We are finally in the last week of term, and whether your deadlines are out the way and you're enjoying a relaxing week, or whether you're cramming to get that final piece of coursework in, here are some tunes to soundtrack your week, provided by The Mic's dedicated writers.
As It Was - Harry Styles
Pop darling Harry Styles released his first single from upcoming third album Harry’s House. As It Was had a highly anticipated arrival, following the monumental success of his previous effort Fine Line. Since his career with One Direction, Styles has championed a vintage aesthetic and is showing his venture into the resurgence of eighties-esque sounds. Immediately, there is clear influence from the synth-pop of the eighties, with the instrumental in the chorus echoing a-ha! However suitable for his soft, airy vocals and upbeat tempo, fellow stars such as Dua Lipa have also made this sonic shift. Successful? Yes. Original? No. Having said this, this track possibly bears the rawest lyrics so far from Styles, "answer the phone / Harry, you’re no good alone / Why are you sitting at home on the floor? / What kind of pills are you on?", but when accompanied by the bells, the mood isn’t as sombre. Introspective lyrics, delicate vocals and nostalgic instruments, As It Was is promising yet another successful record from Styles. Jodie Averis
As It Was - Harry Styles
When the world thought Harry Styles had hit the height of fame and success, Watermelon Sugar was released. The phenomenal reaction to this track left Styles with more than one-million new supporters waiting to hear what he would put out next. As It Was tells a sombre story that is easily hidden by a upbeat, 80s-infused instrumental. Sonically, the song is not the same entirely unpredictable shockwave that Sign of The Times was, and although undoubtably a song destined for radio success, it lacks some of the individuality that an experimental Harry produced in the best parts of his first two albums. Nevertheless, the opening recording of his Goddaughter and the lyrically gut-wrenching second verse are excellent touches that can give listeners confidence that this third album will contain the same moments of vulnerability that appear at the pinnacles of his older work. Styles’ vocals are as impeccable as always, delivering the lyrics dynamically and with peaks and valleys that help the listeners maintain interest even in the repeated sections of the song. Expect to hear this song repeated on the radio all summer long, and to love hearing it! Cat Jordan
Purge - WILLOW ft. Siiickbrain
With collaborations becoming commonplace in the rock and metal scene, especially with artists from different genres, Purge fuses traditional rock riffs and trap beats to underpin an iconic mix of vocals. Siiickbrain is known for their aggressive and powerful screams that compliment the simplicity of trap, and in the case of their collaborations, marry the softness of partnering voices, like Maggie Lindemann in GASLIGHT!. In the case of Purge, WILLOW’s raspy vocals destined for strong rock ballads transitions smoothly to Siiickbrain’s screamo varnish. Both vocals are as distinct as they come, but unlike other collaborations where a binary narrative is created, these two are fighting on the same side. May I also add: the winning side! I recommend this track to any adventurous and heavy-inclined ears, you wont be disappointed. Roxann Yus
Bitches These Days - Olivia O’Brien
Fans of Selena Gomez and the SCENE - this song is for you. Olivia O’Brien has already proven that she can has a talent for writing a catchy, radio-ready pop song (most renowned for hate u love u and Josslyn) and Bitches These Days is another one to add to the list, hopefully setting O’Brien up for huge commercial success for her future music. The verses, choruses and even the bridge are all extremely memorable, to the point where you’ll find yourself trying to sing along after only a couple of listens. The simple instrumental choices made by the bass guitar, drums and synths are very reminiscent of our favourite Disney Channel pop-rock hits of the late 00s, but with lyrics such as “What the fuck is up with bitches these days” and “when you were doing bumps inside, you know I didn’t tell no-one” this song would have burned the ears of TV execs eagerly looking for their next teenager to exploit and make a star. For O’Brien, this works in her favour, giving listeners a taste of nostalgia while at the same time emulating the angsty sentiment as seen in Olivia Rodrigo’s Good 4 U or Willow and Travis Barker’s Transparent Soul. It will be interesting to see what Olivia O’Brien brings out in the coming year after seeing her platform continue to grow, but if this is any indication of the quality of her upcoming album, we should expect big things. Cat Jordan
Sirens – Flume feat. Caroline Polachek
Australian producer Flume's electronic synths come together brilliantly with Caroline Polachek's soaring angelic vocals on their new collaborative single Sirens. With Caroline being no stranger to singing over glitchy, experimental instrumentals, her vocals suits Flume's production effortlessly, and the futuristic, genre-bending track feels like the perfect collaboration for both artists. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Caroline provides a touching explanation of the lyrics, explaining that she penned them in the "darkest time in the pandemic" about the "constant ambulances she was hearing". Alongside Flume's collaboration with MAY-A titled Say Nothing which was released last month, Sirens will also appear on Flume’s upcoming album, Palaces, which will be released on 20th May 2022. Gemma Cockrell
Take My Hand - 5 Seconds Of Summer
5 Seconds of Summer are entering their 11th year as a group, an impressive feat in the current climate of labels signing and dropping acts who don’t achieve overnight success and overexerting the ones who do to the point of burnout. This band seemed on the edge of the latter after the first five years, but instead made the decision to stop going at 100mph. This choice allowed them to grow and improve between albums and explore different creative outlets. When listening to Take My Hand, the second track produced by band member Michael Clifford, you will understand why this decision was absolutely in their best interests and has helped them achieve new levels of success in terms of song writing. This track simply illustrates that the band have developed an impeccable ability to know and utilise their assets, for example a melody that perfectly showcases all the best parts of Luke Hemmings’ ever-improving vocals and continuing the choice of including the ethereal-sounding backing vocals that worked so well in their last album. Take My Hand might not have the same commercial potential as Teeth or Youngblood, but its polished and perfectly crafted sound should still warrant it as a monumental landmark in their career journey. Cat Jordan
Edited by: Gemma Cockrell
Featured image courtesy of Harry Styles via Facebook.
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