Another week, another Happy Listening session. Get ready, because the releases this week have been outright bangers. Thanks to COVID-19, artists have been working harder than ever on getting out some cracking new tunes.
The good news is that we can finally have mini parties, so invite your mates over and get dancing. Here are Happy’s five best new releases of the past week.
Get ready to party this week while you’re still working from home. Check out Happy’s best new releases of the week that was.
Brockhampton – I.F.L / downside / baby bull
You read correctly; Brockhampton has blessed us with not one, not two, but three new tracks this week. The best part? You can expect even more from the band as they drop brand new material every Friday on their secret Twitch radio show dubbed Technical Difficulties Radio.
These three extra releases follow the releases of M.O.B and Twisted, which the US rap group released last weekend, despite now having been removed from YouTube.
Listen to these new tracks before they’re taken down…! We have three rap bangers, with downside featuring Ryan Beatty; regular Brockhampton collaborator.
I.F.L serves smooth R&B vibes with some super real lyrics, and downside makes you want to turn the lights out and have a groovy dance party. Third track baby bull continues with the chill R&B flow however puts a spin on club vibes with some funky DJ transitioning.
Check out the three tracks below before it’s too late:
Party Dozen – Pray For Party Dozen
Sydney duo Party Dozen released their second album this week, following up their 2017 debut, The Living Man, and it’s safe to say they are back in the game.
For those who haven’t been blessed with the work of Party Dozen, the duo is made up of saxophonist Kirsty Tickle and percussionist Jonathan Boulet. The best part? Their music is completely based on improvisation which let’s face it, is the coolest thing ever.
Speaking with Happy Mag ahead of the release, Boulet explained how he makes a record whilst thinking of colours, saying: “We want as many colours as we can have on a record.” For example, the opening track of the record World Prayer could probably be seen as the colour white as it contains maniacal frantic white noise.
Read more about the album in the full review here and listen to the record below:
Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga – Rain On Me
In perhaps the most talked-about release of the week, pop icons Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga have come together to release one hell of a track.
The music video begins with Gaga lying in the rain, knife in her leg before she breaks into a group dance in the rain while yes – the knife is still in her leg. Then Grande joins in with her own dance troupe before the video turns into an alternative universe dance battle of sorts.
The track is laced with Gaga’s power vocals and Grande’s infamous vocal runs, with the lyric “I’d rather be dry / But at least I’m alive” repeating throughout.
We’d call this a solid dance anthem, nothing short of the pair’s previous releases. Add this one to your iso-party playlist!
Watch the music video below:
The 1975 – Notes on a Conditional Form
The long-awaited album from The 1975 has finally arrived, and fans around the world have been given the greatest COVID gift of all. The 22 track album — yes 22 tracks — brings forth essential political messages as well as the garage alt-rock sound that we’re all used to and even a selection of instrumentals.
The first track of the album Notes on a Conditional Form is just that; a five-minute address from young climate activist Greta Thunberg on the world we live in.
Their goal for this album as Matt Healy explains was to “go back to when we were wearing Spider-Man T-shirts”; i.e. when they were a smaller band, which is exactly what we hear on tracks People and Frail State of Mind.
It’s difficult to sum up this album in a sentence as every song is so different. It’s one of those records you need to listen to over and over to really understand the culmination of songs and overall message.
I think the album is trying to be something of an influential, game-changing type, however, the questionable instrumental tracks alongside Healy’s strange lyrics makes the full record difficult to grasp. But, each to their own.
Our advice? Just put it on and see what you think. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s a great way to listen to some unexpected sounds and see what you enjoy.
Listen to the full album below:
HAIM – Don’t Wanna
US-based pop-rock band HAIM have blessed us with yet another song off their upcoming album Women in Music Pt. III.
The three sisters Danielle, Este, and Alana have come together to release yet another pop anthem. Don’t Wanna is a brilliantly catchy bop with perfect electric guitar riffs following the silky vocals of Danielle.
To celebrate the release, the trio debuted the new release on The Late Late Show with James Corden, performed from their three separate locations, and it is nothing less of fantastic. Watch the interview below; the live performance begins at 3:25.
Their new release follows the already released 5 tracks which will feature on the album, including Summer Girl and Now I’m In It.
The album was thought to be postponed due to COVID, however the group recently confirmed that it would in fact be released on June 26th.
Listen to the tracks as they are released below:
