The sun is setting earlier, but this week’s new releases celebrate nights out, nights in, and finding the light in the darkness. First up is the irresistibly catchy pop-punk collab between Rosé of BLACKPINK & Bruno Mars, “APT.” Another delightful girl-group solo project comes from Little Mix’s JADE, who takes listeners on a sonic trip through time with the sensual single “Fantasy.” It wouldn’t be Friday without new music from Rebecca Black—the artist and DJ dropped a club-ready track called “TRUST!” along with a fittingly dance-filled music video. For those sitting out on the dance floor, Gracie Abrams’ reflective heartbreak anthem “That’s So True” might be the song that gets you through those pesky post-relationship blues. Finally, disco-pop icon Sophie Ellis-Bextor channels a spiritual vibe on her enchanting new single “Freedom Of The Night.” Read on for all the details about this week’s must-listen tracks.
“APT.” - Rosé & Bruno Mars
Kick your weekend into high gear with “APT.”—the infectiously upbeat collaboration between K-pop princess Rosé and soulful chart-topper Bruno Mars. The duo’s divergent styles blend seamlessly on the pop-punk track, inspired by the Korean drinking game Apartment (or apateu [아파트], as they chant in the catchy chorus). The light, flirtatious lyrics start in a snappy rhythm—think of the drum-driven opening to The Ting Ting’s ‘00s hit “That’s Not My Name”—before melting into a smooth, yearning pre-chorus. While each part of “APT.” is loop-worthy, the chorus’s hypnotic repeated refrain makes this one a real earworm.
“Fantasy” - JADE
Who’s going to match JADE’s freak? “Fantasy,” the latest solo outing from Little Mix member Jade Thirlwall, embraces all things kinky in an R&B-tinged whirl of pleasure-positive pop. The sexy single may shout out passion and pain in its chorus, but the former best describes JADE’s energy throughout the song’s saccharine verses. Throwback production transports listeners through the decades, from a buoyant disco sound in the pre-chorus to the glittering R&B style that dominated the ‘90s on the verses. The titular fantasy has no limits: “It could be loopy, it could be kinky, it could be hot, and that's okay,” JADE reassures her lover.
“TRUST!” - Rebecca Black
It’s Friday—viral sensation Rebecca Black blessed us with a sensual new single from her upcoming sophomore album. “TRUST!” is a high-octane pop banger that will have you dancing at the club, no matter your locale. Black’s emphatic delivery adds extra punch to the bold lines that fill the song’s verses—“This is what you came here for,” the artist and DJ declares in the music video, dancing around a stunned courtroom in an array of eye-catching fashions (hello, white fur boots!) The track’s airy chorus leads into a bumping, danceable techno rhythm before delivering another empowering verse. Trust us when we say Black’s second record can’t come soon enough.
“That’s So True” - Gracie Abrams
Artists teasing unreleased songs at live shows is nothing new—and, thanks to the Internet, you can listen to those concert-exclusive tracks on repeat until a studio version arrives. Those deluxe-edition entries might even become your favorites. Such is the case for many a Gracie Abrams fan when it comes to “That’s So True,” a heartbreak ballad that combines biting lyricism with pared-down production for an honest appeal to emotions. A standout addition on the deluxe version of Abrams’ sophomore album, June’s The Secret of Us, the song is a refreshing take on the familiar story of feeling ambivalence toward an ex.
“Freedom Of The Night” - Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Leave it to Ms. Ellis-Bextor to serve up an irresistible disco-pop anthem. The English hitmaker behind 2001’s dazzling “Murder on the Dancefloor”—which captured Gen Z hearts and playlists last fall after being featured in the film Saltburn—has come out with a new track praising the magical quality of the night. It may sound vaguely witchy, but despite its premise, “Freedom Of The Night” is an enthralling, upbeat tune with a sparkling dance sound. For Ellis-Bextor’s original fans and newer listeners, this single will scratch that itch for a fun, nu-disco vibe that only she can deliver.
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