Transforming his native acoustic-infused sound, Andrew Cushin releases a banger packed with a killer indie-rock guitar riff titled “You Don’t Belong”. Serving as the title song to his upcoming four-track EP, “You Don’t Belong” comes equipped with a retro music video, lending full focus to Andrew, his raw vocals and grainy guitar strings. With a stripped-back production, the video plays the song under flashing neon lights, creating that head-banging feeling of a true rock Friday.

It’s not easy incorporating political topics into a contemporary tune, but making it look easy is Grammy-winning singer and activist Fantastic Negrito. Dropping the first official single from his upcoming project White Jesus Black Problems, the artist takes us through a triumphant production for the release, while catching every reverb and adlib with powerful vocals. Demonstrating the endless ways in which Fantastic Negrito is able to reinvent himself, we cannot wait for the full album to drop.

With the way the weather is acting currently, the title for Wesley Joseph’s first drop of the year couldn’t be more relatable. Proving itself as a cinematic masterpiece as well as a trap-heavy track, the dark-sounding single is the very epitome of visual and audio art. The music video begins with a self-directed sketch in the middle of a desert shot in Kazakhstan, which eventually submits to darkness as Wesley Joseph cuts through the slow-paced video with his quick wit and infectious bars. On the making of “Cold Summer” the British artist and director explains, “Whenever me and Leon Vynehall are at his studio ‘The Ooz’, the vibe is special and the world spins at a different pace. We talked about how I wanted to create the theme music for a supervillain’s return, something that felt uneasy, tense, and eerie, yet completely encapsulating – that would feel like the perfect beginning to the next chapter. “Cold Summer” started to take shape at 1 AM after a day of working, and as soon as we got the atmospherics and drums down we couldn’t stop playing it.”

If there was anyone who could get you in the mood for the weekend in just two minutes, it’s Chase and Status. And if their trailblazing history of adrenaline-pumped tracks isn’t enough to do it, they have officially upped the ante with their brand new single, “When It Rains” featuring BackRoad Gee. After over 15 years in the game, Chase and Status are still the leading talents in the UK electronic scene. Marking a new chapter, the UK duo releases a club-ready anthem packed with gritty punch and fervent energy.

One track giving us goose-bumps is ODESZA with “The Last Goodbye”, a powerful single filled with a soulful melody and blues-inspired rhythm. Featuring the reimagined vocals of Bettye LaVette’s 1965 song “Let Me Down Easy”, the duo rebuilt the track to incorporate modern electronic sounds, which results in a triumphant song akin to the likes of a Bond film soundtrack. When discussing the conception of “The Last Goodbye”, the duo explained, “This song was born out of the concept of trying to bring these lasting, defining musical pieces like the 1965 release of ‘Let Me Down Easy’ by Bettye LaVette into a modern and contemporary electronic setting. The idea of bringing two worlds together, that at first seem distant, has always been something we’ve been drawn to. It was an absolute honour to be able to work with Bettye’s voice over the course of writing the track. She’s able to convey emotion with her vocal work unlike any other. To date, this has been one of the more fulfilling songs we’ve had the chance to work on as artists. We hope everyone who listens enjoys the track as much as we did making it.”

It appears that reimagining has become somewhat of a theme in this week’s Wonderlist, as Conor Maynard flexes his melancholic melodies in a new rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”. Marking the tenth anniversary of the icon’s passing, Conor Maynard releases “Dance With Somebody”, a pop-ballad which tugs at the snapped heart strings which lace the original cover. Talking of his version, Conor explains, “I always felt the chorus of ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ had melancholic undertones. I was dealing with a situation where I wanted to be out with my friends and dancing with people, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it at the time. This track captures that sombre feeling.”

Finally, we had to end our Wonderlist on a dreamy high and L.A.X. teamed up with Ayra Starr for the perfect finisher. Filled with melodic guitar riffs and island-inspired drums, the production melts underneath Ayra’s sultry vocals, as L.A.X. explores themes of love and heartbreak. We suggest digging out your sunnies and grabbing an icy beverage to experience this song to the maximum.

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If you are going to name yourself something like Junglepussy, you best have a bold backbone to match. With Shayna McHayle’s new project JP5000, the maverick artist proves she has plenty — and then some. Calm and collected, she blends a heavy bass with kaleidoscopic synths to create a playlist that is chill yet groovy. As if we weren’t gifted enough, one of her featuring tracks “Critiqua” comes alongside a sexy 90s-inspired visual, which sees the artist dressing in an avant-garde style that mimics the vibe of her audacious attitude to rap.