Aside from similar themes coincidentally connecting the featured songs for this week, high-quality instrumentals and honest songwriting are the defining traits of the three. Much like previous weeks, all three artists show what newer generations of musicians can do when bearing their spirits on songs time and time again. Although our “3 best new songs” each week will surely expose you to exciting artists and bands, our Best New Songs of the Month playlist is also reliable for new music recommendations, with tracks added regularly.

Sans Soucis “If I Let A White Man Cut My Hair”

Using hair as a vehicle for protecting one’s culture, “If I Let A White Man Cut My Hair,” the second single off London singer-songwriter Sans Soucis’ upcoming debut album Circumnavigating Georgia, shows off their ability to dissect one’s identity through clever lyricism. Over a delicious indie-soul chorus, the blunt title leaves little to the imagination over how sacred hair is to Soucis, but the lyrics are what get their stance across and stand as examples of resistance through preservation. Lines like “The eyes of a close friend / Comb my inner shivers” and “I almost handed over my peace / To the ones who try to damage my legacy” speak to the importance of protests big and small. Along with the unorthodox drums adding weight to every word Soucis sings, the production at large alternates from piano ballad to poetry jam bordering on a hip-hop beat. Between this new single and “Sexed & Sexual,” the introspective storytelling of Soucis is something to look forward to on Circumnavigating Georgia, out Oct. 9.

Visit Sans Soucis on their website and Instagram to stay updated on new releases and tour announcements.

Suki Waterhouse “Supersad”

Ever since lead single “OMG” rode high off the success of her breakthrough track “Good Looking,” Suki Waterhouse’s sophomore album Memoir of a Sparklemuffin, due Sept. 13, is shaping to be a leap from I Can’t Let Go. “Supersad” is no different from “OMG,” kicking into high gear with its fast-paced drums underlying Waterhouse’s vocals exhibiting desperation and dejection. The purposeful juxtaposition between the defeated lyrics and upbeat instrumental, inspired by 90s indie music that aimed to give the listener a sense of freedom, demonstrates the complexity she offers to the pop scene with each passing single. Unsurprisingly, she flourishes over the soaring production, which takes the intensity of straight rock and filters it through a glossy, electronic coating. Although “Everything’s going wrong,” as stated by Waterhouse in the opening of the song, “Supersad” puts all the pieces of a great pop single together, with its energy nothing short of anthemic the way it builds atop simplistic melodies engineered to get stuck in your head.

See Suki Waterhouse on tour in LA at the Greek Theatre on Oct. 23, San Diego at The Sound on Oct. 22, San Francisco at The Warfield on Oct. 27, and more cities.

Visit Suki Waterhouse on her website and Instagram to stay updated on new releases and tour announcements.

TSHA “Girls” feat. Rose Gray

Despite her upcoming sophomore album, out Sept. 27, being called Sad Girl, “Girls” from DJ/producer TSHA and singer Rose Gray makes its presence known at the start thanks to a catwalk-ready electronic beat. Apart from some house hallmarks, the electroclash-inspired synths drive the overall song forward without changing the formula drastically. What changes is the chord progression, ascending and descending at the same intensity as Gray’s shifting voice filtered through multiple effects. It’s important to note the last line of the pre-chorus: “It’s my body, it’s my mind,” a simple yet effective lyric that gives the track more purpose than getting you to move. There’s nothing wrong with a single solely made to make you dance. But it is a testament to how a song can stand firmly on an empowering message while simultaneously working as a club banger reminiscent of the glory days of house music.

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

ARTISTS YOU SHOULD KNOW

BEST NEW MUSIC

If it isn’t another round-up of three new songs featured each week, then the Best New Songs of the Month playlist is another way for you to find new favorite tracks waiting to be discovered. In addition, our New Music editorials and Artists You Should Know features will keep you updated on anything you might have missed, whether it be an up-and-comer’s potential breakout single or a familiar name coming back better than ever.

Words: David Sosa