We have picked out 10 great international tracks that are out now. Some you may know and some you may not, keep reading to see who we chose.. ..
1. Tove Styrke – ‘Start Walking’
Tove Styrke has released her brand new single “Start Walking” via Sony Music/RCA. The infectious track follows the summer release of “Mood Swings,” Tove’s first musical offering in three years, and recent feature on Cheat Codes’ “All Things $ Can Do” with Travis Barker. “Start Walking” was written together with hit writers & producers Caroline Ailin (Dua Lipa “New Rules + “Don’t Start Now”), Sly (Shawn Mendes), Lostboy (Tom Grennan, Anne-Marie) & Pablo Bowman (Marshmello, Alan Walker). Listen HERE.
Tove describes “Start Walking” as “a song I made together with some amazing writers and producers and I’m obsessed with it. It’s an upbeat song with sad lyrics, which is my favorite combination. It’s about a person who knows a relationship is over, and how it sucks to actually be the one to leave but you know there is no other way.”
Commenting on the video, Tove adds, “I love the insane music video we made for the single. It’s about a Swedish ‘dansband’ with supernatural powers. ‘Dansband’ is a signature style of Swedish pop music that has drawn huge audiences dancing cheek to cheek around the country for decades. My dad played in one of these bands – they were called Max Fenders – in the 1970’s which is where the idea for the video initially comes from. Think ‘Stranger Things’, but the 70’s, showcasing cheesy pop band culture, set on the roads of deep Sweden. I can’t believe such video did not already exist, so I simply had to make it… Get ready for thunder, lightning, lasers and ‘Tove Styrkez’!”
2. Krissi Hunter – ‘Boomerang’
“Boomerang” by Krissi Hunter is one of the hottest new pop tracks on the market. The song is high energy with a killer beat and clever lyrics that give off major “girl boss” vibes. Krissi Hunter shows that she is on the rise to become one of pop music’s biggest female empowerment icons with this new single.
The song starts out jolting with a swelling instrumental and then heads straight into the verse, with a powerful kick drum and incredible bass line. Krissi’s vocals come out pure and strong, with some great ad-libs, vocalizations, and background vocal distribution.
The lead-in to the chorus with three punchy beats into a catchy melody line that jumps up and down will surely grab any listener’s attention and make them want to dance along to the upbeat feel of “Boomerang.” The bridge only adds more wow factor to the song, as it maintains the sassy tone of the previous sections of the single, but breaks down the instrumental a bit more to reel in the listener, only to explode into a spectacular post bridge chorus.
3. Mazey Haze – ‘Don’t Care’
Amsterdam-based indie-pop artist Mazey Haze today releases new single “Don’t Care”, along with a new video directed by Pasqual Amade. “Don’t Care” is the final single to be lifted from Mazey Haze’s new EP ‘Always Dancing’ which is out now, released October 22nd.
Dreamy guitar-driven indie-pop reminiscent of contemporaries such as Jay Som, Snail Mail, Camera Obscura and Alvvays, Mazey Haze is the moniker of 21 year old Amsterdam-based artist Nadine Appeldoorn.
Backed by a spritely indie-rock instrumental, “Don’t Care” is a richly textured, evocative, and lyrically bruising track; with Mazey searching for light amidst the darkness.
Speaking on the release of the new single, Mazey Haze said: “Don’t Care is about me trying to manifest something that I wasn’t feeling when I started writing. Written in the same period as my other songs so far, it’s still me being in darkness, trying to digest everything I felt and had to deal with. This song describes very specific moments and feelings of how I couldn’t sleep, felt empty and how I looked back on memories that would never be reality again. A song about heartbreak and trying to get myself out of an endless downward spiral of hopelessness, emptiness and loneliness. But maybe most of all, this song is basically me trying to help myself through writing this song.
4. Cannons – ‘Ruthless’
CANNONS have released their new single “Ruthless” via RCA UK. Building on the alternative/electro-pop band’s cinematic sound, the track pulls no punches with evocative lyrics directed at an ex: “you’re making me look foolish, stupid, man you’re so ruthless, f*ck you.” Listen HERE.
In speaking about the track, Michelle Joy says: “‘Ruthless’ is a swirly, upbeat, melancholic, warm, and hazy heartbreak ballad. If you’re feeling second best, forgotten, sad, or frustrated, sometimes you just need a good song to blast in your headphones and let out your inner emotions. ‘Ruthless’ drives you through its peaks and valleys dynamically and dishes out what we have all really wanted to say when discovering we’ve been cheated on and lied to. It holds nothing back, and we can only hope it will be a source of strength when things get rough and work like medicine on a broken heart.”
CANNONS have been a mainstay of the 2021 festival circuit with prominent performances at Lollapalooza, Life Is Beautiful, Firefly, and more. The band will bring their live show to San Francisco, CA for their upcoming set at Outside Lands later this month. Visit https://www.cannonstheband.
“Ruthless” follows the April release of “Bad Dream” and precedes more new music on the horizon. Stay tuned!
5. Pink Sweat$ – ‘Nothing Feels Better’
Acclaimed modern R&B sensation Pink Sweat$ has shared the first single from his much anticipated new project, PINK MOON. “Nothing Feels Better” is available now at all DSPs and streaming services HERE; an official visualizer premieres today at YouTube HERE. PINK MOON arrives via Atlantic Records early 2022.
Ahead of the single release Pink Sweat$ has partnered with LG Displays to star in their first global music-based advertising campaign. The campaign launched last week and will air across digital and social media for the next year. You can view the commercials here and here.
Pink Sweat$ – who recently stole the show with a spectacular set at The Governors Ball in New York City – will herald PINK MOON with an epic North American headline tour. The Pink Moon Tour begins November 6th
6. MiaAF – ‘Oh I’m Falling’ feat MAYLYN
MiaAF’s life revolves around turning the inspiration she draws from everyday life into art. Much of her past is a mystery to the young illustrator/writer/musician, but through these different mediums she is able to unlock memories that help to paint a picture of where she comes from and, more importantly, who she’s meant to be. While her artistic talents are diverse, her passion and prowess lies strongest in the realm of music. Over the past few years, she’s spent countless hours locked in her home studio and, more recently, Planck Studios in Flux City as she perfected her craft. She’s been hard at work producing beats that have caught the eyes of some of the most talented artists in the metaverse and beyond, as she’s prepared to reveal her sound to the world(s).
The multifaceted metaverse artist entered the public eye with the release of her first ever single “Oh I’m Falling”, which features a beautiful vocal performance from MAYLYN. “Oh I’m Falling” is a vibrant blend of piano, carefully arranged synths and playful percussion. Over this immediately addictive soundscape, MAYLYN’s vocals soar with equal parts power and vulnerability. The result is an indie pop anthem sure to anchor countless playlists and moments in need of motivation this fall.
7. Kings – ‘How To Kill Me’
KINGS has released a brand new single, “how to kill me.” The song is out now via Snafu Records.
KINGS lives a life split between singing and songwriting in Nashville, working in Los Angeles, and navigating her meteoric rise. Revolving around relationships, heartbreak, and girl power, KINGS’ songwriting maintains a focused aim: to inspire and empower others.
Written and recorded in Nashville nearly all in one day, new single “how to kill me” is moody dark pop at its finest, finding KINGS in her emotive sweet spot. She describes, “I wrote ‘how to kill me’ to open my listeners up to the darker side of what being used by someone sounds and feels like.”
A born performer and songwriter, KINGS has amassed a rabid fan base on social media with a loyal following of 5.1 million on TikTok. With a 2021 focus on original music, it’s apparent those followers are along for the ride, helping to amass Spotify play counts of 1.5 million+ from this year’s releases alone.
8. Alesso & Marshmello – ‘Chasing Stars’ feat James Bay
GRAMMY-nominated producer and dance artist Alesso and Marshmello share the stripped version of their recent single “Chasing Stars” (a much-buzzed-about collaboration featuring GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter/guitarist James Bay). Released via 10:22PM/Astralwerks, “Chasing Stars (Stripped) [feat. James Bay]” premieres alongside a video that reimagines the beautifully surreal, VHS-obsessed visual for the original version. Listen HERE, and check out the video HERE.
Built on a breathtakingly intimate performance from Bay, “Chasing Stars (Stripped)” marks a bold departure from the original track’s epic collision of driving beats, soaring synth lines, and heart-stopping drops. With Bay’s soulful vocals and impassioned guitar work serving as its sole instrumentation, the result is a raw yet captivating rendition that intensifies the track’s mood of tender nostalgia.
9. Townsend – ‘Stay’
Singer-songwriter Townsend has released a relatable new track, “Stay,” available now on all streaming platforms.
Penned by Townsend alone, “Stay” tells the story of a narrator coming to terms with the end of a relationship while still secretly hoping her partner will change. The midtempo pop-rock track features a bittersweet melody that embodies the feeling of having mixed emotions. The song also showcases Townsend’s deep, emotional voice and sincere vocal delivery. Townsend describes the complicated situation with lyrics, “Your side of the bed stays cold / Your warmth is what makes this house a home / I know you’ve got your places to be / But I pray you find your place next to me.”
Townsend described her inspiration for the song when she said, “This song was inspired by that moment in a relationship when you know it isn’t working. It describes a situation where you yearn for someone to stay and really show up in a relationship, but they always end up leaving or falling short. The song discusses leaving the lights on and leaving the bed just right, all in hopes for that person to show up as needed.”
“Stay” is the lead single off Townsend’s upcoming EP, due out in November 2021.
10. Social Animals – ‘Adults’
Social Animals release their brand-new single “Adults” via Rise Record.“I wrote this song about the moment you realize all your friends are adults now, and you’re still calling for a ride home on Tuesday night,” singer Dedric Clark shares about the track. “Now they have something to say about it, and you have to decide whether you’re ready to hear it or not.” The anthemic new single is the band’s latest offering since their string of critically acclaimed tracks last year – “Bad Things,” “Best Years,” and “Get Over It” – released via a limited edition 7” to widespread praise from Billboard, Flaunt, American Songwriter, Sirius XM’s Alt Nation, The Current, Triple J, Clash, Dork, Upset, and more.
With their graceful collision of jittery rhythms, moody synth tones, and luminous guitar lines, the Duluth, Minnesota-bred band stayed active during the pandemic, writing new music and curating performances for live streams on Earmilk, Bandsintown, Dork’s Homeschool Festival and more. Prior to the pandemic, Social Animals were consistently on the road – they joined labelmates Angels & Airwaves as direct support for U.S. tour dates, followed by a European run with Ash which was unfortunately cut short due to the crisis. They are currently working on more music coming soon.
