- Words Kitty Robson
Press play on the latest edition of NOTION NOW, and get your playlists summer-ready.
‘In The Night’ by Childish Gambino, Jorja Smith & Amaarae
For the launch of Childish Gambino’s final new album, the artist has teamed up with R&B stars Amaarae and Jorja Smith for a genre-bending ethereal song. ‘In the Night’, a track co-produced by Donald Glover - along with DJ Dahi and Kurtis McKenzie - features on Bando Stone and the New World, the soundtrack to his upcoming movie of the same name.
‘15 MINUTES’ by Madison Beer
Following on from her smash hit ‘Make You Mine’, Madison Beer is back with another atmospheric synth-filled dance-pop track. ’15 MINUTES’ is just as vibey, an earwormy melody with a floor-filling beat, it’s also just as much a summer anthem with it’s spontaneous and playful lyrics: ”15 minutes ago I was laying in bed / Then I had a crazy thought in my head / So I took the keys and got in the car / Don't know how I got here but baby here we are”, Madison sings.
‘Escape’ by Nemzzz
Fresh from his campaign as the face of Manchester United’s new home kit, Nemzzz is showing he’s going from strength to strength sonically on ‘Escape’. The summer-ready road rap anthem sees the wordsmith analysing the emotional toil with fame and how he’s navigating this influx of attention. In true Nemzzz style, the single barely reaches the 2-minute mark but it’s as poignant as ever, as the lyrics illuminate the introspective music video that comes with it.
‘Angel of My Dreams’ by JADE
Back with her long-awaited solo debut, JADE (AKA Jade Thirlwall of Little Mix), the single ‘Angle of My Dreams’ is everything we expected and more. Reflecting on her career in the industry so far, and the positives and negatives to such a life, the song centres around a tongue-in-cheek sample of Sandie Shaw's 1967 hit 'Puppet on a String’. An anthemic alt-pop-vibe, JADE explains: “I didn't want to do a safe first single, that was really important to me…I’m setting the tone of who I am as an artist on my own. I want people to hear it and be like 'what the fuck is that song?'. My worst nightmare is for someone to hear my song and go 'that's nice’.”
‘Satellite Business’ by Sampha & Little Simz
Sampha and Little Simz delivering one of the best collaborations this year? No surprises there then. On ‘Satellite Business 2.0’, the duo trade off their musical prowess over the dreamy instrumental that featured on Lahai. Little Simz elevates the track with her sharp rhymes and monotone drawl, showcasing a rich musical chemistry that we hope to hear more of. Referencing the Islington-born rapper, Sampha says, “Simz’s music has been close to my heart and ears for sometime now which makes her being on this song that more special".
‘Female Intuition’ by Mabel
Making a statement with her new single, Mabel’s ‘Female Intuition’ is an empowered and unapologetic track. Exploring becoming in tune with her voice within, Mabel confides that the single “is about how I’ve learned to trust my instincts. In every aspect of my life my female intuition is my compass and I’m so grateful for that. This track is also a celebration of all the amazing women in my life that have taught me to be strong. I dedicate this one to all the mothers, the aunties and sisters that guide and protect”.
‘Better’ by Lava La Rue & Cuco
Linking up for ‘Better’ is Lava La Rue and rising star Cuco, the final release from the London artist’s debut album Starface, out today - a project said to be exploring the journey of a gender-fluid extraterrestrial who finds themselves on earth - it’s a ‘70s-tinged chilled out, sunny single. Talking about the album, they explained “I approached it in the way I learned through coming up in NiNE8: making it feature-heavy…I’ve gone out of my way to get a featured artist that is a part of every continent or culture that’s influenced my music taste, from alt K-pop in Korea, to psychedelic Chicano music, to the Irish music scene, to my London family”.
‘Ground’ by Khalid
Khalid's latest single ‘Ground’ from his upcoming album is a tender ode to finding joy in the present. The El Paso crooner's dreamy vocals float over M-Phazes and Aiden Rodriguez's lush production as he sings, “Cotton-candy-colored skies / Even put a smile on my broken muse” With his new album Sincere out in August, the track promises Khalid is ready to captivate once again with his introspective sound.
‘One Call’ by SPINALL, Tyla & Omah Lay
SPINAL's latest summer single, ‘One Call’ features South African Grammy-winner Tyla and Afrobeats sensation Omah Lay. The track blends SPINALL's signature Afrobeats and house music into mid-summer anthem. Following his historic Coachella performances, SPINALL is dominating the summer with this vibrant, romance-infused hit and sunshine-filled video shot in Portugal: a weekend must-listen.
‘Who’ by Jimin
Dropping his second solo album Muse today, Jimin’s new single ‘Who’ channels early ‘00s R&B with smooth vocals and an infectious beat. Exploring themes of love and longing, with heartfelt lyrics capturing the search for a true connection, it’s a standout track that perfectly complements Jimin's evolving musical journey.
