
Sound Off: 10 Songs You Need to Hear Now
May 24, 2024
It's impossible to be across all the new music out each Friday. Luckily, PAPER is here to help you out: each week, we round up 10 of our favorite new songs from artists — emerging and established — to soundtrack your life. From the surreal to the sublime, these songs cover every corner of the music world. The only criteria: they all have to absolutely rip.
Subscribe to our Sound Off Spotify playlist here and check out this week's tracks below.
Clairo - "Sexy to Someone"
Clairo’s first collaboration with El Michels Affair is a lush, summery ode to being desired, her soft voice pairing beautifully with Leon Michels’ dazed production.
Rhea Raj - "Digital Babe"
Shades of 2000s sample pop come through on this booming, funky new song from Rhea Raj.
NewJeans - "How Sweet"
NewJeans are reliably weird when it comes to their production and songwriting, and this new-jack swing song doesn’t disappoint: it’s a very cool left turn.
PinkPantheress - "Turn it up"
This loosie from PinkPantheress goes down very smooth, finding PP returning to her chilled dance roots after the more abrasive Heaven Knows.
Vince Staples - "Same On The Devil"
Vince Staples raps at a million miles a minute on this comparatively low-key song, giving it a striking balance between intensity and chill.
Sexyyy Red, Drake - "U My Everything"
A delightfully weird, laid-back sex jam from Sexyy Red, giving Drake a much needed win after his very public trashing by Kendrick Lamar.
Youth Lagoon - "Lucy Takes a Picture"
This non-album single from Youth Lagoon captures the sunlight-in-a-bottle feeling of his latest record and puts it into a pretty, warped pop context.
Amyl and The Sniffers - "U Should Not Be Doing That"
Amyl and the Sniffers, Australia’s best punk revivalists, have reached the horns phase of their Oz rock fetishism, and it sounds so good.
Okay Kaya - "The Groke"
Okay Kaya’s new one is deeply weird, finding her singing her trademark deadpan over a quasi-Middle Eastern groove.
Photography: Lucas Creighton
MORE ON PAPER
Music
Role Model Isn’t In Kansas Anymore
Story by Tobias Hess / Photography by Richie Talboy / Styling by Angelina Cantú / Grooming by Jerrod Roberts / Set design by Allegra Peyton
Story by Tobias Hess / Photography by Richie Talboy / Styling by Angelina Cantú / Grooming by Jerrod Roberts / Set design by Allegra Peyton
14 August
Internet
Quen Blackwell Takes Over
Story by Ivan Guzman / Photography by Richie Talboy / Styling by Angelina Cantú / Makeup by Kimora Mulan / Hair by Malcolm Marquez / Nails by Kimmie Kyees / Set design by Allegra Peyton
Story by Ivan Guzman / Photography by Richie Talboy / Styling by Angelina Cantú / Makeup by Kimora Mulan / Hair by Malcolm Marquez / Nails by Kimmie Kyees / Set design by Allegra Peyton
11 August
Music
Ravyn Lenae Enjoys the View
Story by Erica Campbell / Photography by Richie Talboy / Styling by Angelina Cantú / Makeup by Matthew Fishman / Hair by Jacob Aaron Dillon / Nails by Kimmie Kyees / Set design by Allegra Peyton
Story by Erica Campbell / Photography by Richie Talboy / Styling by Angelina Cantú / Makeup by Matthew Fishman / Hair by Jacob Aaron Dillon / Nails by Kimmie Kyees / Set design by Allegra Peyton
04 August
Beauty
Lizzo Is Living and Loving IRL
Story by Mickey Boardman/ Photography by Williejane Dent / Styling by Wayman + Micah / Hair by Jared Henderson / Makeup by Alexx Mayo / Nails by Eri Ishizu / Set design by Allegra Peyton
Story by Mickey Boardman/ Photography by Williejane Dent / Styling by Wayman + Micah / Hair by Jared Henderson / Makeup by Alexx Mayo / Nails by Eri Ishizu / Set design by Allegra Peyton
31 July
Music
JoJo Wants To Feel Alive
Story by Ivan Guzman / Photography by Richie Talboy / Styling by Angelina Cantú / Makeup by Porsche Cooper / Hair by Dom Forlette / Set design by Allegra Peyton
Story by Ivan Guzman / Photography by Richie Talboy / Styling by Angelina Cantú / Makeup by Porsche Cooper / Hair by Dom Forlette / Set design by Allegra Peyton
25 July