Apart from the fact that the three songs featured in this edition of our weekly best new songs series come from artists who emerged roughly around the same time, what unites them together is their daringness to try out unexpected styles and sounds. Similarly, our Best New Songs of the Month playlist aims to expose you to the best of the best among upcoming artists and bands, some of who may become new favorites of yours.

Duah Saleh “unruly” feat. serpentwithfeet

As if the electronic, borderline operatic opener wasn’t enough to prove how heavenly “unruly” is in feeling, the collaboration between Sudanese-American singer Dua Saleh and serpentwithfeet makes matters a match made in heaven. The emotional strings crescendo into a living, breathing ecosystem surrounding the eclectic production, where Saleh’s vocals, filtered through mind-bending effects, contrast serpentwithfeet’s delicate voice that joins them on a duet. While there are a few moments when Saleh speaks clearly without any alteration, the decision to shapeshift their voice to match the production makes them sound as though they are from another world. The result successfully juxtaposes the, at times, emotional declarations like, “I intimidate the worse of the worst” and “How’d I get so unruly?” If “Sugar Mama” and “cat scratch” are the sole reference points for what someone might expect from Saleh, then “unruly” is an unexpected yet welcomed evolution for the multi-hyphenate.

Visit Duah Saleh on their website and Instagram to stay updated on new releases and tour announcements.

Listen to “unruly” the new single from Duah Saleh.

Magdalena Bay “Death & Romance”

Just ahead of their Imaginary Mystery Tour, which starts in September and includes an LA stop at The Fonda Theatre on Oct. 2, Magdalena Bay is back just a year after their 2023 EP mini mix vol. 3. Best known for the glitzy synth-pop off their EPs and 2021 full-length debut, Mercurial World, the Miami duo pivot into a new soundscape entirely with their latest single, “Death & Romance.” Drawing more from genres like prog-rock than synth-pop, the ditching of electronic inflections for raw instruments works in their favor, offering a side of them potentially heard in flirtations but never full-blown experiments on previous tracks. Mica Tenenbaum, the singer-songwriter half of Magdalena Bay, matches the switch up to flying colors, with producer and other half Matthew Lewin tastefully combining several musical elements in a kaleidoscopic blender. Aside from the over five-minute runtime, “Death & Romance” more than lives up to its broad title, taking listeners on a journey through several pockets that show off the duo’s ability to adapt at every turn.

Visit Magdalena Bay on their website and Instagram to stay updated on new releases and tour announcements.

Listen to “Death & Romance” the new single from Magdalena Bay below.

ARTISTS YOU SHOULD KNOW

BEST NEW MUSIC

Okay Kaya “The Groke”

Those familiar with Norwegian-American artist Okay Kaya will be more than accustomed to the inherent oddness of her latest single, “The Groke,” which follows in the same steps as her three full-length albums and breakout song “Mother Nature’s Bitch.” However, more than ever, her embrace of a far more avant-funk sound is enough to make someone like David Byrne jealous, with some playful strings added for good measure. Much like the chewing gum mentioned in the first verse, Kaya repeating “She’s not an omen / She’s not a woman / She’s dark ecology” on the chorus is sure to get stuck in your head. The music video, perhaps more strange than the song itself, shows Kaya interacting with a miniature world perfect for a stop-motion film. As the sole live-action presence, she dances her way into a toaster and melts into a pile of goo, a not-so-surprising conclusion for a song that is neither here nor there but benefits from how incomparable it is.

Visit Okay Kaya on her website and Instagram to stay updated on new releases and tour announcements.

Watch the music video for “The Groke” the new single from Okay Kaya below.

While we round out our next favorite songs to be featured, you can go to our Best New Songs of the Month playlist to keep track of new releases and anything you may have missed from prior weeks. Our New Music editorials and Artists You Should Know features are also excellent sources for what’s coming out every week while also providing a spotlight for those who very well might be the next big thing to break out sooner rather than later.

Words: David Sosa