Nedda Afsari
by Steffanee Wang

Entertainment

Caroline Polachek's "Welcome To My Island" & 9 Other New Songs Out This Week

Soundcheck

Every week, we bring you #SOUNDCHECK — your destination for the best new music that hit the web over the course of the week. Because you should always be prepared when someone passes you that AUX cord. This week's roundup features 10 of our favorite emerging and established artists.

TDE
“Kill Bill” - SZA

Induct the last line of SZA’s “Kill Bill” into the saddest lyrics ever hall of fame: “I just killed my ex, I still love him though/ Rather be in jail than alone.” (YouTube)

Perpetual Novice
“Welcome To My Island” - Caroline Polachek

There’s an unhinged, feral quality to Caroline Polachek’s latest release that she manages to make sound danceable — even chic. (YouTube)

New Hippys
“Sexoxo” - Mod Sun, Charlotte Sands

Mod Sun trades spiky guitars for a sweet pop-punk love song with rising Nashville singer Charlotte Sands. (YouTube)

Lana del rey
“Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd” - Lana Del Rey

Lana del Rey’s first release of 2022 is a sumptuous ballad that’s subtle for a lead single, but holds all its power in its lyrics: “F*ck me to death, love me until I love myself.” (YouTube)

Motown Records
“Breee!” - Bree Runway

Bree Runway’s audacious ode to herself is playful, fierce, and equipped with a melodic hook that will also have you chanting her name in her head. (YouTube)

anti-
“Catch Your Eye” - Andy Shauf

A potential grocery store meet-cute has never sounded more romantic than on Andy Shauf’s very pretty new piano ballad, “Catch Your Eye.” (YouTube)

columbia
“Picking Up” - Biig Piig ft. Deb Never

Irish singer Biig Piig’s warm voice featured on a lot of great songs this year, but her new solo release shows just how much grander she can sound. (YouTube)

Fire Talk
“Palm Trees” - Fran

There’s nothing too fancy about Fran’s simple and clean folk; it lets her frank songwriting shine. (YouTube)

Partisan Records
“Veronica Mars” - Blondshell

Blondshell’s “Veronica Mars” looks back at life in 2004, and explodes into a very satisfying fury of guitars and rebellious rock sound. (YouTube)

Yulissa Benitez
“chris” - Mercury

Rapper Mercury’s airy, nonchalant flow brilliantly meets Coco & Clair Clair’s bouncy “popstar”. (YouTube)