estoy ahí/But I am always there.” Then, as if nothing happened, the song glitches back; this time, the drums are even fiercer and the sounds of gunshots act as more percussion—ricocheting off the walls. With immense stamina and a speckling of tenderness, “CUUUUuuuuuute” is one of those rare tracks that cannot just be heard; it must be experienced. —Ty Nagvajara
Last Year – Toro y Moi
Off his latest album, MAHAL, “Last Year” by Toro y Moi is the catchy, atmospheric track of my chillwave dreams. Melodically reminiscing on his personal triumphs and transformations of the previous year, Toro y Moi reminds us to stop for a second and count, tenderly, the little wins in life. “I learned to love the rain last year / I learned to love myself last year”. The track plays with a funky layering of sound, culminating in an eclectic outro with mind-bending sampling and distortion. If this doesn’t sound like your vibe, my honorable mention goes to hollaback bitch by Mura Masa (with Shygirl & Channel Tres)—listen while strutting down Broadway like it’s your own personal catwalk or when you need a trusty song to queue at the pregame! —Madison Rosenfield
About You – The 1975
This song makes you feel just how Matty performs it—ever-dramatically, all-consumed enough to fall to the floor. A female voice harmonizes throughout the song, repeatedly chanting, “Don’t let go”. The heartbreakingly beautiful bridge is sung by Carly Holt, wife of the band’s guitarist Adam Hann: “I miss you on a train/ I’ll miss you in the morning/ I never know what to think about/ I think about you.” “About You” is the perfect song to blast on a midnight drive, an introspective walk, or a long train ride. The feeling of all-consuming melancholic memories rushing in is encapsulated in this standout track from The 1975’s newest album. —Lilli De Jonghe
I Would Die 4 U – Holly Humberstone
For readers searching for the Matty Healy sound without the chaos:
Humberstone strips down Prince’s 1984 hit to the bare bones. Her raspy, resonant vocals are layered over a simple synth piano—you can actually hear her pressing down on the keys. Listening to this song, I become just as emo as its lyrics: “I’m not a human/I am a dove/I’m your conscious/I am love/All I really need is to know that you believe.” Her first EP, Falling Asleep at the Wheel, was produced by The 1975’s Matty Healy, as was her recent single “Sleep Tight.” She is truly a gem and one to watch for 2023. —Fiona Colo
Strawberry Privilege – Yves Tumor
“Only when I was a star,” the chorus preaches. The initial guitar riff sets a cold hue that reminisces on a summer heartbreak. Yves Tumor, an experimental multi-instrumentalist, never lacks when it comes to production. As the 10th song in their Heaven to a Tortured Mind album, Strawberry Privilege hits the mark on falling strongly for someone and them leaving just as quickly as they came. The melody, playful in nature, could potentially remind you of strawberries, like it did for me. I recommend listening when going for a stroll; it will definitely add a pep in your step. —Isis Contreras
PiLOT (feat. Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Anderson .Paak) – DOMi & JD BECK
This track is as smooth as butter. DOMi & JD BECK are a jazz duo consisting of French keyboardist Domi Louna and American drummer JD Beck, who have been described as child prodigies. Louna studied at both the Conservatoire de Paris and the Berklee College of Music and Beck received mentorship from Cleon Edwards of Erykah Badu’s band. Paired with Snoop and Busta Rhymes’ staple flows and Anderson .Paak’s crooning vocals, “PiLOT” is a dream come true for fans of classic and alternative hip-hop, R&B, and jazz alike. Everyone on this track is a master of their craft—it’s a collective flex of the artists’ respective sonic profiles, neatly packaged into a quiet, effortless groove. Perfection, if you ask me. —Emily Debs
Mexican Moonlight – Papi Shiitake
While his stage name may suggest some sort of hip hop / rap persona, Brooklyn-based Papi Shiitake has perfected the craft of creating nostalgic and dreamy indie on his debut album Wabi-Sabi, with “Mexican Moonlight” being one of the many stars. As we wind down from fall term and look forward to the spring, Papi Shiitake will bring you to a serene oasis that you’ll never want to leave. —Chandler Jean-Jacques
WASTE NO TIME – AJRadico
Ever since I saw AJRadico perform, along with Mavi and DickByAir, at Cafe Erzulie in Bushwick, I have been cycling through his small official discography consistently. Dramatic production and heavy, rhythmic flows make him an unprecedented addition to the New York underground scene. Reader, we’re putting you onto this 2022 single and his 2021 album Transit before he absolutely blows up. —Sophie Chen