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The Chemical Brothers – “Go”
Icons of electro The Chemical Brothers played the very first Coachella back in 1999, so it’s only suitable that we blast off this week’s Coachella-themed 5 Songs To Hear This Week with this absolute slammer from 2015. The brothers chem lay down a funky mélange of their signature sounds: relentless bass, laser pews, bleeps n’ bloops, and all manner of big, fat synths. Featured artist Q-Tip brings hip-hop heat to the mix, and a stylish syncopated video keep the vibe perfectly euro-garde.
Pro tip: Peep this highlight from the Coachella live stream.
ROSALÍA – “BESO (Feat. Rauw Alejandro)”
What’s better than Rosalía? Rosalía in love. KCRW’s Best New Artist of 2018 has had our hearts since her jaw-dropping debut — but now, we must share her with Rauw. The Catalonian singer’s beau is a star in his own right, known as the "King of Modern Reggaeton" in his native Puerto Rico. Now, the fianceés (watch til the end!) have teamed up for a slew of collaborative tracks on RR, lead by this appropriately named single. Featuring a reggaeton beat but leaving a distinctly softer, romantic impression, this track and its intimate montage music video are sure to reach your heart… and your hips.
Wanna sample the goods? We got you:
Jai Paul – “Do You Love Her Now”
Elusive, atmospheric, and preternaturally musical, West-London artist Jai Paul is at the top of many festival-goers priority list. And his first-ever live performance (yes, really!) at Coachella Weekend One did not disappoint for fans of his early mega-hits BTSTU and Jasmine. If you’re new to Jai Paul, this classic track is a better starter kit — slightly off the beaten path and featuring guitar licks that’ll have you double-checking for Prince. Click play for a sensual-cool lounge jam that’s perfect accompaniment for nearly any weekend scene.
DRAMA – “Tighten It Up”
Nothing quite hits us like a funky bassline, and this sick track from recent MBE guest DJs DRAMA delivers in spades. And so much more, too: this single, released last month, is the disco-funk jam your pre-summer playlist has been missing. Plentiful cowbell, cool-girl vocal delivery, and straight-up sexy lyrics make this an undeniable winner, just like the band.
Labrinth – “Never Felt So Alone”
Labrinth is a hot ticket in every scene. The UK producer and singer artfully blends genre-spanning elements into a super contemporary final form in this slow burning showstopper. Featuring endless layers of vocals and found-sound samples, plus a feature from the planet’s No. 1 bae Billie Eilish, this cinematic track is worthy of one, two, three rinses in a row.
Click in to be rattled down to your raw nerves by a handful of Labrinth’s tracks, heavily featured on HBO’s fraught teens-n-drugs drama, “Euphoria.”