Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to New Music Friday’s most essential releases each week — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond.
Last week, we featured Taylor Swift, Tinashe, Madonna and Charli xcx and Kenny Chesney.
This week, Noah Kahan’s lead single from The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping soundtrack arrives; Victoria Monét drops her highly-anticipated second album; and Miranda Lambert shares her country-meets-disco set, Crisco … plus much more. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Noah Kahan, “Draw You Out”
Not long ago, it was revealed that Noah Kahan had landed the coveted lead single for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping soundtrack — and it arrives today. The sweeping and emotive “Draw You Out” would sound equally at home on one of Kahan’s albums as it will within the film, which was the exact balance the singer-songwriter was trying to strike. As he told Billboard: “If I have to sit there in the studio and put a lot of love into it, I don’t know if I can connect with it if I don’t feel like parts of me are in there … I really do feel proud of being able to find that balance on this song.” He co-wrote and co-produced the song with Aaron Dessner. The full soundtrack drops Nov. 13, while the film hits theaters Nov. 20.— LYNDSEY HAVENS
Victoria Monét, Frequency of Love
The Jaguar era is officially in the rearview mirror. Fresh off that three-time Grammy-winning project, Victoria Monét has returned with Frequency of Love, a sweeping, swooning 22-track odyssey through every kind of love imaginable. Featuring appearances by Bruno Mars, SZA, Lucky Daye, Bryson Tiller, Chlöe, Leon Thomas and, of course, her daughter Hazel Monét, Victoria’s second album is a triumph. Her pen is as sharp as ever, and her curatorial skills have somehow gotten even more impressive. It may be time for her to clear up some more space on her awards mantle. — KYLE DENIS
Drake, Habibti (FOMO)
Earlier this year, Drake became the first artist in Billboard 200 history to simultaneously debut three studio albums in the chart’s top three spots with his seismic Iceman-Habibti-Maid of Honour drop. Now, Drizzy has reloaded his R&B-tinged Habibti set with four new tracks, all of which he debuted in his FOMO short film on YouTube two weeks ago. Don Toliver pops up on “Solar Eclipse” and standout “Cold Shoulder,” which also features frequent collaborator Yebba. Is there really such a thing as too much Drake? — K.D.
Lil Nas X, “World’s Greatest!”
Montero is back — and aiming higher than ever, with a new single titled “World’s Greatest!” With a chorus that sounds like repeated mirror affirmations (“I’m a champion/ I’m a champion”), the verses seem to pull more from early-life diary entries about his upbringing, reminding him just how far he’s made it: “Came up from the bottom/ Used to share a room with my sisters and my brothers … I was sad, I was down, I was covered in defeat/ Now everybody from my town play my songs on repeat.” With this new single, Lil Nas X is not only taking a moment to dust himself off and pat himself on the back, but is testing the power of manifestation — and time will tell just how powerful it really is. — L.H.
Holly Humberstone, “Too Cute To Be Lonely”
Alt-pop artist Holly Humberstone released her excellent second album, Cruel World, earlier this year and is now gifting fans a little more to love. This week, the singer-songwriter announced a deluxe edition, Cruel World…So It Ends, will arrive Nov. 13 — and thankfully, she’s sharing a taste of the extra tracks today. The playfully poppy “Too Cute To Be Lonely” is one of five bonus songs on the deluxe, showcasing some of Humberstone’s most crisp and assured vocals. And much like Role Model with the deluxe for Kansas Anymore (namely, its bonus track and breakout smash “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out”), it’s possible Humberstone’s deluxe could birth an unexpected pop hit of its own while garnering new appreciation for the original set. — L.H.
Dexter and the Moonrocks & Avery Anna, “Why Don’t You Say So”
After breaking big earlier this year with the Alternative Airplay No. 1 “Freakin’ Out,” alternative-grunge act Dexter and the Moonrocks is sharing its debut full-length, Friends That I Don’t Like. For its focus track, the group tapped one friend they do seem to like: emerging pop artist Avery Anna. Her sugary vocals balance out the harder production elements while also blending rather seamlessly with frontman James Tuff’s signature tone. The album’s only other feature is from Treaty Oak Revival on the previously-released single, “12 Steps.” — L.H.
Miranda Lambert & Ella Langley, “Snakeskin Boots”
It seems Lambert and Langley had some unfinished business in the studio — and how lucky for fans. After working together on Langley’s celebrated second album, Dandelion, which Lambert co-produced (including its breakout smash and Hot 100 No. 1 “Choosin’ Texas”), Langley is now returning the favor by guesting on Lambert’s 12th studio album, Crisco. Out today, the album walks the line between country and disco and their collaboration fits the bill well with groovy, midtempo production that sounds tailor-made for a desert dancefloor. — L.H.
