Nothing could’ve prepared us for what a beautiful couple Lizzo and fashion supermodel Tyson Beckford would make in her new music video for ‘2 Be Loved (Am I Ready).’ Making her wildest dreams come true, she brought the 51-year-old heartthrob to the desert for her self-titled album single. The visual follows Lizzo as a runaway bride, recreating scenes from her breakout ‘Truth Hurts’ music video in 2019. After leaving herself and a shirtless pastor at the altar, she speeds across the desert highway in a red convertible and stomps through sand hills wearing white platform combat boots. When all hope seems lost, Beckford appears on a motorcycle. A sight for sand-filled eyes, it seems almost too good to be true. The two get cozy and Lizzo goes in for the kiss, more ready than ever. Just as she does, her friends arrive to retrieve the runaway bride. What they find, though, is not a pretty picture: Lizzo making out with a tree, no supermodel in sight. But she doesn’t let biting on a little bark get her down. Quickly bouncing back with a bottle of Patron, nonetheless, Lizzo and her bridal party pull out all the stops. With choreographed numbers, campfires and blinding blinged-out lingerie, this party is decidedly better than Lizzo’s wedding, anyway. The ‘2 Be Loved (Am I Ready)’ video is an unapologetic ode to taking your time and loving yourself. So don’t settle for anything less than french kissing a supermodel on a motorcycle in the desert, even if it is a mirage. [via PAPER]

This week, THICK released their sophomore album, Happy Now and they’re also back with one last single, the gleaming and spiky ‘Happiness.’ “This song explores the ways we seek validation and how it motivates the way we interact with the world around us,” the band said in a statement. “Whether you look for it externally or internally, it begs the question, ‘Who is this all for and is it ever enough?’” [via Stereogum]

Canadian singer-songwriter Olivia Street and her band King of Foxes are the makers of delightful yet peppy indie-pop. Their recent single release of ‘Pleasant Solutions’ is a perfect demonstration of why her music connects with fans in such a unique way. She has a unique artistic method, that’s versatile and has the ability to create old-school retro sounds with a modern twist. There’s no lack of tongue-in-cheek throughout her music, with each music video bringing a playful vibe, the latest takes place in a dull office, before the staff take matters into their own hands. The lyrics and meaning throughout Only Here On Loan is about being confident, and holding on. The band writes, “When it comes to writing lyrics, I love finding universality in the specifics. I hope that people see themselves in the song — we’re all hurtling through space on a rock together, trying to hold on to what we think we know. There is beauty in realizing that nothing really belongs to us, that everything we have is ‘only here on loan.'” Taken from their forthcoming album, ‘Pleasant Solutions’ offers a rustic sound to modern indie. It’s full of quirky and catchy hooks that’s rich with a nostalgic touch. [via Earmilk]

Chloe Moriondo will release new album Suckerpunch on October 7. Moriondo takes full control of proceedings, augmenting her vision with contributions from Oscar Scheller (Rina Sawayama, PinkPantheress, Charli XCX), David Pramik (Machine Gun Kelly, Oliver Tree), and Teddy Geiger (Caroline Polachek, Olivia O’Brien). A 13 tracker, Chloe Moriondo will preview the album with a night at London’s iconic Heaven club on August 24. New single ‘Fruity’ is online, blazing a trail for the full length, her first since 2021’s ‘Blood Bunny’. The single bursts out of the traps, future-pop stylings with a punk-like sense of defiance. She comments… “’Fruity’ and this album in general are going to be a slap in the fucking face!! I liked the idea of naming the album for something that means an unexpected hit—something you never saw coming. It means the world to me to have the creative means to explore different shiny sounds and work with people I love so dearly on a project that is so new and exciting for me.” [via Clash]

Returning with her sassy pop sheen to prowl over the R&B scene, DEJA releases latest single ‘Boom Boom Bah’. DEJA’s badass and feisty female energy comes in with ‘Boom Boom Bah’. Empowering every girl with that whining and grinding confidence, DEJA shows appreciation to her body heritage in this atypical ode to her mother. Loaded with radiating hip beats and audacious elation, ‘Boom Boom Bah’ is a sass-soaked single. In her own words, DEJA explains;“Even though all the women in my bloodline were, I was not blessed with ample booty. In my family, this has been a running joke for as long as I can remember! Mama blessed me with no nyash, still every single man want that. ‘Boom Boom Bah’ pays homage to my mama and our heritage but in the most light-hearted way. I’ve written ballads about my love for my mother but I wanted this one to make her smile and shake body!”

Possessing a natural knack for genre-bending, Oregon-born artist Haley Johnsen has lent her musical magic to her retro new single ‘Renegade’. Indie-pop and folk-rock join forces here to create a unique sound, underpinned by soaring vocals and introspective lyricism. Having already built up an impressive fan base after her critically acclaimed debut album, Golden Days, the universally loved star’s return has been a sweet one, wrapped up in a nostalgic 80s and synth-laden tinge. Assembling the ultimate dream team on the new project, Johnsen brought to the mix award-winning, time-travelling filmmaker/ TikTok star, Maris Jones, for the track’s accompanying music video. The two creatives transport us to an entirely different decade in the new cut, flaunting all things 80s. Proving that self-love is a global currency when contemplating her newest cut, Johnsen explains, “‘Renegade’ is about fully stepping into who you are and what you’re meant to do in this life, which I believe is one of the most badass, rebellious things we can do. I needed to write this song to remind myself that even though I still struggle with my self-esteem and trust in myself at times, that I am still brave enough to be continuing to push through and follow my dreams. In this video made by the incredible Maris Jones, I get to become the superhero I always hoped I’d be for myself. Saving the world from evil storms of self-doubt and battling it with self-love and courage, one day at a time!” [via Wonderland]

Following the release of their first album in six years Radiate Like This, Warpaint are sharing the video for LP cut ‘Hips’. “’Hips’ has a scuttling intensity to it,” director Jim Hosking says. “It sounds like someone desperately trying to find something. Or at least that’s what it seemed to me. I listened to it repeatedly and kept seeing women desperately searching for each other in a seaside town. Ideas present themselves and it’s not about logic or reason, it’s about emotion. And here the emotion suggested identically dressed women finding each other in an old seaside town in England called Southend On Sea.” “We are thrilled to share this strange and beautiful video for ‘Hips’ from the brilliant mind of Jim Hoskins,” the band add. “Give it a watch.” [via DIY]

Artist on the rise, EMELINE returns with her strong-minded and sensually charged new single ‘Strut’ and its accompanying video. Co-written by EMELINE, ‘Strut’ finds the Los Angeles-based artist fully owning her sexuality and turning the track’s chorus into a supremely catchy statement of freedom: “I don’t do the walk of shame, I strut.” A dance-ready anthem of self-celebration, ‘Strut’ follows the Rhode Island-born singer-songwriter’s viral smash hit ‘cinderella’s dead’. In a departure from the slow-burning dark-pop of ‘cinderella’s dead,’ ‘Strut’ brings EMELINE’s breathy vocals and sophisticated wordplay to a high-energy backdrop of diamond-hard beats, glistening synth, and retro-flavored horns. Both playful and unapologetic, the result is the latest proof of EMELINE’s gift for transforming self-reflection into spellbinding songs with a powerful impact. Co-directed by EMELINE and Kate Zamudio, the video for ‘Strut’ follows the free-spirited phenomenon as she struts along city streets, endlessly turning heads with her unbridled confidence. A glorious explosion of pink, the visual also captures EMELINE making out in a vintage car and an old-school phone booth, ultimately inspiring the scandalized bystanders to shake off their inhibitions and dance along with her.

Los Angeles-based DIY rock band The Paranoyds share new single and accompanying video, ‘BWP’. Alongside the single, the band announces a UK tour this fall with tickets on sale now here, in addition to their North American dates, ahead of their highly anticipated sophomore LP, Talk Talk Talk due out September 9 and available for pre-order now, via Third Man Records. After some audio feedback and a steady guitar loop begins, ‘BWP’ opens the album with an attempt to escape the monotony of daily life. Over warbled vocals, expressing disappointment with how the once-alluring future turned out, guitarist and vocalist Lexi Funston sings, “Up on my bed / I’m looking to mend / I contend I’ve got a case / A fight in my head / I’ve got a ten I’m willing to spend / A day is long when not much is coming in / Cross off 60 more, this future was a bore” Funston explains the fuzzy jam is inspired by feeling stuck in an endless routine for so long, daydreams no longer feel special or significant–they’ve just become the norm. “Every now and then there are those days and sometimes even weeks where it just feels like you’re in a rut–for me they’re usually induced by some sort of gnarly LA heatwave or fire (if i’m really unlucky, it’s both!). All you can really do to escape the heat is daydream, but daydreaming day-to-day…it’s just not the same.” Speaking to what the title’s three letters stand for, Funston adds, “I wrote the demo for the song at a time where it felt like all of a sudden Spotify was overcompensating for years of only boosting male rock bands, in this super disingenuous way (2019). There was this playlist called “Badass Women’s Playlist,” which I thought was such a cringe title for a playlist (looking at the playlist now, they dropped the “Women’s”). “But, on the other hand,” Funston admits, “I wanted our music to be on this playlist…I figured if I wrote a song with that intention in mind and named it after the playlist, we might finally get some subliminal love from Spotify…I guess that makes it a self-referential song about selling out.” Directed by Max Flick, the track’s accompanying video allows each band member and their instrument shine as each shot corresponds seamlessly with each note played. Against a black backdrop, hues of red, yellow and blue along with a single spotlight bring the floating heads of each band member in and out of view. Similar to previously shared visuals, the band brings their retro spirit with them into the future, creating something brand new altogether. Flick, who has previously collaborated with the band, was thrilled to be able to direct the latest video. “Since the first time I saw The Paranoyds play at the original Non Plus Ultra I was an instant fan and knew I wanted to make a video together. We have worked on many projects over the years, but this is my first time directing for them.” After listening to the track, Flick had a clear vision for the visual. “Listening to ‘BWP’ immediately provided me with these vivid images that we were able to make come to life and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”

Sudan Archives has shared a new video for her song ‘NBPQ (Topless),’ a track from her forthcoming album Natural Brown Prom Queen. Agusta YR directed the busy, surreal visual. [via Pitchfork]

Annie DiRusso shares her new single ‘Call It All Off.’ “The song is about losing yourself in someone or something and trying to reenter the world once that chapter closes,” DiRusso shares. “This song was born from a time when I was so caught up in a relationship that I didn’t realize I had isolated myself from friends, family and a lot of good things in my life. When I realized how much I missed, I found myself wanting to just give up & ‘call it all off’ rather than reconnect with the outside world because it seemed like too big an undertaking. Releasing this song is a good reminder that there’s life on the other side.” Annie DiRusso also shared about the song, “It’s like me walking out of that relationship and reentering the world and realizing, like, I had a neglected relationship with my friends. Or like, I think often what happens in those kinds of relationships is when someone tells you, like, you should break up with him, then you’re like, ‘yeah, yeah.’ And then you like, just like, don’t talk to that person for a while because I don’t want to break up with your boyfriend. Like, and that was something that had happened with a lot of my friends. And so I think there was that period of kind of getting out of that relationship and being like, Hey, I broke up with him finally. All my friends were so welcoming, too. And it’s just a feeling, like, I think it’s about that fear of, like, I feel so disconnected from everyone, and everyone’s life moved on while I was, like, in this bubble. And I feel weird, like having to reenter now, you know, after missing so much.” [via Guitar Girl Mag]

Ghost Car, the London-based international punk quartet, announced their debut album Truly Trash following their signing to One Little Independent Records. The riotous, quick-witted collection of 11 garage-rock bangers will be released on October 28. The album provides Ghost Car with a platform to rage against political injustices, as their unified harmonies attack patriarchal inequality, homophobia, racism and toxic relationships. Truly Trash is a call to reclaim autonomy and to revolt against the powers that uphold an archaic nationalist system. The jumped-up chaos of their glorious new single ‘Conch Pearl’ perfectly matches its B-movie style visual, by upcoming videographer Cath Shayler. She says that “Ghost Car become collectively entranced by a mysterious pearl object. Obsession quickly turns to possession as the pearl transforms into an all-encompassing hypnotic orb”. The band describe ‘Conch Pearl’ as “a feminist commentary on women/queer community being ‘shrunk down’ to fit a mould. The idea of a conch shell closing up, closing yourself off to the world vs opening up. We wanted to use the obsession with the pearl to represent the possession that is sometimes manifested towards women, something all of us have experienced first-hand at some point in our lives”. [via SoundSphere]

LØLØ’s new single ‘u turn me on (but u give me depression)’ is an excellent summer anthem for anyone who secretly hates their partner. “I wish I fell for an ax murderer instead of you / He’d kill me too but at least he’d make it quick.” LØLØ rolls her eyes, arms crossed over a bright orange bedspread, as she delivers her first line, in the music video, next to a man who is fast asleep. “No he wouldn’t get me hot and heavy / Then pretend he never met me and make me such a crazy bitch.” ‘u turn me on (but u give me depression)’ is a pop-punk battle cry rich with upbeat instrumentals. The music starts off with a bare-bones guitar riff before building up to crisp drum claps and a resonant bass line. Speaking of the new track, LØLØ says, of the lover, “Instead of being dead, I live in a constant state of purgatory – flip flopping from happiness to sadness. I love him, I hate him. He turns me on. He gives me depression. But most importantly, he helps me write the best songs.” [via SPIN]

Whimsical, imaginative and ethereal are all words to describe Arizona born and bred indie pop artist Summy. Now based in Los Angeles, the young social media influencer and otherworldly songwriter crafts music inspired by her personal experiences and her deepest desire to inspire other women to be strong, embrace growth, and to love themselves for who they are. Inspired by a wide array of musical influences including Whitney Houston, Phil Collins, Chicago, Elton John, and Lady Gaga, Summy writes music that is genre-defying and introspective. Her latest single ‘Said It After’ is about “when the relationship ends, the person comes to say all the things you wanted to hear when you were together but now it’s too late, because they said it after.” Summy’s lush and intimate vocals glide effortlessly over enchanting electronic pop soundscapes culminating into a magnetizing musical release. Summy has an uncanny ability to tap into the shared human experience and highlight our deepest emotions for music that is cathartic, tender, and emotive. In addition to her music, she embodies an aesthetic that is creative and vibrant, building a fantastical world for her and her fans. “I’ve always been very drawn to an ethereal and colorful energy for the clothes I wear and the makeup looks I do. I think one of the reasons why I’m more attracted to that kind of vibe is because it really helps me cope with my depression and mental struggles. It’s much harder to cry if you’re in fairy wings,” confides the songwriter. [via Substream]

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On ‘Single Origin Experience’ The Paranoyds reckon with both America’s shameful history and current shady antics by the government and top corporations. The track opens with fuzzy, layered vocals that sing, “Nihilism bobbleheads, misogynists but working on it / American means shaking hands and stealing land / Modern horror is unmotivated / Moving through the days unabated.” ‘Single Origin Experience’ exemplifies the band’s effortless blend of eccentric societal commentary with sincerity over grainy guitar and a magnetic hook that remains in one’s head long after the song is over.

The track pokes fun at society’s plunge into a hyper-surveilled, hyper-marketed, and profit-driven circus. Explaining the meaning behind the song, guitarist and vocalist Lexi Funston says, “Sometimes an event happens or a news report comes out or whatever and you’re just so bummed about what it means to be American. It can be so exhaustingly cringey. Companies spying on us and “green-washing” their products in hopes of selling as a “pure” life, a branded experience. what the fuck right? Does single origin coffee really taste any better???”

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The Paranoyds, who recently opened for Jack White in Los Angeles, are Southern California DIY rock royalty, unafraid and unapologetically in perpetual pursuit of a good time. Fueled by the fiery energy of their live shows paired with raw lyricism and subtle societal commentary, The Paranoyds are ready to take their artistry to new heights. The four-piece is made up of Laila Hashemi (keyboardist-vocals), Lexi Funston (guitars/vocals), Staz Lindes (bass/vocals) and David Ruiz (drums, vocals) who together masterfully blend light-hearted playfulness with sharp sincerity over fuzzy guitar, dreamy vocals and punchy, punky rock-n-roll.

‘Lizzie,’ the first taste of what’s to come from the band, is a gritty, lo-fi punk track that launches the four-piece into space. The band sings over grainy electric guitar, “Cosmically I don’t believe in sights that remain unseen / Unfounded memories from 1950 / Panhandling fantasies of a higher being / Why can’t she just believe in me?”

The track dives into the celestial realm of an otherworldly crush. Funston explains, “She’s cute, she’s passionate, she’s dedicated to her art, but there’s this one thing. She’s a walking contradiction. How does she consistently act in roles, where she plays a truth-seeker, a down-to-earth, relatable woman who’s usually trying to escape some sort of oppressive event or oppressive relationship and then in real life be completely bound to a religion with foundations that are essentially a science fiction novel?”

The track’s video, directed by JJ Stratford, sees the band presented on an old TV donning silver costumes, ornate headwear made of tin foil and robotic movement. It’s a retro futuristic daydream that calls back to visuals of decades past–it’s nostalgic, while imaging what the future may look like.

The creation of the track itself painted a clear, 80’s-inspired picture of what the visuals would look like. The band explains, “When we were recording ‘Lizzie,’ we knew we wanted it to sound like what people in the early 80s might have thought the not-so-distant future could look like. I think we might have said something like ‘Terminator’ and ‘Alien’ to our Director, JJ. She was able to spin those references and create an oddly delightful, intergalactic world, with an American Bandstand-type performance on a spaceship, which ends in our band being abducted by a “5G” goddess.”

Stratford adds, “I really wanted to work with The Paranoyds, because they have a Devo vibe that’s mutated into something so modern and wonderful. It’s what this world needs. There’s even a few Easter eggs in the video that point to our De-evolution.”

Talk, Talk, Talk, the sophomore album from The Paranoyds gives the band space to expand, evolve and above all, have fun. Over 11 tracks, the band experiments with sounds that span an eclectic array of genres–from jazz, to lo-fi punk-rock, to groovy R&B–that melt together showcasing the innovative range of The Paranoyds.

Talk, Talk, Talk:

1. BWP
2. Lizzie
3. Nissan Overdrive
4. Typing
5. Single Origin Experience
6. Freak Out
7. Andrew
8. Over and Done
9. 6th Street Bridge
10. LA 2032
11. Sunburn

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