The Best New Songs We Heard in August

“Sabrina Carpenter described this song as ‘sexy and unserious’ and that’s exactly why I love it. ‘Where art though? Why not uponeth me?’ is one of the best things I’ve ever heard. It also doesn’t hurt that the song is so groovy and sounds like old-school R&B. No notes!”—Juliana Ukiomogbe, assistant editor

“The back-to-school scaries are real... So Quinn XCII, Cash Cash, and DVBBS are giving us something to smile about. This song is begging to be played in the car, windows rolled down, warm breeze on your face. Blast it, and remember all the good times you had this summer.”—Rose Minutaglio, senior editor of features and special projects

“Tinashe ends the summer with an anthem. There will be ‘No Broke Boys’ this fall, or ever again, in my books. The song is an ass-shaking smash, and it shows that this fall is destined to be a ‘Nasty’ one.”—Samuel Maude, associate editor

“Charli XCX comes through with another remix from her hit album Brat, and this time, she’s got Billie Eilish guessing the color of her underwear. It’s iconic, and hearing Billie say, ‘Charli likes boys but she knows I’d hit it,’ has forever changed my life.”—SM

“All the girls are girling indeed! The title track off the K-Pop group’s new EP is a sassy blend of house and pop, an exciting departure for them. 10s across the board.”—Erica Gonzales, senior culture editor

“The way Sumney’s vocals drop into a bass-y lower register? Goosebumps. This song from his Sophcore EP is sensual, with whispery vocals and jazz elements, with even a few touches of saxophone.”—EG

“Doechii just is that girl. How else can I say it? On this single from her Alligator Bites mixtape, her rhymes are hyper-fast tongue twisters with impressive, confident delivery. Plus it’s got great one-liners like: ‘I’m like Carrie Bradshaw with a back brace on, I been carrying you bitches now for way too long.’”—EG

“The opener for Maude Latour’s Sugar Water is a rousing, get on your feet and feel the summer dance. The song, which is dripping with incredible synths, is the standout on her album and proves that the young singer is one to watch.”—SM

“If there’s a song that sums up her newest album, This Is How Tomorrow Moves, it might be ‘Beaches.’ It’s about being intimidated by the opportunity to record the album in Los Angeles (far from her home in London) with the legendary producer Rick Rubin, but it worked out better than expected in the end. It’s ‘probably the song that I’ve always wanted to write,’ she previously told ELLE.com.”—EG

“The first time I listened to this song, I immediately texted my Big and asked him to come over to my apartment. It made me feel sexy in a way I didn’t expect, and it compelled my fingers to make a bad decision. (He did NOT come over. The situationship continues.) Addison Rae’s journey from TikTok-er to main pop girlie is off to a strong start, and with a Charli XCX co-sign too, we couldn’t be more excited.”—SM

“As the elders would say, this is grown folks music. Victoria Monét is a genius at sensual wordplay and this song has some steamy lyrics like, ‘I wonder which one of my lips gon’ be your first kiss / Doesn’t matter ‘cause they both gon’ fit you perfect.’ Whew! We need the music video ASAP.”—JU

“This Quantum Baby track reminds me of Charli XCX’s ‘I think about it all the time.’ Tinashe keeps it nasty throughout her latest project, but she’s also thinking ahead about possibly starting a family and settling down. Though the subject is more serious, she keeps it sexy.”—EG

“In a time when artists like Noah Kahan and Zach Bryan are ruling the radio, Shawn Mendes goes back to his roots and embraces a more folk-leaning sound with ‘Why Why Why.’ It works for the star, who has notably been absent for the last few years. Mendes was made for this moment in music, where a guitar and meaning can go a long way.”—SM

"I love this duo. Lisa of Blackpink ventures off on another solo venture, tapping Rosalía for a sexy, empowering anthem about reinvention.”—EG

“The other night, I walked home from a movie in the rain while listening to this fizzy song on repeat—and you could not have convinced me I wasn’t in a film myself. Juno perhaps?”—Madison Feller, deputy digital editor

“The ‘Oh man, I’m active’ chant in the intro is like a call to action. The moment the song starts, you can’t help but move. This collab between Afrobeats breakout star Asake and Travis Scott came just at the right time for those sweaty, end of summer block parties.”—EG

“Shoutout to Latto for doing the Lord’s work. ‘Good 2 You’ (from the rapper’s new album Sugar Honey Iced Tea) is upbeat, fun, and something for the summertime. I definitely had to run it back a few times and bop my head a little bit. It also includes a small interpolation of Outkast’s ‘Hey Ya!’ towards the end which I really love.”—JU

“Yaeji first teased this head-banging club smash during her Boiler Room set, and now it’s officially out. It’s sure to get bodies moving, but it’s also an homage to the producer and DJ’s career in the dance scene far. She even references her past hit ‘Raingurl,’ marking what she calls a ‘full circle moment.’”—EG

“M.I.A. might’ve said that bad girls live fast and die young, but Fousheé argrues that they prefer the soft life, actually. ‘Bad girls don’t fuss, they’d rather be living a life of harmony,’ she sings in the hook of this calypso-inspired single.”—EG

“William Gao (known for her turn as Tao in Heartstopper) and Olivia Hardy are a pair of siblings made in heaven. Their sound feels fresh, embracing the jazz popularity of the now and looking at it through a pop lens, and ‘To Get Better’ serves as the lighthouse guiding their noise home. It's a beautifully haunting track with refreshing lyrics and melodies, proving Gao and Hardy are two artists to watch."—SM