ListenUp
An all-women week in new music
Chaka Khan: Like Sugar
The Queen of Funk, Chaka Khan has returned with “Like Sugar,” her first new music since 2007’s Funk This. Produced by Major Lazer’s Switch (who also put out a remix of the track), the super-funky tune builds off a classic dance beat. This undeniable bop proves that Khan (who is touring this summer) is just as groovy as she always has been.
Kimbra + DAWN: Version of Me
For the collaborative rework of a standout track on her last album Primal Heart, Kimbra and DAWN (aka Dawn Richard) display extraordinary, intertwined vocal work in “Version of Me.” Eerie, almost Wendy Carlos-like synth work sets a darker tone than the original. And the accompanying music video directed by Micaiah Carter offers an uncompromising, intimate vision of both singers. This is Kimbra at her most exposed—and most powerful.
Georgia Anne Muldrow: Overload
The talented Georgia Anne Muldrow has returned with her soothing blend of jazz, hip-hop and soul in “Overload,” her first track since she signed to Brainfeeder—aka Flying Lotus’ record label. The track is a little hazy and a little glittery—all balanced out with Muldrow’s sublime vocals. Laid-back, but enthralling, this song will have you mesmerized for its entirety.
Hatchie: Bad Guy
From her debut EP Sugar & Spice, Hatchie’s “Bad Guy” is a hazy, shimmery piece of shoegaze-meets-dream-pop. The closing track from the Australian singer/songwriter’s record, it’s lush but perhaps more importantly feels honest thanks to stripped-back lyrics: “I’m backwards / And I feel stupid / Watching you back away / I just wanted more from you / And what did you do? / I opened the door for you / And you couldn’t move.” The five-song EP—short, sweet and rose-colored—is a delightful introduction to the artist.
ListenUp is a Cool Hunting series published every Sunday that rounds up the music we tweeted throughout the week, also found in Listen. Hear the year so far via Cool Hunting Spotify.
