The biblical phrase “a new song” (Psalm 96:11) is often taken to mean that worship should be evolving, but a more literal reading of the text suggests the idea that God’s redeemed people will continue adding stanzas to his hymn of redemption. As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ this week, we are reminded that he has given us a new song in which to praise him.
In the wake of her 2023 Grammy Awards win for best urban contemporary album, Beyonce surprised fans with a new song this Friday. Featuring a sample from Kilo Ali’s classic “Cocaine,” it’s a grim, jagged take on the late ’80s booty-bass rap scene that served as an era-defining soundtrack for Atlanta’s black youth. Despite the track’s abrasive tone, the beat remains catchy and hook-oriented, and Beyonce’s croon sounds as buttery as ever.
This year’s most exciting new music comes from a range of genres, with rap, indie rock and R&B all making their mark. Whether it’s the first single from a major label project or an unexpected collaboration between two established artists, these songs will find an audience if the creators have any sense of purpose.
New Yorker music critic Pareles recently named this eclectic Usher album a Critic’s Pick, and it’s not hard to see why: the singer has a soaring voice that can shift from plaintive ballads to pulsing house music with ease. This track, with production from the Nigerian musician Pheelz, offers a stark contrast to the glitzy showmanship Usher is known for, with its stripped-down beats and blunt lyrics about breakups.
Ezra Koenig is back with Vampire Weekend after a hiatus with this ode to those born in the late month of December. The track has a weightless prettiness that’s complicated on the second chorus by some satisfyingly crunchy distortion, while lyrics like “Capricorn, the year that you were born finished fast / And the next one wasn’t yours” are crafted into a broader metaphor about generational displacement.
The spry singer-songwriter and former child star delivers a banger with this debut single. Over a pounding four-on-the-floor beat, Rogers spits fire, calling out her ex’s championship bona fides and proclaiming that “I was better than you.”
As the title suggests, this song is an anthem of liberation. With guest spots from a host of female rappers, the track is an ode to women finding their voices and breaking through oppressive systems. The rappers are encouraged to yell and rap at their highest decibel level, which is impressive considering that some of them are just 15 years old.