It’s often difficult to parse the good from the bad in popular music. Streaming services make it nearly impossible to sift through the thousands of songs released on any given day. That’s why, here at Charted, we round up some of the latest hottest tracks. You’ll likely recognize a few names here and there, and other times, you might stumble upon your next obsession. Don’t worry, we’ll only serve you the cream of the crop – pop and R&B earworms so good that you’ll completely upend your weekly listening habits.
Here are 4 fresh songs to add to your playlist:
“God Loves You” – Stela Cole
Stela Cole witnessed the toxic side of religion. Growing up, she grew up in a Christian household and saw first-hand how things could go very badly. So, she put pen to paper to write “God Loves You,” a slinky anthem about the experience. “hile I’ve redefined what Christianity means to me and still consider myself to be very spiritual,” she writes on Instagram. “I’ve seen the dangers of organized religion and been mistreated by people who abuse it.”
Sliding side-to-side with a darkly-laced production, “God Loves You” is a ringing alarm that couldn’t have come at a more relevant time. “When you’re fading slow, and the river that you cried is ice cold, cheer up, baby, God still loves you, even if I don’t,” she sings in the chorus. Her words fall like broken glass, leaving scratch marks and opens wounds along its way. It’s a venomous performance – and exactly what we need right now.
Listen to “God Loves You” below.
“Never See You Cry” – Ryan Nealon
Plucking the heart strings, Ryan Nealon‘s “Never See You Cry” emerges as one of the year’s absolute stunners. Acoustic guitar rumbles in first, a soft pitter-patter glow, leaving Nealon to deliver an emotionally pulverizing performance – a timeless moment in his catalog. Unimaginable loss pulses at the song’s core, an exhibit about his mother’s death and the years-long aftermath.
“You never let me see you cry / You kept it all inside,” sings Nealon in brutal delicacy. “You held it together, a hero in my eyes / But were you actually alright?”
On Instagram, he peels back the curtain, writing, “This song means the world to me and I’m so glad it’s finally out in the world. Wrote this with my friends [Michael Blum] and [Lily Williams] and had a feeling it would be a special one. Seeing how many of you guys have been sharing your own personal stories about how you relate to this one has been so incredible to see.”
Listen to “Never See You Cry” below.
“Your New Favorite Song” – Wallows
It’s hard to imagine Wallows has been around for eight years. Eight. Ever since their debut, “Pleaser,” they’ve amassed an impressive catalog and fan base. Their music spans indie to rock, and everything in between. With “Your New Favorite Song,” the Dylan Minnette-led trio keep things on the chill side.
“Think I wrote you your new favorite song / Would you pan it, or would you sing along?” Minnette asks in the third verse. “It’s more than likely that I’ll never know / But I’ll still look out for you at the show.” The group toys with structure, opting for a verse-verse-verse-bridge rather than the typical verse-chorus-verse playbook. In doing so, they keep the listener firmly engaged and invested in the moody lyrical landscape.
Listen to “Your New Favorite Song” below.
“When We Kiss” – Olly Alexander
Olly Alexander heads out onto the dance floor with his latest song. “When We Kiss” is a little bit Robyn and a whole lotta Darren Hayes. “The power’s in your hands / I just don’t understand,” he pleads, unsure of how things are unraveling. “How did it ever come to this? / Tears in your eyes when we kiss.”
Is it the end or the beginning? He’s unsure. He simply goes with the motion, the rhythm, and the tracking of neon lights around their bodies. “I hear it in your voice / Lie next to me / We can make a choice, change our destiny,” he sings. He locks lips in the hopes that it’ll change the relationship’s entire trajectory. Maybe it’ll change – or maybe it’ll stay the same.
Listen to “When We Kiss” below.
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