The weekend is finally here, and to the nation’s delight, so is a much-needed spell of warm weather. And, the sudden change in climate means it is time to retire the sad girl tunes brought to us by the likes of Olivia Rodrigo and embrace the sounds of summer. From Drake and Brent Faiyaz dropping the ultimate Pharrell Williams fangirl tune to Rico Nasty, Khalid and Tate McRae dropping the anthems of the summer, head below to check out this week’s Wonderlist….

Drake and Brent Faiyaz being the ultimate Pharrell Williams fangirls was the content we needed this week. Ensuring that the pair’s inspiration was clear, their melodic R&B track “Wasting Time” can be seen accompanied by artwork that imitates that of Pharrell’s hit album In My Mind. But, this is not where the tribute stops. Gracing the track’s credits is none other than the legendary production duo The Neptunes, aka Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo. We love to see it!

It is fair to say that summer can never officially commence without a drop from pop sensation Khalid. Thankfully, the “Young, Dumb & Broke” singer is back with the shimmering track “Working”, which comes in collaboration with the dancer-turned-singer Tate McRae. Featuring the blend of sickly-sweet vocals and groovy production, the pair dance away their cares against the backdrop of suburban America in the accompanying visuals. And, McRae herself said it best, this track is a “straight summer bop”.

Jorja Smith has answered our prayers – well, sort of. While a good cry to “Let Me Down” or “Don’t Watch Me Cry” is the perfect remedy for most sad girl occasions, the majority of the word is trying to enjoy hot girl summer and post-lockdown excitement at the moment, meaning that they are looking for something a little more upbeat to add to their playlists. Swapping about her tear-inducing vocals, Jorja and Birmingham-based rapper Jaykae offer up an abundance of rapidly-flowing bars and tinny production on their new track. But, while upbeat in sound, the intense lyrics and tormented visuals offer a sombre tone in true Jorja Smith style.

Rico Nasty is back, and she is here to enchant. True to form, Rico has provided fans with an other-worldly display with new track “Magic” which features the artist’s playful lyricism and unparalleled range whilst effortlessly flipping between gruff melodies and poetic raps. Irresistibly infectious and spellbinding in nature, Rico has only gone and dropped another banger.

Giving Billie Eilish a run for her money this week is the Canada-hailing artist Abby Sage. Paying homage to the 00s craze currently plaguing our society, listeners can watch the warm haze and gritty pixels synonymous with videography of the era wash over the singer’s official music video as her ethereal vocals and stripped-back production command attention. An absolute dream.

Ending things on an uplifting note this week is the siblings-turned-musicians SAINT PHNX with their infectious tune “Happy Place”. A shining example of the alt-pop genre, sit back and relax as the duo provide waves of escapism with their beating production and bellowing vocals.