Multi-platinum singer-songwriter based in Brooklyn, New York Loren Allred has released her latest single, entitled "Perfect." The emotive song is about self-acceptance and loving yourself entirely, despite your imperfections. Featuring heart-wrenching lyricism and layered vocals that grip with intensity and passion. Furthermore, “Perfect” possesses rhythmic drum-laden instrumentation flavoured with a warm contemporary pop vibration. Also, the attractive song serves as a fantastic presentation to what listeners can expect to hear on Loren Allred’s upcoming EP, “Late Bloomer,” set to be released on September 24, 2021. Here is what Loren said of the song, “The song was inspired by my experiences trying to please everyone, and realizing that in the process of trying to achieve the moving target of perfection, that I’d lost myself. Reaching the place of knowing that you should only compare yourself to who you were yesterday is so liberating. I’m happy to be imperfectly ‘Perfect’!” Loren Allred is best known for her jaw-dropping vocal performance of “Never Enough,” from the Oscar-nominated, Grammy-award-winning soundtrack and motion picture, "The Greatest Showman."

GRIFF | ONE NIGHT Griff has returned with a brand new single titled "One Night," which follows the singer and producer’s recent debut mixtape "One Foot In Front Of The Other," which came out in June. “One Night’ is about feeling like you’re always carrying this darkness or burden,” Griff said of the new song, which premiered on Charli XCX‘s Radio 1 show this evening (August 26). “I think in the daytime we can feel distracted because we’re around people and we’re busy, but that moment between going to bed and falling asleep, there’s just enough silence for those burdens to get louder. Last week, Griff linked up with Bastille frontman and founder Dan Smith to cover Glass Animals‘ ‘Heat Waves’ for her YouTube series "Against The Clock." Each instalment sees the singer create, reproduce and reinvent a new song in an hour, often joined by other musical guests. In the latest episode, she and Smith tackle the Glass Animals single from their latest LP, "Dreamland," each bringing a different flavour to the song. KACEY MUSGRAVES | JUSTIFIED After recently announcing her new upcoming album "Star-Crossed" and premiering its title track, Kacey Musgraves has dropped yet another new song, “Justified.” The new track sees the country singer walking us through her breakup, acknowledging that “healing doesn’t happen in a straight line.” The music video for the candid, punchy track, which is actually a clip from the upcoming "Star-Crossed" film, finds Musgraves on the road, seemingly moving on from “a fun, strange summer.” Golden hour is clearly behind her as Musgraves speeds through desert and forest; the song’s angry chorus, “If I need just a little more time to deal with the fact / That you shoulda treated me right / Then I’m more than just a little justified,” takes on a different, painful meaning by the bridge, which has Musgraves admitting that there’s more than enough blame to go around. Musgraves will perform “Star-Crossed” at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 12th. "Star-Crossed" the album arrives with a companion film two days before the VMAs. Musgraves's new album Star-Crossed will be released on September 10. STATIC & BEN | BELLA Hot on heels of their latest viral single, “Shake Ya Boom Boom, “Static & Ben El are back with their new single, “Bella.“ Saban Music Group’s hot pop duo Static & Ben El are back with another explosive hit single. Musical producer Yarden Peleg (Jordi) produced “Bella,” which captivates the pop sensations’ signature style, catchy lyrics, and melodic romantic hooks. The global Israeli duo has also collaborated with top superstars, including J Balvin, Pitbull, Flipp Dinero, Blessd, and Chesca, earning them a favourable spot in pop culture today. They currently hold a world record for the most-watched Israeli music video in history. With over 100 million streams and 720+ million YouTube views, the duo dominates the rhythmic pop scene worldwide. The Israeli pop duo is set to do two LIVE shows in Los Angeles as part of their U.S. promo tour at El Rey Theatre on October 17. GRACE DAVIES | USED TO YOU 24-year-old singer, songwriter, pianist & producer Grace Davies from Lancashire has unveiled a new song, “Used To You,” from her upcoming EP dropping August 27, 2021. The song will serve as her fifth single off of the EP, following “I Met A Boy Online,” “Iris,” “Testosterone,” and “Toothbrush," and written by Grace Davies, Toby Scott and Olivia Sebastianelli. She has been on stage since being tiny, and making music is her biggest passion. Grace treats writing songs like writing a diary or going to therapy. In fact, she can get out all emotions and combat whatever she is going through by documenting it and making art out of it. “2021 has been so hectic for me, but in a really, really good way; I’ve been non-stop releasing since January, and I’m about to head out on tour,” Grace says. “Considering what’s going on in the world, it’s been a really great year so far!” She will perform at the online show in London on September 1, 2021. After the online show, she embarks on the UK and Ireland tour and Janet Devlin this fall. The tour kicks off at Patterns in Brighton on September 6, 2021. JULIA WOLF | FALLING IN LOVE One of the most sought-after independent artists, Julia Wolf, has released her new single, “Falling In Love.” She also announced the release of her highly-anticipated debut EP Girls In Purgatory, which marks the second anniversary of the first song she ever released. Julia Wolf is quickly turning heads in the pop space for getting as far as she has an independent artist. Garnering the support from streaming giant Spotify, Wolf is unafraid to comment on society’s ridiculous double standards on breakout tracks like “RBF: Part 1” and “Resting B*tch Face: Part 2.” Now, Wolf is readying a longer project set to be released on October 7. “Falling In Love,” dripping of female liberation, was written by Wolf after an unfortunate but all too familiar encounter. The song is about how it feels to wonder if finding someone perfect will only happen for everyone else. Wolf keeps refining her glitchy pop sound with her razor-sharp melodies with itchy beats with every new release. Wolf has over 20 million streams across all DSPs, proving her an artist to watch in 2021. CAMYLIO | SOMETIMES Primed to leap from TikTok ubiquity to mainstream pop stardom, buzzing vocal phenomenon Camylio unveils his new single “Sometimes.” On the track, Camylio’s voice glides over sparse synths laced with icy guitar, recounting memories from a frayed relationship. This minimalism gives way to vocal fireworks on the hook as he cries out, “Sometimes love isn’t enough. Sometimes perfect couples break up. And I hope you find the love you can trust, but sometimes I wish it was us.” Emotion bleeds through the cracks of his emotionally raw delivery. “sometimes” arrives on the heels of the singer, songwriter, and producer’s debut single “Love And Hate,” which has amassed over 3 million total streams to date. Right out of the gate. In November 2020, he launched his TikTok with one video daily. His cover of “Dusk Till Dawn” by Sia and ZAYN exploded with 7 million-plus views. Eventually, he broke the internet as his take on SLANDER’s “Love Is Gone” feat. Dylan Matthew generated north of 50 million views in under ten days. He caught the attention of Republic Records and signed to the label.

Grammy-award-winning Afrobeats star Wizkid has finally released the deluxe edition of his album “Made In Lagos." The project adds 3 new tracks to the previous 14-track album, making 18 tracks altogether. The new tracks include “Anoti, “Mood,” featuring Buju, “Steady,” and “Essence” remix featuring Tems and Canadian singer Justin Bieber. The 14-track album came after an uncertain run for Wizkid, which included the poor "Soundman Vol. 1." Many listeners didn’t know what to expect, but "Smile" featuring H.E.R, a risque choice for a single, offered some respite and hope. But sonically, ‘Made In Lagos’ is an excellently A&Red body of work, which deftly played on and amplified Wizkid’s strengths as a 10-year veteran of the African music industry, with influences from across the global black musical landscape, without taking unnecessary creative risks that could expose certain artistic flaws. The sonic excellence of the album made optimists overlook its flaws, and over the past 10 months, "Made In Lagos" has undoubtedly become Africa’s No. 1 album, with no competition in sight. This run has also propelled Wizkid onto a record-breaking, chart-topping stratosphere. ‘His single "Essence" currently sits at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, thanks to proper creative marketing by RCA and a timely remix, featuring Justin Bieber, after the record had reached No. 54 by itself.

Nelly drew inspiration from his southern roots for his new album Heartland, which featured a whole host of the best country music artists around. "Heartland" is Nelly's first studio album in eight years and could be his most unique to date. He's previously collaborated with country music singers in past but not to this calibre. Nelly describes his first album since 2013’s "M.O." as a “country-inspired” project, and he's invited some guests along for the detour -- including a reunion with Florida Georgia Line on “Lil Bit,” and further collaborations with Blanco Brown, Breland, Kane Brown and Darius Rucker across the nine-track LP. The release precedes an episode of CMT’s "Crossroads" billed to “Nelly & Friends," premiering on Sept. 1. The already released singles with Florida Georgia Line have already gone platinum. The song "Lil Bit" was released in 2020, and Nelly's latest single, "High Horse, " features Blanco Brown and Breland. Musicians Tyler Hubbard, Jimmie Allen, George Birge, Chris Bandi and Kane Brown are all guest features on "Heartland." Nelly's half-brother City Spud, part of the hip hop group St. Lunatics, is also featured on the album.

The Sussex-raised singer-songwriter already has a string of recognizable tracks and a following that has grown exponentially larger and more devoted since her 2018 EP "Dressed Too Nice for a Jacket." Now she has released her first official record and the first album to be released by Ed Sheeran’s label Gingerbread Man. On the album, Peters displays a singular vision: pop. She mostly lets go of the snappy guitar acoustics that shaped her past sound and, in doing so, drops the first half of her “folk-pop” descriptor. Instead, synth-filled melodies and springy beats demand bedroom dancing and hairbrush singing. There is nothing childish about this album; in fact, the singer is assured in her sound, the music grounded in its self-conscious melodrama. Peters remains an engaging storyteller, weaving narratives in the same vein as her teen obsession, Taylor Swift. She is apt at telling tales of love gained, love lost, and love furiously torched in a dumpster fire. Peters also takes after Swift – who has praised the young singer’s voice as “heavenly” – in her ability to embed a chorus into your brain. See “Psycho,” “Villain,” and “John Hughes Movie” for further proof of that. "You Signed Up For This" is an effortless pop debut. As an already established singer, Peters had little to prove.

S Club 7 star Jo O’Meara has release her new solo album "With Love" via Metrophonic records. The album was preceded by the lead single "On The Surface," a powerful song that showcases O’Meara’s powerhouse vocals as she sings about how we portray ourselves and how we can be let down by how others choose to portray themselves. "On The Surface" is one of six co-writing credits that Meara has on "With Love," an album that explores a huge range of emotions. The album also features an acoustic version of the S Club 7 classic “Don’t Stop Movin’” and a new acoustic take on "Relentless," the title track from her 2005 debut solo album. “I’ve made this album with all my love,” she says, “but I’m also sending it with love to all the fans out there that have been so supportive to me for all of these years, through the ups and downs. I’m so proud of what I’ve done with this album, and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.” Jo O’Meara enjoyed phenomenal success with S Club 7 as the group landed four UK #1 hits, won two BRIT Awards and repeatedly packed arenas all over the UK.

BTS has unleashed a remix to their hit single "Butter" that features rapper Meghan Stallion. The track comes after the rapper, born Megan Pete, filed a temporary restraining order against her label, 1501 Certified Entertainment, to allow the release of the "Butter" remix after 1501's CEO, Carl Crawford, and his partner, Rap-A-Lot's J. Prince, did not provide approval for the track. The decision was also backed by 300 Entertainment -- Megan Thee Stallion's music distributors for 1501 -- which gave a co-sign to block the "Butter (Remix) release." A judge later ruled in favour of the rapper Tuesday, allowing her to extend her temporary restraining order and thus release the remix. "Butter (Remix)" will undoubtedly continue a successful year for both Megan Thee Stallion and BTS. "Butter" just celebrated its thirteenth week on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, while the "Savage" rapper hit the top 20 of the chart earlier this year with "Thot Shit." Since its May release, "Butter" has topped the charts globally. It has broken five Guinness World Records for most views for the premiere of a video and music video on YouTube, most viewed music video in 24 hours by a K-Pop group, and most streamed track on Spotify in 24 hours. It also debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, spending nine at number one.

Rina Sawayama is the latest artist to cover Metallica for the band’s forthcoming compilation, "The Metallica Blacklist." Sawayama’s contribution to the project is a cover of “Enter Sandman.” The latest track is to arrive from Metallica’s upcoming covers album "The Metallica Blacklist," set for release on September 10. The star-studded, 53-track collection boasts “unique interpretations” of songs from "The Black Album," which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2021. Among the acts to have contributed to the special project are Phoebe Bridgers, St. Vincent, Biffy Clyro, Weezer, Mac DeMarco, Weezer and Slipknot‘s Corey Taylor. Most recently, IDLES shared a version of "The God That Failed" this week. The song's profits will be split between Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation and Rina’s chosen charity Positive East, which works in HIV support and prevention. Along with the covers album, "The Black Album" will also be given a “definitive” reissue on September 10, featuring a 180-gram double vinyl LP, a standard CD and 3xCD expanded edition, digital download, streaming and a limited-edition deluxe box set. Sawayama, meanwhile, recently confirmed that she would make her acting debut in the forthcoming John Wick 4 alongside Keanu Reeves.

The talented singer-actress Selena Gomez is back, and this time she recruited Camilo for the breezy song "999." The song and its accompanying music video feature Gomez rocking a slew of coloured wigs and ensembles while roaming natural settings. Produced by Edgar Barrera and written by Camilo, the romantic pop track is about "someone who wants to give it their all, but resists at the very last stride, going against what their heart longs for," per the single's press release. "Camilo is a fantastic songwriter and singer who proudly wears his heart on his sleeve, which is something we connected on immediately," Gomez said about Camilo. "I couldn’t have been more excited to collaborate with him." Hours before the song's release, Camilo also shared an Instagram Story video of himself expressing what he admires most about Gomez, saying, "One of the things I admire most about Selena, is not only her talent and her career but also the relationship she has with her fans and her people." "999" follows Gomez's seven-track "Revelación" released March 12 via Interscope/IGA that marked the biggest week for a Latin album by a woman since 2017. The EP featured collabs with rising Latin acts Myke Towers and Rauw Alejandro.

German singer Kim Petras has returned with a new single called "Future Starts Now," teasing a new release for quite some time. Last month Petras took to Twitter to promise “no sad songs” on the new record. ‘Future Starts Now’ marks the first taste of the eagerly-awaited follow-up to 2019’s "Clarity," which Kim told Glamour UK even has a collaboration with Paris Hilton! “She’s actually featuring on my album; she recorded a verse on my album,” Kim teased. “She’ll be singing.” On Monday, Petras took to social media to announce the upcoming release of her brand-new single "Future Starts Now." In the caption for a video clip she shared online, the pop singer revealed that the song would be released on Aug. 27, adding a question for her fans: "U little baguettes ready?" For anyone confused as to why the singer referred to her fans as French loaves of bread, the video offered (some) clarity. In the clip, Petras is seen wearing a sheer black, open-chest bolero top, kneeling on a bed and surrounded by baguettes. Throughout the video, she tears, bites, twirls and fondles her fair share of the rolls, as a clip from her new single plays in the background. "Ain't nobody gonna stop me/ Don't you let the music stop now," she can be heard belting over a driving pop beat. "You're more than just anybody/ Don't give up, and the future starts now."

Alt-pop singer-songwriter Au/Ra has released her new album titled "Soundtrack To An Existential Crisis" that includes the singles "Dead Girl!, "Bite Marks," and "Screw Feelings." She’s now got two UK Top 40 tracks under her belt with 2018’s platinum hit, the Camelphat remix of ‘Panic Room’ and more recently as a feature on Jax Jones’ "i miss u" and gave her a big TV moment as she performed alongside him on Little Mix The Search. The track was playlisted at Radio 1, Capital and Kiss FM, selling over 5.5 million copies worldwide. The original version of "Panic Room" has gone viral on TikTok more than once, and the Camelphat remix stayed in the Top 40 for 9 weeks. Meanwhile, her collaboration with Alan Walker on his single "Darkside" has amassed over 400million streams globally. Ibiza-born to German parents and raised in Antigua, songwriter Au/Ra has created a unique and powerfully emotive world filled with innovative, original songs that explore the dark nature of humanity via strong melodies, evocative songwriting and transcendent production. Au/Ra’s astute, honest and exhilarating song-writing and her real and relatable storytelling are inherent in everything she does creatively. From concept to the fully released song, every track and video has a distinctive plot, and creatively,

Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) and Aaron Dessner (The National) have released their second album as Big Red Machine, "How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last?" via their own 37d03d label. Produced by Dessner at his Long Pond studio in upstate New York, the album features collaborations with Fleet Foxes’ Robin Pecknold, Sharon Van Etten and Taylor Swift, among others. It’s Anaïs Mitchell who’s featured on lovely lead single and album opener “Latter Days,” out now. Written and performed by Vernon, Dessner and Mitchell, and recorded during early Long Pond sessions, "How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last?" is undeniably led by Dessner, whose need for self-expression is by and large the guiding principle across the bulk of the album, from the slow burn reminiscence of opener “Latter Days” to the delicate balladry of closer ”New Auburn.” Vernon’s contribution here is not negligible. In addition to being one of the principal vocalists–with remarkable performances on “Reese” and “Birch,” his songwriting peeks through the more experimental cuts on the album, injecting a welcome dose of unpredictability on tracks; like ”Hoping Then” and ”Easy to Sabotage.” "How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last?" follows Big Red Machine’s self-titled full-length debut, which Paste ranked among the best records of 2018.

U.K. singer-songwriter Becky Hill is due for something pretty special. The Bewdley-born singer has released her debut album titled "Only Honest On The Weekend." She first surfaced on the U.K. edition of “The Voice” in 2012, joining fellow pop star Jessie J’s team before ultimately being eliminated in the semifinal round. Hill’s trajectory from there has been a slow but steady march up the ranks. Through the decade, she has had many successes, top-10 singles and high-profile collaborations. In 2019 and ’20, she was the second-most-streamed female solo artist on Spotify in the U.K. She’d never released an album, though. Hill wrote or co-wrote every track on "Only Honest On The Weekend" and got a helping hand from 220 Kid, Banx & Ranx, and David Guetta. While Hill’s debut may be, the artist is no rookie, evidenced by the expertly crafted record. The pop diva room can often be crowded, but Hill manages to lightly add to those who’ve influenced her while presenting a vocal persona all her own. Fans of Dua Lipa will find much to like with Becky Hill. There’s even a quality of the singer’s former mentor Jessie J in her vocals. Mix in the occasional rawness of P!nk. "Only Honest On The Weekend" provides a faithful and successful entry point for new fans. After finding success in the U.K., Hill will no doubt find a broader U.S. audience.

65-year-old Iconic songwriter Diane Warren is releasing her debut album "Diane Warren: The Cave Sessions Vol.1" and makes her mark again on the modern music world with this diverse album. To be imperial in one pop era is usually defined by it forevermore, but Warren has been writing hits for almost four decades, notching up nine US No 1s and 32 Top 10 hits. In 2015, "Til It Happens to You," her potent Lady Gaga collaboration for a documentary about campus rape, made her once again the pop equivalent of the striker you turn to when you absolutely have to score a penalty. This new collection of new original songs includes some of the biggest worldwide artists, including Ty Dolla $ign, Maren Morris, John Legend, Luis Fonsi, Jon Batiste, Pentatonix, G-Eazy, Carlos Santana, Rita Ora, Sofia Reyes, Reik, James Arthur, Lauren Jauregui, Jimmie Allen, LP, Celine Dion, Darius Rucker, Paloma Faith, Leona Lewis and James Morrison. On the lead single from the set, Warren teamed up with multi-platinum superstar G-Eazy and music legend Carlos Santana on the opening track "She's Fire," which was spotlighted by Rolling Stone and had E! News saying it "deserves all the fire emojis." G-Eazy lends his unparalleled lyricism while Carlos Santana elevates the song to the heavens.

26-year-old musician Hasley has released her fourth album, "If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power," a concept album that tackles the joys and horrors of pregnancy and childbirth. In 2019, Halsey released the fiery “Nightmare,” an urgent, industrial anthem that aptly captured the universal “female rage” amplified by the patriarchal doom of the Trump era. The song, a stark departure from her pop-centric releases in the past, was noticeably left off of their third album "Manic." The track, however, was never written off by Halsey; instead, the defiant, standalone single laid the foundation for her new era. Halsey’s 13-track album presents a masterclass in songwriting and production overflowing with a seductive industrial canvas as well as noise-rock, punk choruses, and fuzzed-out guitars. In many ways, it recalls Reznor and Ross’s avant-garde industrialist side project How to Destroy Angels, all the while Halsey changes between the softness and toughness that comes with bringing a child into a patriarchal world. "IICHLIWP" may perhaps be Halsey’s most ambitious work yet — a portrait of an artist still clouded by chaos but slowly vying to let themself be — in love, happy, content — without fear of self-sabotage. She wanted parenthood more than pop stardom. Now they’ve got both. But Halsey is not a woman; they’re a rock God. This album proves she’s earned the title.

It’s been over five years since American pop-rock band OneRepublic released their last album. Today that changes as they have released their long-awaited "Human," the Deluxe edition via Mosley/Interscope Records. It will also include already released singles “Rescue Me,” which has been certified RIAA Gold, “Somebody To Love,” “Wanted,” “Didn’t I,” and “Better Days,” which combined have 1.75 billion global streams. The album was initially delayed because frontman Ryan Tedder said it wasn't ready, but once the pandemic hit, it was delayed again. Not that every piece of music coming out at this point is supposed to pull you out of this collective jam, but it’s worth noting that OneRepublic has always excelled in producing lively, upbeat and immensely dynamic tracks. Their leader, singer Ryan Tedder is one of the finest songwriters of his generation, having lent his abilities to Beyonce, Adele, and Taylor Swift. His catchy hooks and production capabilities have helped those artists swiftly climb up the charts and garner acclaim, recognition and worldwide fanfare from all across the board. But his individual prowess still hasn’t made him the household name he clearly deserves to be, but that doesn’t mean he is going to work any less hard for his band. But when you think about it, OneRepublic has been blessing our ears with their emotionally driven, instrumentally complex sound for a long time. They’ve mastered collaborations, they’ve mastered singles, and their pop tunes remain as pristine and memorable as ever.

Glasgow synth-pop band has released their fourth studio album, "Screen Violence" It was the band's first time working with outside producers; they turned to Greg Kurstin and Steve Mac, who produced chart-toppers like Adele, Little Mix, and Ed Sheeran. Naturally, that ended up in a departure from Chvrches' electronic roots towards more accessible pop. "Screen Violence" caters to their fans of soulful synthpop because it’s the kind of collection that feels emphatic and sympathetic. So much of synthpop can feel cold and distant, but Chvrches’ patented sound reaches for the heart: pulsing, thumping beats, swirling synths, bracing lyrics, and emotional vocals. Though so much of "Screen Violence" sounds synthetic, there’s a strong emotional core due to the performances and lovely lyrics. The synthesizers work to support the songs. It’s a gentle use of fuzzy, brushed synths that move away from the sharp, glassy sounds often associated with this kind of return to the New Romantic sound. What makes "Screen Violence" such a successful album is that the songs reach for honesty and sincerity whilst simultaneously working overtime to get people moving. This album has some gorgeous highlights; there’s no filler, an impressive feat for a record with ten tracks.

Norwegian pop singer Sigrid has released her newest single, "Burning Bridges." Last week, Sigrid shared the official cover art for the new single in an Instagram post, along with a snippet of the song. She also detailed the track's sound, revealing that it's "a mix between rock and scandi-pop." It follows "Mirror," which was released in May, and is the latest taste of her forthcoming, as-yet-unannounced second album. “[It’s] about that moment when you know you have to let go,” she explained, “and when you are listening to the song, I’m cool with it being anything you want it to be.” She continued: “I’ve also found out it’s a great song for running in the woods or walking to a meeting you’re a bit nervous for, or power walking down the street – it’s just a really sick song, and I’m so proud of it.” Sigrid is set to perform at this year’s "Reading & Leeds festivals," which kicks off this Friday, August 27, the line-ups for which have become an annual subject of criticism thanks to a reliance on male artists as headliners – and further down the bill – and few bookings for female acts.

Alt alt-pop star Banks unveiled her newest single, "Skinnydipped," along with its accompanying music. “Skinnydipped,” an anthem about moving on from people and situations that no longer serve us. The drop comes in tandem with the star’s partnership with BVLGARI, with the brand’s dazzling Serpenti jewelry collection featured throughout the visuals. BANKS instantly thought of the brand’s collection when deriving inspiration for the music video’s visual aesthetic, both of which personify snakes as a reflection of themes of rebirth and shedding old skin. Growing up, she was enamoured by the snake designs of her mother’s own Serpenti pieces, so it only felt natural to incorporate the same snake element into her own work. “When I was little and looked at my mom’s jewelry, it’s just so visual, and there’s such an aura around it,” BANKS says. “The second I put on these snake-depicted pieces of artwork … just the way the bracelets wrap around my wrist, the way the necklace wraps around my neck, the way the rings fit, you just feel so powerful when you’re wearing it.” The track arrives just two months after the single “The Devil,” a rather sinful visual. Both songs are set to be included in Banks’ forthcoming follow-up to her 2019 album "III." While the pop star has yet to unveil the project’s title, it’s tentatively expected to be released sometime later this year.

The 1996 album “One in a Million” by Aaliyah finally came to streaming platforms almost 20 years after the singer’s death in a 2001 plane crash. A huge star in the 1990s and early 2000s, much of Aaliyah’s music has been missing from streaming platforms for the past two decades. Most of her catalogue would spend the next 20 years trapped on CDs and cassettes because of a prolonged family dispute between her label and her estate (currently overseen by her mother, Diane Haughton, and her brother, Rashad Haughton). According to a recent profile of Hankerson in Billboard, both parties have blamed the other for keeping Aaliyah’s music in cold storage. Still, now Hankerson is proceeding with the digital rollout — and without the estate’s nod. At the same time, the news was breaking that Aaliyah’s past albums and some previously-unreleased music would be coming to streaming starting this month; the estate released a statement, saying that protecting the singer’s legacy “is and will always be our focus.” The statement referred to “shadowy tactics of deception” and called the plan to release her music an “unscrupulous endeavour,” but added that the plan “compels our hearts to express forgiveness.”