The Kid LAROIThe Music chooses one song every week as its Power Pick, shining a light on ONE Aussie song that we think has the potential to be the next big Australian chart hit.
Our Power Pick committee consists of Richard Kingsmill (consultant and former triple j Group Music Director), Maddy Rowe (Nova nights announcer), Nic Kelly (Hit Network nights announcer), Ash McGregor (host of Listen Up with Ash McGregor), Kent “Smallzy” Small (Host of ‘The Smallzy Show’ on the Kiis Network), Irene Hulme (radio consultant and host of Game Changers Radio podcast) and Ollie Wards (ex-Head of Music for TikTok Australia).
Fresh from releasing his second album back in January, The Kid LAROI (born Charlton Howard) is far from done in 2026.
Returning in January with BEFORE I FORGET, the Sydney rapper's sophomore outing was a major critical and commercial success. In addition to improving upon the chart successes of 2023's The First Time (including a spot at No. 2 in Australia and No. 6 in the US), fan response was overwhelmingly positive, cementing the record as one of this best releases to date.
But as is standard these days, the regular edition of an album is just the beginning, and indeed, last week saw The Kid LAROI share the deluxe edition of BEFORE I FORGET, complementing its original 15 tracks with an additional nine cuts.
One of these, PIECES, is a clear standout from the rest, showcasing The Kid LAROI’s impeccable versatility in pairing heartfelt lyrics with stadium-ready pop choruses, effortlessly matching the club energy of the composition with a sense of vulnerability.
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“The Kid LAROI juggernaut continues off the back of his surprise guest appearance during Justin Bieber’s headline at Coachella,” says Kingsmill of the track.
“His US and Australian top 10 album BEFORE I FORGET has already yielded big hits like A COLD PLAY and RATHER BE. A few months on from the LP release, and with his world tour kicking off this week, comes the deluxe edition with nine new songs.
“Among those nine are a couple of immediate standouts. I CONDEMN hits a little harder and darker and is streaming strongly already. While PIECES lands squarely in the softer R&B field that has proven so lucrative for The Kid, especially in the US.
Right from those opening piano chords, the hit potential of PIECES shines through,” Kingsmill continues. “The Kid LAROI once again comfortably leans into sharing more of the struggles of his recent romantic life, while LA producers Jonah Abraham (Playboi Carti/2hollis) and Devin Workman (behind JENNIE’s big hit with Dominic Fike last year) simply frame and spotlight a great pop vocalist in action.
“We predict PIECES will be the one that radio both here and abroad will support the strongest too.”
As Kingsmill indicated, both the track and its accompanying deluxe edition arrive just in time for The Kid LAROI to kick off his A PERFECT WORLD TOUR, which launches in the US tonight. It'll see him performing throughout North America across May and June, with dates in the UK and Europe slated for October and November.
He’s yet to plot a homecoming trek, though one can only assume that PIECES will be getting a solid airing if the early reception to the tune is anything to go by.
PREVIOUS POWER PICKS
This past week has seen a slight increase in the performance of Aussies on the Radio Monitor Hot 100, with Sonny Fodera's Think About Us returning to the top five this week, as its closest countryman – Tame Impala’s Dracula – falls one place lower to No. 16.
Amy Shark's The Biggest Dick climbs two places to No. 27, while both Rachael Fahim's Deep End and FISHER & Tones And I's Favour climb up to No. 31 and 32, respectively.
At No. 44, Ruel's Don't Say That – itself a previous Power Pick – falls down a handful of places, though it's joined by top 50 debutantes Peach PRC's Hold It For Her and Old Mervs' Heavy In The Morning at No. 45 and 46, respectively.
Closing out the top 50, however, it's the return of an old classic, with Men At Work's Down Under re-entering the chart at No. 47 – only a few spaces lower than its all-time peak of No. 43. Given the recent ANZAC Day public holiday and the increase in Aussie-themed music in recent weeks, it's fair to say that most music-lovers likely aren't too surprised by that.
