Music Scene

Groove to new beats

Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande (both above), two of the biggest pop stars on the planet right now, team up for stay-home waltz Stuck With U. PHOTOS: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

From a stay home-themed duet by Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande to new albums from Hayley Williams and Perfume Genius, here are 10 new works in pop, hip-hop, metal and indie music.


1. POP

STUCK WITH U

Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande

Hear it on: Spotify, Apple Music and other music streaming platforms

Watch it on: youtu.be/pE49WK-oNjU

Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, two of the biggest pop stars on the planet right now, team up for stay-home waltz Stuck With U.

The music video features home-video footage of ordinary Americans dancing at home and cameos from fellow celebrities including actress Mila Kunis and actor Ashton Kutcher; model Kendall Jenner and reality television star Kylie Jenner; as well as actress Gwyneth Paltrow.

The money generated from the streams and sales of the song will be donated to First Responders Children's Foundation, a charity that funds grants and scholarships for children of front-line workers who are working hard to battle the coronavirus pandemic.


2. ALTERNATIVE POP/ ALTERNATIVE ROCK

SET MY HEART ON FIRE IMMEDIATELY

Perfume Genius

Hear it on: Spotify, Apple Music and other music streaming platforms

Watch it on: youtu.be/ln4S83JeY2Y

PHOTO: PERFUME GENIUS/FACEBOOK

Set My Heart On Fire Immediately is the fifth album by American singer-songwriter Mike Hadreas (above), better known as Perfume Genius.

The songs subvert traditional roles, Hadreas says in a press statement. "I wanted to feel more open, more free and spiritually wild. I wrote these songs as a way to be more patient, more considered, to pull at all these chaotic threads hovering around me and weave them into something warm, thoughtful and comforting."


PHOTO: DIET CIG/FACEBOOK

3. INDIE POP/ROCK

DO YOU WONDER ABOUT ME?

Diet Cig

Hear it on: Spotify, Apple Music and other music streaming platforms

Watch it on: youtu.be/j0Aj8fz7SOk

Do You Wonder About Me? is the second album from New York indie rock duo Diet Cig. Comprising drummer Noah Bowman (right) and singer-guitarist Alex Luciano (far right), the album comes three years after the release of their 2017 debut, Swear I'm Good At This.


PHOTO: LINDSEY BYRNES

4. POP/ ALTERNATIVE ROCK

PETALS FOR ARMOR

Hayley Williams

Hear it on: Spotify, Apple Music and other music streaming platforms

Watch it on: youtu.be/eIZkVaM-0K8

Hayley Williams (above), frontwoman of American rock band Paramore, strikes out on her own with her debut solo album, Petals For Armor.

The songs were written when her band went on hiatus following the 2017 release of their fifth album, After Laughter.

In an interview with BBC Radio, she says: "I'm in a band with my favourite musicians, so I never really feel the need to step into a role as a player when it comes to Paramore records.

"This project, however, benefited from a little bit of musical naivete and rawness and so I experimented quite a bit more."


PHOTO: REUTERS

5. POP/ROCK

WATERMELON SUGAR

Harry Styles

Hear it on: Spotify, Apple Music and other music streaming platforms

Watch it on: youtu.be/E07s5ZYygMg

British singer-songwriter and One Direction star Harry Styles (above) has released a new music video for standout track Watermelon Sugar, the fourth single from his sophomore album Fine Line.

Featuring Styles frolicking on a beach with a bevy of women and men, it starts with a note that says "this video is dedicated to touching".

Fans and observers have been quick to pick out details from the music video, such as the Gucci threads and accessories that he wears.


PHOTO: TRAVIS KELLER

6. ALTERNATIVE ROCK

STRAIGHT SONGS OF SORROW

Mark Lanegan

Hear it on: Spotify, Apple Music and other music streaming platforms

Watch it on: youtu.be/uJDLcaCuFHU

American singer-songwriter Mark Lanegan's album, Straight Songs Of Sorrow, comes on the heels of his recent memoir, Sing Backwards And Weep. Each song references a story or person in the book.

The frontman of grunge veterans Screaming Trees also ropes in fellow rock stalwarts such as Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones to sing and play on the record.


PHOTO: ED O'BRIEN/ FACEBOOK

7. ALTERNATIVE/ INDIE ROCK

EARTH

EOB

Hear it on: Spotify, Apple Music and other music streaming platforms

Watch it on: youtu.be/N7Djc5z-EMg

The guitarist of acclaimed alternative rock band Radiohead, Ed O'Brien (above), has released Earth, his debut solo album, under the moniker EOB.

"These songs were created in a spirit of love, with the best wishes for a global community," he says. "It's my sincere hope that during these strange and difficult times, some people might find a little light and consolation in them."

The cast of musicians playing here includes Portishead guitarist Adrian Utley, singer-songwriter Laura Marling and Radiohead bassist Colin Greenwood.


PHOTO: TRIVIUM/FACEBOOK

8. METAL

WHAT THE DEAD MEN SAY

Trivium

Hear it on: Spotify, Apple Music and other music streaming platforms

Watch it on: youtu.be/8VqQPBrhmaY

What The Dead Men Say is the ninth album by American metal band Trivium, which are fronted by singer-guitarist Matt Heafy (second from far right).

The title is taken from Philip K. Dick's 1964 science-fiction novella of the same name.

The band were originally scheduled to perform at Fort Canning Park on March 24, but the concert was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.


PHOTO: CAPITOL RECORDS

9. POP

DAISIES

Katy Perry

Hear it on: Spotify, Apple Music and other music streaming platforms

Watch it on: youtu.be/NutHKRKBgR0

Pop star Katy Perry (above) has released Daisies, a new single from her as-yet-untitled fifth studio album expected to be released on Aug 14.

The song is a call to remain true to oneself, regardless of what others may think, she says on social media.

The song has taken on new meaning for her recently, given what the whole world is experiencing, she says. "Each of us is one in more than seven billion, with our own story of strength and resilience to tell."


PHOTO: ATLANTIC

10. R&B

IT WAS GOOD UNTIL IT WASN'T

Kehlani

Hear it on: Spotify, Apple Music and other music streaming platforms

Watch it on: youtu.be/0JvQOJl3Eds

Grammy-nominated R&B singer-songwriter Kehlani is back with her second album, It Was Good Until It Wasn't.

The Californian artist, who gave birth to her daughter last year, describes the songs as more mature works compared with her past releases.

She says in a press statement: "Having a baby helped me be a lot more womanly and 'adult'. The music is more meaningful. My daughter is the biggest indirect influence on everything I do. If it sounds grown-up, it's because of her."

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 21, 2020, with the headline Groove to new beats. Subscribe