We're now more than halfway through 2021, and the sun is finally shining upon us. As Love Island [1] gets us through the evenings and the Euro championship fills our hearts with pride, we're beginning to feel more hopeful and optimistic about the future. While we might not be getting back to total normality just yet (14 July is the new 21 June, haven't you heard?), we are still finding new ways to get through — with listening to great new music [2] being one of them.
With so many songs set to be released this month (and this year, undoubtedly), it can be hard to keep track of who's doing what. Well, that's where we come in. Every month, we round up the best of the best tracks from the UK music scene. Whether it's another one of Lady Leshurr [3]'s vibe-inducing anthems or a catchy dance track from Doja Cat, we've got the songs to see you through this new month.
Just a few days into July, we've devoured a new track from Tyler, the Creator, an intoxicating record from Nao, and a sweet new video from Manchester rapper Aitch, with new music from Beka still on the way. Read on to discover the tracks that made it onto our July playlist.
"I Love You, I Hate You" by Little Simz
Another gut-wrenching track from Simz' upcoming album [4], Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, "I Love You, I Hate You" is a powerful tribute to Simz' relationship with her father. Speaking about the track on Annie Mac's show, the rapper said that "this is too honest, and too real, and really scary. I didn't think I'd have to go this deep but I'm glad I did.
"Slowly" by Olivia Dean
"Slowly" is the latest track from Olivia Dean's upcoming EP [5], Growth. First premiered during Dean's run of intimate shows at the iconic Jazz Cafe last month, the track is a sweet and soulful ballad, with extremely tender vocals.
In a statement, Dean said that "it feels like one of the most vulnerable songs I've ever written. I used to think falling in love was supposed to be chaotic, fiery and tumultuous, but I've realised that really, to fall in love normally — and to have a healthy and ordinary relationship is a beautiful thing. It's a song asking for patience when starting to fall in love."
"Clash" by Dave featuring Stormzy
A pretty iconic collaboration between Dave and Stormzy, "Clash" is a confident and assured track with sharp, witty lyrics. It almost acts as a recap of the last few months, with Stormzy reminding us all about that feud with Chip, Piers Morgan's dramatic exit [6] from Good Morning Britain, and Dave giving both Jeremy Corbyn and the entire Labour party a shoutout.
"Kamali" by Priya Ragu
"Kamali" is the latest single from Swiss-Tamil artist Priya Ragu [7], taken from her upcoming EP damnshestamil. The video features clips from an award-winning short film that shares the same name.
"Boyfriend" by Master Peace and Mae Muller
New music from Mae Muller [8] is always welcome, and this time she's been featured on a track by British punk rapper Master Peace, called "Boyfriend". It's an up-beat track with distinctive vocals and a very catchy chorus.
"Magical" by Laura Mvula
Laura Mvula's return to music has been a magical one (no pun intended), and her newest single is proof of just that. It's another glorious disco track, with shimmery vocals, and a mesmerising visualiser.
"You Got" by BEKA
Beka's latest track, "You Got", is inspired by Kamala Harris [9] making history as the first ever female, African-American, and Asian-American Vice President. All about making positive change and inspiring the future, it's a poignant track with an incredibly powerful message.
"Messy Love" by Nao
It's been a minute since we've heard new music from Nao, and you'll be pleased to know that her latest release, "Messy Love," is exactly the kind of track we've been waiting for. It's a soft, slow-tempo song with soulful vocals and some unbelievable harmonies, perfect for lazing in the (hopefully soon-to-come) summer sun.
"Learning Curve" by Aitch
"Learning Curve" is another classic Aitch anthem, complete with a glitchy backing track and the dexterous flow that we're so used to hearing. The video sparked some debate on social media, questioning whether or not Aitch's inclusive casting was genuine or not, but we're glad to see that representation in the music video industry is finally changing.
"You Right" by Doja Cat and The Weeknd
Doja Cat and The Weeknd on a track together is undoubtedly a match made in heaven. Their latest collaboration, "You Right", is a melodious partnership with some seriously soothing vocals and cosmic visuals. Elements of the video are seemingly Grecian-inspired, and it sees Doja Cat in some very impressive outfits.
"Bad Habits" by Ed Sheeran
"Bad Habits" marks quite a different sound for Ed Sheeran, and it appears to be his first solo dance track. The video starts off with Sheeran at a hair salon, in a look that we can only describe as "the joker-esque", before he flies across the city.
Chatting to James Corden on The Late Late Show, Sheeran said, "my single was scheduled to come out in June, and I was like, 'I don't know if the world needs a depressing sad, slow acoustic song when it's all opening up,' so I was in the studio and we created this song and it's just fun, I think".
"Dreams" by Gorgon City and Jem Cooke
"Dreams" is one of the first new tracks from Gorgon City's upcoming album, Olympia, and it's a great indication of what's next to come. In a statement, the band said, "with this record we've definitely gone more clubby and have been inspired by the big shows that we played before lockdown. It's a bigger sound and lyrically it's different for us."