Ahead of their highly anticipated album, New Me, Same Us, Little Dragon’s latest single, "Are You Feeling Sad?" gives a fresh, upbeat tempo in the same distinctive vein of other defining songs such as "Lover Chanting" and "Ritual Union." With a command of rhythm like no other, Little Dragon kicks the groves into high gear on this song. Bolstered further by the vocal stylings of Kali Uchis, this track's lyrics are just as optimistic as the instrumentation. Introspective lines like, "I'm happy for the sun and air / When it rains I love the smell / Happy for the love we shared / Yeah, nothing could ever compare," urge you to look on the bright side in the face of difficult situations and even loss. On collaborating with Kali, the band said they were so thrilled to work with her, remarking that, “She put her twist on it and gave the track an amazing energy. Did we mention we also love her?!” It's not hard to be optimistic with such a power team on such a creative track, one that surely builds anticipation for their upcoming album.

Steve Marino’s breezy single “Six Two Four” is an ode to good times and carefree summer nights. Lo-fi drums and reverberating guitars open the track, immediately emanating familiar feelings of intimacy and warmth. The arrangement is tender and hopeful; close your eyes and you might feel like you’re sitting around a fire pit with your closest friends, swaying along to Marino’s soft, easy vocals and losing yourself in the gorgeous melody. The lines “Everyone’s Here / Everyone’s Out” repeat throughout the song, making for an easy sing-along and emphasizing what’s at the heart of the lyrics and the mood: a celebration of friendship. “Six Two Four” is easy listening at its finest—it’s from Marino’s debut solo album, Fluff, which is flush with cozy songs about noticing and appreciating the people and places that make you feel like you’re home.

Tei Shi's sound may best be described as evocative, Latina indie-pop and her newest track "A Kiss Goodbye" delivers that same tone. Her exceptional recipe of R&B beats and buttery smooth vocalization makes her one of the most unique and listenable artists in her genre right now. Tei Shi transcends a rare soft yet authoritative voice in her lyricism, having a near-angelic affectation while claiming she "doesn't need a kiss goodbye" or any sort of outward approval. The blend of velvet and brash makes this new tune a stand out for the summer. Listen to this track while soaking in the sun or chilling on the porch. It's an ethereal kind of listening experience, which can be said of most of her discography. Much gentler than the majority of her punchy pop tracks, "A Kiss Goodbye" is somehow jazzy, flush and powerful all at once.

After two years of silence following the release of her sophomore album, I’m Not Your Man, English artist Marika Hackman is finally back with a new single that reminds us of all the reasons we love her. “i’m not where you are” proves Hackman to be both a master of her own sound and unafraid to experiment with new styles. The new track is full of contradictions: it opens with bright, popping synths only to be toned down by Hackman’s classic jaded vocals; the lyrics pivot between self-pitying and arrogant; and the beat makes retro fresh. The long-awaited release refuses to be categorized as just a melancholy, crooning murmur or a spiteful revenge anthem. Instead, Hackman experiences a nuanced range of emotions over the course of the song—self-doubt, indignation, regret—and the music peaks and sinks with her. 80s-esque guitar swells around her voice as she delivers her title message, which is a refusal to trust someone’s emotions if she can’t get to their same headspace. “i’m not where you are” is Hackman’s first teaser to her third full-length album, Any Human Friend, set to release on August 9th via Sub Pop. Hackman is clearly not done making us wait but at least we have this lush single to get us through the summer.

Riveting punches of hollow percussion and warped, loosely jointed guitar riffs burn off the low-fi fog of previous releases as Clairo seeks clarity through internal contemplation on her latest single, "Bags." With a kind of lyrical sleight of hand, Clairo weighs fantasy with reality, her own inner emotional turmoil spilling over in lines—every second counts / I don't wanna talk to you anymore / all these little games / you can call me by the name I gave you / yesterday." Lyrical symptoms of a non-committal lover live lines away from moments that depict the warm glow of contentment, and the reality of the dynamic remains unclear in the same way that Clairo’s voice remains unaffected. "Bags" takes Clairo out of the realm of bedroom pop and into the living room, finding a sense of ease and blossoming maturity in the sheen of her newly expanded sound.

AURORA is back with her chimerical and soothing vibes in “The River,” her third single this year. The 22-year-old Norwegian singer has been introducing the new era of her music in bits ahead of A Different Kind of Human, the second half of her two-part album project. The first part of the project was Infections of a Different Kind, an EP that came out in 2018. “The River” is the second to last single, and it continues the trend of songs directly linked to nature while talking about sensations that are intrinsically human. The track tackles themes of sadness, solitude, and desperation while remembering that our tears are made of the same elements that construct rivers and rains. “The River” reminds us that life comes in flows and calls us to not forget who we are and what our souls are made of—all while maintaining the sonic spirit of a cavernous river, somewhat characteristic of AURORA's sound. A Different Kind of Human comes out Friday, June 7th.