Happy’s Best New Music
Updated weekly by the fine folk at Happy Mag, this is the absolute best new music that this week has to offer from Australia and around the world!
Myd ft. Mac DeMarco – Moving Men
It’s a tale of two goofballs on Moving Men, the new tune from French house producer Myd and Mac DeMarco. “He reminds me of some kind of bird, I like this guy,” said Mac. After being introduced by Ed Banger royalty Gaspard Augé and Busy P, the pair found themselves grounded in LA, where they wrote a handsome song about being removalists.
8.3
SG Lewis ft. Lucky Dave – Feed The Fire
Just a day after its release, Feed The Fire picked up Hottest Record with Annie Mac on BBC Radio 1, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s a soundscape of future disco filled with irresistible charisma, and if it doesn’t lead to at least a little sit-down office chair boogie, then there’s probably something wrong with your funk barometer.
8.1
DZ Deathrays – Fired Up
Get Fired Up, DZ Deathrays have announced their 5th studio album Positive Rising: Part 2, releasing a killer new track and a wild animated music video to match.
7.7
Ariana Grande – Positions
After last week teasing the world with its title track, Ariana Grande has made a triumphant return with her surprise sixth album, Positions. Topping thank u, next was never going to be an easy task, but Positions blossoms in its own addictive way. With diaristic lyricism articulated just as perfectly as its glassy production, appearances from Doja Cat, Ty Dolla $ign, and The Weeknd don’t hurt either.
8.3
The Whitlams – Ballad of Bertie Kidd
Aussie ’90s icons The Whitlams have broken their 14-year silence with the release of Ballad of Bertie Kidd, which, in the most-Australian possible fashion, was born from conversations at the pub. Tracing the real-life story of one of Australia’s most infamous criminals (the eponymous Bertie Kidd) the song aches with the same kind of sparkle that attends David Bowie and Nick Cave at their best.
8.6
Lola Scott – The Eviction Song
Sydney sweetheart Lola Scott continues to kick goals with her latest offering, The Eviction Song, a gritty sharehouse memoir that brings a sweet amount of grunge to pitch-perfect pop.
8.0
Kwame – Please, Get Home Safe.
Kwame is well known for his silky melodies, but his latest EP melts like butter. Taking some heavy notes from Kanye’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Please, Get Home Safe twists and bends into textures that we’ve never before seen from the Sydney artist. A soulful, synth-clad vibrancy bursts through each one of the tracks, particularly in the EP’s opening collaboration with E^ST.
While Kanye’s influence can be felt through each track, the entire collection is uniquely Kwame’s: refined through his distinct rhythm, flow, and energy. Highlights include the breezy textures of NOBODY (ft. E^ST), the choppy soul of STOP KNOCKING @ MY DOOR, and the glossy choruses of GLORY.
9.0
Ball Park Music – Ball Park Music
The self-titled album has always been a catalyst for a band. Many choose to cement their legacy with their brightest, punchiest release to date. Ball Park Music have chosen a mixtape of imperfection as their calling card. Sonically, the record sees the band deliver their tightest performance yet, but, thematically, they are writing hopeful songs for the defeated.
A collection of pristine, peachy anthems just wouldn’t have felt right for the Brisbane five-piece. Since the beginning, the band have been nothing but honest. They don’t sugar coat their stories, but they always try and find the silver lining in them, punching out some seriously powerful songs in the process.
Like they’ve reminded us from the start, life will never be perfect, but maybe we should just be happy with where we are right now. As told in 39-minutes of sonic bliss, meet the Ball Park Music of now.
7.8
Gorillaz – Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez
Our favourite animated band have finally released their long-awaited collection of collaborative tracks. Gorillaz have been building to the release of this compilation since the first single was unveiled back in January. With each new offering, excitement grew. Now that it’s here, it delivers on the hype with a diverse collection of bright, eclectic art-pop.
Gorillaz balance their iconic blend of influences perfectly with each guest. Everyone from Elton John to Beck, Schoolboy Q to Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and St. Vincent to Robert Smith appears across the tracklist, and yet Damon Alburn manages to be the standout voice throughout.
Just like the band’s best albums, Song Machine, Season One is a trip down the rabbit hole into the wonderful world of the Gorillaz.
8.2
Tiny Little Houses – Richard Cory
Nearly three years on from their debut album Idiot Proverbs, Tiny Little Houses return with a track full of detailed storytelling and emotional weight. Richard Cory is a blunt confrontation of mental illness. It starts subtle and subdued but builds to a heart-wrenching climax.
Throughout the song, the band are channelling their indie-rock and emo influences, calling back to American Football, La Dispute, and Nirvana. The track serves as a brilliant return for the Melbourne band.
8.5
Eliza & The Delusionals – Sentimental
After setting the world on fire with their EP A State of Living In An Object Reality, Eliza & The Delusional have released another dreamy alt-rock anthem.
Sentimental is a fitting title, as the track’s shimmery production and Eliza’s impassioned vocals create a warm sense of nostalgia. The band nail the sound of sunny heartbreak, creating a sombre but hopeful aesthetic, and folding in elements of alt-rock to provide a boost of energy.
7.5
ELIZA & THE DELUSIONALS
SENTIMENTAL
King Princess – Only Time Makes It Human
Brooklyn-born alt-pop star King Princess has returned with a new single, Only Time Makes It Human. Produced by herself, alongside regular collaborator Mike Malchicoff and Mark Ronson, the ’80s infused dance anthem drips with queer longing – and seemingly hints at a slick new sonic direction.
8.7
Adrianne Lenker – songs and instrumentals
Lenker’s latest solo adventure was born out of a cabin-in-the-woods setting, resulting in two albums: songs and instrumentals. Both are a celebration of comforting time spent in isolation – an enticing withdrawal from the big bad world, which is lonely and self-reflective at the same time.
If Bon Iver‘s Justin Vernon pioneered the intertwinement of sound and solitude on For Emma, Forever Ago, Adrianne Lenker has captured intramural isolation at a time when it’s soaring within all of us, more than ever before.
Check out our full review here.
8.9
Memphis LK – Letters In Concrete
In what is arguably her best work yet, rising Melbourne/Naarm-based singer, producer, and DJ, Memphis LK has returned with her latest offering. Encasing tender emotion within the precise confines of electro beats, Letters in Concrete finds the sweet spot in Memphis LK’s burgeoning landscape of magnetically introspective club music.
8.2
Viagra Boys – Ain’t Nice
Contrary to its name, Viagra Boys’ latest single is very, very nice. Dripping with attitude and crunch to boot, Ain’t Nice bites you right where it feels good – and the accompanying video clip only sweetens the deal.
The Swedish post-punks have also just announced an upcoming album, Welfare Jazz, which is due for release early next year.
8.3
Arlo Parks – Green Eyes
British singer, poet, and multi-talented heroine Arlo Parks has released her cruisy new single, Green Eyes. Featuring Clairo on backing vocals and guitar, the track is 3 minutes and 17 seconds of pure bliss, wandering in the plains between R&B and lo-fi guitar pop, in an effort only to make the listener feel at ease.
7.9
Find these tracks and more in our Happy Weekly playlist below:
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