I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it

2019 has kicked off with a great selection of new music and we’re only 3 weeks in! We’ve put together a list of our faves - here are our picks:

7 rings - Ariana Grande

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‘7 rings’, the third single from Ariana Grande’s upcoming studio album ‘thank u, next’ has already smashed records since its release, and it’s easy to see why. The track begins with a suspenseful intro and builds to a slight beat drop mixed with trap music, which doesn’t surprise me as we saw her leaning towards this sound on her last album ‘Sweetener’. The lyrics focus on Grande’s money, wealth and friendships, with the first half of the track corresponding to the 1959 show tune ‘My Favorite Things’. Once again, we receive music from the starlet like nothing we’ve heard before, as she continues to reshape and morph the way pop music works with every release.

Dancing With A Stranger - Sam Smith and Normani

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Normani and Sam Smith team up on sensual duet ‘Dancing With A Stranger’, effortlessly mixing soulful vibes and R&B rhythm. With lyrical content focusing on themes of loneliness and regret, the heavenly track goes to show that belting out high notes isn’t required to show off your vocal ability. Normani’s sultry voice blends beautifully with Sam’s deeper tones and allow both artists to be heard in unseen territory. This is my favorite Sam Smith song to date, and with Normani slowly but steadily becoming the queen of collaborations, it’s no surprise the two got together to create the understated bop that is ‘Dancing With A Stranger’.

More Than That - Lauren Jauregui

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After releasing her debut single ‘Expectations’ last fall, Lauren Jauregui has followed up with smooth R&B track ‘More That That’, a trap-influenced track in which she asserts her independence and worth. Her raspy tone and buttery vocals fire up the hypnotic melody and set Jauregui aside from her counterparts and fire up the anticipation for her solo debut album. I know I’ll have this song on repeat for a long while to come.

Nights Like This - Kehlani

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R&B standout Kehlani made her long-awaited comeback this month with the release of ‘Nights Like This’ featuring Ty Dolla Sign, her first single of 2019. The Grammy-nominated artist sounds vocally amazing, peeling through her verses utilizing ripe emotion, solid melodies and gorgeous soulful harmonizing. She’s aided by the contemporary R&B production and relatable lyrics, talking about how and what went wrong in her past relationship, questioning what is the reason for distant love? The track also marks a change in Kehlani as an artist; she is a young woman now, a mother-to-be, and it shows in her music – in the song’s music video she even opts to cover all her tattoos. ‘Nights Like This’ offers Kehlani a relaxed and enjoyable return to the spotlight.

When I Was Older - Billie Eilish

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The anticipation for Billie Eilish’s recently completed debut album is sky high, and the arrival of her latest single ‘When I Was Older’ is another testament to Billie’s undeniable talent. The budding star uses the line “When I was older, I was a sailor” from the Oscar-buzzed movie ‘Roma’ – the movie which inspired the song, and turns it into something so dramatic and cinematic, nothing like anything in the music industry right now. Dominated by voice synthesizers and a dark electronic beat, the production of the track is simply exquisite. This sound gets heavier and bolder as the track progresses and ends up creating its own dark mood; allowing it to compliment Billie’s earlier material with it’s co-existing dark flavor.