The 10 best new songs of the week

1.

Overmono

Good Lies

Norwegian act Smerz provide the Aluna-sounding vocals on the new one from Overmono.

‘Good Lies’ is a softer two-step-pop sound for the duo known for big clanking future beats, with euphoria spilling out of its production.

The brothers’ debut full-length Good Lies is out Friday May 12th on XL Recordings.

“Good Lies was the first track we wrote that we knew was going to be part of the album. The range of influences we were feeling at the time, the type of sounds we were messing around with in the studio – it felt like the type of track that brought together everything we wanted the album to be in our heads. It was actually in demo form the whole time we were working on the rest of the music and It was only once we had the other tracks, that we knew how to finish it…actually, on the morning we had to master the album”

Previous Overmono features on Nialler9.

2.

boygenius

Satanist

Boygenius’ releasing their debut album the record, feels like one of the biggest event albums of the year, and on cursory listens, the LP does not disappoint if you’re after robustly melodic and insightful indie rock songwriting and style.

‘Satanist’ feels like a song that Broken Social Scene might have written as a band, and asked Dacus, Bridgers and Baker to jump on with lyrics that draw you in – seeking a like-minded soul. There’s some distant screaming for good measure. I love how the song barrels slowly towards an end.

4.

Nabihah Iqbal

Sunflower

Ahead of the release of the London-based artist, DJ, lecturer and broadcaster Nabihah Iqbal’s new album Dreamer (Ninja Tune on April 28th), ‘Sunflower’ is a billowy synth track inspired by shoegaze music, and a William Blake poem “about those who die young and leave their art behind.”

The video was shot in South Africa by Luh’ra.

A genuinely interesting story behind the album: Iqbal’s studio was burgled in early 2020 and she lost all her work (I have to ask: why no backup?). Already with burnout and a broken hand, and with police looking for fingerprints in the studio, she got a call – her grandfather in Pakistan had suffered a brain haemorrhage.

The next day she went to Karachi, and the distance from the burglary, gave her a new perspective on music, which lead to a back to basics approach of returning to an acoustic guitar and a harmonium.

Nabihah  has recently collaborated with artist ZhangDing, been commissioned to compose music for the Turner Prize, collaborated with Wolfgang Tillmans as part of his Tate Modern exhibition and was recently involved in a group performance at the Barbican as part of its major Basquiat retrospective. She has also contributed to Serpentine’s recent book ‘140 Artists’ ideas for Planet Earth’ and has given guest lectures at the Royal College of Art. In 2022 Nabihah was announced as a guest director for England’s largest multi-arts festival, Brighton Festival.

Hear also: ‘This World Couldn’t See Us’ 

5.

VV Brown

Black British

V V Brown took a six-year break from music to prioritise her mental health and focus on raising her two young children and is back now with experience also as a teacher, activist, and journalist.

‘Black British’ is the theme of Brown’s new project, an exploration of identity and race. The first song is a funk-soul banger inspired by early influences like J Dilla, Erykah Badu, Common, Roots Manuva, Soul to Soul and Omar. A self-directed video is out next week further underscoring the theme.

V V has also written a long-form essay around the subject which will be published on release.

“The last six years have been a difficult mental health journey for me, but I came to the realisation that I need music to feel alive. Now that I live in the countryside, it feels liberating to create without that industry pressure. I spend most of my days wearing wellies, making music or enjoying the routine of family life. Everything about this album, whether it be the artwork, the lyrics, the production or the visuals, is about starting sociological conversations. Art should make you feel, whether that’s feeling uncomfortable, empowered, happy, sad, scared, inspired. There is a radical power in the role of the provocateur and this was one of the motives for this record”

Follow V V: INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE | SPOTIFY 

6.

Tyler, The Creator

Sorry, Not Sorry

Tyler released an expanded version of last year’s Call Me If You Get Lost that adds 8 tracks to the album, along with features form Vince Staples, YG and A$AP Rocky.

‘Sorry, Not Sorry’ is Tyler in apologetic reflective mode to family, friends and those he was messing with romantically as he was figuring out his sexuality – “Sorry to the guys I had to hide / Sorry to the girls I had to lie to / Who ain’t need to know if I was by the lake switchin’ tides, too.”

He then flips it and gets defensive and dismissive at pretty much everyone, his fans (“Sorry to the fans who say I changed / ’cause I did
Sorry you don’t know me on a personal level to pinpoint what it is), people he’s just met, the Earth (“These cars ain’t gonna buy and drive themselves”), it’s a fun switch.

8.

Django Django, Yuuko Sings

Don’t Touch That Dial

Along with the Self Esteem-featuring ‘Complete Me’, ‘Don’t Touch That Dial’ featuring vocals from Japanese artist Yuuko Sings is a wavey electro-pop banger.

It’s from Django Django’s Off Planet Part 2.

9.

Jessy Lanza

Don’t Leave Me Now

Canadian electronic producer and singer Jessy Lanza recently moved to LA and the experience of almost being hit by a car was the inspiration for this song. The experience triggered Agoraphobia (the fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or that help wouldn’t be available if things go wrong) which she hasn’t experienced since she was small.

The song acted as an act of catharsis.

Additional production is by Pearson Sound and it was mixed by David Wrench.

“Winston H. Case’s video mirroring the song also riffs on the themes of confidence and dressing up for the part. Shot on the streets of LA, featuring her sister and touring band member Angie, who turned up to various construction sites you can see her working at and because she was dressed the part got taken seriously as part of the crew. There’s moments when Jessy floats above the streets in the cherry picker, the view from above looking beautiful and less chaotic than at street level. Also in the video, Jessy seems to be confidently going about her day but all the time she’s being filmed by an intrusive camera man with a sense of entitlement. when Jessy spots him she turns the camera back on him and he scuttles into the background.

10.

Sophie Doyle Ryder

Happier

Irish pop artist Sophie Doyle Ryder’s ‘Happier’ is a superior alt-pop/rock song taking advantage of bright chugging guitar chords and strong melodies.

The Dubliner wrote the song with Lauryn Gaffney, who she says taught her not to care about other people’s opinions and be happy doing what you want.

“Happier is for anybody who feels like they’re trapped in a loop of bad feelings and or bad people. It’s about putting yourself first before anybody and anything.”

Sophie Doyle Ryder was chosen as one of RTÉ 2FM Rising and released her debut EP Beginner’s Luck in 2022, and recenlt signed with Paradigm Agency.