10 Cool New Pop Songs to Get You Through The Week: Blood Orange, Emeli Sandé, Sorry & More
Add any of these tracks to your regular rotation or listen to them all in our custom playlist.
Blood Orange
Courtesy of Blood Orange
Looking for motivation to get you through another work week? We feel you, and with some stellar new pop tunes, we’ve got you covered.
These 10 tracks from artists including Blood Orange, Emeli Sande, MAX and Sorry will get you energized to take on the week. Pop any of these gems into your personal playlists — or scroll to the end of the post for a custom playlist of all 10.
Sorry, “Key to the City”
Sorry have recently been sharing previews of sophomore album Anywhere but Here, due out Oct. 7, and each new cut showcases the North London alt-pop group’s ability to mix sardonic gloom with slick, enticing melodies. “Key to the City” is a pre-breakup bitterness. Asha Lorenz’s voice fades as the song’s contours change abruptly, much like a lot Sorry’s best work. – Jason Lipshutz
Mura Masa feat. Erika de Casier, “e-motions”
Producer-songwriter Mura Masa is a master collaborator; Erika de Casier, whose excellent sophomore LP Sensational was released last year, is one of the most exciting voices in alternative R&B. A team-up between the two was always likely to pay dividends, and “e-motions,” from Mura Masa’s upcoming Demon Time album, lives up to the pedigrees of its creators, as de Casier’s graceful tone finds an airy background in the studio whiz’s shuffling beats. – J. Lipshutz
Slaney Bay, “I Could Love You Better”
Sometimes changing just one letter can make all the difference. On the hook to the new British trio Slaney Bay’s synth-rock track “I Could Love You Better”, Caitlin Whitley sings, “I could…love you better, better.” Her voice is so strong that it seems to be pounding on each word, as if trying to convince herself. By the next line, she’s more certain — “No, I would love you better, better!” — and the listener has bought into the song’s open-hearted feeling. – J. Lipshutz
Alle Farben & Moss Kena, “Forgot How to Love”
German producer Alle Farb helps Moss Kena, a rising pop singer-songwriter, continue his hot streak with “Forgot How to Love,” which is a dizzying dance floor offering with its dramatic strings and breathless pace. Kena is the man behind “Primadonna,” one of the best pop singles of the year. “Forgot How to Love” showcases more of the charisma that made that song so special. – J. Lipshutz
Abby Sage, “Backwards Directions”
From the moment Abby Sage’s fuzzy looped guitar starts, the familiar rhythm creates the perfect environment for her alt-pop debut, Alt-pop. As the beat picks up, her soft vocals increase and she suddenly delivers a Wet Leg-esque hook that no one expected. – Lyndsey Havens
MAX ft. Keshi, “It’s You”
Max, Keshi and Keshi released their laid-back love song at the perfect time for the start of sweater season — the “you”, they sing about, could just as easily be the season of autumn. The two deliver every line in a chilling falsetto but still manage to capture warmth, making the track a repeat-worthy choice. – L.H.
Maria Becerra, “Automatico”
Don’t let the blaring production that opens “Automatico” fool you; the track features Maria Becerra, Latin pop artist at her most assertive and menacing. The song’s revving engine sounds make it clear that Becerra is driving the car here and the result is a tight, sharp hit. – L.H.
Emeli Sande feat. Nile Rodgers, “When Someone Loves You”
A Nile Rodgers collaboration that follows Emeli Sande’s 2022 album Let’s Say for Instance, “When Someone Loves You” is a peppy and uplifting funk-pop jam (Rodgers’ specialty) about the joy of being loved. The song is a continuation of the explorations of the Scottish singer into pop-friendly territory. However, her delivery and tone are authentic, which makes it easy to feel happy without feeling stale. – Joe Lynch
Blood Orange, “Jesus Freak Lighter”
Blood Orange is the solo project of singer/songwriter and producer Dev Hynes. Hynes has been busy opening for Harry Styles during the pop star’s Love On Tour residency in Madison Square Garden. In the midst of the lengthy run, Hynes released the new Blood Orange track, “Jesus Freak Lighter,” which sees the producer issuing his formal introduction to his forthcoming Four Songs EP and combining his signature, synth-heavy style with darker, new wave-inspired instrumental elements. – Starr Bowenbank
BLACKSTARKIDS, beabadoobee, “CYBERKISS 2 U*”
At first glance, BLACKSTARKIDS might seem like a mismatch. But on “CYBERKISS U*”, the former’s bubbly, sweet vocals are the perfect complement to the track’s video-game-esque instrumentals. Members TheBabeGabe, TyFaizon and Deiondre continue their nostalgic sound and love-referencing lyrics on the upbeat, hyperpop-leaning track (“I just wanna send you a kiss / Going digital with my love.”) – S.B.
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