Every week, ipromiseyoumedia’s Songs of the Week roundup spotlights high quality new tracks from the final seven days and analyzes notable releases. Discover our new favorites and extra on our Prime Songs playlist, and for different nice songs from rising artists, take a look at our New Sounds playlist. This week, Woman Gaga leans into her most hypnotic persona.
When Woman Gaga teased her seventh studio album with the discharge of “Illness,” it was clear that she could be utilizing the forthcoming LP, Mayhem, as a return to type of kinds. If that first single was a murmur within the course of extra dance ground hits from the Mom Monster, then her new launch, “Abracadabra,” isn’t simply additional affirmation; it’s a shout from the rooftops.
Woman Gaga is without doubt one of the most well-rounded entertainers we have now in the meanwhile. She’s an knowledgeable songwriter, robust actress, and an undeniably distinctive stage performer. She’s adept throughout genres, from her pop roots to the country-adjacent moments in A Star Is Born; whereas Joker: Folie à Deux was a flop, her Harley Quinn-inspired companion album of jazz and Nice American Songbook requirements nearly made it price it. (Nearly.)
What this all comes right down to is that Gaga is nice at many issues, however one thing particular occurs when she leans into darkish pop, particularly when the music performs round with ideas of the occult or taboo. In “Abracadabra,” she goes all in: “The idea is dance, or die,” she proclaims firstly of the music video, which Gaga herself co-directed with Parris Goebel and Bethany Vargas. Throngs of writhing backup dancers, a chanting refrain harking back to witchcraft intertwined with Gaga’s personal title, lyrics about haunting trances and casting spells, and one completely positioned feral scream come collectively like a lightning rod for a brand new technology of potential Little Monsters.
There’s a tether between the Gaga of 2009 who seduced us with “Unhealthy Romance” and the Gaga of “Abracadabra,” nevertheless it doesn’t really feel just like the acclaimed artist is striving to recreate the magic of the previous. As an alternative, Gaga — 15 years after she burst into the leisure world with a virtually unequalled ardour for efficiency — is exploring her first creative persona by way of a brand new, extra skilled lens. We all know extra about Stefani Germanotta nowadays than ever earlier than, however eradicating a number of the mystique over the previous few many years has eliminated none of her energy.
Woman Gaga can arguably do all of it — together with forged a spell over her keen viewers.
— Mary Siroky
Affiliate Editor
Crate — “Necklace”
New York shoegazers Crate supplied fairly the spectacular debut single with final 12 months’s “Julia,” and so they’re maintaining their sizzling streak with new music “Necklace.” With a bit extra unpredictability within the combine, just like the unusual, off-rhythm metronome tones buried behind the guitars, “Necklace” expands the margins of Crate’s nostalgic sound whereas putting them in a dynamic gray space — not precisely quiet or lowkey, and not likely rambunctious and loud. If something, “Necklace” proves that the brand new band have the shoegaze world at their fingertips. — Paolo Ragusa
Deep Sea Diver (feat. Madison Cunningham) — “Let Me Go”
Simply weeks away from releasing their full-length Sub Pop debut, Deep Sea Diver have shared the third single from Billboard Coronary heart. To sweeten the deal earlier than it hits the market on February twenty eighth, the group summoned singer-songwriter Madison Cunningham to affix forces with in-house vocalist Jessica Dobson on “Let Me Go.” Collectively, each Los Angeles natives meld their voices and add a definite glimmer to the instrumentation’s balmy fuzz. — Karan Singh
Deb By no means — “This Alive”
The attract surrounding Deb By no means has solely grown with every of her releases. The Pacific Northwest native hasn’t dropped a lot materials since 2023’s Thank You For Attending, which is why her newest providing completely hits the spot. Pulsating over a backdrop of sprawling guitar distortion, the bassline on “This Alive” provides a fair darker shade to her shadowy voice and transports it to a spectral dimension. — Okay. Singh
Dora Jar — “Fortunate”
Dora Jar has shared the tender, pared-down “Fortunate,” her first launch since final 12 months’s glorious debut No Method to Calm down When You’re on Hearth. Although she sings wistfully of being “fortunate,” the blooming sounds beneath her counsel a type of superior energy; it’s just like the goodness she feels is so overwhelming that it’s perhaps the scariest factor she’s ever skilled. It’s all finished subtly, although, displaying as soon as once more that Dora Jar is a reduce above her singer-songwriter contemporaries. — P. Ragusa
FACS — “Extraordinary Voices”
At present, Chicago post-punkers FACS return with their new album, Want Protection. Notably, it was the final document the late, nice Steve Albini engineered — and tracks like “Extraordinary Voices” show what makes him, and the band, so unbelievable. The composition is sprawling and dynamic, leaning on area and repetition, whereas the manufacturing boasts Albini’s trademark drum sounds and depth (thanks partly to the manufacturing instincts of John Congleton, who stepped in to combine the album after Albini handed). It’s a killer tune off a killer document that does justice to the very best of each FACS and Albini. — J. Krueger
Hamilton Leithauser — “Burn the Boats”
On the newest single from his upcoming solo album This Facet of the Island, The Walkmen frontman Hamilton Leithauser will get playful and groovy. Overtop of its mid-tempo, dancy instrumental, Leithauser squeezes each ounce of emotional theatrically out of his voice. All of the whereas, uncommon, woozy overdubs hold the tone gentle and breezy, whilst he sings about eager for house. — J. Krueger
Maruja — “Aon”
Maruja, one among our rising artists to look at in 2025, have introduced their subsequent inventive endeavor, Tír na nÓg, a totally improvised EP break up into 4 new tracks. “Aon,” the challenge’s opening reduce, arrives as the primary single. Over the course of its prolonged runtime, the preliminary ambiance slowly develops into an intense, dissonant freakout of a jam. It’s the soundtrack to a rising sense of dread, and it’s completely charming. — J. Krueger
Punchlove — “(sublimate)”
There’s an irresistible hypnotism to Punchlove that makes it robust to deal with something apart from their music. The group’s newest single, as an example, nearly has a tranquilizing impact that evokes no resistance amid its density. A specimen of noise, “(sublimate)” is additional proof of the Brooklyn-based outfit’s proclivity for tasteful disturbance. — Okay. Singh
Yasiin Bey and The Alchemist — “Kijani”
Hip-hop veterans Yasiin Bey (previously Mos Def) and The Alchemist have been teasing a collaboration for fairly a while now, with the latter having previewed their crossover joint “Kijani” at numerous reveals over 2024. Cruising over the piano-centered beat together with his trademark lethargy, nearly as if he’s singing in his sleep, the New York MC ponders the sturdiness of all issues stunning on this standout observe. After teasing the music stay in latest months, the observe has formally been launched right now as a part of the duo’s debut challenge, FORENSICS, obtainable completely on Bandcamp. — Okay. Singh
