Every week, Spotify selects a unique batch of 98 new musical releases in order to fill its “New Music Friday” playlist. While we informed last week that the update from Oct. 11 fulfilled the gaps in all of the music styles and genres possible for listeners of all likes, the update from Oct. 18 was nowhere near its preceding list.
This week’s edition includes new singles from artists such as Katy Perry (“Harleys In Hawaii”), BTS (“Make It Right” featuring Lauv) and YUNGBLUD (“casual sabotage”). However, after reviewing the list of themes that Spotify provided users with, here are the tracks that readers should listen to this week, regardless of musical taste.
French DJ, record producer, singer and songwriter Hugo Pierre Lacierq, better known by his stage name Madeon, has released a new chart-topping hit (“Be Fine”) that, for sure, will get listeners on their feet. With its chill melody it can fill many gaps, from providing listeners with some tunes during those endless study or work nights. Or do quite the opposite with its wordless, electronic chorus that is capable of motivating listeners while they hit the gym. The theme of the song seems to be how Madeon tries to look at the positive side, while the target of the lyrics aims to do the opposite. In a sense, the overall theme is to get back up when knocked down, which makes exercising, whether in the gym or elsewhere, the perfect setting to listen to this smash hit.
Still along the lines of electronic music, British-born Norwegian DJ and record producer Alan Olav Walker, better known solely as Alan Walker (“Faded”), united forces with Antiguan singer-songwriter Jamie Lou Stenzel, better known by her stage name Au/Ra (“Panic Room”). The song pertains to the official soundtrack for the videogame “DEATH STRANDING,” just like the single “Yellow Box” by The Neighbourhood, which was analyzed in last week’s edition. Talking lyrics, the song follows the videogame’s theme, which relates to dying in combat and coming back to life, therefore the title of this song.
The third and last highlight from this week’s edition comes in the form of “Ghost Town,” a tune performed by casually-formed trio FLAWES (“Blank Dice”) and ROZES (“Roses,” featuring The Chainsmokers). The song talks about a relationship that feels empty, where one of them is seeking a partner to fulfill that gap in their life. The line “get me out of this ghost town” is a clear example that he or she is desperate to find the love of his or her life. Once users listen to this song, they will be prone to put it on repeat, given its catchiness.
While last week was rich in the different genres applicable to listeners’ likes, including but not limited to country, latin-pop, k-pop, or electronic musical releases, this week’s edition lacks many of those genres, leaving listeners quite empty-handed. Overall, this week’s edition would earn three and a half stars, due to all of the missing variety in contrast to that of last week.
