Niqa Mor – Catching On
New Yorker Niqa Mor recently dropped her debut mixtape Defy (after completing a tour with “Ice Box” hit maker Omarion). If there’s any justice in the world, she’ll be massive. Mor has arrived a fully formed popstar and a future force to be reckoned with. Her music is a perfect blend of Michael and Janet Jackson, Ciara and Mariah – sexy, smart and fun. “Catching On” is one of her stand out tracks but you can make up your own mind -the mixtape is available for free at Niqamor.com
Daphni – Vikram
“Vikram” is the follow-up track to “Usha” by Daphni, aka Caribou’s Dan Snaith. It’s an edit (neé mash-up) of legendary Indian performer Usha Uthup’s “Main Gul Badan” and Alex Israel’s “Colugo”. Not an obvious pairing but a great one nonetheless.
Demi Lovato – Cool for the Summer
Demi Lovato appears to have recovered from her stint on the ill-fated US version of The X Factor and dropped a proper summer banger. Produced by pop royalty Max Martin, “Cool for the Summer” is the lead single from her upcoming fifth studio album. The lyrics are a tad racier than you would expect from a Disney princess, the sort of bathroom conversation you might overhear in Tiger Tiger, but her tongue seems to be firmly in her cheek (unlike another one of her other Disney contemporaries).
Public Image Ltd – Double Trouble
It’s easy to forget that John Lydon is the brains behind one of Britain’s most exciting and innovative bands – Public Image Ltd. From his brief stint on I’m A Celebrity to signing up to appear in Lord Lloyd-Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar, Lydon has done much to diminish his own legacy. In an effort to remind us that he’s still relevant, Lydon and his new PiL bandmates have announced their 10th studio album What the World Needs Now... The first single “Double Trouble” eschews some of the dub elements of their last studio album and is a fairly straightforward but brilliant rock track. On the track Lydon rants about everything from cleaning products to plumbing – proving he remains as confrontational as ever, albeit someone confronting a B&Q employee.
U.S. Girls – Woman’s Work
Meg Remy is far from your typical popstar. Her vocals tend towards the ethereal, celestial and occasionally eerie while her lyrical content couldn’t be further from the likes of Ora, Grande or Azalea. Yet she has released a string of exceptionally well crafted pop songs. “Woman’s Work”, the lead single off her forthcoming album Half Free is another brilliant example of the U.S. Girls phenomenon. The track tips a hat to disco with a steady synth beat but beneath the song’s surface lies something sinister. “Woman’s Work” is as brilliant as it is unsettling. Remy’s song writing process is like making a sausage – you don’t want to know what went into it but the end result is very tasty.