The Best New Songs We Heard in January
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We’re just days away from the 2024 Grammys, but the year has already started off strong on the music front. A new Ariana Grande single, a new Kali Uchis album, and...a rap beef? There’s a lot to keep our ears busy and our playlists full. From pop bangers to indie gems, here are the best new songs we’ve heard this month.
You can listen to all the picks on our Spotify playlist, too.
“yes, and?” by Ariana Grande
“I will in fact say it with my chest: This is Ariana Grande’s year. With the first true hit of the 2024 from her upcoming album Eternal Sunshine, Grande showed that no matter the criticism that comes her way, she’s ready to dance on though. The house and ballroom beats make this the perfect song for a Wicked pregame in November, where Grande will star as Glinda on the big screen.”—Samuel Maude, associate editor
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“Prove It to You” by Brittany Howard
“Brittany Howard is getting funky. The Alabama Shakes frontwoman is on the verge of presenting yet another solo endeavor, this time with more psychedelic influences, as exhibited in this lead single. ‘All I wanna do is prove it to you,’ she sings in the chorus, and she might as well be talking about her musical prowess, because this song is a transcendent, consuming banger.”—Erica Gonzales, senior culture editor
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“Hiss” by Megan Thee Stallion
“Megan Thee Stallion is back with this track that gagged the internet, and with her sublime rhymes and clean bars, it’s clear that this rap queen has a rightful place on the throne.”—SM
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“A Love International” by Khruangbin
“Like most Khruangbin songs, this one makes me feel like I’m lounging on a beach somewhere—with a rum punch in one hand and ceviche in the other. If you currently live somewhere cold like I do, “A Love International” is a sweet escape.”—Juliana Ukiomogbe, assistant editor
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“Te Mata” by Kali Uchis
“This song feels like a dramatic novella that I would watch in my grandmother’s living room whiles she’s cooking rice and beans for dinner. I can’t explain it, but it’s true.”—Briannah Rivera, editorial and social media assistant
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“It’s So Good” by Jamie xx
“I get excited about any new Jamie xx release, but the pulsing bass in his latest song, combined with the sound effects of a party, makes you feel like you’re on the dance floor at a warehouse in Brooklyn, even in the comfort of your living room. Like everything else the artist does, it’s just…so good. (Sorry, had to).”—Claire Stern, digital director
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“I Want You Forever” by D’Angelo and Jay-Z
“A nine-minute D’Angelo song featuring Jay-Z? Say no more. The track, which is featured on the Book of Clarence soundtrack, is smooth, sultry, and everything you want from a winter release.”—JU
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“Mr. Vampire” by ITZY
“Don’t let the title fool you, this track from ITZY’s BORN TO BE is more hot than spooky. The album’s title track and ‘UNSTOPPABLE’ are also hard-hitting standouts, but this more subdued gem is still bursting with energy—and maybe a little bit of romance? The line ‘Bite me, bite you, boom boom’ goes hard.”—EG
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“Lego Ring” by Faye Webster and Lill Yachty
“This Faye Webster and Lil Yachty collab is almost Perfume Genius-like with its grungy guitar and breathy, distorted vocals. Who knew an ode to a mood ring could sound this cool?”—EG
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“SAME MISTAKE” by DESTIN CONRAD and Alex Isley
“DESTIN CONRAD just dropped his new album SUBMISSIVE2 and while it’s full of jams, ‘SAME MISTAKE’ featuring Alex Isley is by far my favorite. I love a good R&B song about heartbreak and missed connections, and this one does not disappoint.”—JU
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“Shower Song” by Tierra Whack
“A debut album from Tierra Whack arriving in 2024? We’ve been blessed. After a brief stint as a movie star, the Philly native returns with yet another playful track about singing in the shower. She’s immensely creative yet doesn’t take herself too seriously, and I’m excited to hear more on her LP World Wide Whack, due out in March.”—EG
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“SHOW ME OUT” by UMI
“I absolutely love this song, especially the airy and dainty way that UMI delivers lines like: ‘Baby, can you show me out? / Buy me things to brag about?’ It’s the last track on her new EP talking to the wind and I really recommend the entire project. ‘Not necessarily,’ the song that comes directly before it, is pretty great, too.”—JU
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“n.h.i.e.” by 21 Savage and Doja Cat
“Only Doja Cat would literally say ‘ad-lib’ as her ad-lib. It’s hard to believe that this is her first collab with 21 Savage, but I hope it’s not their last. The two have great musical chemistry and I’ll be bopping along to this for the foreseeable future.”—JU
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“No Evil” by SiR
“SiR is known for his silky vocals but here, teasing his first album in years, he sounds almost unrecognizable as he distorts his voice to a near-theatrical degree. There’s an especially chilling effect on lines like, ‘Pardon my superstition / But with my supervision / I see so much of myself / My past, my pain, my pride and my ego.’” —EG
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“Lead Me On” by FLETCHER
“At a happy hour a few weeks ago, every coworker in the room was in some type of situationship (for the record, this sadly includes me, gah!). We boldly proclaimed 2024 was the year of the situationship, and FLETCHER confirms our take with the lead single off her new album, In Search of the Antidote, which touches on the appeal of the world-famous will-they-or-won’t-they make a move. ‘So why don’t you just lead me on? / ‘Cause something is better than nothing at all,’ she says. Maybe a little too real.”—SM
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“Igual de Un Ángel (with Peso Pluma)” by Kali Uchis
“Kali Uchis’ new Spanish-language album Orquídeas is a masterpiece, and this collab with Peso Pluma is one of the many reasons why. It’s downright heavenly, with the kind of hook you can replay over and over again.”—EG
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“Mi Corazón (feat. Camilo)” by Jacob Collier
“After receiving a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year for Djesse Vol. 3 in 2021, Jacob Collier returns with his musically adventurous sound for the collaboration filled Djesse Vol. 4, which will be the final chapter of the four album series, out this February. On this single, Collier brings in Colombian singer Camilo to create a fun fusion of their two sounds that will get anyone off the couch.”—SM
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“Young Miko: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 58” by Young Miko & Bizarrap
“Rising Puerto Rican rapper lets loose on the mic with producer Bizarrap (who just collaborated with Shakira on her famous post-breakup anthem). She flexes about jet-skiing in Mallorca, counting up stacks of money, and having a girl uploading stories from the passenger’s seat of her Bentley. Life’s good from Young Miko’s POV, but she makes sure to show her vulnerable side, too.” —EG
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“What's Love (feat. MUNA)” by Empress Of
“If you’re seeing stars while listening to this intergalactic track, you’re in good company. Empress Of and MUNA team up for a planetarium pop track that puts everyone with a broken heart on a rocket and asks: ‘If a love can’t make you, break you, shape you / Then what’s love?’ Water signs beware, this one is made for you.”—SM
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“Everything’s Beautiful” by Hiatus Kaiyote
“I love how lead singer Nai Palm’s vocals can go in a million different directions and yet all of it makes sense. Here, she sings about enjoying the simple pleasures in life, wrapped up in Hiatus Kaiyote’s signature funk spin.”—EG
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“B Like That” by Matt Martians
“I’m sure I’m not alone in anticipating The Internet’s comeback (which looks like it could be soon), and this new release from keyboardist/producer Matt Martians is helping to keep me sane. With his signature smooth blend of jazz and hip-hop, he makes waiting easy.”—EG
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“Dangerous Game” by Blu DeTiger
“I remember finding Blu DeTiger on TikTok and becoming entranced by her bass covers. As she’s expands beyond viral fame with her original music, she emerges with this fun, punchy single ahead of releasing her debut studio album in March. —EG
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