Looking for some motivation to help power you through the start of another work week? We feel you, and with some stellar new pop tunes, we’ve got you covered.
These 10 tracks from artists including Kenya Grace, Jaden Hossler, Marian Hill 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 with all 10.
Kenya Grace, “Only in My Mind”
Instead of resting on her laurels and basking in the recent success of “Strangers,” which exploded on TikTok last month and yielded a Hot 100 debut, Kenya Grace has moved on to showcase how her gentle approach to propulsive dance music sounds in another setting. “Only in My Mind” gestures at the drum-n-bass exploration of “Strangers,” but places Grace’s lilting voice over a beat that thumps harder and within a tempo that’s a bit more breathless, resulting in another beguiling groove from the new star. – Jason Lipshutz
Spencer Barnett, “Swank”
Singer-songwriter Spencer Barnett has been relatively quiet since his 2020 EP I’m Fine, but new single “Swank” is effortlessly appealing enough to justify the wait. The guitar and bass creep around each other and create an air of pop-rock relaxation, while Barnett’s honeyed tone perfectly matches the production’s haze — he soothes the listener, and then leaps out of the speaker, to prevent “Swank” from becoming background noise. – J. Lipshutz
Miki Ratsula, “What Would the Neighbors Think?”
“I hate how you wait till its almost too late / To tell me you love me,” Miki Ratsula confesses on the heartbreakingly sad “What Would the Neighbors Think?,” which provides a glimpse at the quiet emotional devastation contained within the confines of a family home. Ratsula has a knack for plainly addressing towering feelings, and they imbue every inch of “What Would the Neighbors Think?” with tender detail, each line stacked atop the one that preceded it upon a foundation of long-gestating hurt. – J. Lipshutz
Claire Rosinkranz, “Swinging at the Stars”
“Swinging at the Stars,” the new single from Claire Rosinkranz’s just-released album Just Because, hints at becoming an anthem of personal ambition — “We’re just looking for a good life / Swinging at the stars,” the chorus opens — but the song is actually a rollicking take on sharing every facet of life’s tapestry with a special someone, sung with a brightness and grandeur befitting the 19-year-old singer-songwriter. Rosinkranz’s voice is multiplied to provide “Swinging at the Stars” more heft, but she’s able to convey a delightful breeziness throughout its run time. – J. Lipshutz
Zada, “Sweet Things in Life”
Celebrating the “Sweet Things in Life” on her latest song, Zada reminds us that variety is the spice of those sweet things by crafting a mix of sparkling neo-soul, acoustic flourishes and romantic synths. The Ethiopia-born, Canada-based singer tosses and turns between determination and uncertainty, all while her dulcet tones carry the listener along her personal journey. – Joe Lynch
Feid and ICON, “FERXXO 151”
Colombian star Feid teamed with production duo ICON for this sunny and uptempo track, and together, the trio created a soundtrack for a worry-free fling. While the lyrics are a bit eyebrow-raising as Feid sings of all the ways in which his love interest is irresistible, the beat matches his energy with a cadence that’s instantly catchy. – Lyndsey Havens
Royel Otis, “Fried Rice”
Last week, Australian pop duo Royel Otis announced its upcoming debut album Pratts & Pain, arriving in February 2024. Lead single “Fried Rice” captures an early-2000s indie pop-rock sound with lo-fi vocals layered under driving drums and a repeated riff, all of which combine for a hummable chorus in which the word “I” extends for three syllables across three notes. It’s easy to imagine this one soundtracking an episode of The O.C. – L.H.
Cosmo’s Midnight feat. Shungudzo, “Gimme Some More”
Twin brothers Cosmo and Patrick Liney comprise the Aussie electronic-pop duo Cosmo’s Midnight, and on the shimmering, feel-good “Gimme Some More,” they tapped singer Shungudzo to drive home the sentiment that “enough is not enough” when it comes to the person you love. A song as giddily fun as this demonstrates that sometimes there’s no such thing as too much of a good thing. – L.H.
Jaden Hossler, “Chrome Hearted”
After teasing a name change and new musical direction on social media, the pop-punk artist formerly known as jxdn finally revealed what he’s been up to: released under his birth name Jaden Hossler, his new single “Chrome Hearted” is a trash-talking pop-trap song. Here, Hossler puts his vocals more front and center than they ever have been before — and hopefully, that’s where they will stay. – L.H.
Marian Hill, “You Were Always Sure”
Jazz undertones have always been present in Marian Hill’s sound, but new single “You Were Always Sure” sees the group amplifying those notes even further. The electronic foundation of the duo duo (Samantha Gongol and Jeremy Lloyd) remains present, showing up as sparse synths that act as the beating heart throughout the track in combination with twinkling piano keys, while Gongol’s vocals swell into lush harmonies as she tells a tale of an uneven romance. – Starr Bowenbank
