Happy Monday! Kickstart your week ahead by checking out all of the new music that has just been released in this roundup of new music.
From new albums by Machine Gun Kelly and Harry Styles, to new songs from Miley Cyrus and Bryson Tiller, to new collaborations from Calvin Harris, Future & Khalid and Hardwell & Austin Mahone, to our expert picks, take a look at this week's New Music Report.
Miley Cyrus - "Malibu"
Just as she promised, Miley Cyrus' comeback track, "Malibu," (and it's accompanying music video) arrived on Thursday afternoon (May 11) and it's a new direction for the pop star. The song, which was produced by Oren Yoel ("Adore You"), is a lovely ode to her fiancé Liam Hemsworth and hears Cyrus moving on from her urban-based material on 2013's Bangerz. "But here I am/ Next to you/ The sky's more blue/ In Malibu/ Next to you," she croons during the chorus. All is steady and laid-back until things pick up pace a bit for the final chorus of the almost-four minute track, and we are absolutely here for it.
Machine Gun Kelly - bloom
Machine Gun Kelly unleashes the next chapter in his career with his third studio album, bloom. For his newest effort, MGK recruits a number (and we mean a number) of guest stars, including James Arthur, Quavo, Ty Dolla $ign, Hailee steinfeld, DubXX and, of course, Camila Cabello, for something he’s wanted to release all his life ... even if some of his underground followers have turned their back on him. "Waited my whole life for an album like this. happy it finally came,” the rapper tweeted. See: “Trap Paris” and “Bad Things"
Harry Styles - Harry Styles
After much anticipation, Harry's very first solo album is FINALLY HERE. The self-titled debut features ten new songs, including his debut solo single "Sign of the Times," as well as a few other songs he's shared with fans previously like "Ever Since New York" and "Sweet Creature."
During his recent iHeartRadio Album Release Party at Rough Trade in Brooklyn, Harry said of his debut album, "I'm very proud of this album. It's a piece of me I don't think I've ever really put out before. I'm happy, I can't complain," he said. "I've just loved writing and being able to put it together into in an album. I've never made an album myself before, so I felt like I learned a lot during the process."
Fans can listen to Harry's iHeartRadio Album Release Party on loop on iHeartRadio by clicking HERE.
Paramore - After Laughter
Paramore is back and is taking their fans back to the 80s with their brand new album After Laughter, as fans have heard on songs like "Hard Times" and "Told You So." After Laughter is the band's fifth studio album, and their first album since drummer Zac Farro's return (since 2010), and the departure of bassist Jeremy Davis, who left the band back in 2015.
In April, Hayley Williams told iHeartRadio of the meaning behind their new album's title, "After Laughter is about the look on people's faces when they're done laughing. If you watch somebody long enough, there's always this look that comes across their face when they're done smiling, and I always find it really fascinating to wonder what it is that brought them back to reality. So, that's what After Laughter is."
Calvin Harris featuring Future & Khalid - "Rollin"
This new song is FIREEE! Calvin Harris has been dipping his toes into the hip hop scene recently and hasn’t disappointed us yet. This latest single “Rollin” features Future and Khalid – and we can’t get enough of it. The smooth, yet bumping single is just the right song to play at your next summer pool party or cookout to give people all the vibes. Both Future and Khalid rap and sing about waving goodbye to the past and moving on into the lit future. “Rollin” is featured on Harris upcoming album Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1.
Zac Brown Band - Welcome Home
Welcome Home is Zac Brown Band's seventh studio album, and is their first release on Southern Ground/Elektra Records. The new album was produced by Grammy-Award winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell) and The Arena Productions, and was recorded at Southern Ground Nashville studio. The new album follows their 2015 record Jekyll + Hyde and features ten new songs, including singles like "My Old Man" and "Family Table."
Zac recently told iHeartRadio of the band's new album, "The meaning behind Welcome Home means just coming back to our roots. Going back after doing an adventurous record with Jekyll + Hyde [and] just coming back to a purist approach, and back to the foundation. Kind of [like] the first record that we ever made."
Imagine Dragons - "Whatever It Takes"
As part of their latest era, Imagine Dragons have premiered a new track called “Whatever It Takes,” which appears on their upcoming LP, Evolve. Following previously released cuts “Believer” and “Thunder,” the four-act band combines elements of rock and electronica to expand to comfortable perimeters of their signature sound. Plus, the explosive chorus sure helps elevate the song to new heights.
B.o.B - Ether
Rejoice! B.o.B has officially dropped his fifth studio album, ETHER. It’s been a hot minute since we last heard an LP from the ATL rapper. He released four mixtapes in 2016, but we’ve been waiting patiently for a bigger project. Now, ETHER is here and the hot album fulfills all of our needs. The 12-track work of musical art features the likes of Lil Wayne, Young Thug, Ty Dolla $ign, Cee-Lo Green, Big K.R.I.T. and Young Dro. If you haven’t listened to ETHER, listen now! You won’t be mad.
Chris Brown & Nas - "Die Young"
Chris Brown and Nas joined forces to create “Die Young,” a single that pays homage to the late rapper Chinx, who was fatally shot almost two years ago in New York. Over the beat, Brown and Nas speak about police brutality and how this plays a role in many young, urban men having their lives cut short way too soon. “Hear a gunshot sound, another black man down,” he sings. “Another innocent killed by the police / Which side are you on?” This new track is a remix of Chinx’s original “Die Young” song, which was featured on the late MC’s posthumous album, Legends Never Die.
Timeflies featuring Shy Martin - "Raincoat"
Timeflies released their latest single which features Shy Martin, and it. is. a. BOP. "Raincoat" is the first single from the duo's upcoming EP, which is set to be released sometime in June. The guys say that they began working on their new single while on a trip to Sweden with Shy, and later finished it up in LA. They tell iHeartRadio, "We recorded this with Shy Martin, wrote it in Sweden. This is a special love story."
"Raincoat" is an addictive, melodic EDM-centric duet with Shy Martin that's arriving just in time for summer. They sing, "I feel it in my body when you are around/And I know that this party is breaking you down/But you ain't like nobody, nobody/I feel it in my body, my body." (And yes, there is a raincoat involved in this love story)
Ne-Yo - "Earn Ur Love"
After releasing his rendition of Kendrick Lamar’s “HUMBLE.,” Ne-Yo is hitting us up with another banger, “Earn Your Love.” On the R&B track, female listeners can hear Ne-Yo tell them how worthy they are of a man gaining their love and affection. There’s even a moment where the singer samples a part of 2pac’s “I Get Around” in the musical love letter to his female fans everywhere. “Baby, I’m a man with some paper not a problem, I can buy things/ Most people cannot dream, but I don’t believe in shopping for love,” he sings.
Hardwell featuring Austin Mahone - "Creatures of the Night"
Roughly a month after teasing the track at Miami’s Ultra Music Festival 2017, Hardwell has finally unleashed his collaboration with Austin Mahone, “Creatures of the Night,” on iHeartRadio’s Evolution Radio. It’s a high-energy cut that finds the EDM heavyweight offering the budding pop star with the opportunity to fly sky high with vocals atop gentle piano keys. Two words: Banger alert!
New Kids On The Block - Thankful EP
The O.G. of boybands New Kids On The Block released a five-track EP called Thankful -- and after 31 years of releasing music, it's their first EP. Thankful is led by NKOTB's single "One More Night," and follows NKTOB's 2013 top-charting album TEN, and was officially released on the same day (May 12th) that their highly anticipated "Total Package Tour," which also features Boyz II Men and Paula Abdul, kicks off in Columbus, Ohio. This is Paula's first return to the stage in 25 years. The "Total Package Tour" will hit over 40 North American cities, and will bring the band back to their native Boston, returning to perform at the city's iconic Fenway Park for the first time in five years.
Snoop Dogg featuring K Camp - "Trash Bags"
Hip hop’s favorite uncle is giving us some more heat! Snoop Dogg dropped a new track called “Trash Bags” featuring K Camp and it’s lit. The song tells the story of the Doggfather having a good time at the strip club -- so good of a time that he’s prepared for a fun night and walks in the spot with trash bags filled with money. This new song is featured off of Snoop’s upcoming fifteenth studio album, Neva Left, which drops May 19, 2017.
DVBBS featuring Belly - "You Found Me"
Producer/DJ duo DVBBS have teamed up with fellow Canadian recording artist Belly on their new single "You Found Me." The hip hop rhythm on the track features lyrics from Belly, as the chorus goes, "You found me frozen, I'm so cold/Pray now, save me, I know/Come, baby, now please don't let me go."
DVVBS recently told Complex that this collaboration with Belly was "a long time coming." They said, "We've all grown up through the Canadian music industry and it was an honor for us to produce and co-write. Working with Belly in the studio was an eye opening to how much of a lyrical genius he really is. We wanted to do something that would mesh our worlds together."
Felix Jaehn, Hight & Alex Aiono - "Hot2Touch"
Felix Jaehn, who found much success with his 2015 single "Ain't Nobody (Loves Me Better)," is back with a brand new collaboration called "Hot2Touch," and it features UK electronic artist Hight and singer/songwriter Alex Aiono. In a recent tweet, Felix noted that he worked on "Hot2Touch" for two years. The trio turns up the funk on their new collaboration with its disco rhythm and small hints of live instrumentation. Alex sings, "I've got to make my move/And walks towards her, I don't care what I lose/And I'm dying just to prove it, but she's illusive no matter what I do."
LeToya Luckett - Back 2 Life
LeToya Luckett is back with the release of her third studio album, Back 2 Life. The R&B singer’s 13-track project details the tumultuous relationship a woman has with her significant other. The singer went through a messy divorce last year. So, this new album is most likely autobiographical. “I stepped out the box on this album and I wanted to open my heart and talk about some of my experiences, things that I’ve gone through over the past seven years,” Luckett told The Boombox about Back 2 Life.
Bleachers - "Everybody Lost Somebody"
We are only a few weeks away from the release of Bleachers' new album Gone Now, and each week, Jack Antonoff teases fans with a new song; this time with "Everybody Lost Somebody." Like the previous songs we've heard from Gone Now, "Everybody Lost Somebody," also has an '80s touch to it, especially with the synths and use of saxophone. There are also a few spoken word parts featuring a female vocal.
Gone Now, Bleachers' second studio album, will officially be released on June 2nd
Axwell /\ Ingrosso - "Renegade"
Hot off of their collaboration with Kid Ink called "I Love You," Axwell /\ Ingrosso are now preparing to release their new EP More Than You Know on May 24th, and have shared the first single from the four-track set called "Renegade." This new single shows the progression the duo has made since they formed. Stepping away from the harder EDM style, "Renegade" is a breezy dance track featuring some rhythmic guitar with lyrics like "Baby, I'm a renegade/Baby, you're a firestorm/Move your body close to mine/We can dance until the dawn."
Chris Young - "Losing Sleep"
Chris Young is getting ready to release his new full-length studio album, and has shared the first single from the record with fans called "Losing Sleep." The songs starts off with guitar chords, very similar to Justin Bieber's "Love Yourself," but then a mid-tempo rhythm kicks into the full-production chorus. Chris sings, "Fall into me, let me breathe the air you breathe/I can take you anywhere you wanna be/When it comes to us every single touch is something special."
Lupe Fiasco - "Coulda Been"
Lupe Fiasco wonders what coulda, shoulda, woulda been on his latest song. “Coulda Been” detailed the rapper’s deep thoughts of where his life may have ended up if he didn’t have a career in the music industry. "Could he have had odd jobs like at the post office, could he have been mowing lawns?” Who knows. Fiasco’s imagination takes him on an adventure into the world of the unknown. Listen to “Could Been.” It may even make you think of different possibilities you could’ve had in your life, as well.
Sage The Gemini - "Pilot"
Sage released his latest song “Pilot” and it’s a smooth, catchy track that you won’t be able of get out of your head, once you’ve first listened to it. The rapper spits about seeing a woman that catches his eye and that he wants to take home. Sage even cleverly quotes “Cash Me Ousside” girl’s infamous “how bout dat” line. Take a ride with Sage and check out “Pilot” here.
Bryson Tiller - "Honey," "Somethin Tells Me" & "Get Mine"
Bryson just dropped not one, but three new songs entitled “Somethin Tells Me,” “Get Mine,” and “Honey.” The first two singles are featured on the singer’s upcoming album, True To Self, while the third is simply a cut that the singer decided to give his fans, as well. Young Thug is also featured on “Get Mine.” Listen to the three fire tracks here. Any new music coming from this guy is sure to make you even more excited about his much-anticipated LP dropping June. 23.
Lil Durk - "Pressure"
Back in Feb. 2017, Lil Durk released his latest mixtape, Love Songs for the Streets. Now, the Chi-Town MC supplied us with his new single “Pressure.” It features some background vocals from Atlanta’s own Young Thug. Throughout the song, Durk opens up about his single status – he broke up with fellow rapper Dej Loaf last year -- and the stress he feels about entering a new relationship. He breaks out the auto-tune for this one, too. Nice touch, Durk.
Fetty Wap - "Aye"
Fetty just gave us the first taste of his upcoming album, King Zoo, with his new single “Aye.” Not only did the rapper release the song last week, but he also dropped the video for it, too. The visual was shot by Michael Garcia and shows Fetty turning up with beautiful women in a biker bar turned gritty party. “This is the one my fans been waiting for. It’s go time- King Zoo season!” Fetty said in a press release for the new track and its accompanying video. “We went crazy with the video, and it’s something I’ve never done before. I can’t wait for everyone to see it.”
Dave East - "Unforgettable"
Dave East isn’t shy about professing his love to the one and only Halle Berry on his latest Eastmix “Unforgettable.” But honestly, can you blame him for feeling her? We all do…it’s Halle Berry! On this new track, the East Harlem MC remixes French Montana’s original track featuring Swae Lee. “Somebody tell Halle Berry that I'm lookin' for her/ I ain't a chef, but I'll be in the crib cookin' for her/I don't get higher, all I do is win/Compare me to Billy Bob, how I put it on her,” East spits. Shoot ya shot!