Looking for some Monday motivation to help power you through the start of another week? We’re right there with you, and with some stellar new pop tunes, we’ve got you covered.
These 10 tracks from artists like Sasha Sloan, Victoria Monet, Ant Saunders and Gashi will get you energized to take on the week. Pop any of these gems into your personal playlists ASAP.
Sasha Sloan, “Lie”
With “Lie,” an ignorance-is-bliss anthem with slinky percussion that elevates the chorus, Sasha Sloan makes good on the promise of her recent singles and delivers a straight-up radio hit; this song should happily coexist alongside shimmering top 40 staples by Halsey, Harry Styles and The Weeknd in the coming months.
SG Lewis feat. Robyn and Channel Tres, “Impact”
Snagging Robyn as a guest vocalist is a dream come true for a producer, and SG Lewis makes the most of the enviable collaboration on “Impact,” which kicks off with a all-timer melisma from the pop icon and then commits to a club bounce, with Channel Tres’ low commands balancing out Robyn’s dizzying highs.
Ant Saunders feat. VanJess, “I Had a Love Song”
“Yellow Hearts” singer Ant Saunders and Nigerian sister duo VanJess worked on “I Had a Love Song” remotely while quarantining, but the new collaboration sounds so effortless that it’s hard to believe the track isn’t the result of a particularly breezy studio session.
Elliphant, “Had Enough”
Anyone paying attention to indie-pop in the mid-2010’s understood how gifted Stockholm native Elliphant was, with songs like “Love Me Badder” and “One More” showcasing an impressive mix of songwriting skill and ebullient attitude. Although she has yet to become a U.S. brand name, new single “Had Enough” shows that Elliphant is still crossing borders with impeccable shout-along hooks.
Mia Nicolai, “Set Me Free”
Mia Nicolai comes from Amsterdam, only has two songs available on streaming services, and is already someone worth keeping an eye on, based on the ornately arranged pop on new track “Set Me Free.” Listen to how Nicolai uses voice echoes, acoustic guitar, programmed drums and various other sound effects to achieve her desired effect.
Victoria Monet, “Jaguar”
Pity any pop fan still sleeping on Victoria Monet, the frequent Ariana Grande songwriting collaborator who has reignited her solo career with the nine-song project Jaguar. The title track, full of thinly veiled innuendo and soulful harmonies that are stacked upon a cymbal rides, makes for an immediate highlight.
thisisNAMASTE, “Something”
Natasha Marie Stewart, better known as thisisNAMASTE, delivers pure pop euphoria from Scotland, and when the chorus of “Something” starts chugging along, you’ll find your shoulders shimmying and your mind wandering to try and capture the state of happiness that she captures.
Glaive, “Clover”
“I only like my hooks, so here we go again,” Glaive sings on “Clover” before diving back into the chorus; nearly all of the 15-year-old North Carolina native’s songs clock in at under two minutes, and his latest demonstrates a dazzling understand of pop craft, and makes you wonder for a half-second if any song needs to be over two minutes.
Gashi feat. Sting, “Mama”
Yup, it’s that Sting: Brooklyn-by-way-of-Libya singer-songwriter Gashi has had a long, fascinating trip toward his sophomore album 1984, and he’s decided to return to the ‘80s to the Police icon beside him, resulting in a throwback groove that your parents will also appreciate.
Shy Martin, “Are You Happy?”
Sweden’s Shy Martin has been featured in this space before, and with the release of her Sad Songs EP last week, she’s still cranking out cool pop songs ripe for this weekly playlist. “Are You Happy?” is less of a Sad Song than a Melancholy Song, with the singer looking back at a failed relationship and appreciating how it made her grow.
