With summer winding down and tours either wrapping up or just getting started, lots of great music is still coming out to surprise us in the best way possible. As is routine, we gathered the three best new songs recently released for you to listen to, whether you’re familiar with the artists or not. Whenever in between weeks, our Best New Songs of the Month playlist is constantly updated to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
Khalid “Breathe” feat. Arlo Parks
It might be silly to think we haven’t heard all that an artist with multiple hit songs could offer, but Khalid is proving just that with his latest album, Sincere, and songs like “Breathe” featuring Arlo Parks. The only track on the album with a feature, Khalid and Parks make a great duo whose brands of R&B and pop complement each other while revealing the finer details. Parks, in particular, delivers a catchy chorus that encapsulates the fear of losing one’s self Khalid talks about in the verses. The song overall is the kind that raises awareness around mental health by simply detailing what it’s like to go about your day by day, allowing Khalid and Parks to sing their truth over a mellow, wavy instrumental fitting for the album’s more reflective, refined tone.
See Khalid in Lincoln, CA at The Venue at Thunder Valley Casino Resort on Oct. 5.
Visit Khalid on his website and Instagram to stay updated on new releases and tour announcements.
Listen to “Breathe” the new single from Khalid below.
This article may contain affiliate links, and Grimy Goods may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our independent, fan-powered media network.
Brigitte Calls Me Baby “Too Easy”
“Too Easy” is perhaps the most accurate title that Chicago alt-rock band Brigitte Calls Me Baby could have chosen for their latest song off their debut album, The Future Is Our Way, considering how easy they make songwriting look. Always looking to the past for inspiration, their somewhat refusal of contemporary sounds ultimately benefits them in standing out, with “Too Easy,” a melancholic ballad that could serve as a throughline between The 1975 and Roy Orbison. Singer Wes Leavins’ vocals are melodramatic in the best way possible, expressing heightened emotions and, more often than not, stealing the spotlight from the impressive instrumentation by way of the other band members. But the song’s climax is where all the band’s strong suits are at full display, with Leavins moaning in anguish as the instruments crash into each other at the same intensity as the vocals. The band’s grandeur at such an early stage goes to show their natural ability to strike gold with an exciting style.
See Brigitte Calls Me Baby on tour in LA at The Wiltern on Oct. 19.
Visit Brigitte Calls Me Baby on their website and Instagram to stay updated on new releases and tour announcements.
Listen to “Too Easy” the new single from Brigitte Calls Me Baby below.
Cool Gifts for Music Lovers
The best concert earplugs to protect your hearing
This guitar is adorable! Aspiring musician?
Style & Function: Impress friends at your next party
Benjamin Carter “Sticks n’ Stones”
Written during an uncertain time when Benjamin Carter was based in LA while his family stayed in Brazil, “Sticks n’ Stones” speaks to the struggles and uncertainties countless independent artists go through. What’s immediately apparent is the seemingly calm and pop-friendly instrumental, which contrasts previous singles from Carter, which are more geared towards getting listeners pumped up. What’s consistent is his brutal honesty, not sugarcoating any of his experiences for the sake of a lighter-hearted song. The lyrics themselves capture the feeling of being alone and unsure of the future, with him singing in higher and lower registers as if matching the highs and lows of life. Despite detailing tumultuous times, Carter’s juxtaposition against the mellow yet jumpy beat highlights his dynamic vocals and lyricism in another showcase of how skilled of a songwriter he is.
“Wherever you are at in life, I trust that this song will help you feel seen and reminded that although it may feel like it — you are not alone,” Carter wrote on his Instagram.
Visit Benjamin Carter on his TikTok and Instagram to stay updated on new releases and tour announcements.
Listen to “Sticks n’ Stones” the new single from Benjamin Carter below.
Make sure to check out all three featured tracks and any previous or future roundups of the best new songs. Our Best New Songs of the Month playlist is the best way to keep up with what’s out every week, as are our New Music editorials and Artists You Should Know features, which come out regularly.
Words: David Sosa
