In this week’s instalment of What’s Going On, we’ve got the latest from Reneé Rapp, Valley, Goo Goo Dolls, and Quavo & Takeoff. Plus, Craig David (yes, that Craig David) is back with a brand new album and hot single. As always, if you dig what you hear, be sure to stream and follow the artists.
Craig David – Smooth crooner Craig David is back with his new album 22. The world fell in love with the English R&B superstar back in 2000 with his breakthrough hits “7 Days” and “Fill Me In.” On 22, David blends genres effortlessly and collaborates with artists like MNEK, Galantis, Nippa, and Duvall. His latest single from the project sees him singing alongside Muni Long, one of the hottest singer-songwriters in R&B today. Speaking on the process of working on “Obvious” with Muni Long, Craig David says: “The beauty of it is when Muni wrote her verse, she showed me what the song really was – she spoke her truth and was like ‘I’m an empowered woman, we’re not getting back together, the vibe I see from this is let’s be honest’ – it’s more obvious that this isn’t right, and that’s the beauty of a collaboration like this, being able to write lyrics from both perspectives.”
Listen to Craig David’s new single “Obvious” ft. Muni Long below.
Reneé Rapp – Multitalented performer Reneé Rapp is getting a little more personal and raw on her new single, “Don’t Tell My Mom.” Following the singles “In the Kitchen” and “Tattoos”, “Don’t Tell My Mom” is also a deeply vulnerable pop track but this feels even more intimate. The gorgeous midtempo production gives way to Rapp’s evocative vocals, singing about painful family dynamics and feeling like the world is slipping away but not wanting to tell her mother. When she isn’t tugging at listeners’ heartstrings with her songs, you can catch Reneé Rapp in HBO’s The Sex Lives of College Girls which should be back this Fall for a second season.
Listen to Reneé Rapp’s new single “Don’t Tell My Mom” below.
Valley – Canadian alt-pop band Valley just dropped the positive thinking anthem of the year. “The Problem Song” is the latest single from the JUNO Award nominated band from Toronto. The optimistic feel-good track has an absolute earworm of a hook that serves to drive home the message of the song: “yeah we got problems, but I know we can fix them.” Speaking on the creation of the song, lead vocalist Rob Laska says: “’The Problem Song’ is the beginning of a whole new chapter for us. It’s our most delicate attempt at holding space in a song while still having a chorus that feels powerful both emotionally and sonically. We really tried to keep the production engaging without getting in the way of the very universal message of the lyric.”
Listen to Valley’s new single “The Problem Song” below.
Goo Goo Dolls – There’s a powerful new Goo Goo Dolls video out now for their song “You Are The Answer.” Originally released back in the summer as the second single from the band’s thirteenth studio album Chaos in Bloom, it’s cool to now have a visual to go along with it. The Keenan O’Reilly-directed music video for “You Are The Answer” touches on the important issues of violence in the home. Goo Goo Dolls have also partnered with Joe Torre Safe at Home, an organization dedicated to promoting children’s safety in the home and raising awareness about in-home violence. You can catch John Rzeznik and the guys out on the road this Fall as they continue their Chaos In Bloom Tour in the US.
Check out the Goo Goo Dolls’ music video for “You Are The Answer” below.
Quavo & Takeoff – Atlanta rappers Quavo & Takeoff haven’t slowed down since Offset announced his departure from Migos. The former trio has carried on as a duo and have dropped multiple buzzworthy singles since Offset’s earth-shattering news shook the music world this past May. Quavo and Takeoff haven’t lost a step on “Nothing Changed”, their rapid-fire melodic delivery standing out against the hard-hitting track. The duo’s album Only Built For Infinity Links, a clever nod to Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…, is out on October 7th.
Listen to Quauvo & Takeoff’s new single “Nothing Changed” below.
