New Music Sunday: The Best 5 Songs Released This Past Week Pt. 3

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing moms! In case you missed it – we revamped our New Music Sunday posts to feature the best five songs of the week. But the playlist still exists on Spotify and will always feature as many songs as we want. 

Noteworthy album & EP releases:

Forever Isn’t Long Enough, Alfie Templeman
a touch of the beat gets you up on your feet gets you out and into the sun, Aly & AJ
Me Without You, Ashe
Blood Bunny, Chloe Moriando
Build A Problem, Dodie
Reasons You Should Care, Fiji Blue
Internet Killed The Rockstar (Deluxe), Mod Sun
Monsters, Sophia Kennedy

Below are the best five songs of the week (in chronological order).

“From The Back of A Cab” – Rostam
Release date – May 4

Once The Front Bottoms sang “I like the in betweens / I like the time it takes to get somewhere,” and I’ve never quite related to the simplicity of a lyric so much before. The same sentiment lives in former Vampire Weekend band member Rostam’s new single, “From The Back of A Cab.” The song, which released this week with an accompanied music video filled with Rostam’s friends, explores the undefined, unplanned moments we spend with others in moments of transition. During a time where uncertainty lives in the front of everyone’s minds, I can’t think of a better encapsulating track to listen to today. Rostam’s sophomore album Changephobia drops on June 4.

“Lights Up” – Flight Facilities, Channel Tres
Release date – May 6

Australian production duo Flight Facilities is back, releasing their first single of 2021 with Channel Tres, an undeniable funk banger that I guarantee will get you up and make you want to dance. Flight Facilities’ Hugo Gruzman/Jimmy Lyell said: “We’ve always loved the sound of the early Detroit House scene that crossed over with the Paradise Garage era. Combined with our love for Channel’s voice, it seemed like a perfect fit. His voice has a magical ability to make songs that are made for strutting.

“Middle Of Love” – Jake Wesley Rogers
Release date – May 6

Nashville-based musician Jake Wesley Rogers’ first single in two years, also his first after signing with Warner Records, is a true force to be reckoned with: the first true moment that will be documented as start to superstardom.

The track, co-written with Eren Cannata and super songwriter Justin Tranter (frequent writing partner of Julia Michaels), emerged as Rogers was realizing “that love was causing destruction all around me” he tells American Songwriter. Rogers, who has been releasing music for several years and got his started on America’s Got Talent when he was just 15, comes into his own on “Middle of Love,” embracing a “high glam” aesthetic reminiscent of the greats like Madonna and Elton John. We can’t wait to see what’s next.

“Lost Cause” – Aly & AJ
Release date – May 7

Aly & AJ’s “official” return album has been a long time coming. The two Disney famous sisters have been making their way back to the biz for awhile, previously releasing music under the moniker “78Violet,” their first project post-Disney in 2013, eventually returning as Aly & AJ in 2015, releasing several singles and EPs for about three years at this point. Though the duo has done an incredible job building up their fanbase, the album lacks the electricity that made songs like “Take Me” (2018) and “Joan of Arc on The Dance Floor” (2020) feel new and exciting. There are standouts on the album, however, and “Lost Cause,” the second track on the album, is certainly one of them. Keep an eye out for our review on the album.

“hollywood sucks//” – KennyHoopla, Travis Barker
Release date – May 7

Travis Barker is back on with another punk pop bop, this time collaborating with 23-year-old Cleveland born artist KennyHoopla (real name Kenneth La’ron). This actually isn’t the duo’s first collaboration: the 2020 single “estrella//” was. The track’s subject matter mirrors the song’s title: a two and a half minute track spent mocking and criticizing Los Angeles’ culture, from parking poorly, fake friends, and Coachella. The track comes ahead of Hoopla’s next project, set to drop on June 11.

Follow the playlist on Spotify: