THE PLAYLIST
Henri Dunant/ 52Hz
Home to a solid roster of talented musicians from Part Time Musicians to Phum Viphurit, Bangkok-based indie label Rats Records doesn’t disappoint with its latest signing, Henri Dunant. Made up of The Voice Thailand alum Natthawut “Max” Jenmana and Chatchon Srisomburananont, the indie-tronica duo follows their two trip-hop singles Nick of Time and Might Have Been with their latest 52Hz. The track draws inspiration from the world’s loneliest whale whose song is detected at 52 Hertz, a much higher frequency than that of the other whale species. “Can’t you hear me my friend?/I’m floating here with open arms,” Max sings over the indie-rock production. “But sometimes I waited/I’ve got a feeling that I’d get used to this/ One day.”
Macy Gray/ Sugar Daddy
Following her collaboration with Ariana Grande on the latter’s last album, R&B singer Macy Gray is set to return with her tenth studio album Ruby.
Co-penned by the All About That Bass
singer Meghan Trainor, lead cut Sugar Daddy pairs the Grammy award-winning artist’s signature raspy vocals with light trap beats. “Be my, be my sugar daddy/ And provide me with your candy,” she implores. “I will be your sugar, sugar baby/ If you’ll be my sugar, sugar daddy.” It’s a fun, light-hearted number (although perhaps more suited to Trainor to be honest).
Suede/ The Invisibles
“The world waits for you when/And the dawn breaks for you when/And the media will watch/And she will change her mind,” croons Suede’s frontman Brett Anderson on the band’s latest cut, The Invisibles. Taken from their forthcoming eighth studio effort The Blue Hour, the slow-burning cut finds the Brit-pop staple blending atmospheric guitars with orchestral elements. “And we are the invisibles/Plain and lonely/It’s funny how it’s always out of reach,” Anderson adds, his trademark voice gliding effortlessly into a soaring falsetto.
Gorillaz/ Sorcererz
After sharing Lake Zurich and George Benson-assisted Humility, beloved British virtual band Gorillaz serve up another taste from their upcoming sixth studio album The Now Now. Titled Sorcererz, the song stays pretty much in line with its funk-inflected predecessors. And with that said, you can expect ample retro synths, laidback groove, and distorted vocals reciting cryptic lines (“Everybody cool down/Everybody see yourself/Everybody on time/ Everybody mining/Everybody mining their own inner visions”).
Anna Calvi/ Don’t Beat The Girl Out Of My Boy It’s been a while since we last heard from British singer-songwriter Anna Calvi, but that’s about to change with the release of Don’t Beat The Girl Out Of My Boy, her first new single in five years. On this track, the guitarist tackles the issue of gender identity head-on, singing about the freedom to be who you are (“Stare in the light/Pale green eyes/Don’t beat the girl/ Out of my boy”). Her fierce defiance, conveyed through fervour of her vocals and guitar playing, is at full throttle here and will probably haunt your dreams tonight.