The music industry is constantly evolving and changing, with new sounds and styles emerging all the time. One artist who has consistently reinvented herself throughout her career is Miley Cyrus. From the grown-up synth-pop of Can’t Be Tamed to the audible hip-hop influence of Bangerz to the pensive country-pop of Younger Now to the homage-paying guitar-rock of Plastic Hearts, Cyrus has always managed to stay relevant and fresh.
The latest taste of her upcoming album, Endless Summer Vacation, is the sleek and disco-adjacent midtempo pop track “Flowers.” Although the song doesn’t reveal a radical sonic reinvention for Cyrus, this lack of transformation actually benefits the superstar, who sings of changing course and finding self-fulfillment after a breakup. On “Flowers,” Cyrus shows that she can still conjure pop magic, but can also feel comfortable in her own skin.
Bizarrap & Shakira, “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53”
Another artist who has recently released new music is Shakira, who teamed up with Bizarrap for the single “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53.” The collaboration is intended as an evisceration, with several haymakers directed at Shakira’s ex, soccer star Gerard Piqué, already making the rounds on social media. However, the song is also rich with hooks, beat changes and invigorated singing, and represents Shakira’s most vibrant single in years.
Sam Smith feat. Koffee & Jessie Reyez, “Gimme”
Sam Smith has also been making waves in the industry with their recent single “Gimme,” a lush dancehall riff on which the singer-songwriter downplays their crooning for a more subtle, sensual delivery. Guest stars Koffee and Jessie Reyez switch up the song’s chemistry and make every second of the track as impactful as possible.
Moneybagg Yo & GloRilla, “On Wat U On”
In the rap world, Moneybagg Yo and GloRilla have collaborated on the track “On Wat U On”. The pair justify their kiss-offs while cosplaying in an unstable relationship, they form a symbiotic relationship of loners who know what they want and can toss in the right ad-libs to demonstrate as much.
Margo Price, Strays
Country-folk mainstay Margo Price also released an album, Strays, which was written in the summer of 2020 during the throes of the pandemic. The songs on the album are a mix of free-wheeling moments and nuanced songwriting, with tracks like the kicky “Been to the Mountain” being balanced out with “County Road,” a poignant message to a young victim of a car accident, and “Lydia,” a powerhouse ballad about abortion.
PartyNextDoor, “Her Old Friends”
R&B artist PartyNextDoor also released the single “Her Old Friends,” which showcases his voice floating up and then twisting back down, and stacked vocals circle in and out of harmonizing, creating a ghostly chorus effect. The new track follows singles like “Sex in the Porsche” and “No Fuss,” hinting at the first PND full-length since.
