Lawd, have mercy. It’s been an exciting week for new music, which means we’re heading into the weekend with some magnificent finds for your playlists.
Chlöe and Lisa of BLACKPINK both dropped solo singles, “Have Mercy” and “LaLisa,” respectively. Omega X and Purple Kiss delivered eye-popping visualizers and mini albums. Tems is still flying high after her appearance on Drake’s Certified Lover Boy last week, blessing us with “Crazy Tings.” Meanwhile, we have new songs from Monsta X, Victor Internet, Troye Sivan, Sabrina Carpenter, and so many more.
Check out this week's best new music.
Chlöe, “Have Mercy”
Chlöe Bailey came out swinging with her debut solo single, “Have Mercy.” The spicy anthem is one that you’ll want to add to your “getting ready” playlist for those days when you need an extra boost of confidence. She serves Medusa realness in the Karena Evans-directed visuals, turning a missing frat boy into stone. Plus, the video also features a cameo from none other than Miss Tina Knowles. “Have Mercy” is the first single from the 23-year-old singer’s forthcoming solo album. "I’m creating my own lane, as well as paying homage to the ones who have inspired me. It has been fun finding my voice," she recently told Billboard of her solo project. Chlöe is slated to perform the catchy track at the 2021 MTV Music Awards on September 12. We can’t wait.
Lisa, “LaLisa”
Lisa, the main dancer of K-pop group BLACKPINK, dropped her debut solo mini-album, LaLisa, today along with a music video for the album’s title track. In the music video, she owns her power and heritage, incorporating traditional Thai costumes and choreography. To celebrate her solo release, she’ll be performing this evening during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Tems, “Crazy Tings”
Tems is back on our playlist for the second week in a row. This time, it’s with her new single, “Crazy Tings.” With smooth, soothing vocals served over afrobeats, the Nigerian singer calls out a problematic lover who constantly lies and fails to keep promises before boldly proclaiming that she deserves better.
Monsta X, “One Day”
The latest single and music video from Monsta X, “One Day," is a nostalgic, mature offering from one of our favorite groups. "They say hindsight's 20/20, maybe I'll see you one day," go the lyrics, which muse on the ending of a relationship. With a mid-tempo beat and good vibes all around, “One Day” makes us excited for what Monsta X has coming up next.
Ari Lennox, “Pressure”
In the new Chandler Lass-directed visualizer for her first solo single of 2021, “Pressure,” Ari Lennox pays homage to iconic divas – including Diana Ross. The soulful track was written by Ari and The Ocean Boys and produced by musical heavy hitters Jermaine Dupri, Brian Michael Cox, and Johnta Austin.
OMEGA X, “What’s Goin’ On”
Omega X came through with their new single album, What’s Goin’ On, this week and premiered a music video for the album’s title track. There are two renditions of the visualizer for the high-energy track, and both are pretty thrilling. The drop comes a couple months after the 11-member K-pop group released their debut album, Vamos, which sold out of physical copies in just six days.
Victor Internet, “Forever”
Victor Internet’s “Forever” delivers the feel-good vibes of ‘90s R&B. “Keep talkin’ ‘bout forever (forever) / I promise to do (better),” they sing on the song’s hook. “I sang like crazy on it,” Victor said of the self-produced single on Instagram. “Go make out with someone to this or if you’re lonely, go blast it on a long drive.”
Sabrina Carpenter, “Skinny Dipping”
Sabrina Carpenter’s voice is a paintbrush that perfectly illustrates the nostalgia of rekindling an old flame in “Skinny Dipping.” The acoustic track details the narrative of former lovers who cross paths in a coffee shop years later; the pair is obviously in a much better place than they were when they split, and the lighthearted lyrics sprinkled over acoustic guitar evoke feelings of hope and optimism. “One day we’ll be older and see our past experiences with such fresh eyes that maybe the bad things won’t feel so bad, and trust that life will lead us exactly where we’re meant to be,” Sabrina said in a statement. It’s most certainly a refreshing take on running into an ex at a neighborhood coffee shop, that’s for sure.
Troye Sivan, “Angel Baby”
Speaking of nostalgia, Troye Sivan transported us back in time with the ultra-sweet ballad, “Angel Baby,” which sounds as though it belongs on the soundtrack of a ‘90s rom-com. In a press release, Troye explained, “‘Angel Baby’ is my crack at an adoring, doting, love struck, mega pop, gay, power ballad. I thought we needed a few more of those.” The release comes one year after the premiere of his EP, In A Dream.
Purple Kiss, “Zombie”
Style doesn’t typically come to mind when you envision a zombie apocalypse, but Purple Kiss is serving look after look in the music video for their latest single, “Zombie.” The visualizer was released this week along with the K-pop girl group’s sophomore mini-album, Hide & Seek.
riela ft. Marcos G, “lyu2”
Ever been ghosted while in a relationship? riela and Marcos G tackle the awkward grey area that partners sometimes find themselves in when one party subtly (or abruptly) begins pulling away in “lyu2,” short for “Like You Used To.” The track captures all of the emotion felt during the stage of breaking up where you can clearly tell something has changed, even though no one has actually said the words to formally end the relationship. "'Lyu2' brings up an experience that a lot of people have gone through when it comes to relationships. Where you’re not entirely sure if you’ve f*cked something up with the person or if it’s just in your head,” riela explains in a press release. “Either way, they’ve kind of ghosted you/switched up their energy towards you and you’re just tryna figure out what you did to get little to no reciprocation.”
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Want more from Teen Vogue? Check this out: Sabrina Carpenter Talks New Song “Skinny Dipping,” Grief & Water Under the Bridge
