New Music Round-Up: Ariana Grande, Calvin Harris, Bastille, MNEK & More

Plus, new music from Stefflon Don, Camila Cabello, The 1975, Aminé & so much more

Friday, August 17, 2018 - 15:28

This week was absolutely HUGE for new music releases - we've got so much to talk about, from albums to singles and from pop to hip-hop - you're in for a real treat!

With tracks from Ariana Grande, Calvin Harris, Bastille, Camila Cabello, Jess Glynne, Stefflon Don, The 1975, Aminé and MORE! Listen to them and hear our hot-takes below!

Albums

Ariana Grande – Sweetener

It’s. Finally. Here. Ariana Grande’s long awaited fourth studio album is all about love and brightness – coming out of the darkness. She gets more experimental and more ‘weird’, with more minimal production compared to her previous pop-ballad approach - whilst all the same writing catchy and incredibly fun tracks.

Stefflon Don – Secure

"This is me [...] This is the me I haven't been in a while." UK rapper & singer Stefflon Don proves herself as a rapper who can sing (rather than vice-versa) on this new track that goes from seeing her going IN on tracks like 'Lil B***h', to commanding dancefloors in fierce Patois on 'Pretty Girl' (Ft. Tiggs Da Author). With more features from Future, DJ Khaled, Popcaan, Haile WSTRN and Fekky - this one is not to be missed.

Bugzy Malone - B. Inspired

Manchester grime MC Bugzy Malone proves his prowess on the deadly serious new album B. Inspired. He shows his penchant for storytelling, with melancholy and moving tracks in which he proves what grime can do. Speaking about his roots, being a grime artist from Manchester, poverty and other social issues close to his own heart and life – he recruits artists like Rag’n’Bone Man, JP Cooper an Not3s to aid him in telling this story.

Aminé – ONEPOINTFIVE

The follow-up to last years Good For You, he jokingly referred to this project as an “EPLPMixtapeAlbum”, and serves as something of an in-between of his major projects. With less tracks aiming to fill the bop space of singles like ‘Caroline’, this record is instead more cohesive throughout – delivering stellar, vibey trap infused hip-hop.

Slaves - Acts Of Fear and Love

The duo return with a new album which doesn’t foundationally change their sound – but instead adds to the palette that they can paint with. The brash punk is still there, but is given room to breathe with a new tender approach. The powerful loud vocals paired with more singing, and even softer moments enhances all elements they’ve been developing for years.

Singles

Calvin Harris & Sam Smith - 'Promises'

As of late, Calvin Harris has been an unstoppable force in making catchy yet long-lasting; genius-ly produced yet easy to love pop. On his last album he showed he could work with anyone (or rather everyone) and make it work - from Snoop Dogg to Frank Ocean. It's NO surprise that Sam Smith’s song writing and vocal talent makes this collaboration an instant-bop.

MNEK – ‘Crazy World’

So fast moving, no one should be able to ride atop this beat YET – here MNEK is. Pushing boundaries as ever, he’s consistently showed how forward-thinking pop can be, and this beat is no exception. Beat change-ups like it’s no one’s business, going from his solo vocals to layered ballad vibes - MNEK is undoubtedly amongst the most talented in pop music.

6LACK - 'Nonchalant'

6LACK is pretty nonchalant on this laid back new track. Spacey, slo-mo smoke-y room vibes are what he does best and they are in abudance on this new cut.

The 1975 - 'TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME'

Each 1975 album rollout works more like an art piece than the usual pop singles. Each next 1975 release brings new twists and turns to their direction, and this single is no exception.

Camila Cabello - 'Real Friends' (Ft. Swae Lee)

Camila initially released this track in her album from early this year titled Camila. Now, Swae Lee of Rae Sremmurd has jumped on the already smooth track, delivering a sweet and endearing verse which is half sung half rapped, giving the track some extra groove and making it a little bit more uplifting. As always, Camila's performance on the track is b-e-a-utiful.

Janet Jackson & Daddy Yankee - 'Made For Now'

Janet ! Is ! Back !
Enough said.

Fekky – ‘One More Time’ (Ft. Runtown)

A departure from his power tracks like ‘Still Sittin’ Here’ with Dizzy Rascal and ‘Way Too Much’ with Skepta – ‘One More Time’ is a charming, gentler bop of a song. Runtown jumps on the track to deliver that extra groove. Don't sleep on this one!

Lil Skies - 'No Rest'

Keeping in the tone and style of ‘World Rage’ dropped earlier in the year – this new cut joins his arsenal of trap-infused bangers. ‘No Rest’ has those laid-back, close-eyed vibes carried by his non-stop bars – switching between riding along and coasting above the melody of the beat to curate that nod-along vibe that’s so irresistible in this track.

SG Lewis Ft. AlunaGeorge – 'Hurting'

A hypnotic dance tune, AlunaGeorge lures you into this laid-back groove with a beat that’s ethereal yet entrancing. A cross between a space-y slow-jam and a club banger, don’t miss out on this cut.

Bastille x Marshmello - 'Happier'