NME Radio Roundup 20 February 2023: Beyoncé, Lizzo & SZA, Beabadoobee and more
Lizzo
‘Special ft. SZA’
Lizzo and SZA have teamed up for a new remix of ‘Special’, the title track off the former’s celebrated second album. The new version – which first debuted when they performed it together at Lizzo’s Live In Concert HBO Max special – takes the original track and makes it even more… special. SZA and Lizzo take turns lifting up listeners’ spirits, with Lizzo taking the time to let her fans know that no matter what they’re going through, everyone’s special and deserves the best through lyrics like: “Broken, but damn, you’re still perfect”.
Beabadoobee
‘Glue Song’
Filipino-British singer-songwriter Beabadoobee celebrated Valentine’s Day this year by releasing ‘Glue Song’, her most intimate and charming love song yet. ‘Glue Song’, which was written and recorded throughout her Australia and Asia tour late last year, has been described by the artist as “a love song and the first one I’ve written in my new relationship”.
“For the first time this is just me being really happy. I’m in a really positive place for the first time in a long time and feeling love,” Beabadoobee added of the song.
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Bully
‘Lose You ft. Soccer Mommy’
Bully (aka Alicia Bognanno) has teamed up with Soccer Mommy for her latest single, ‘Lose You’. On it, Bully trades in her usual garage rock sound to explore ‘90s alt-rock while still holding on to her raw power and emotions. Speaking of the song’s themes, Bognanno said: “Writing ‘Lose You’ was a way for me to work through the pain and reality of impermanence. It doesn’t make it any easier but reflection is often followed by growth and to me that’s what life is all about.”
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Mae Stephens
‘If We Ever Broke Up’
Late last year, Mae Stephens teased the release of ‘If We Ever Broke Up’ by dropping a snippet on TikTok. The snippet went viral and has had fans clamouring for it’s official release ever since. Now, Mae has finally released it in its entirety, and it’s everything fans have been hoping for and more. Driven by a groovy bassline, ‘If We Ever Broke Up’ is an addictive track that sees Mae finally saying everything she’s ever wanted to an ex-partner, revealing that she would’ve ended the relationship much earlier if she knew then what she knows now.
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Tove Lo
‘Borderline’
Tove Lo has returned with her latest single, ‘Borderline’. Co-written by none other than Dua Lipa, it’s a spunky pop anthem that Tove Lo says touches upon: “being on the edge of love. The drama you cause inside yourself and with another person if you feel insecure”.
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Kelela
‘Enough For Love’
American singer Kelela released her astonishing second album ‘Raven’ earlier this month, with standout track ‘Enough For Love’ receiving its own music video this past weekend. ‘Enough For Love’ sees the singer tackle the core issue in a withering relationship: whether both parties want to fight to hold on. “You come around, but you never stay / ‘Cause you forgot about us / You’re not alone, not alone / Are you tough enough for love?,” she questions over the track’s chorus.
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Chiiild
‘Antidote’
Canadian experimental soul artist Chiiild has released ‘Antidote’, a new single from his upcoming album ‘Better Luck Next Time’, due out in early March. An introspective and sincere offering, ‘Antidote’ is: “about being enamoured by a person. It describes the infatuation of watching someone live life optimistically and simply wanting a piece of that because they symbolise the light for you,” Chiiild said in a press statement.
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Daughter
‘Party’
Taken off Daughter’s upcoming album ‘Stereo Mind Game’, due out on April 7, ‘Party’ sees vocalist Elena Tonra reflect on her struggle with coming to terms with sobriety. Offering poignant lyrics like: “I refuse to believe that there’s a problem, you see / I could stop if I want, I just don’t want to yet,” over a slowcore-inspired arrangement, it’s deeply moving.
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Jadu Heart
‘Sway’
Jadu Heart released their fourth studio album ‘Derealised’ in January, and we’re revisiting standout track ‘Sway’. Over a dreamy beat, Jadu Heart turn the looking glass on themselves to explore themes of self-criticism. While lyrics like “I’m a liar, I’m the press / I’m a worker on the fence” see them make the case for being people to be cautious of, it’s the track’s chorus that proves that maybe the duo’s personal demons can be overcome after all, as they sing: “An imperfect man / But darling, I sway”.
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