From Charli XCX to ADANNAY, here are the tracks you need to be streaming this month
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGES BY JOSEPH MURPHY, VIA INSTGARAM (@CHARLI_XCX), AND HOLLY WHITAKER
Summer is finally here! While you’re getting ready to pack picnics, take day trips to the beach, or just avoid sunburn, here are some songs to be added to your playlists this season. From exciting new EPs from rising stars to releases from queer icons, we’ve got you covered this month!
Lara Jones – Depressed RN
5 June
Producer Lara Jones new single Depressed RN is the first single to be shared from her upcoming EP Divided due out 13 Sept via Sound Records. It’s about the self-criticism that social media frequently engenders: those highs after a live performance, followed by crushing self-doubt. It’s a comment on how bleak things feel with a backdrop of continuous doom-laden news cycles and the general sadness that pervades life in Britain and across the wider western world.
Emma Philine – Hurricane
7 June
Emma Philine’s new EP HURRICANE is a deep dive into dark R&B and experimental pop. Following her debut 17 2 20, this record explores her psyche and battles with depression. Inspired by films like Black Swan, it features raw, personal tracks and artwork depicting her emotional landscape, symbolizing hope amidst darkness.
AURORA – What Happened To The Heart?
7 June
Aurora’s latest album What Happened to the Heart? is a deeply introspective work inspired by a powerful letter from Indigenous activists. This album explores themes of spiritual disconnection and self-healing, urging both societal and personal transformation. Aurora’s music weaves a compelling narrative that seeks to reconnect the heart with politics and personal growth, marking her most personal and cathartic project to date.
Charli XCX – BRAT
7 June
Charli XCX’s sixth studio album BRAT is the highly anticipated follow-up to her 2022 chart-topping album Crash. BRAT is an electrifying club record infused with high art references and social commentary. Known for her avant-pop and electronic sound, Charli XCX has become a queer icon in the arts, transforming the pop music landscape over the past decade. Get ready to blast this album all summer long!
Goat Girl – Below The Waste
7 June
Goat Girl’s highly anticipated third album, Below The Waste, is coming in hot this summer. Co-produced with John Spud Murphy, the post-punk album is a sonic collage, blending diverse instrumentation and collaborations. With introspective lyrics and captivating melodies, it promises to be a compelling addition to their discography. You can read our interview with their drummer in our June/July issue which you can order here: divadirect.info
ADANNAY – Home Is Where You Make It
20 June
British-Caribbean artist ADANNAY is releasing their EP Home Is Where You Make It featuring the track Love Her Anyway this month. The EP blends jazz, gospel, R&B, Afropop, and Caribbean folk, exploring themes of sexuality, identity, heritage, and politics. Notably, this EP is the first time they have spoken openly about their queerness and is an exciting new instalment in their music career.
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