Here are our top 10 picks of new singles released today on New Music Friday
1. Imagine Dragons release ‘Wrecked’
GRAMMY®-winning, multi-Platinum band Imagine Dragons have unveiled the music video for their latest single, “Wrecked”. Directed by Matt Eastin, the video – like the song itself – finds lead vocalist Dan Reynolds in a confessional visual and exploration of grief. Reynolds wrote “Wrecked” after losing his sister-in-law to cancer in 2019. Additionally, Reynolds teased an acoustic version of the song, recorded from the set of the “Wrecked” music video – watch HERE.
The emotional video for “Wrecked” is the third video directed by Eastin, joining previous videos “Follow You” and “Cutthroat,” in support of the band’s fifth studio album, Mercury – Act 1, set for release on September 3, 2021 and available for preorder HERE. “Wrecked,” mixed in Spatial Audio and released July 2, debuted at #2 and #4 on Spotify’s Top 10 Global chart & Top 10 US Chart respectively.
“Wrecked” has garnered critical praise for its emotional honesty and sonic power, with Billboard writing, “The fragility in Reynolds’ vocal delivery is moving — the rock star is stripped bare on the track, and even when the chorus swells to meet the band’s arena-sized approach, the singer holds onto that naked emotion for guidance.” UPROXX says, “‘Wrecked’ … starts off a bit more acoustic than some of what we’ve heard from them in the past. Don’t worry though, it builds to a towering, dark chorus just in time, a reflection of how relationship endings and grief can be swift and overwhelming.”
2. Swedish House Mafia release ‘It Gets Better’
Global supergroup Swedish House Mafia have returned with a massive showing of momentum with their new song and video “It Gets Better” alongside an announcement of signing to the prestigious Republic Records as well as being managed by the formidable SALXCO MANAGEMENT. Their reunion is celebrated by a cover of Billboard Magazine and will be galvanized further with a special performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday July 19th. The seminal global group last released music in 2013 with fans and press worldwide hoping and speculating for years about a return. This marks the beginning.
3. Jo O’Meara shares new music ‘Sweet Surrender’
In comparison to the overwhelming success and hectic schedule of S Club’s glory days, Jo O’Meara has kept a relatively low profile in recent years. But when your voice and classic hits have soundtracked so many important moments in people’s lives, fans aren’t going to forget about you. And that was proven when Jo recently unveiled ‘On The Surface’, the lead single from her new solo album ‘With Love’ that follows on August 27th. The album fired to #1 on iTunes’ pre-order chart, helped by Jo returning to daytime TV as a guest on This Morning.
It was a strong start, but there’s much more to come – starting today, as Jo releases the follow-up single ‘Sweet Surrender’. The song captures a very different side to Jo’s versatile style after the dramatic power ballad ‘On The Surface’. Opening with a sassy, throwback R&B strut, ‘Sweet Surrender’ swells into the kind of larger-than-life pop hook that Jo’s voice is built to deliver. Listen HERE.
The song’s lyrical theme is one that every generation experiences. It’s not so much a warning against that love interest who sparks a passion that masks a flashing red light, and more a forthright declaration that sometimes an ill-advised gamble that can’t be resisted.
4. Brian May releases classic track ‘Ressurection’
A live showstopper and a hard rock juggernaut, Brian May’s ‘Resurrection’ is also a seismic testament to the combined power of determination and restorative, collaborative friendship.
Brian May’s classic RESURRECTION is a monstrous Tour de Force. With its ferocious momentum, full force drums, multi-stacked harmonies and soaring guitar heroics, ‘Resurrection’ is considered by some fans THE standout cut from May’s 1992 solo album, ‘Back to the Light’. Performed live by The Brian May Band, ‘Resurrection’ would feature as the centrepiece of May’s epic ‘Guitar Extravagance’ sequence, holding its own alongside the explosive rock climax of Queen’s revered ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. Issued as a single in 1993, ‘Resurrection’ arrived in the UK Singles Chart accompanied by a video of notably – in May’s words – “biblical intensity”.
Yet the song’s origins were deeply personal rather than cosmic. The lyrics reflect May’s battle to find a sense of purpose and selfhood again during a period of mammoth personal upheaval. In its development, a close friend and bandmate would prove crucial. The backing track for the song appears in a different form as an instrumental titled ‘Ride To Win’ on the late, much-missed drummer Cozy Powell’s 1992 album, “The Drums Are Back”. As May explains it, “We traded contributions!”
“The impetus came from Cozy and it was a gift from Heaven. I’m looking for something which expresses my need to try and find new life, and suddenly Cozy comes in with the track he’s made down at Mono Studios, his favourite place to achieve his signature massive drum sound. He said, ‘What do you think of this, Brian, you want to play on this for me?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I’ll do whatever you want.’ And he said, ‘Well, do you want it for your solo album as well?’ I went, ‘Yeah, that would be great,’ so we shared everything. And immediately I was inspired to write ‘Resurrection’.”
5. Eli Hurts releases latest single ‘The Best’
The project from songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Eli Hurts, has officially dropped some new music ‘The Best’ today via Rude Records. This is his first release since signing to the label earlier this year. Listen here, and watch the lyric video here.
“I was really angry when I wrote this song. I’m glad I’m not this angry anymore,” shares Eli (real name Eli Hirsch) on the new track. “It sucks to be angry, it’s painful. But I guess it’s unavoidable. Looking back, I make it seem so dramatic. Definitely playing quite the victim in this one, But let’s be honest, it was equally my fault. It’s all good. Thanks for listening.”
With help from producer Ethan Gruska (Phoebe Bridgers, Fiona Apple, Adam Melchor), 2020-released debut EP Future Accountants of America, Unite exemplifies the blend of alternative, pop, punk, emo and synth music that has influenced Eli Hurts.
6. James Bluck, Blinkie and Taet release dance hit ‘On Your Mind’
UK musical talents James Bluck, Blinkie and Taet have joined forces on new single ‘On Your Mind’, out 16th July.
An irresistibly sunkissed dose of dance-pop, ‘On Your Mind’ combines rousing piano chords, euphoric breakdowns and Taet’s soulful, pitch-perfect vocals to create a track brimming with feelgood energy. Not the first time they have crossed paths, it follows James’ 2017 remix of the Blinkie single ‘Halfway’.
“The thought process behind ‘On Your Mind’ was to initially create a track for summer, something you could listen to in the car on the radio, or even while chilling on the beach,” James explains. “When I was making it, the idea I had was driving down a long road with the roof down, the sun is shining and you’re with your friends having a good time. In the early days of ‘On Your Mind’, which wasn’t called that at the time, I sent the idea over to Blinkie and he really liked it so we started working on it together doing a collaboration. In that process we got Grace and Taet involved which worked on the songwriting and vocals.
Blinkie adds: “One of my good friends Grace Tither (who was on my single ‘Little Love’) sent me the initial demo vocal for this track and I knew that something sick could be made from it. James and I had been working together on some ideas remotely and one of the instrumentals he sent me just married up perfectly to the Grace Tither vocal. I had an idea of adding Taet to the track because I’ve always thought she had a great vocal and we were due to work on something together.”
7. ‘So You Wanna Be A Boxer’ feat. vocals from Jay Prince
To mark the start of the build-up to the Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympics, now set to take place in August 2021, Channel 4 together with Decca Records, have released an energetic, modern new take on ‘So You Wanna Be a Boxer’ from 1976 children’s classic Bugsy Malone.
The track features as part of a film for Channel 4’s recently announced Major advertising campaign for the Games Super. Human. the follow-up to their multi-award-winning campaigns for the Rio and London Paralympic Games We are the Superhumans & Meet the Superhumans. The track is out now and available to stream via Decca Records here.
Originally recorded by Paul Williams, this vibrant, specially commissioned take on the children’s classic is performed by East London rapper and producer Jay Prince. Prince’s unique sound has been described as ‘sun-soaked’ and ‘infectious’ and boasts a touring CV with the likes of Chance The Rapper, Major Lazer, Mura Masa. Jay has also featured on tracks with lauded American rappers Tyler The Creator and Gold Link. Joining Jay on ‘So You Wanna Be a Boxer’ is vocal coach and songwriter Lawrence Johnson (Al Green, Amy Winehouse, BB King), vocalist Travis Cole (for Ed Sheeran, Miles Kane & Bliss), choir leader and vocalist Wayne Hernandez (for Jay Z, Tina Turner and Madonna) and 2020 The Voice contest Shaun Samonini.
8. Cody Frost shares new single ‘STOMACHACHES’
Every time Cody Frost releases a new track, she gains fresh acclaim from tastemakers who tip her for greatness. Her imminent breakthrough is further fuelled by extensive radio support, spanning Radio 1 (Jack Saunders, Mollie King, Gemma Bradley), BBC Introducing and Amazing Radio. Her streaming profile is just as strong, with an ascendent status on all key platforms. Highlights include hitting the cover of Misfits 2.0 and an add to Sad Songs at Spotify, while her three singles to date have featured on a remarkable total of 163 international Breaking Pop playlists at Apple Music.
Now Cody completes her introduction by sharing a double-shot of new music releases: the new single ‘STOMACHACHES’, alongside her debut EP ‘It’s Not Real’. Listen to the EP HERE.
‘STOMACHACHES’ puts a fresh twist on Cody’s inventive mash-up of forward-thinking alt-pop and emo-flavoured emotional punch. With “STOMACHACHES,” Cody finds the words to poetically articulate the lurching panic of anxiety, while the production also reflects that feeling as it builds into a frenetic burst of drum ‘n’ bass beats. As with her other recent tracks, producer Dan Weller (Enter Shikari, SikTh) helped bring Cody’s vision to life. The song finds Cody reflecting on her time living above a pub in Burnley.
9. Mahalia release new track ‘Whenever You’re Ready’
Mahalia has returned with her brand new single, ‘Whenever You’re Ready’.
Following on from ‘Jealous’, Mahalia’s sizzling release featuring Rico Nasty earlier this year, ‘Whenever You’re Ready’ is another head-bop-inducing track which is produced by Two Inch Punch and co-written by Mahalia and MNEK, whilst also sampling the legendary 90’s offering from Montell Jordan; ‘Get it On Tonight.’
“I’m so gassed to be releasing this song. I remember the first time hearing Montell Jordan’s “Get it on tonight” in ‘Save the last dance’ when I was a kid. It’s been a song that has made me wanna dance ever since and sampling it in ‘Whenever you’re ready’ is really special to me. I had so much fun writing it with MNEK and Two Inch Punch. I was going through a breakup at the time and really wanted to capture this part of that process. It’s my new summer jam. I hope everyone loves it as much as I do!” – Mahalia says of the track.
10. Sigala and Rita Ora release ‘You For Me’
‘You For Me’ is Sigala’s latest dance-pop anthem and features vocals from pop queen Rita Ora. Co-written with Charli XCX, ‘You For Me’ is a vibrant offering laced with feel good vibes and euphoric beats. Staying true to his signature production style, there’s no denying that this is another Sigala classic whilst Rita’s gorgeous vocals take the track to new heights.
Speaking about his latest release, Sigala said: “I’m so excited to release this track with the incredible Rita Ora. This track was co-written by pop genius Charli XCX, it’s euphoric, it’s happy, and I’m hoping it’s a sign of things to come.”
Rita added, “It’s been amazing to work with Sigala and making new music. The track is such a feel good summer tune, I can’t wait for you all to hear it.”
