Ed Sheeran, Miss Kaninna & More: This Week's Best New Music

Ed Sheeran - Curtains

Ed Sheeran has today released his new album - (Subtract), no doubt filled with twenty or so hit songs, but one we’re particularly impressed with is single Curtains. Starting off with the usual sweet and folk-centric ballad sound, Sheeran quickly changes pace, diving into a dark and almost sinister guitar riff that immediately captures the listener's attention before launching into a joyous chorus. Curtains is full of dynamic surprises and lyrically demonstrates a journey through dark times and being pulled out the other side. As usual, Sheeran has turned relatable content into a straight bop. 

Miss Kaninna - Blak Britney 

Debuting today, Yorta Yorta, Kalkadoon, and Yirendali artist Miss Kaninna is breaking the airwaves with this new intoxicating song, Blak Britney. Filled with swagger and lyrics that bring forth a sense of uprising while getting you on the dancefloor. From a young age, Miss Kaninna has been commanding stages, carrying forward the powerful storytelling of her ancestors and fearlessly bringing them into the present. Blak Britney is inspired by Miss Kaninna's fascination with the "Black Barbie" concept or character in rap, a la Lil' Kim or Nicki Minaj, her respect for Blak women making moves with their own music locally, and her overarching desire to bring new representation to the scene and mission to dismantle oppressive structures in the colony.

Dan Sultan - Wait in Love 

Ahead of his hotly anticipated self-titled album hitting airwaves on August 18, Dan Sultan has released the single Wait In Love to curb his fan's insatiable appetites. Set around Sultan's decision to get sober, the song is both a love song dedicated to his own strength and his now wife, Bron, who saw him through the painful process. Classic piano, heartfelt guitar chords, and of course, Sultan’s rich vocals are the bread and butter of this song, which is said to set the tone for the rest of the album. After a tumultuous few years, Sultan is going back to basics, and we couldn’t be happier. 

Georgia Mooney - Break It Off

Georgia Mooney, one-quarter of the Aria award-winning band All Our Exes Live In Texas, has released her new single, Break It Off, ahead of her upcoming album, Full Of Moon. Akin to Kate Bush, Mooney’s airy and sweet-like-honey vocals carry a 60s-inspired jaunt that brings enough cinematic value to keep you full for hours. Luscious layers of instrumentation like gentle piano, a 70s-esque synth, and shimmering strings, all buoyed by bass and shuffling drums, bring the song to life. Hilariously, Mooney commented on the song, saying, “When I wrote the lyric ‘you’re not a patch on Benedict Cumberbatch,’ I gave myself the rest of the day off.”

Armani White, Fridayy - Proud Of Me

American rapper Armani White has teamed up with Fridayy to deliver us a new addictive hit in the form of Proud Of Me. Bringing the same energy as Kehlani’s Already One, Proud Of Me brings nostalgia to modern Drake-style R&B/pop, hitting all the hot spots with heavy bass, funky vocals and a positive vibe that really makes the song. With honest and heartfelt bars and exciting elements of gospel energy in the mix, White is definitely one to watch. 

You can listen to the Hit List playlist featuring all the above songs and more on Apple Music or Spotify. We also have our Underground playlists that showcase the best of Australia's emerging artists. Find them here.