Have You Heard?

DOMINIC FIKE - CHICKEN TENDERS

Returning with his first piece of new music in over a year, ‘Chicken Tenders’ was worth the wait. Not exactly an ode to the titular food, Dominic Fike’s latest R&B-infused pop bop instead is all about ordering some well-deserved post-coital snacks. “I ordered chicken fingers to my room, girl / But we got some things to do first” he delivers with signature laid-back vocals over some woozy building backing. Marking the first taste of his highly-anticipated debut album, the song was originally meant to come out earlier this month before he pushed it back, explaining in a powerful Instagram message to fans that it didn’t “feel right” to be releasing music at that time. Now delivering the sun-bleached track with the fitting weather to match, it’s time to start getting even more excited for his first full-length. (Elly Watson)

ANOTHER SKY - I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE CITY

So good it bears repeating, it’s fairly impossible to discuss any of Another Sky’s wares without highlighting the inimitable, extraordinary vocals of singer Catrin Vincent. Blessed with pipes that stretch from full-bodied, deep boom to clear, pure top notes, her voice always remains the most notable instrument in any given track. ‘Fell In Love With The City’ is no different. A dusky affair that pulses along on cyclical drums, it might not be their most immediately striking offering – in truth, it feels more of an album track than a single - but with Catrin at the helm, there’s still enough to intrigue. (Lisa Wright)

ASHNIKKO FT. GRIMES - CRY

With a brand new girl power collab, Ashnikko has teamed up with Grimes for ‘Cry’. A lovelorn anthem pinned round the screaming chorus of “bitch, are you trying to make me cry?”, it’s a bona fide girl power slammer. The blue-haired rapper’s bubblegum vocals are backed by rock-driven riffs and club ready beats, while Grimes adds an ethereal hook in the middle of the track - then juxtaposed by Ashnikko going hard AF. With the forever-motto of “fuck a fucking fuck boy” ringing clear, ‘Cry’ is yet another example of her balls-to-the-wall attitude, and a new empowerment anthem to blare out during quarantine. Thanks Ash. (Elly Watson)

NONAME - SONG 33

“He really ‘bout to write about me when the world is in smokes?’” On one hand, ‘Song 33’ is a retort to J Cole’s ‘Snow on the Bluff’, released last month, in which he appeared to call out the Chicago rapper’s predilection for, y’know, reading and suggesting others read too. On the other, it’s a pin-sharp reflection of the here and now, of Black injustice - and more specifically, that of Black women. Lasting just over a minute, there’s no second wasted, no redundant word over a Madlibproduced beat that pushes along, but never deflects from, Noname’s message. Essential listening. (Emma Swann)

IDLES - GROUNDS

On ‘Mr Motivator’, the first taste of their forthcoming record, IDLES dug deep into the cacophony of chaos that they’ve explored so well over their previous two records. It’s on their newest ‘Ultra Mono’ cut, however, that they make an even more refined statement. A thunderous track driven predominantly by deadly percussion, ‘Grounds’ sees the group transformed into a powerful marching band, with Joe Talbot becoming their potent band leader. “Do you hear that thunder?” he bellows, in among electronic stabs and frenetic guitars, before his defiant reply: “It’s the sound of strength in numbers.” An outraged and astute call to arms has never sounded so good. (Sarah Jamieson)