Busy weekend? With London's post-lockdown cultural scene opening up more with each week that passes, the temptation to get out and enjoy the city is too strong to refuse.
If all that revelling means you've missed a flew blips on your new music radar, then we can bring you back up to speed.
These five picks are all fresh drops — whether they're covers, remixes or something new entirely, they're deserving of your attention.
Here's the new music you might have missed.
Fake Plastic Trees — Phoebe Bridgers and Arlo Parks
A Radiohead cover can be a tricky one to pull off, but in the safe hands of Phoebe Bridgers and Arlo Parks, this stripped-down piano rendition of Fake Plastic Trees is a winner. It was recorded as part of a Radio 1 session, with a similarly pared-back take on Bridgers’ own track Kyoto.
Kaytranada — Bubba (Instrumental)
Producer extraordinaire Kaytranada pulled in a sparkling array of names to feature on his 2019 album Bubba — from Kali Uchis and VanJess to Tinashe and Pharrell — but here he lets the music do the talking. It’s a purely instrumental version of the release, letting fans delve into his kaleidoscopic beats.
Haim — The Summer Girl Remixes Volume 1
The Californian trio provided a high point amid the lockdown gloom with their latest album, Women In Music Pt III. Here, they hand over the reins to different artists — Lauren Auder, Amber Mark, Solomonophonic and Jack and Henry — to give five eclectic takes on the track Summer Girl.
SZA — Hit Different feat. Ty Dolla $ign, The Neptunes
It’s been a while since SZA released new music as the lead artist — not since 2017, in fact — but now she’s back with this simmering track. Ty Dolla $ign lends vocals while The Neptunes are on production duties.
Chloe x Halle — Do It (Remix)
Another fresh take on an existing track, this time it’s the turn of sister act Chloe x Halle. They’ve called in Doja Cat, City Girls and Mulatto for a remix of their most popular song so far, Do It, adding new layers to those bouncy basslines and shimmering synths.
