This week’s Best New Music Friday roundup features hits from Billie Eilish, Willow, ITZY, Hayley Kiyoko, and so many more.
Billie Eilish, “Your Power"
The first single from Billie Eilish's sophomore album Happier Than Ever has now arrived. The music video opens on a blonde Billie huddled amongst massive, barren rock, as she sings the soft opener, “Try not to abuse your power / I know we didn't choose to change.” A snake makes its home atop her, slowly tightening around her body. The mostly acoustic song packs intense emotional weight, as Billie examines a predatory relationship that made her feel both special and at fault. On Instagram, Billie wrote of the song, “I feel very vulnerable putting this one out because i hold it so close to my heart. this is about many different situations that we’ve all either witnessed or experienced. i hope this can inspire change. try not to abuse your power.”
Willow featuring Travis Barker, “t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l”
It's true: pop-punk is back, and the always innovative Willow is embracing the vibe with open arms. Featuring Travis Barker of Blink 182, Willow is an epic performer on “Transparent Soul,” gripping in both her stage presence and lyric delivery. Her voice can pull off a perfect punk wail, making us believe every bit of what she's singing: “I can see right through, just so you know.”
ITZY, “Tennis (0:0)"
K-pop girl group ITZY just dropped their new album GUESS WHO, and with it lead single “In the morning.” But one of our early favorites is the final track on the album, the bouncy, delightful “Tennis (0:0).” We love an extended tennis metaphor for budding romance, especially when ITZY flexes their vocal prowess.
Hayley Kiyoko, “Found My Friends”
Hayley Kiyoko's latest is a banging, dance-y number with a video that shows Hayley absolutely strutting around a theater, proving that dancing with yourself is sometimes all you need. Something about seeing Hayley thrive and dance makes us want to thrive and dance, too. “It's about discovering and nurturing a strong friendship with yourself," she said of the song in a statement. "This song resonates even more so now with everyone experiencing isolation in quarantine, when we still somehow find the resilience to connect with one another and find comfort in each other.”
Kareen Lomax, “How Do You Sleep”
“How Do You Sleep,” off rising singer-songwriter Kareen Lomax's debut EP Hard Feelings, feels like being underwater at a house party, music playing woozily from another room. The visual is all hypnotic moving statues, perfectly accompanying poetic lyrics about the end of a relationship. “A flower that never got to bloom,” Kareen muses in her rich vocal tone. “Sunshine through an empty room.”
BENEE, “Happen to Me”
New Zealand musician BENEE is adept at capturing universal fears and emotions, and she does so here on “Happen to Me,” a synth-rock-lite song about the ultimate fear: death. “I think about these things too much," she sings, in a gothic music video setting, two red spots of blush on her cheeks. "My mind likes to wind itself up. And I don’t get a lot of sleep. ‘Cause what if they happen to me?”
Sarah Barrios with Eric Nam, “Have We Met Before"
The sweetest collab this week? Sarah Barrios and Eric Nam. Their voices are a dream together, as they spin a lovely, emotive story of two strangers finding an instant connection. (Eric has already owned up to the sheer amount of feelings the song will make you feel in a very short amount of time.) The pair previously worked together when Sarah co-wrote Eric's “I Don't Miss You,” and clearly the two songwriters have a good thing going. This song is perfect pining music.
Adam Melchor feat. Lennon Stella
In a match made in acoustic folk heaven, singer-songwriters Adam Melchor and Lennon Stella have teamed up for the lovely “Light Year.” The video is a blurry spring dreamscape that Lennon and Adam float through, singing about pretenses and pedestals in perfect harmony. A soaring outro brings their voices together for a final climactic movie montage of a song.
eAeon feat. RM, “Don't(그러지 마)”
Korean indie singer-songwriter eAeon, one half of the inventive duo MOT, dropped a new song this week call “Don't,” featuring BTS leader and rapper RM. The pair have been longtime friends and colleagues — RM once called him a childhood hero, and brought him in to sing on the lovely, haunting “badbye." eAeon's musical vision continues to be unique and interesting on his new album, Fragile. “Don't” is the kind of song that recalls ‘80s prom dancefloors and small sepia-toned moments with the people you love. RM’s deep, smooth rap cadence only adds to the nostalgic effect. If we could live inside a song, it would be this one.
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