This weeks new releases were packed full of gems, so narrowing things down to ten proved difficult. Kanye West released his highly anticipated gospel album Jesus is King, and had the internet buzzing with funny new memes about Kanye’s change in direction. Overall the album is being well received. On a similar note, Galantis teamed up with Dolly Parton and Mr. Probz for a more “EDM” approach to the gospel style with “Faith.”
The 1975 is back with their third single Frail State of Mind off their upcoming album, & Coldplay releases a killer E.P. “Orphans/ Arabesque” gearing us up for their new project as well. Tyga up’s his clout level by teaming up with Carlos Santana and YG for his new single Mamacita, which is a dope follow up to his last latin fueled club banger “Go Loko.”
Newcomers like Mura Masa, Wynne, & Walk off the Earth made it to my radar this week and really blew me away. Club favorites like Zhu & The Knocks are back with new singles, giving dj’s more ammunition to their club sets. Continue on down further to listen to my top 10 picks for this weeks New Music Monday.
#10 Mura Masa – No Hope Generation
Mura Masa’s new single No Hope Generation is a bit of an oxymoron in my opinion because it’s a song that genuinely inspires hope. It’s an example of how this generation is pushing the boundaries of pop music and experimenting with sounds that create entirely new genres of music never before explored. This record is more proof that Rock music is making it’s way back into cultural relevance.
#9 Wynne – Fine Things
Hip-Hop is for everyone. This generation has pretty much eliminated all boundaries in color or gender. Anyone with a mic, a dream, and lyrical skill can come on the scene and fuck shit up. It’s so dope seeing more and more women doing their thing in rap and being at the forefront of the culture. I don’t wanna pigeon hole Wynne as a quote unquote rapper because her skills go way beyond that. She can sing too, and her new album If I May is a well rounded project infused with R&B and Indie vibes.
# 8 Zhu feat. partywithray – Came For The Low
When talking about bass, the lower the frequencies, the more bang you’re gonna get out of your subwoofers. Zhu’s new track is all about that bass. In my opinion, coming for the low means coming to blow your speakers up with bass. This is a more aggressive track from Zhu, but still keeps his signature and unmistakable style. This undoubtably will make you wanna drop it down and get low.
# 7 The Knocks feat. Great Good Fine Ok – Lucky Me
The Knocks have been turning out hit after hit at a remarkable rate. This year they followed up their 2018 album release New York Narcotic with a ton of singles, remixes, and club edit’s that I’ve been using in every single dj set that I play. While this track doesn’t really hold up to NY Luau or No Requests, theres still a very special place on the dance floor for it this week. Hopefully we can get them playing at Cucina Palm Beach very soon.
# 6 Tyga feat. YG & Santana – MAMACITA
Getting a collab with Carlos Santana is a legendary feat for any rapper. Tyga & Y.G. set the bar high here with their new single MAMACITA as they blur the lines between hip-hop and latin music.
# 5 Kanye West – Closed on Sunday
Kanye West is a guy who does whatever he wants and owns it. This album is stone cold proof that you don’t need a parental advisory sticker to be “shocking or different.” Nowadays cleaning up your act and taking a righteous approach to hip-hop can be just as affective if not more than trying to be as “nasty as you wanna be.” This song makes you wanna free up your Sunday to spend time with the fam. Much needed.
# 4 Galantis feat. Dolly Parton & Mr. Probz – Faith
I’m debating if this Galantis release on the same day as Kanye’s album was a coincidence or not. If so, there is an emerging trend happening where gospel is making it’s way into the mainstream. Getting Dolly Parton on an EDM track was a genius idea within itself, and furthers the country crossover movement that is gaining huge traction in today’s music. Mr. Probz add’s his signature soul to this track which is sure to lift the spirits of festival goers and club goers across the nation.
# 3 Coldplay – Orphans
Chris Martin’s voice is unmistakable. When I hear it I immediately become slightly hypnotized. Artists like Avicii & Robin Schulz, and even Kane West have tapped into the power of Chris’s voice for festival & big room club anthems. While Orphans itself isn’t made with the the dance club in mind, I can definitely see an opportunity for remixes here. Even if remixes don’t happen, dj’s can certainly incorporate this into their sets and get a great reaction from the dance floor if done right.
# 2 Walk Off The Earth – Addicted
Any other week this song would have been a no-brainer for the number one spot. This is easily the catchiest song I’ve heard in a long time. I played it this past weekend and had the dance floor packed, even though they had never heard of it yet which is really hard to do. This single comes off of thief full length album Here We Go! which is an interesting blend of indie rock, electronic, and world music that give it a larger than life pop sound that has a timeless quality to it.
# 1 The 1975 – Frail State of Mind
No other band of this era gets me as excited for a release quite like The 1975. No matter what I’m going through in life, it seems Matt Healy somehow is going through the same thing and I genuinely feel understood. I’ve struggled with social anxiety my whole life, and in some ways I think that’s how I ended up a dj. So I can be at the party yet don’t really have to speak to anyone other than through the music. While the beat of this song is fidgety and all over the place, it’s the perfect way to tell the story, and grows on you the more you here it. Can’t wait for this album.
