The Best New Songs We Heard in July

“When I decided to press play on Ice Spice’s debut album, Y2K!, which was set off by the lead single ‘Think U The Shit (Fart),’ I braced myself for impact. But ‘Popa,’ the third song and third longest track on the 23-minute album, pleasantly surprised me. Her typical braggadocious flow and blasé cadence combined with extremely catchy lyrics make it a standout.”—Juliana Ukiomogbe, assistant editor

“This track on Clairo’s Charm lives up to the album title with its warm piano keys and soothing ‘oohs’ backing up Claire Cottrill’s whispery vocals. Nevermind that she’s asking a lover whether her love will ever be enough for them.”—Erica Gonzales, senior culture editor

“In what feels like a pop polka, Kesha’s ‘Joyride’ is an unforgettable celebration of the popstar’s freedom from Dr. Luke after the two reached a settlement in their legal battle. It’s a wacky and uncanny bop reminiscent of her alter ego Ke$ha, with each sound taking the listener by surprise. We’ll be riding this track right through the end of summer.”—Samuel Maude, associate editor

“Word on the street is that beabadoobee wrote her latest single while on the road opening for Taylor Swift on The Eras Tour, and it shows.”—Claire Stern Milch, digital director

“Quavo and Lana Del Rey join forces for this country-inspired trap track, which seems to serve as a beacon for Del Rey’s previously announced country era. If this is what we should be expecting from a Lana Del Rey rodeo, we couldn’t be more excited.”—SM

“Remi Wolf captures a portrait of a relationship in such a unique, but vivid way. (‘If you give me your keys, I'll go and pick up the soup,’ she sings in the chorus.) The bright harmonies on this track, which appears on her latest album, Big Ideas, are a satisfying scratch on the inside of my brain.”—EG

“At last, JT’s mixtape, City Cinderella, is here. Though she’s riding solo throughout the project, she doesn’t hold back the heat, especially according to this hook. (She wants extra lemon pepper on her wings, okay??) Sacramento rapper Stunna Girl jumps on for extra spice.”—EG

“Kacey Musgraves delivers a solemn ballad about the downfalls of a french exit. It’s a great single off of Deeper Into the Well, the deluxe version of her sixth studio album, and while it may feel like a waltz, this is not a song for lovers.”—SM

“On what might be his swan song record, Childish Gambino enlists a number of collaborators from Khruangbin to Flo Milli to composer Ludwig Göransson, and he also plays with genre, whether it’s alt rock or rap. But this specific moment in the album is like a moody haze over a steady percussion, with Jorja Smith and Amaarae lending their own verses.”—EG

“This song shouldn’t work, as it catapults its listener through one sonic change after another, but Jade Thirwall’s debut solo track comes together perfectly. She creates a sublime lead single that proves the former Little Mix singer is a standalone artist to watch.”—SM

“As a perpetual fan of her song ‘On My Mind,’ I love any time Jorja Smith lends her warm, ballad-prone vocals to a dance beat. On this house bop with her frequent collaborator DAMEDAME*, she sings about being her own friend throughout all her highs and lows.”—EG

“It’s exciting to see a young artist come into their own, and after a flurry of forgettable projects, Madison Beer has the makings of a winning album on her hands. She’s two singles in, and it feels like Beer has finally found her sound.”—SM

“MUNA fans, lead singer Katie Gavin is releasing her debut solo record this fall. Her first single is about those uncontrollable feelings you have in a head-over-heels crush, and it oozes with that nostalgic, singer-songwriter feel that makes you want to roll the windows down and let your hair go wild.”—EG

“Marling’s beautiful first single for her next album, Patterns in Repeat, is a reflection on becoming a first-time mom. ‘Pulled for meaning, I arched my back / And then from the black, you were born,” she sings and hums over a delicately plucked guitar. A master at work.”—EG

“After the success of her song ‘Austin,’ the world wondered where Dasha would go. ‘Didn't I,’ which starts simply with just a little banjo, quickly becomes a toe-tapping, snapping country track. It’s a fun, square-dancing darling, one that would surely get a bartender two-stepping on the counter.”—SM

“I’m jealous of whoever was in the Glastonbury crowd when Romy and Jessie Ware played this song for the first time. It’s a high-energy disco track where the collaborators and close friends uplift and encourage each other to let go of their fears. The rest of us can't help but follow suit and dance along.”—EG

“Zach Bryan’s ability to write music that touches the souls of its listener is unmatched. ‘28,’ which is the standout from his new album, The Great American Bar Scene, will make even the most cold-hearted human’s heart grow two sizes with its nostalgia-inducing lyrics. The strings on the track also beg for a emotional bar waltz.”—SM

“After a rousing performance opening for Taylor Swift on the Eras Tour, Griff had very little to prove. But with ‘Tears for Fun’ from her debut album, Vertigo, Griff shows how she caught Swift’s eye. The lyrics are relatable, the beat is catchy, and it proves that the British rising star is filled with promise.”—SM

“This tempo-switching track is a cool offering from Isaac Dunbar. The verses have a bit of a 2000s pop feel, but the chorus is slowed down, seductive, and shimmery.”—EG

“As country continues to bleed into the minds of just about every artist, it shouldn’t come as a shock that Tiësto decided to take a stab too. On this track with Alana Springsteen, Tiësto shows what a clubbing country night could look like. Giddy up, put those cowboy boots on, and get ready to dance.”—SM