One thing I did frequently when I started this blog was make little lists containing some of my favorite tracks that have come out recently. A lot of people in my life ask me quite a bit for new music to listen to(since they know I am so obsessed with finding new music), so I felt like this is a great way for me to share some of the new music I love with the people around me. I have not released a blog post like this in 2024, as I have been so busy with doing album, EP, and single reviews. I have shifted my focus to trying to cover as many projects as possible, but this has made me move away from my roots a bit. I would not say that is a negative at all, especially considering the quality of the music that has been coming out in 2024. There have been so many albums and EPs that have come out this year that I have legitimately enjoyed so much and felt like I needed to cover, so I do not regret this shift in content at all. That said, I want to get back into sharing random individual songs that I love, though, and this article is the start. In addition to the plethora of great projects that have come out in 2024, there have been so many singles that have been released that I think are great as well and have not been able to talk about. Just this summer alone, there have been quite a few singles I have not gotten to talk about that I am into. I feel like there are so many genres and styles of music that are growing and thriving right now; there is so much dope music that I would love to help expose to those out there who may not know about all of this great new music. Below, I wanted to make a little list of some new songs that I have been digging as of late. You could even call this my list of potential songs of the summer(or at least songs I think could be in that category if they were getting a bit more hype by the media and major music publications). Please let me know in the comments below what you think of the tracks I picked for this list, and also comment any other songs that you think are awesome which could be songs of the summer for you!

CH3RRY – TIMBALAND AND N3WYRKLA

I feel like I am someone that is usually pretty in tune with who is popping off in the Alternative R&B scene especially when it comes to up-and-coming artists, but I have to admit that N3WYRKLA was someone I was sleeping on. I recently came across her new collaboration with Timbaland on Spotify, and I am so glad. ‘CH3RRY’ was definitely an early candidate for song of the summer in my opinion considering how much I was constantly listening to it when it came out. This is a track that feels old-school and modern at the same time. The early 2000s Timbaland influence is prevalent in this song, especially in the mix and the way the drums are arranged. There is also a distorted modern Funk sound to this one that makes it so catchy. As cool as the instrumental is, the best part about ‘CH3RRY’ by far is N3WYRKLA’s vocals. Her flow and tone are super catchy and smooth, and her tongue-in-cheek lyricism makes this track a blast to listen to as well. If you like upbeat and groovy R&B music, ‘CH3RRY’ is a song you need to listen to. 

JOYRIDE – KESHA

After many years of strife and legal battles with her former record company, Kesha has finally returned to music as a freshly independent artist. The first release of her newfound independent music career is one of the most fun and quirky Pop songs of the summer. If you were a fan of Kesha’s work from the beginning of her career(songs like ‘Tik Tok’ or ‘My First Kiss,’ for example), ‘JOYRIDE’ is a song I guarantee you will love. This song is super eccentric and entertaining; everything about it is weird and bold in the best way. The melody for ‘JOYRIDE’ sounds like it belongs at a haunted carnival, and the beat makes this track feel so zany as well. As one would expect on this kind of track, Kesha’s vocals on this one are great as well. She more than matches the weird energy of the instrumental with her lyricism and overall delivery, adding to the comedic feeling of the track. The only slight knock against ‘JOYRIDE’ that I have is that I think it probably should have been released a bit later in the year because it feels like such a Halloween song; I could see a dance floor absolutely turning up to ‘JOYRIDE’ on Halloween, and it would be so fun to see people dancing to this one in their costumes. Regardless, ‘JOYRIDE’ is a great return to form for Kesha, and it makes me hope she continues down this route with her next releases. 

TGIF – GLORILLA

Out of everyone on this list, GloRilla is the artist I have been the most consistently excited about throughout 2024. She has been on a hell of a run this year, and can seemingly do no wrong. From her awesome mixtape Ehhthang Ehhthang(which contained the hit single ‘Yeah Glo!’) to the great features she has done this year(such as ‘Wanna Be’ by Megan Thee Stallion), GloRilla has been killing it lately. She recently released her new single ‘TGIF,’ which like ‘Yeah Glo!,’ has seen much success on social media. It is certainly not tough to see why this track is taking off the way it is. This song is a larger-than-life banger with a gritty sound that I think is just awesome. The melody and beat for this song are harsh and bold, and GloRilla’s vocals more than match the energy of the instrumental. This song is full of super engaging bars: ‘TGIF’ is the kind of song that will get stuck in your head for hours when you hear it because it just has that kind of quality. ‘TGIF’ is another imposing banger from one of Rap’s rising stars, and it makes me so excited to see what GloRilla does next.

KEHLANI – JORDAN ADETUNJI

If there is a track on this record that truly feels like a Tik Tok hit, that would be ‘Kehlani’ by Jordan Adetunji. If you are active on Tik Tok, I would pretty much guarantee you have heard this one, as it has been everywhere on that app as of late. Jordan Adetunji did get a big boost from Kehlani herself when the track came out, as she posted herself dancing to this one multiple times, drawing a ton of attention to it. It is not tough to see why this one has taken off in the way that it has, as it is extremely catchy. ‘Kehlani’ is the kind of song that will get stuck in your head for a long time when it comes on, as it just has that kind of extremely sticky quality to it. ‘Kehlani’ has a fuzzy and distorted melody that is very bright, and an off-kilter Drill beat that makes it very fun to dance to. Jordan Adetunji’s vocals on ‘Kehlani’ are great as well; his flow is so energetic and rapid, his tone is vibrant, and his lyrics are amusing. ‘Kehlani’ is the kind of viral hit that can catapult someone’s career, and it will definitely have me keeping an eye on Jordan Adetuni. 

OONTZ – MICHELLE

I feel like Indie Pop-Rock music is completely thriving right now, as I am coming across new artists in this genre that I really enjoy all of the time. I found MICHELLE near the beginning of this year when I came across their EP GLOW, and it made me an immediate major fan of the group. ‘Oontz’ was MICHELLE’s first single of the summer, having come out back on June 20th, and it has been in immediate rotation for me since its release. ‘Oontz’ has an old-school Funky Jazz Pop sound that I am so into and can not get enough of. Everything about this track is captivating for me. The melody is so luscious and warm, and the beat is super groovy. As entertaining as this instrumental is, the vocals take the track over the top. The multiple vocalists for Michelle give ‘Oontz’ so much texture and provide a ton of quality in a variety of ways. If you are someone who is into shimmery and cozy Pop-Rock music, ‘Oontz’ is a track I know you will enjoy.

BIG DAWGS – HANUMANKIND FEAT. KALMI

If there are any songs on this list that I could truly bill as the song of the summer(or one that has the potential to become so in the next couple of weeks as it continues to ascend), ‘Big Dawgs’ by Hanumankind and Kalmi could be that song. This one is blowing up on YouTube right now, and it is not tough to see why. For one, the music video for ‘Big Dawgs’ is nuts; it is honestly tough to describe, so if you have not seen it, watch it right now because it is so worth it. Beyond the music video, though, this song is so great as well. Hanumankind is an Indian rapper who spent some time in Houston and is influenced by artists like Three 6 Mafia. He wears this influence on his sleeve in ‘Big Dawgs,’ because he uses the iconic Project Pat flow to start the track, and it is so great. I can also hear a bit of Lil Wayne’s influence in his flow, which I enjoy. Everything about ‘Big Dawgs’ rules. From the extremely hard-hitting instrumental(which has a melody that sounds like motorcycles revving) to Hanumankind’s aforementioned flow to his witty lyricism, Hanumankind proves how talented he is and has cultivated one of the best songs I have heard this summer easily. I hope that ‘Big Dawgs’ is not a flash in the pan for Hanumankind, because I think he proved he is someone who needs to be followed after this track. 

DIET PEPSI – ADDISON RAE

I have to acknowledge that I was pretty skeptical of Addison Rae’s musical chops when she first started releasing songs a couple of years ago. I will readily admit that this was unfair of me, especially considering the quality of her releases recently. Addison Rae’s new single ‘Diet Pepsi’ easily proves she has the chops to be a Pop star. I have been seeing a lot of comparisons to early Britney Spears music for this track, and I can certainly see where that assessment is coming from. Everything about this track has a Y2K feeling about it in the best way. From the dark, shiny, and almost mechanical melody to the glitchy beat, ‘Diet Pepsi’ screams turn of the century Pop music in the best way. Addison Rae’s vocals on this track are impressive as well. She proves she is more than a solid singer and has the charisma to draw me in as a listener for sure. ‘Diet Pepsi’ is a very cool track from an artist I am pretty surprised could make a song like this, and it makes me want more from Addison Rae.