Looking for some Monday motivation to help power you through the start of another week? We’re right there with you, and with some stellar new pop tunes, we’ve got you covered.
These 10 tracks from artists like Alma, Jasmine Thompson, Big Wild and more will get you energized to take on the week. Pop any of these gems into your personal playlists — or scroll to the end of the post for a custom playlist of all 10.
Alma, “LA Money”
Every bit of Finnish pop prodigy Alma’s long-awaited debut album, Have U Seen Her?, is ridiculously good. And then there’s “LA Money,” a melancholy but riveting ballad about the trappings of success — suddenly, Alma’s raw and real as she is confident and badass on other tracks, and who said any of those things had to be mutually exclusive, anyway?
The Neverly Boys, “Never Come Down”
The Neverly Boys — a new project from TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek and producer Daniel Ledinsky — are off to a strong start as they lead up to a full album titled Dark Side Of Everything. “Never Come Down,” the LP’s stellar lead single, is fun, shiny, and a little bit like Sufjan Stevens’ “Chicago” on drugs.
Big Wild, “Touch”
Sadly, festival favorite Big Wild won’t be spinning out in the fields this summer, but he’s still imparting his smooth “Touch” on our eager ears. This one will hold us over until the next Bonnachellapalooza.
MyKey feat. Cavetown, “Was It Something I Said”
Singer-songwriter-producer MyKey has recruited English national treasure Cavetown for a dreamy new version of breakout track “Was It Something I Said,” complete with an adorable DIY video. Press play, take a trip to Scooty McSkate Land, and forget your worries.
Jasmine Thompson, “Love For The Lonely”
Jasmine Thompson’s latest — co-written with Nina Nesbitt — showcases a newfound maturity in both her heart and sound, as the 19-year-old sings about what it means to say you love someone when you really only love the feeling.
Nick Hakim, “All These Instruments”
The title of this standout from Brooklyn artist Nick Hakim’s just-released album Will This Make Me Good suggests a cacophonous pile-up, but “All These Instruments” is actually a sparse, psychedelic groove, taking shape around a gentle guitar lick and Hakim’s pillowy vocals.
Fanny Andersen, “Wake Up”
“I don’t wanna wake up… f–k.” With this opening line to her new single, is Norwegian singer-songwriter talking about a dream snapped short, or a crushing reality in which she has to return? Listen to this charming pop treat to find out.
Tkay Maidza, “Shook”
Australian star Tkay Maidza just signed to 4AD and arrived at the label with one of her strongest singles to date: “Shook” is a kinetic hip-hop dart that will make you long for a club — any club! — to reopen.
Maisie Peters, “The List”
Who hasn’t picked themselves apart, focusing on their flaws instead of resigning imperfections to an inevitability of humanity? Nineteen-year-old Brit Maisie Peters has been there, and on the lovely “The List,” she demands more acceptance of herself — and will inspire you to feel the same.
Nicki Nicole, “Colocao”
It is past time to board the Nicki Nicole train, as the Argentina singer-songwriter broke through last year with her Recuerdos album and has continued her upward trajectory with the combustible new single “Colocao,” on which she expertly alternates between rapping and singing.
