Here are our international top picks that are out now, see below for more.
1. Spencer Barnett releases ‘Dancing’
Rising Brooklyn-based indie-pop musician Spencer Barnett has released the video for his catchy new single, “Dancing.”
“Dancing” is written and produced by Barnett alongside Jon Hill and Alessandro and Gianluca Buccellati [Arlo Parks, Tei Shi] and follows the release of Spencer’s dynamic Welcome To My Mind EP. CLICK HERE to listen to the tape featuring singles “Slow It Down,” “48 Hours in Paris,” “eta” and title track “Welcome To My Mind.”
Welcome To My Mind marks the final chapter of Spencer’s ambitious three-part EP trilogy series following the release of debut EPs I’m Fine (“Waste My Time”) and Reckless (“17”) that garnered critical acclaim from tastemakers like PAPER, V MAN, Ones to Watch, and Flaunt and landed Barnett across Spotify and Apple Music’s most coveted playlists.
2. H3000 release new track ‘Flames’
On a plane of existence far removed from ours, H3000, the new musical collaboration from Luke Steele (Empire Of The Sun, The Sleepy Jackson) and Jarrad Rogers (Charli XCX, Lana Del Rey) today release “Flames,” the latest single from their forthcoming cosmic self-titled debut album, set for release on September 17 and available for pre-order HERE now. Listen to “Flames” HERE and view the official video below.
Following the release of “July Heat,” “Running” and “Human Heart,” the newest single, “Flames” is shuddering, emotive and glitters like a cresting wave shimmering in the sun, swelling and building to become a feat of energy and emotion.
3. Bite Me Bambi release ‘Our Lips Are Sealed”
Orange County, CA ska/pop/punk faves Bite Me Bambi are back with sunny, horn-inflected take on The Go Go’s classic tune “Our Lips Are Sealed.”
The band says, “We wanted a fun summer song and have always wanted to do a Go Go’s song. We had initially planned to do the song during covid, but it got lost in the shuffle of other tunes. Terry Hall from ska legends The Specials co wrote the song with Jane Wiedlan so we thought it would be a cool one to make into a Ska song. As it turned out, we ended up recording it pretty close to the 40 year anniversary of the release date of the original, and the induction of the Go Go’s to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, so we thought it was Kismet. That is the yearbook answer…Okay the real answer is:…it was a awesome song to rollerskate to..”
4. Raja Kumari releases ‘Firestarter’
5. Smiley releases ‘Over The Top’ feat Drake
Toronto rap star Smiley unites with one of his city’s greats, Drake, for his new single ‘Over the Top’. The song is a taste of Smiley’s forthcoming project, and it’s the perfect track to show off his one-of-a-kind wordplay and his uncanny, otherworldly flows.
Smiley is one of his city’s brightest up-and-comers, so it only makes sense that he’d team with Drake, a bona fide Toronto institution, as part of the OVO family. ‘Over the Top’, with an infectious instrumental from Memphis’ Tay Keith, is sure to satisfy existing fans of Smiley, and seems poised to convert anyone who’s just hearing him for the first time.
‘Over the Top’ continues a remarkable run for Smiley in 2021. Earlier this year, he released ‘In My Zone’, which showcases his keen ability to weave stunning stream-of-conscious wordplay through brooding, emotional instrumentals. The video, however, shows another side of Smiley where his sense of humour and newfound health regimen take centre www. In June, he followed that track up with the simmering single and video ‘Moving Different’.
6. Gretta Ray releases Double A Side
Australia’s most arresting and revealing new pop artist Gretta Ray cuts straight to the heart with her third double-single release of 2021, Cherish/The Brink (Duology Three): the latest ravishing studio creations in her bold, innovative and hook-laden Duologies series lifted from her forthcoming debut album, BEGIN TO LOOK AROUND which will be released on August 27th and available to pre-order now.
LISTEN TO ‘CHERISH’ HERE / LISTEN TO ‘THE BRINK’ HERE
This morning Gretta captured hearts and minds alike when she performed on Triple J’s Like A Version her latest single Cherish, alongside a stunning rendition of Gang Of Youths’ Deepest Sighs. Covering one of her favourite Gang Of Youths’songs felt like the most natural choice to Gretta given the budding creative partnership developing between Gretta and the band: David Le’aupepe sings backing vocals on one of Gretta’s yet to be released album tracks, Worldy-wise, which also features additional production by Gang Of Youths.
7. Leisure release new track ‘Mesmerised’
Acclaimed New Zealand outfit LEISURE have dropped their new single ‘Mesmerised’, out now.
Characterised by captivating synth melodies and hypnotically repetitive vocals, ‘Mesmerised’ sees LEISURE craft an electronica-infused track that maintains the smooth, seductive sound that they have made their own.
It follows on from carefree recent single ‘Take Me Higher’, with both tracks set to feature on their forthcoming SIDE B EP, a much-anticipated follow-up to last year’s EP, SIDE A.
A five-track release which was crafted during a trip to France, SIDE A received praise from fans and tastemakers alike, with BBC Radio 1’s Phil Taggart and BBC 1Xtra’s Jamz Supernova supporting on their respective radio shows. Prior to that was 2019 sophomore album TWISTER, and a successful European tour soon followed, which included sold-out dates in London and Berlin alongside a debut double performance at Brighton festival The Great Escape.
8. Daisy World releases two tracks Sundown & Six Two
DAISY WORLD is the solo project of multi-disciplinary LA-based artist Daisy Hamel-Buffa. Today she releases her first two solo tracks “SUNDOWN” & “SIX TWO“.
Created alongside producer Natalie Green, “SUNDOWN” & “SIX TWO” introduce Daisy as an inarguable songwriting and vocal talent. With additional instrumentation from Patrick Paige II and Waylon Rector; “SUNDOWN” is a treatise on the vulnerability that comes hand in hand with falling in love – ‘Why’d you let me fall in love? / Couldn’t anybody stop me?’, with “SIX TWO” a heart-wrenching examination of loneliness.
Of the tracks, Daisy commented: “Sundown…oh Sundown…this song is about a very complex love situation that was consuming my life at the time. I fell for someone that I wasn’t supposed to…as we all do at some point, and when the distractions of the day would come to an end I found myself in this nightly sorrow just thinking about it. I wanted to encompass all the emotions I went through, sadness, longing, vulnerability, anger, frustration ALL OF IT smushed into one song.”
“Writing Six Two was just pure catharsis. I was having a very intense moment of feeling alone and unwanted and this tiny little jazz standard just spilled right out of me. I had never written a song in this style before. It makes me feel sad that a part of me feels this way about myself BUT I also know that accepting these feelings is my first step to moving through them.”
9. Joe Bonamassa releases ‘Notches’
Blues rock artist Joe Bonamassa is back with a brand-new single from his highly anticipated upcoming album, due out later this year. “Notches” exemplifies the unwavering journey Joe has experienced while taking the road less travelled leading him to ultimately find success. A bit older in years, but wiser in knowledge earned, his new sound has a raw and vital flavour, combined with a resolute skill that can only be gained through years of perseverance and unyielding dedication. The first single arrives today as a foot-stomping, fist-pounding dose of rock mastermind that pays homage to the artist’s resilient history, with an eye on the future as he continues to bend genres, break down walls and defy the odds of the music industry.
Joe belts out the Blues-tinged lyrics in “Notches” with a vocal range that gets even better with each release, diving deeper into his rock capabilities as he croons the resounding chorus, “I got miles under my wheels. Notches in my walkin’ cane.” He takes no prisoners with his hard-hitting anthem and holds nothing back, delivering a fresh unchartered sound that is not like anything he’s done before. The cinematically excellent official music video was directed by Paul van Kan.
10. Jason Aldean “If I Didn’t Love You” with Carrie Underwood
After earning his 25th career #1 chart-topper last week on US country radio, multi-Platinum entertainer Jason Aldean shares the lead single from his forthcoming 10th studio album, a heart-pounding duet with seven-time Grammy award winner Carrie Underwood, “If I Didn’t Love You.” The pair trade vocals for the fiery new track available now at Country radio and all digital retailers here.
“We were pretty close to finishing up this album, but this song came in and we knew we had to record it,” Aldean said. “I went ahead and put my vocals down while we asked Carrie in the meantime. Luckily she loved the song and it was kind of like a rocket from there. She did her thing like only Carrie can…and I don’t know how, but she made it sound even better than what we expected. It’s a really special song to start this album.”
Produced by Aldean’s longtime friend and collaborator Michael Knox, and written by his bandmates Kurt Allison and Tully Kennedy alongside John Morgan and Lydia Vaughan, fans can watch the official lyric video for Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood’s “If I Didn’t Love You” below
