HAIM DROP HOT NEW SINGLE 'THE WIRE'

Our favourite Californian sisters HAIM have dropped their hot new single 'The Wire'. The track follows 'Don't Save Me' and 'Falling', all expected from the girl's upcoming début album.

Sounding more and more confident with each release, 'The Wire' gives us flashes of early Fleetwood Mac. yet another example of how brilliant their LP is shaping up to be. Check it out below.

'The Wire' is set to be released 23 September.

BEYONCÉ REMIXES DROP FOR 'STANDING ON THE SUN' AND 'GROWN WOMAN'

Whilst we all patiently await news on the where-abouts of Beyoncé's fifth studio album (titled 'Mrs Carter' if rumour has is right), it's time we checked out remixes for two of the promotional tracks to be lifted from the upcoming release.

Earlier this year Bey dropped the heavily hip-hop influenced 'Bow Down/I Been On' (which we're not really a fan of), but since then we've also been treated to the tropical jam 'Standing On the Sun' and pop gem 'Grown Woman'.

We've compiled some of the best mixes circling the 'net of the latter two for your listening pleasure - our favourites being the WaWa Club Mix of 'Standing On The Sun' and the Monsieur Adi Remix of 'Grown Woman'. Check 'em out below.

MONSIEUR ADI AND A*M*E TEAM UP FOR CLUB-BANGER 'WHAT'S GOING ON'

French DJ Monsieur Adi has teamed up with one of our favourite young Brits - A*M*E - to deliver one of this year's hottest club-bangin' tracks, 'What's Going On'. The single -might we say future hit- samples Soul II Soul's 1989 global smash 'Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)'.

Mr Adi has remixed for some of the best - this year alone he's revealed revamped tracks for Beyoncé ('Grown Woman'), Mikky Ekko ('Kids'), Lana Del Rey ('Summertime Sadness') and newcomer Laura Mvula ('Green Garden').

Our girl A*M*E has also had a busy year - no stranger to the club scene after featuring on Duke Dumont's recent UK #1 'Need U (100%)', she also delivered one of our favourite tracks last year ('Play The Game Boy'). Additionally, this year the 18 year-old revealed the MNEK-produced follow up single 'Heartless'.

'What's Going On' -which we've had on repeat for most of the day now- just works. A*M*E and her gorgeous vocals are the perfect accompaniment for Adi's summer jam. Loving this absolutely sick right now.

SAM SMITH REVEALS FUTURE HIT 'SAFE WITH ME'

On the back of his sensational feature appearances with Disclosure ('Latch') and Naughty Boy ('La La La' - which we've said was one of our favourite tracks of the year, so far); UK singer-songwriter Sam Smith has revealed 'Safe With Me', the lead single of his upcoming debut EP.

Produced by Two Inch Punch, the track features an electro-R&B vibe with an alternative feel... it's a tripped out production that allows Smith's soulful vocals to shine and marry the underground beats so, so brilliantly. 'Safe With Me' is the kinda track that the cool kids will like, without feeling like they've committed to a mainstream or commercial hit.

Looking forward to the EP!

SONGWRITERS SPOTLIGHT - IT'S TIME TO SHINE FOR BONNIE MCKEE AND ED DREWETT

Famous in their own right, American Bonnie McKee and Brit Ed Drewett have been riding the wave of pop stardom for some time now. What, never heard of them? That's probably because you know their songs as opposed to their voices - both are stars of the songwriting world and we guarantee you'll know some of their tunes.

29 year-old McKee, who hails from California, is responsible for some of the best pop hits of the last decade. Alongside some of the biggest writing superstars of today (Greg Kurstin, Max Martin, Dr Luke, Josh Abraham) McKee has written for Katy Perry ('Part of Me', 'Wide Awake', 'Teenage Dream'), Britney Spears ('Hold It Against Me', 'Ooh La La'), Rita Ora ('How We Do Party'), Ke$ha ('C'mon') and many, many more.

Mr Drewett, the 25 year-old Essex lad, has an equally impressive line-up of songwriting hits, spawning tracks for The Wanted ('All Time Low', 'Glad You Came'), Olly Murs ('Dear Darlin') and One Direction ('Best Song Ever').

Now it's time for the spotlight to shine on the songwriting stars themselves, as both release impressive singles where they're at the front of the stage instead of behind it.

Red-headed McKee has just released 'American Girl' - the lead single from her upcoming sophomore studio album due later this year. The track, which she co-penned with Alex Metric, Jacknife Lee and Oliver Goldstein, is full of playful, summer loving. It's very radio friendly and with a video that features cameos from some of pop's biggest stars, we think this one will be big!

Drewett, who's been asked to draft further tunes for One Direction's upcoming third studio album, has just released 'Undefeated' - the follow up his debut single 'Drunk Dial' which was released earlier this year. The track is a solid entry into the male-pop market, one that should shine the spotlight on the well-deserved star.

Check out both tracks below and prepare to hear a lot of both across the coming months!

Both 'American Girl' and 'Undefeated' are out now

Bonnie McKee [iTunes]
Ed Drewett [iTunes]

'American Girl'



'Undefeated'

SELENA GOMEZ PREMIERES THE HOT CLIP FOR NEW SINGLE 'SLOW DOWN'

It seems ex-Disney superstar Selena Gomez is taking this musical campaign seriously, revealing a fierce and bangin' music video for her latest single 'Slow Down.'

The 21year-old looks slammin' in the clip, filmed in Paris back in May. With three main scenes - being chauffeured, strutting down a rainy street and flaunting her moves (and frame) with a variety of sexy dancers - the 'Come & Get It' pop star looks absolutely flawless.

The track, produced by The Cataracs (Dev's 'In The Dark'), is the second single to the lifted from Gomez's debut solo album, 'Stars Dance'. It really feels like Gomez has taken a significant leap since releasing her last LP 'When The Sun Goes Down' (with then band The Scene), which included the hit 'Love You Like A Love Song'.

Catch the video premiere below.

'Slow Down' and 'Stars Dance' are both out now [iTunes]

DRUMS OF DEATH FEATURES YASMIN ON HOT NEW TRACK 'TRUE'

Scottish DJ Colin Bailey, aka Drums of Death, has released his latest track - 'True' - featuring the vocals of talented singer, songwriter and fellow DJ Yasmin.

In the same vein as other brilliant DJ acts from over yonder - Disclosure, Duke Dumont, etc - Drums of Death delivers yet another underground 90s house gem with 'True'. Yasmin's vocals, which we've missed so much, marry the the melody so well it's like a match made in sweet musical heaven.

Of course, one of the last times we heard the 24 year-old singer was on her outstanding track 'Finish Line', which finished at number six in our Top Singles of 2011. It's really worth a revisit just to remember...

Catch the official video 'True' below.

'True' is out now [iTunes]

JONAS BROTHERS PREMIERE LAS VEGAS-THEMED VIDEO FOR 'FIRST TIME'

The Jonas Brothers have premiered the video for 'First Time', the second single to be lifted from their upcoming fifth studio album titled 'V', due later this year. The track, certainly one of our favourites from the boys, follows the lead single 'Pom Poms'.

The clip was filmed during the rehearsals for Miss USA 2013 at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, produced by youngest brother Nick.

'First Time' is out now [iTunes]

DEMI LOVATO PREMIERES ALL-AMERICAN VIDEO FOR 'MADE IN THE USA'

X Factor judge Demi Lovato has premiered the video for 'Made in the USA,' the second single to be lifted from her fourth studio album 'Demi'.

The track was co-penned and produced by Jonas Jeberg, the Danish star who's responsible for hits 'I Hate This Part' (Pussycat Dolls), 'One Step at a Time' (Jordin Sparks) and 'All I See' (Kylie Minogue). Some have compared it to a grown-up version of Miley Cyrus's 2009 mega-hit 'Party in the USA.'

The clip, which was co-directed by the 20 year-old beauty, has an all-American feel with a young couple who "meet at a carnival, and they fall head over heels in love" -according to Lovato in a recent interview. The newly-blonde 'Heart Attack' star looks great in the clip, baring resemblance to a young Kelly Clarkson!

'Demi' and 'Made in the USA' are both out now [iTunes]

JESSICA MAUBOY PREMIERES NEW SINGLE 'TO THE END OF THE EARTH'

Australian sweetheart Jessica Mauboy has premiered her new single 'To The End Of The Earth'. The track is the lead to be taken from her upcoming third studio album, to be released later this year.

The upbeat pop hit was co-penned by songwriter Jaden Michaels in Los Angeles, who's previously written for Carly Rae Jepsen and Jessica Sanchez. Take a listen below.

'To The End Of The Earth' is out now [iTunes]

ELEN LEVON PREMIERES HOT NEW SINGLE 'WILD CHILD'

Elen Levon, one of Australia's most under-rated stars, has premiered her hot new single 'Wild Child.'

Co-penned and produced by Jeremy Skaller (Jay Sean's 'Down'), the infectious track doesn't rely on the heavy production heard in her earlier dance-based hits, but embraces a new direction of pop music. Much more radio friendly than her previous work, we hope this will be the track that earns the star the spotlight she deserves.

Whilst the single is due out this Friday, the clip has just been uploaded to YouTube and the 18 year-old looks as gorgeous as ever. Catch it below.

'Wild Child' will be released 19 July [iTunes]

ALBUM REVIEW: CIARA'S EPONYMOUS, MUCH-ANTICIPATED FIFTH STUDIO ALBUM, WORTH THE WAIT?

It's been two and a half years since Ciara released her last album 'Basic Instinct' - a collection of tracks that commercially, failed to hit the mark. Call it what you will, but after the success of her first three albums ('Goodies', 'Ciara: The Evolution' and 'Fantasy Ride,' all of which peaked within the top three or higher on the Billboard 200), 'Basic Instinct' was a flop.

Of course, a lot has changed since 2010, especially for fans of the 27 year-old. We've all been patiently awaiting the release of 'Ciara' -originally titled 'One Woman Army'- since news broke of it early last year. There has been a few bumps in the road, namely the random 'Sorry' and 'Got Me Good', but now it's like we've hit the CiCi jackpot...

Upon it's leak on in the interwebs a couple of weeks ago, some have referred to 'Ciara' as the 'Love Sex Magic' stars most adventurous album yet. It contains elements of pop, R&B, soul, crunk... and all with a good helping of if-you-don't-like-it-well-f*ck-you.

'Ciara' opens with the current Nicki Minaj-assisted single 'I'm Out' - a thumpin' track dedicated to the ladies with a baseline reminiscent of a sped up version of Beyonce's 'Video Phone.' Comparisons aside, it features a hot clapping beat and noisy percussion - all which work undeniably well. And the video - both home girls really bring it, so if you haven't checked it out you must (it's below for your viewing pleasure).

The album's lead single 'Body Party' - well, it perplexes us. Still to this day, after being released back in March, we're puzzled. Whilst it probably wasn't the best choice to aid as a preview of the album (it is Ciara's party and she'll do what she wants to) we just don't see the Mike Will Made It-produced track as the strongest from the bunch.

The other Mike Will Made It-produced number to make the final cut is 'Where You Go' featuring rapper Future, who also had a hand in the production. The '1, 2 Step' chanteuse's vocals shine in this low-tempo duet, with similarities in the melody to Rihanna's recent 'Unapologetic' album track 'Mother Mary' (a much classier version though, of course).

Demonstrating she ain't here just for the pop crowd, 'Sophomore' steps right into crunkin', bad-ass goodness -"So soft, my skin / So soft, my booty / So soft, my bit / So soft, I got ‘em sayin"- reminding the fellas that she likes it just that little bit urban. 'Keep On Lookin,' 'Read My Lips', 'Super Turnt Up' and 'DUI' all follow in the same vein (one that we're a bit meh about, to be honest).

Minaj makes a second appearance on the track 'Livin' It Up.' Co-penned by is it bush week favourite Wynter Gordon, the potential-radio-hit travels the pop road with pride-in-it's-stride as CiCi belts "Cause a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do / Making up my own rules" - we imagine as a nod to this LP and the journey associated with it, more so than ever.

The final standard edition track is the pop-fused 'Overdose', a clear favourite of ours with it's sexy beats and infectious chorus, co-penned by Josh Abraham (who worked with Kelly Clarkson on her 'Stronger' tracks 'Hello' and 'Alone').

"I took your love think I took too much / Somebody call the doctor, somebody call the doctor / I took it all but it's not enough / Somebody call the doctor, somebody call the doctor" croons the star, before she finishes with "Don't let, don't let, don't let, don't let go / Don't let, don't let, don't let, don't let go / Somebody call the doctor before I overdose." It actually kills us it's that good.

Overall, Ciara's eponymous LP delivers. Is it a stand-out piece -well, no- but is it a cohesive collection of tracks that work on a whole with some really stellar moments -yes. We know CiCi's Army will certainly be happy to have her back after a few bumps in the road and to be honest, so are we.

3.75 / 5

'Ciara' is out now [iTunes]

SINGLE REVIEW: JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE PREMIERES HOT NEW SINGLE 'TAKE BACK THE NIGHT'

Hot off the press - 'SexyBack' crooner Justin Timberlake has premiered 'Take Back The Night', the lead single from 'The 20/20 Experience - 2 of 2'.

Channelling his inner Michael Jackson, Timberlake launches into the number full of soul and funky disco. It's as if Daft Punk's 'Get Lucky' has given the 32 year-old the inspiration and life we all expected to hear for the initial release of 'The 20/20 Experience' back in March.

Whilst lyrically the track is pretty mediocre ("Tonight the night’s, come on surrender / I won’t lead your love astray / Your love’s a weapon / Give your body some direction"), it's the song's melody and groove that captivates the audience - and it does so upon first listen. As another track produced by bestie Timbaland, it certainly stands out as some of JT's best material.

'The 20/20 Experience' (volume one) was a bit hit 'n' miss for us, so we're hoping that volume two will get on vibe of 'TBTN' and thrill us just that little bit more. If it does, it will certainly be up there as one of our favourite albums of the year.

'Take Back The Night' is out now [iTunes]

4/5

X FACTOR STARLET SAMANTHA JADE PREMIERES 'FIRESTARTER' VIDEO

Australian X Factor 2012 winner Samantha Jade has premiered the video for the "Firestarter," the lead single from her upcoming full-length studio album. The track was penned and produced by the boys from DNA Songs (Jade's 'What You've Done To Me').

The black and white clip sees Jade parade her utterly gorgeous self in some simple yet stunning choreography, before draping herself over a young, hunky fella. Check out the full clip below.

'Firestarter' is out now [iTunes]

SINGLE REVIEW: NATALIA KILLS RETURNS WITH THE RAW AND EMOTIONAL 'SATURDAY NIGHT'

British synth-pop chanteuse Natalia Kills has delivered yet another solid track with the release of her latest single 'Saturday Night,' the second single lifted from her upcoming sophomore album 'Trouble.'

Revealing some pretty raw and emotional lyrics, the Cherrytree Records star delves into a dark history filled with abuse, torment and betrayal. Either it's a honest reflection of the 26 year-old's youth or she's a great storyteller - maybe both.

"I promise I’ll be the one you want / Don’t tell me I’m unfixable / You don’t know what it’s like to be seventeen with no place to go" - the 'Wonderland' singer begs with agony in he voice, stronger than we've ever heard her before.

Kills has always been a favourite of ours - her 2011 'Perfectionist' album was critically underrated - but if 'Saturday Night' is a preview of her upcoming album release, we're more than excited to see what the future holds for the talented lass.

'Saturday Night' is out now [iTunes]

4.5 / 5

2013 IS LADIES TIME, SONGS WORTH NOTING - PART #3

Part three of our 'Best of 2013' so far - complete with a good fix of the ladies. Check it out.

Did you catch part one and part two?




KATY B 'What Love is Made Of'

London's dubstep (before it was cool) and garage queen Katy B returns this year with fresh material, following the success of her 2011 debut album 'On A Mission.' The lead single, 'What Love is Made Of,' originally surfaced online back in May to pleasing reviews - including ours. 'On A Mission' was (and still is) one of our favourite albums, so we were stoked to find out we'd be getting more Miss B so soon.

'What Love is Made Of' is full of pipin' hot 90s beats that remind us of the work B revealed on her free 'Danger' EP late last year (which you should get your hands on if you haven't done so already). It's a great, solid track with Katy sounding as flawless as she looks in the clip.




DEMI LOVATO 'Heart Attack'

Seizing the spotlight and opportunity on the back of her US X Factor gig, Demi Lovato premiered 'Heart Attack' - a very mature and Kelly Clarkson-esque track that served as the lead single from her (then) upcoming fourth studio album 'Demi.'

The result - a passionate, belter of a gem that sees Lovato at her best. Clearly one of the best tracks the 20 year-old has ever recorded (yup), 'Heart Attack' has the perfect pop song mix - good lyrics, good melody and good vocals. Boom.




SELENA GOMEZ 'Come & Get It'

Whilst it was labelled as a "Rihanna reject" of a song, Selena Gomez's 'Come & Get It' certainly didn't let the label get it down, securing itself as Gomez's best and highest selling US single to date. Co-penned by Ester Dean and produced by Stargate, you can understand where the magic comes from - legends of pop writing and production, the team has delivered the ex-Disney star exactly what she needs.

Flaunting her new-found maturity in both song and video, Gomez looks and sounds brilliant. We love the direction she's heading in and can't wait to hear more from her upcoming album. Yeeeah.




HAIM 'Falling'

Californian sisters HAIM already had us on high alert with their 2012 releases 'Forever' and 'Don't Save Me' - so when 'Falling' premiered it was the like icing on the cake. The track is absolutely captivating, the hooks, the vocals... the works.

The bohemian sounds of the trio have echoed through our halls for most of this year... and have you heard the Duke Dumont remix? Oh my. Debut album due in September, so stay tuned for more.




JENN D 'You Keep Giving Me Love'

Dubbed 'the song Kylie would have recorded if she worked with a French producer,' Jenn D's 'You Keep Giving Me Love' has been an instant hit with pure pop lovers across the globe.

It's cheeky, contains a good dose of 'oh whoa oh ohs' and Miss D rides a merry-go-round in the clip - what more could you want? Instantly likable, if not lovable.

2013 LOOKIN' GOOD, SONGS WORTH NOTING - PART #2

Continuing the theme of revisiting the best tracks of the year so far, here's our part two - full of scrumptious pop delicacies for you to wrap your ears around. Enjoy.

Did you catch part one?




BASTILLE 'Pompeii'

English quartet led by Dan Smith make the band Bastille. With the group releasing material from as early as April 2012, it wasn't until the release of 'Pompeii' in February did the group gain commercial success and recognition.

'Pompeii' is an easily addictive track -if you're not already hooked by the opening eh-eh-o eh-o you're sure to be caught by the pessimistic-yet-optimistic lyrics in the chorus. The single has presented a great opportunity to review the group's debut LP 'Bad Blood' (which we recommend you spend some time listening to -it's good!)




JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE 'Mirrors'

After a hiatus too long to mention, Justin Timberlake resurfaced early 2013 to announce the (then) upcoming release of his third studio album 'The 20/20 Experience.' As you can imagine that sent most of the interwebs into a frenzy, as all then had to anxiously await the anticipated release.

Whilst the lead single 'Suit & Tie' failed to live up to the expectations of what the 'SexyBack' pop star delivered on his previous album, the follow up 'Mirrors' earned Mr Jessica Biel back his stripes.

'Mirrors' is a low-tempo pop ballad -with the video dedicated to JT's grandparents- that captured the hearts of many, including ours. Whilst still not to dissimilar to work off 'FutureSex/LoveSounds,' it is clearly Justin at his best.




NAUGHTY BOY FEAT. SAM SMITH 'La La La'

Featuring on one of last year's biggest hits -'Latch' by Disclosure- did Sam Smith well. Apart from reaching success around the globe, the 21 year-old from Hertfordshire, UK, has since worked with producer Naughty Boy (Emeli Sande's 'Daddy') to feature on his track 'La La La.'

The end result - Smith's smooth and soulful vocals over a trippin' break beat. A great mix and a great track.




JOHN NEWMAN 'Love Me Again'

Like the above mentioned Sam Smith, John Newman also featured on one of last year's biggest tracks -'Feel The Love' by drum 'n' bass outfit Rudimental.

Newman's solo effort 'Love Me Again' is strong choice for his debut solo single. Yet another star surprisingly young (he just turned 23 years-old!), his soulful vocals are reminiscent of someone much more mature in life.

The video gets the simple treatment -Newman surrounded by his band, with single dancers in different shots. It certainly allows you to focus on the energy and talent of the young star, one of whom we're excited to hear more from across the year.




RÜFÜS 'Take Me'

Aussie trio Tyrone Lindqvist, Jon George and James Hunt make up RÜFÜS -an indie pop/dance outfit based in Sydney. Their debut single 'Take Me' instantly caught our attention late February with it's smooth house beats, reminding us of other great local acts such as Van She and Parachute Youth.

The group have already followed this smash with their new single 'Desert Night,' as well as announcing their debut album 'ATLAS' due August 9.

A massive, massive favourite of ours.


So that's another five down - ten in total so far. Hope we found some new tunes for you to groove away to!

IT'S THE 2013 RECAP, SONGS WORTH NOTING - PART #1

It's been a long time between drinks -about six months since the last entry here- so before we get back into the swing of things in a normal-kinda-fashion, it's worth spending time revisiting the best tracks of the year.

Let's take a peek at what 2013 has us excited about so far...




BETTY WHO 'Somebody Loves You'

In January we were one of the first sites to give you a taste of Boston-based Sydney gal Betty Who with her debut single 'Somebody Loves You.'

Since then the talented blonde has gone on to release her debut EP 'The Movement' (premiering exclusively on Billboard.com), sold out a number of shows in New York City and been featured on music sites such as Idolator and pop blog MuuMuse. Busy much?

Each time we listen to Who's debut single it radiates just as much fun as it did upon first listen. Pure pop with a dash of 80s goodness, we're just not sure you can get any better than that.




CHVRCHES 'Recover'

Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland trio Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook and Martin Doherty form the group CHVRCHES. Coming fifth in this years BBC's 'Sound of 2013,' the group kicked off the year with a stellar EP titled 'Recover,' featuring the lead single of the same name.

'Recover' is a mid-tempo synth track that trails along the pop road in similar fashion to Swedish superstar Robyn, yet with more of an indie feel. Mayberry's delicate vocals are the perfect accompaniment to the Sunday-chill tunes, and it certainly gets us excited about their debut LP due September.




JESSIE WARE 'Imagine It Was Us'

After the stellar result that was her debut album 'Devotion' in 2012, British lass Jessie Ware revealed we'd be seeing a re-release of the LP which would feature the new track 'Imagine It Was Us.'

Taking us on a disco escapade, Ware's soulful vocals marry the sexy 90s beats like a match made in (disco) heaven. Complete with a video that knocks most off their feet, this track has been our perfect party starter for most of 2013.




LANA DEL REY 'Young and Beautiful'

Let's just say securing the gong for Best Album of 2012  for 'Born to Die / Paradise' is no easy feat (we are pretty critical), so first up, we're anxiously awaiting the sophomore release from Miss Lana Del Rey. Whilst we wait ever so patiently, what better way to fill the time than by drifting away to the utterly gorgeous 'Young and Beautiful.'

Produced by Rick Nowels ('Dark Paradise' and 'Summertime Sadness') and lifted from Baz Luhrman's 'The Great Gatsby' soundtrack, Del Rey shines like a pretty face and electric soul.

Absolutely, mesmerizingly, beautiful.




LORDE 'Royals'

We were surprised and delighted to hear that the indie-pop gem 'Royals,' by sixteen year-old singer/songwriter Lorde, originates from across the waters in Auckland, New Zealand. We love finding new local(ish) goodies!

'Royals' is the lead single from Lorde's very-good-indeed debut EP 'The Love Club.' With it's catchy vibe and we-don't-care lyrics, it was an instant fave adding this young chanteuse to the top of our 'must watch' list for the year.


Five of the best so far, with more to come before we delve into what remains of 2013.