As we move into autumn and cooler weather starts to be the norm, it’s time to leave the upbeat pop that defined summer behind and start searching for the hits that’ll keep us warm when the leaves start falling. This week, Hailee Steinfeld delivered on that search alongside new music from Labrinth, Maroon 5, Cyn, and others. Check out this week’s notable hits in the New Music Roundup.
- “Afterlife” – Hailee Steinfeld
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Hailee Steinfeld unveiled her new song “Afterlife” this week. Written for her new series “Dickinson,” premiering on November 1st on Apple TV+, the song’s Emily Dickinson-inspired lyrics describe a relationship that’s strong enough to transcend death and the haunting mood is a great intro to the fall music coming our way. “This record has become one of my favorite songs I’ve worked on and sonically, it’s indicative of the direction I’m exploring with my new music,” Steinfeld said about the song.
- “Memories” – Maroon 5
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It’s been awhile since we’ve heard some new music from Maroon 5 and it looks like they’re getting sentimental in their new single, “Memories.” This low-key song is a vulnerable story about looking back at a person in the past who isn’t here anymore. Levine wrote on Twitter that the song is “for anyone who has ever experienced loss” and that it’s “the nearest and dearest to my heart.”
- “Sweettalk my Heart” – Tove Lo
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Tove Lo just released her fourth album – Sunshine Kitty – and if you’re looking for a little taste of the album, look for “Sweettalk my Heart.” Backed by 80’s-inspired synths and a quick percussive beat, Lo sings about a lover with a talent for sweet-talking. The minor-key evokes a feeling of sadness, but mixed in with the beat of a club banger.
- “smiling when i die” – Sasha Sloan
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Sasha “sad girl” Sloan is living without regrets in her new song, “smiling when i die.” Produced by frequent collaborator and boyfriend King Henry, Sloan continues to prove that she’s the source for songs that keep us crying in the club. Warning: listening to this song may encourage feelings of buying those plane tickets you keep putting off.
- “I Don’t Miss You at All” – FINNEAS
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If you aren’t yet aware, Billie Eilish’s older brother makes his own music in addition to playing the role of Eilish’s musical right-hand man. Finneas O’Connell (FINNEAS) is gearing up to release his EP – Blood Harmony – and is giving us yet another taste of the finished project with “I Don’t Miss You at All.” FINNEAS wrote that the song is about trying to get over someone and “remembering all your absolute favorite things about them and pretending they mean nothing to you now.” The song also features a previously teased lyric and another glimpse of FINNEAS’s song-writing genius – “The shade of green that if he’d seen would make F. Scott Fitzgerald cry.”
- “Something’s Got To Give” – Labrinth
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Labrinth’s been on fire this year. In addition to scoring HBO’s gritty new hit series “Euphoria,” he’s been releasing singles for the show and his upcoming second solo album. “Something’s Got To Give” is yet another hit in a long sequence of hit releases that’s gotten Labrinth a lot of hype for more music. Labrinth said that working on “Euphoria” has been a creatively-challenging pursuit and thanks to the experience, his next album has “a broad range of styles and so many genres, I call it a bag of Skittles.”
- “Never-ending Summer” – Cyn
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“Never-ending Summer” was released in August but appears on Cyn’s just-released, highly-anticipated debut EP – Mood Swing – and deserves a mention in this New Music Roundup, despite it being not so new. With fall rapidly approaching, the song has us reminiscing on the hot, lazy days we just had. It just evokes the image of sitting next to the pool with this playing on a speaker nearby. Cyn makes everything feel so breezy and effortless with her light optimism and dreamy voice.
Check out the New Music Roundup playlist here and keep checking back for more!