Lana Del Rey released her sixth album Norman Fucking Rockwell! at the end of August via Interscope Records and has once again proven herself to be an insightful, eloquent songwriter. Del Rey offers up her unapologetic observations on love, the maze that is human emotion and the communication breakdown that everyone seems to have on a daily basis. One track in particular that grabs your attention is “Cinnamon Girl”, which details the cycle of a caring, but unhealthy relationship. The delicate piano kicks things off and softly rings as Lana’s melodic, longing voice begins to build before you’re engulfed in pools of light, cinematic layers of synth. She poignantly recaps her desire to connect, “All the pills that you did / Violet, blue, green, red to keep me / At arm's length don't work / You try to push me out / But I just find my way back in.” As the song comes to an end, we get a dose of swirling instrumentation—leaving room to conclude that maybe Del Rey has found some sort of closure. There’s no sugarcoating or beating around the bush, which is a consistent element of the album as a whole.

Okay Kaya’s newest single, “Ascend And Try Again,” is intimate and ethereal. Like lounging on a cloud or floating underwater, the weightless, jazz-inspired arrangement is lush with reverb and rich instrumentation. A steady, intricate guitar line along with Norwegian-born Kaya Wilkins’ breathy, dreamy vocal are the moody center of the song. The light plucking and repetitive lyrics, “ascend and try again,” reflect the emotional power of the minimalist melody, and the added harmonies serve to further emphasize that theme. The arresting lyrics, simple and straightforward, were adapted from a scuba diving manual and double as a meditation on life. “Ascend And Try Again” is a hauntingly smooth, sonically rich slow jam.

"holy terrain" marks FKA twigs' second single leading up to her much anticipated sophomore album, Magdalene. The trap-gospel positions twigs at the center of her own creation story as she attempts to find a man to stand by her in a world marked by the tragedy of sin. "Take me to a deep river / Steal a kiss when I'm lost in the mist" equates the new relationship to a baptismal rebirth. In conversation with her is Future in the role of her lover atoning for his past failures. He needs her to "Pray for my sins, make me stronger where I'm weak." "I love when he gets emo," twigs said of Future. "It’s just so beautiful when he opens up." Production is led by Skrillex's prowess and the ever-ubiquitous Jack Antonoff, who are both credited as co-writers though the story is twigs' own. Having recently experienced heartbreak she described as "all-encompassing," twigs has also been forthcoming about laparoscopic surgery in 2018 that caused her to "doubt if my body would ever feel the same again." "holy terrain" proves that she has found power and respect in her body once again. Magdalene is due out October 25 via Young Turks.

After releasing her debut album, You & I, in 2017, ALA.NI’s listenership went international, spreading from France to Germany to Turkey to the United States. The genre-defying singer was born in London and is currently based in Paris and after two years, she is releasing her second album. The lead single, “Sha La La,” provides a stunning and delicate example of all of ALA.NI’s signature traits. The track is mainly made up of vocals—typical of the artist, who typically favors a cappella or the slightest hint of instrumentation. Her voice can do anything; it reaches high and clear, drops to low and rumbling, and acts as percussion when needed. The effect is accomplished through an intricate layering of countless vocal tracks, so everything you are hearing is pure ALA.NI. Similarly, her lyrics are earnest, telling exactly what she is feeling: “All you told me really was a lie / It hurt me / Darling, you hurt me.” The song tells us a story of betrayal and walks us through the break-up and the struggle to move on. The melody, however, is upbeat and airy and the few instruments that are introduced are understated, bobbing contently along with the vocals. The juxtaposition leaves a wistful and bittersweet mark, as do her final, lovesick lines: “If I see you at a party / just dance with me / say you’ll still dance with me.” “Sha La La” is the first taste of ALA.NI’s upcoming sophomore album, ACCA.

Hop in the car, roll the windows down, and be transported back to warmer summer days with Jelani Aryeh’s new track “The Garden.” With the perfect blend of R&B and bedroom pop, this dreamy tune will have you hooked and wanting to hear more from the San Diego artist, whose musical influences include BROCKHAMPTON, Frank Ocean, Rex Orange County and Childish Gambino. His heartfelt lyrics, refined electronic production and catchy hooks make it hard to believe Aryeh is not yet 20 years old. Since the release of his debut EP Suburban Destinesia in 2017, Aryeh has dropped multiple singles, all of which have the same alternative suburban-pop vibe that is unique to his sound. If you love his music as much as we do, catch Jelani Aryeh live at Chelsea Music Hall on Thursday, September 26 alongside beabadoobee, Gabriel Black and KennyHoopla.

While known for her futuristic production and stories of extravagant parties, British pop aficionado Charli XCX reaches new heights on "Official," a love letter to the person you're with when the party's over. She seems embarrassed to broach the idea of going official, toeing the line of hope and fear. "Look at us, isn't it obvious?" she asks: though she shouldn't have to, for someone as bold and brash as Charli, showing her emotional side is a terrifying concept. "Is it so dangerous? Is it so complicated?" Simple keys and a luminescent synth build in the chorus put her fragile vocals at the forefront, with the touch of autotune acting as a final barrier to protect her from feeling fully exposed. The song's earnest bridge is its highlight, as she insists, "Maybe the sky might not always be blue / All of my wishes will never come true / It doesn't matter 'cause I’m here with you." Long-time collaborator A.G. Cook pushed to have the track on her new record, where Charli felt it was too out-of-character. While it seemed Charli XCX could only shake up pop conventions by getting weirder, stripping things back turned out to be the most gratifying surprise of all.

Florida native Sierra Kay, known for her previous work in bands like Neaux and VersaEmerge, has spent the last few years on a quest for self-exploration. During her travels from NYC to Tennessee, Sierra has been creating a collection of hyper-personal songs about the inevitable heartaches of being a restless and rowdy woman who won’t settle down. These songs have morphed into Sierra’s new project, Bad Daughter. The band’s first single, the free-spirited and bittersweet “I’m Too Much” offers a glimpse at what this new endeavor will bring. The song toes the line between dreamy Americana and earthy folk with Sierra’s crystalline vocals and earnest, self-deprecating lyrics front and center. With one foot planted in the realm of indie rock and the other in the world of alt-country, Bad Daughter should be on everyone’s radar this coming year.