Music Critic Lauren Henry suggests eight songs she thinks you should listen to this winter
It’s only November, and so far 2024 has already been a great year for music. There has been so much that I wanted to keep this list limited to newer releases from all genres and spotlight artists who are actively creating and releasing projects and singles that uniquely challenge the boundaries of their genres. I hope you listen and enjoy.
‘Eusexua’ by FKA Twigs
In Twigs’ own words: ‘Eusexua is a practice. Eusexua is a state of being. Eusexua is the pinnacle of human experience.’ This electronic dance single subverts the typically themes of its genre, instead tackling ideas of loneliness and love. The repeated call of ‘do you feel alone?’ coupled with the techno inspired production mirrors the experience of feeling alone on a dancefloor, of crying in a club full of flashing lights. This single discusses the inescapable vulnerability of choosing to love in any and all capacities, even if ‘you don’t call it love’. ‘Eusexua’ is the first and titular single from Twigs’ upcoming album which will be released on the 24th of January 2025. Listen to this song and decide: are you ready to experience Eusexua?
‘Nissan Altima’ by Doechii
From her new mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal, ‘Nissan Altima’ is a short, impactful – and I would say fun – rap song. Doechii’s rhymes and wordplay effortlessly flow over the beat as she switches between cadences. She starts with the slower but aggressive chorus before jumping into the animated and fast paced verse. Doechii’s alternative style of rap has frequently been compared to Nicki Minaj and Missy Elliot, and from this song alone you can see why with her fun and fast paced delivery. The lyrics themselves read as a boastful piece on why Doechii is simply better than you – after listening to her artistic ability in this mixtape, I would have to agree.
‘What A Devastating Turn of Events’ by Rachel Chinouriri
The titular song form Rachel Chinouriri’s debut album recounts the story of her cousin’s demise over a nostalgic indie rock production that is continuous thoughtout the record. The song follows her cousins depressive spiral and following suicide – starting as an innocent love story that quickly morphed into ‘the beginning of the end.’ In theme with the heavy topic of the track, Rachel’s vocals have a wail like quality throughout that crescendo alongside the reveal of her cousin’s unexpected fate. Being London born, Chinouriri’s album and musical style takes influence from y2k Britpop with lyrics that detail love and loss from the underrepresented perspective of a dark skin woman.
Rachel’s vocals have a wail like quality throughout that crescendo alongside the reveal of her cousin’s unexpected fate
‘Video’ by KAYTRANADA ft. Ravyn Lenae
KAYTRANADA’s electronic and innovative production in collaboration with Ravyn Lanea’s soft vocals makes for an almost perfect song. ‘Video’ is one of many from KAYTRANADA’s latest album Timeless, featuring the vocals of 16 different artist over his genre defying production. As expected for a KAYTRANADA beat, the drums remain in the foreground but never overshadow Lenae’s R&B-esque voice, which contrast but yet still complement the electronic production. KAYTRANADA’s skilful syncopation and swing of the drums and synth contribute to the electronic feel to this track – one cannot help but to dance along.
‘OZEBA’ by Rema
‘OZEBA’ is from Rema’s sophomore album HEIS, made to defy mainstream afrobeat and instead create a project that is uniquely Nigerian and irreplicable for foreigners. This has not stopped the album from reaching mainstream success, with ‘OZEBA’ being one of many stand out tracks on the record. Rema’s fast paced delivery races against the even faster and exciting beat. In his lyrics, he adopts a grandiose and boastful persona, similar to that of US rappers. This image is maintained throughout the album and its advertising with Rema being shown as a bat in the night like the famous Gotham antihero in his music video. At only 28 minutes, I would recommend that everyone listens to the project in full. However, if that is too daunting a task, start with ‘OZEBA’ and it is likely that the rest of the album will follow; that was definitely the case for me.
‘Death and Romance’ by Magdalena Bay
With a production that brings both Tame Impala and Cocteau Twins to mind, ‘Death and Romance’ is a psychedelic and futuristic pop rock song from the equally innovative album Imaginal Disk. The track opens with a bright piano solo with Mica Tenenbaum’s dreamy vocals joining shortly after alongside the groovy bassline and drums. In Bay’s own words, this song encapsulates ‘rain pouring, streetlights glowing. You sit at home and wait for your alien boyfriend to pick you up in his UFO… but this time, he’s not coming.’ This is a song that explores romantic longing over an 80’s inspired production, and as an album Imaginal Disk defies the traditional ideas of pop and expands the limits of the genre. There is nothing else like it out right now and I don’t think there will be for a while.
and as an album Imaginal Disk defies the traditional ideas of pop and expands the limits of the genre
‘Cinderella’ by Remi Wolf
‘Cinderella’, the leading single from Wolf’s latest album Big Ideas jumps in almost immediately with her powerful and groovy vocals. Despite being labelled as a pop album, ‘Cinderella’ takes clear inspiration from 80’s disco and 60’s soul, featuring jazzy horns and funky whistles alongside the drums and psychedelic production. This genre bending track discusses Remi Wolf’s unpredictable moods that can be ‘any colour of the rainbow.’ ‘Cinderella’s’ upbeat production and vocal performance almost disguises the undercurrent of vulnerability throughout with Wolf posing existential questions about identity and human flaws. This confessional element follows through the album but is always disguised in it’s colourful production and theatrical vocals.
‘After the First Kiss’ by Faye Webster
With the single being released just earlier this month, ‘After the First Kiss’ features Webster’s usual folk like feel, with the strings in the foreground mixing beautifully with her gentle voice. The song explores the immediate obsession and limerence felt after the first kiss: ‘she got me calling her wife/after the first kiss.’ ‘After the First Kiss’ is in complete contrast to Webster’s previous album Underdressed at the Symphony, which was written as the artist was coming off of a breakup and features song titles like ‘But Not Kiss’. With the context of her previous project, ‘After the First Kiss’ could reflect the quick fall back into to love after another love ends and the vulnerability that accompanies that. This enchanting love song could be the start of a new musical season for the Atlanta artist – I definitely hope so.
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