Happy Friday, and welcome to the final weeks of summer. With fall just around the corner, I’m looking forward to an influx of new music, concerts, and getting out of the stifling NYC heat. But for now, we still have a few new summer tracks, like the angelic “Heaven” by pop-phenom Bazzi, and the introspective, anti-social media tracks by Cautious Clay and Seafret. This week also brought about the long-awaited debut albums of British rap sensation Aitch and Florida rock band flipturn.

Let’s get into all of these tracks (and more!):

 
“Heaven” by Bazzi 

“Heaven” by Bazzi is a floaty, celestial pop anthem, slotting itself perfectly next to the rest of Bazzi’s discography. With a stripped back production, “Heaven” highlights Bazzi’s impressive vocal range. Sampled from Fiction Factory’s New Wave classic “(Feels Like) Heaven,” the chorus is slightly groovy: “Feels like Heaven (Ah-ah, ah-ah) / Watchin’ you move and dance / It feels like Heaven (Ah-ah-ah) / Lost in you.” “Heaven” is the latest single from Bazzi’s upcoming album, Infinite Dream, due September 16. 

“Sweet Tooth” by Maya Hawke 

Singer-songwriter/actress Maya Hawke is back with “Sweet Tooth,” a reflective, surrealist track which on the surface, is about a mundane visit to the dentist. “I’m grateful for everything you put me through / It’s the only reason I’m any good to talk to / When I’m sick or suffering, I’ll still call you / About my big, sore sweet tooth,” she croons on the chorus, backed by dreamy guitar strums. Deconstructing the lyrics, however, makes it evident that “Sweet Tooth” is really about the fine line between sweetness and loneliness, and navigating those emotions as you grow up.  

“My G” by Aitch feat. Ed Sheeran

The highlight of British rap star Aitch’s long-awaited debut album, Close to Home, is the loving, upbeat collaboration with Ed Sheeran, “My G.” Lyrics like “To make you happy is what I’m hoping for / Can have anything you want, I took an oath, I swore / Baby, live your best life, you shouldn’t grow by force / All in your own time G, the globe is yours,” make it clear that “My G” is a family-oriented song, dedicated to the rappers little sister, Gracie. With Sheeran’s influence, “My G” takes Aitch to new, global heights.  

“Camp Anonymous” Cautious Clay  

Cautious Clay is seeking anonymity on his latest single, “Camp Anonymous.” “But I knew exactly what I was looking for / ‘Til I wasn’t sure / I’m misunderstood, I feel seen and not heard / There’s green in my blood / I feel liked, but not loved (Not loved) / I’m misunderstood and the timing’s no good,” he sings on the chorus, referencing a need to unplug and disconnect from the online world. With a big, reverbing bridge and steady drums, “Camp Anonymous” takes a page from his earlier single, “Puffer.”  

“Sad Disco” by flipturn  

Indie-rock band flipturn’s debut album, Shadowglow, explores the coexistence of progress and failure, all with a sunny, summer-friendly sound. “Sad Disco” errs on the darker side, with vocalist Dillon Basse crooning about the need accept defeat and move on from a relationship: “Acting on the words that I say / Maybe she was meant for Broadway, oh / Tell me how it was before me / Tell me that you’d get so lonely.” Despite the lyrics, “Sad Disco” is filled with catchy bass lines and plenty of synth, finding the balance between disco and rock.  

“Running out of Love” by Seafret 

Following their 2020 album Most Of Us Are Strangers, Seafret is coming back with a bang, most recently with the introspective, emotional ballad “Running out of Love.” With a soaring chorus building into a crescendo guitar solo, “Running out of Love” serves as a stunning reflection on life and love in the digital age. “Don’t say you’re running out of love / Just tell me how to love you better / I’m not giving up / So tell me how to love you,” lead vocalist Jack Sedman sings on the chorus, a reference to social media’s link to dwindling self-confidence.  

“Forever Only” by JAEHYUN 

“Forever Only,” the debut solo effort of South Korean boyband NCT’s JAEHYUN, is a strong reintroduction, with smooth R&B beats and a vibey melody. Called “sexy lonely” by JAEHYUN himself, “Forever Only” showcases his groove and lyricism as he settles into the torture of feeling a loved one pull away. With such a strong debut, expect to hear JAEHYUN more and more as his popularity grows outside of the band.

“Growing/Dying” by The Backseat Lovers  

Alternative band The Backseat Lovers hit a new peak on their latest single, “Growing/Dying.” A departure from their earlier sound, “Growing/Dying” is slightly more experimental, with unique chords and distorted vocals, culminating in an explosive bridge: “Searching for a sliver / Just enough to tell the forest from the fire / Slowly getting closer / Every moment in the light is drifting by.” With powerful drum and guitar work and some aching screams, you can feel the rock influence on “Growing/Dying.”

“For The Night” by Remi Lewis   

Remi Lewis is back with yet another cool-girl anthem, “For the Night.” The track is a classic pop earworm, with upbeat production and a groovy melody. With lyrics like “I don’t care / Just wanna feel you on me / Take me there / Yea just for the night,” and “Woke up in your bed / Gotta get up outta there,” “For the Night” is all about letting loose and being young. Lewis’s sugary-sweet voice and glittering vocals are on display throughout the whole song, too.  

“u turn me on (but u give me depression)” by LØLØ

Pop-punk princess LØLØ brings the nostalgia on “u turn me on (but u give me depression),” an angsty track filled with early 2000s-inspired riffs and hooks. “I might just be a masochist / I’d let you eat me alive / You call me up / I can’t resist,” she sings on pre-chorus, backed by a strong bass line and classic punk drums. With relatable lyrics and a building, catchy track, “u turn me on (but u give me depression)” sets LØLØ up to help lead the ever-growing pop-punk resurgence.