Popping Sounds of Summer: selected by Arlo Parks, Romy, Roisin Murphy and others
Don’t let the persistent drizzle fool you, summer is just around the corner! But which typical banger becomes the unofficial song of the season?
From Daft Punk’s now-immortal 2013 funk hit “Get Lucky” – arguably a genre classic – to the Lionesses’ glorious revival of Gala Rizzatto’s “Freed From Desire” at last year’s European Championship, there’s a flagship hit every year Song. With 2023 fast approaching – we hope so – we asked some of music’s biggest names about the tracks they’ll be releasing this summer.
Arlo Parks
Boygenius—True Blue
“For me, summer is full of colors. It’s about picnics, open water swimming and the feeling of freedom. This song is so tender and there is so much attention to detail in it, but also a distinct melancholy. I remember playing it while traveling with my best friends and driving to my favorite beach in the world. My dog was probably hanging her head out the window! “We drove at 70 miles per hour and it felt like the world was completely new.”
Arlo Parks new single “Pegasus ft. Phoebe Bridgers” is out now
The Holy Madonna
HAAI – Always Ascending
“My Song of the Summer is Always Ascending by HAAi.” Produced by Jon Hopkins and vocals by Kam Bu, who I had the pleasure of participating in a session with. It’s a really exciting record, but it’s not technically still out; It’s the follow-up to the lead single from their exceptionally good 2022 album Baby, We’re Ascending and I can’t wait to play that single on tour this summer! “Teneil Throssell remains infinitely impressive and brilliant.”
The Holy Madonna performs at the Parklife Festival on June 11th
Romy
yuné pinku—night light
“A summer anthem has to have euphoria in it; for me it needs momentum and a driving rhythm.” Night Light by Yuné Pinku just has this lightness and warmth. I can imagine wearing it when I have friends, in the garden, in the summer – the weather isn’t very nice right now, but it got me to where I hope to be soon. “It’s a great track that I found on one of my Spotify deep dives and I’m honestly excited to hear more of them.”
Romy’s new single “Enjoy Your Life” is available now
Hot Chip, Joe Goddard
KAYTRAMINÉ – 4EVA (feat. Pharrell Williams)
“This song is super funky, infectious, and lively.” Amine sounds a bit like Q-Tip, and his verses have some killer hooks. Kaytranada’s drums sound almost Brazilian and have a great swing – it’s going to be a summer anthem. It’s got the perfect tempo and a simple Pharrell chorus to finish it off.”
Hot Chip will be DJing all night at Koko on June 9th and headlining London’s Kaleidoscope Festival on July 15th
Roisin Murphy
Eli Escobar – Do it now
“If you’re looking for a nice warm summer vibe, this really isn’t it.” It’s dark and sexual and intense, with a menacing edge. Having said that, I think it might fit in quite nicely in the coming summer as I have a feeling it could get pretty heated and choppy! Eli Escobar is perfectly able to evoke wonderfully warm and dreamy summer moods – as evidenced elsewhere in his excellent catalog – although these are always rooted in his New York origins. Here it’s sort of an edgy, funky electro downtown scene he’s tapping into. True summer anthems must be able to be both large and small. This works at a rave, at a BBQ, in the car, or on a run…anywhere! But it’s not escapism. You have to go to Thomas Cook for that!’
Roisin Murphy plays the Mighty Hoopla on June 4th
dagny
Mimi Webb – Red Flags
“My summer hit 2023 is Red Flags by Mimi Webb.” What can I say; I’m addicted to pop and this one is super hooky with a big uptempo chorus. Lyrically, it’s a song I and many others can definitely relate to – there’s something inevitable about the heartbreak that follows when you ignore all the warning signs.”
Dagny plays the Mighty Hoopla on June 4th
over mono
Blawan—Toast
“For us, Blawan’s latest single, Toast, is hands down the sound of the summer.” Jamie Roberts (aka Blawan) is a truly talented producer who we were lucky enough to feature on our 2021 Cloth Gifts compilation. He has this incredible way of making music that just melts you away. Toast – the new EP Dismantled Into Juice – is a perfect example of that. It’s got those crunchy synths that hooked us from the first listen. They blow in like a cool breeze, which is just what everyone needs in the warmer months.”
Overmono’s debut album Good Lies is out now – they’re playing Gala Festival on May 27th
Nova twins
SZA—Kill Bill Ft. Doja Cat (Remix)
“SZA is a great singer with a voice all her own and we love how she contrasts the sweet melodies in Kill Bill with the concept of the song itself.” It’s an undeniable catchy tune and we sing the chorus over and over again. Doja Cat’s involvement in this new release was the icing on the cake. “We’re big fans of her style and approach and have always wanted to tour with her or work with her in any way.”
Nova Twins will be playing Download Festival from June 8th to 11th
Tom Rasmussen
Roisin Murphy – CooCool
“The sound of summer is obviously CooCool from the mother of music with real taste, Róisín Murphy.” Who I’ll be playing two (yes two!) festivals with this year (she doesn’t know who I am). But I know who she is – and whatever sound she brings, it seems to usher in a new way of experiencing summer. If their 2020 album Róisín Machine was a somber and sexy dance party perfect for the gay crowd at Glastonbury’s immaculate New York down-low club, CooCool’s comeback is chic cliffside relaxation in white marabou-trimmed dresses . I can’t wait to dance to it at Mighty Hoopla.’
Tom Rasmussen plays the Mighty Hoopla on June 4th
Nell Mescal
The Japanese House – Childhood
“This song is 1000 percent a summer banger.” The melodies are so crazy, the structure so great, and the chorus has me running around a field in the sun. However, I also feel existential, because the lyrics: “And when I grow, I’ll get this old” makes me scream. That makes it a perfect summer song, although I would also give credit to Caroline Polachek’s “Welcome To My Island”. The Charli XCX remix, because obviously.’
Nell Mescal plays at BST Hyde Park on June 25th
Lambrini Girls, Phoebe Lunny
Comfort – billionaire potential
“I really wanted to pick Crazy Frog by Axel F – Crazy Frog is a gay icon and a sign of the times.” He’s a little bit of us all. Of the things I’ve heard this year though, I love Glasgow band Comfort’s “Billionaire Potential”. They’re so uncompromisingly queer and amazing – we did a few shows with them and they just blew me away. I would say Billionaire Potential is about capitalism and how awful society is and how we all deal with it. It touches me a lot. It’s flawless!’
Lambrini Girls are playing Brighton’s The Great Escape this weekend
Black Honey, Izzy Bee Phillips
Lambrini Girls – boys boys boys
“We played at the same festival as [Lambrini Girls] last week, Are You Listening in Reading, and I felt like I needed their music in my life. I love punk and I love bands like Amyl and the Sniffers… but their sound is more vintage and I see things through an Australian lens. This is true of British girl culture. It’s really refreshing. “Lads Lads Lads” in particular is a hilarious song because it has that cock rock riff and it’s also a very apt critique of boy culture.
Black Honey will be playing the 2000trees Festival from July 5th to 8th
rose grey
Shygirl – Heaven ft. Tinashe
Radio has tremendous power, especially in summer, and listening to songs repeatedly has a great effect. My summer anthem has to be Shygirl’s Heaven, with Tinashe. It’s from their remix album Nymph_o, which I’ve listened to a lot. I have a lot of respect for her – she is very impressive and I supported her with her Printworks show. I fell in love with this song when I heard her play it live. To me it has the perfect balance between electronic and almost classical, with these beautiful string arrangements.
Rose Gray is playing The Great Escape this weekend
shop steward
Robert Doherty & Foley – Let the Bass
This is sassy, fun, and has a breakdown worthy of a grand old ballpark. We’ve been incorporating it into our DJ sets for the past few weeks and it always dissolves without us even trying. It’s a sure-fire way to hit the party and look cool while doing it. Big and trashy is back!
https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/sounds-of-the-summer-arlo-parks-romy-roisin-murphy-b1080133.html Popping Sounds of Summer: selected by Arlo Parks, Romy, Roisin Murphy and others
