Listen Up

British musician/producer Mark Ronson has tapped Swedish singer/songwriter Lykke Li for the latest of his self-proclaimed “sad bangers.” With island, funk and disco influences, “Late Night Feelings” offers up a lush and rich instrumental for Li to sing atop. With steel drums, forlorn vocals and a pared-back breakdown, the song is also the title track of Ronson’s upcoming album (set for release 21 June), which will feature collaborations with King Princess, Alicia Keys, Yeeba and more.

Roberto: With A Song

With a bass line and percussion that encourages head-nodding, LA-based singer/songwriter Roberto’s “With A Song” is a lovely bedroom-pop song with a perfectly unfinished tinge. “Unreleased demo” is all the song’s bio reads, but the track gleams with promise. Roberto shows writing prowess and an uncanny ability to weave in and out of the melody. There’s autotune, a distortion and playfulness—and it all works.

https://soundcloud.com/roberto-dashaun-ortiz/with-a-song

Tairey feat. Badboxes: Lowlands

Pittsburgh artists Tairey and Badboxes collaborate on a genre-blending burner titled “Lowlands.” Badboxes, aka Harrison Wargo, provides the initial vocals—he sings of full moons, slow dances and the lowlands overtop drums and guitars. Tairey raps a well-written minute-long verse with impressive cadence—initially self-reflective, it slowly turns wiser.

Mini Mansions feat. Alison Mosshart: Hey Lover

Mini Mansions and Alison Mosshart’s “Hey Lover” is a sarcastic love song from the LA-based trio’s forthcoming album Guy Walks Into A Bar… The Kills’ Mosshart and Mansions’ Michael Shuman give and take for some six minutes backed by guitars, drums and sprawling, atmospheric synths. It’s slow-burning and growling, and undeniably enjoyable. The lo-fi music video depicts their duet materializing over corded phones—emphasizing a great distance apart.

Listen Up is published every Sunday and rounds up the new music we found throughout the week. Hear the year so far on our Spotify channel.