In this week’s installment of What’s Going On, we’ve got a roundup of five hot new releases that you need to be listening. We’ll keep you in the loop on the latest from Boy & Bear, GloRilla, Arrows In Action, and Roosevelt. All that, plus Steve Aoki and The Beach Boys are throwing their hats in for the Song of the Summer race with a remix of a 1964 hit. As always, if you dig what you hear, be sure to stream and follow the artists.
Boy & Bear – Chart-topping Australian band Boy & Bear are out now with their self-titled fifth studio album. Along with the release of the album, comes the band’s new single “Strange World.” Boy & Bear are known for their heartfelt lyrics and this one is sure to listeners right in the feels. Written at the start of the covid pandemic, “Strange World” is an evocative look at losing one’s sense of independence during a trying time but also recognizing the hopeful light at the end of the tunnel. What else can we expect from the album? Boy & Bear’s Dave Hosking explains: “I’m fascinated by the fragility of our own minds but also what we’re capable of – there are love songs, there are songs of struggle and there are songs of celebration.”
Listen to Boy & Bear’s new single “Strange World” below.
GloRilla – Memphis rapper GloRilla isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. The talented 23-year-old broke through last year with her viral hit “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” and her “Tomorrow 2” collab with Cardi B. GloRilla’s latest single “Lick or Sum” is sure to be a memorable summer banger. With bars like “I don’t post his ass, I ghost his ass, and leave him on snap” and “Told him that I love him, had him thinking I was dumb,” Glo very quickly lets listeners know who is in charge. The raunchy yet empowering anthem gets an added dose of irresistibility thanks to its sampling of Tear Da Club Up’s timeless 1999 classic “Slob On My Knob.”
Listen to GloRilla’s new single “Lick or Sum” below.
Arrows In Action – Nashville-based rockers Arrows In Action just dropped their debut album, Built To Last. The band that formed at the University of Florida in 2017 knows that you only get one chance to make a first impression with your debut and they definitely didn’t disappoint. Pulling from alt-pop, indie-rock, and 80s sounds, the trio isn’t afraid to experiment but always centers a catchy pop melody. Songs like “The Credits” with Loveless & Magnolia Park, “Made For This” and “Head In The Clouds” manage to feel nostalgic and anthemic while still being very grounded in the now. Are Arrows In Action built to last? If this album is anything to go by, they’ll be around for a long time.
Listen to Arrows In Action’s new single “Checking In” below.
Roosevelt – Electronic superstar Roosevelt is back with “Ordinary Love,” his new single. Newly signed to Counter Records/Ninja Tune, Roosevelt (real name Marius Lauber) is coming out of the gate with a euphoric dance track tailor-made for summer nights. With its swirling production and Roosevelt’s romantic vocals, “Ordinary Love” fits right in with the current mainstream resurgence to the dance floor. Speaking on his signing to Ninja Tune, Roosevelt says: “It’s a huge honor to be releasing on Ninja Tune, which always has been a favorite of mine. It felt like a no-brainer to me – a lot of other artists and producers that I know and am a fan of are working with the label and their crossover approach on Counter between the pop and electronic world feels like a great fit for my project.”
Listen to Roosevelt’s new single “Ordinary Love” below.
The Beach Boys & Steve Aoki – Producer/DJ Steve Aoki teamed up with The Beach Boys for a brand new remix of “Fun, Fun, Fun.” Originally released in 1964 and hitting #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, the much beloved Beach Boys hit has gotten a fresh new revamp for 2023. Still invoking the fun-in-the-sun spirit, Steve Aoki adds his signature big room house feel so now you can rave with the Beach Boys! Speaking about the Steve Aoki remix, the innovators of the California sound state: “It’s both gratifying and a whole lot of fun, fun, fun to have Steve Aoki – fun personified – reimagine one of our most enduring crowd-pleasers! As we cruise into summer, Steve (Aoki)’s ‘Fun, Fun, Fun’ remix drives like an ace.”
Listen to The Beach Boys’ “Fun, Fun, Fun” (Steve Aoki Remix) below.
