The Best Three Songs Released This Past Week Pt. 64

Happy New Music Sunday! Follow our playlist (updated weekly) here if you haven’t yet.

Noteworthy album & EP releases:
Art Moore, Art Moore
Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2, Calvin Harris
Elio’s Inferno, Elio
NEON GOD, Kaye
All 4 Nothing, LAUV

In chronological order:

“Beach House” – Carly Rae Jepsen
Release date – August 5

Allow me to introduce to you the sassy older sister of CRJ’s “Boy Problems,” titled “Beach House!” In this short and sweet, 2 and a half minute track, Jepsen spills the tea on three unnamed men, along with each of their downfalls. One boy’s cute date idea for a picnic? Turns out mom made the food. Another invites CRJ home after their date: turns out he was married.

Now, I have no idea if this song has any truth to it, but it’s certainly the catchiest of the three singles CRJ has released ahead of her next album, set to drop this October. I’m personally a big proponent of any pop song that includes a countdown to something (Re: “7 Things” or “New Rules,”) and I hope CRJ’s take propels her to the level of pop star fame she’s long deserved.

“REM (No Sleep)” – HYRA
Release date – August 5

When an artist I’ve never heard of drops a song worthy to be included in our weekly round-ups, I know it’s important I start to pay attention. HYRA, who released her first music as a solo musician in 2020 (she was previously the lead singer of the Miami group Dragonfox), is back with “REM (No Sleep),” her first single of 2022.

If you’re a fan of artists like Kim Petras, Charli XCX, and Grimes, I guarantee you’re going to be hooked on “REM (No Sleep),” a song that features the electronic pop elements that the above-mentioned artists are widely known for.

“High School in Jakarta” – NIKI
Release date – August 5

If you’re a fan of songwriting first and foremost in music, I am begging you to get NIKI on your radar if you haven’t yet. I may sound a little dramatic when I say this, but I truly think her songwriting abilities are close to being on par with (my personal) favorite songwriter: Miss Taylor Swift herself.

If you follow our New Music Sunday series, you probably know that I recently featured another one of NIKI’s singles earlier this summer: “Before,” a song that’s a contender for my favorite of the year so far. “High School in Jakarta,” the latest single ahead of NIKI’s new album that drops on August 12, is likely to land on that list of favorites as well. I am absolutely enchanted by the way she paints an entire picture of a life event in her music: and the song title says it all in regards to what the song’s subject matter contains.

I find it also important to note that though it’s obvious NIKI’s career is growing in the states (a handful of her shows on her North American headlining tour this fall are already sold out), she’s already a massive international superstar. The song dropped on Friday, and as of Saturday, the music video for the track has already amassed 1.1 million views.