The biggest girl group in the world just released their debut album. Fittingly titled The Album, BLACKPINK’s eight-tracker includes features from Selena Gomez (“Ice Cream”, which you almost definitely consumed back when the single was served up last month) and Cardi B. Sitting at just 24-minutes long, the YG/Interscope release is a fast and furiously hook-filled mindblow of a pop offering from Jennie, Jisoo, Rosé and Lisa that coincides with the release of a video for the anthemic “Lovesick Girls”. But it’s the Cardi B song “Bet You Wanna” that opens this week’s playlist — the unexpected crossover episode we all deserve, complete with lyrics about a very special “all-night hug”. What could they be insinuating?
Also new this week is “The Fun Is Here” by London angel Cosima. The stripped-back confessional comes with a message I’m sure we can all get behind: “I don’t know what’s right/ I don’t know what’s wrong/ I just know what’s fun…” Jónsi and Robyn know about fun too, as proven with their collaboration “Salt Licorice” (it’s a Scandi thing) from the Sigur Rós frontman’s new A.G. Cook-produced project Shiver. And honestly, it’s exactly the slightly-weird-but-totally-fun ethereal banger you’d expect from a Jonsi and Robyn song produced by A.G. Cook. 21 Savage put out his SAVAGE MODE II record today too — 15 tracks with guest features from Drake, Young Nudy and Young Thug — while Jorja Smith tamed up with Popcaan for “Come Over” which she wrote about “that unsure feeling when you’re talking to someone and you can’t tell how much they’re into you and you’re chasing then when, really, it can be straight up and no one should be playing games”. Wholeheartedly agree. On top of all that, listen out for great new stuff from Jeshi, Priya Ragu, mxmtoon, Romy, Eartheater, Cero Ismael, Shawn Mendes, grouptherapy., Scintii, Dinamarca, Kali Uchis and more. Enjoy!