The Best New Songs We Heard in February
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Saddle up, folks, because there’s a lot of new music to celebrate this month, from the first taste of Beyoncé’s country Act II to Kacey Musgraves’ comeback. There are also exciting new drops from Dua Lipa, J.Lo, TWICE, and Charli XCX that are worth a listen (or several). Fresh after the Grammy Awards and Usher’s epic halftime show, there are plenty of releases to dive into. Here are some of our favorites from the past month.
You can listen to all the picks on our Spotify playlist, too. (Want more music? Check out our January picks.)
“16 CARRIAGES” by Beyoncé
“Although ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ seems to be the fan favorite among Beyoncé’s new two-pack, ‘16 CARRIAGES’ is the one for me. I’m a sucker for a self-referential ballad, and this song is exactly that. I’m also obsessed with the single’s cover art and need it on a piece of merch immediately.” —Juliana Ukiomogbe, assistant editor
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“Training Season” by Dua Lipa
“Even though ‘training season’s over,’ according to Dua Lipa, she still serves the perfect song for your gym playlist. Barry’s, the boutique fitness brand, thinks so too, as the pop star announced a collaboration with the celebrity-favorite workout program, including the Training Season shake and Lipa-themed classes. It’s time to get those gains.” —Samuel Maude, associate editor
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“Deeper Well” by Kacey Musgraves
“On the lead single and title track from her upcoming album, Kacey Musgraves goes back to the ethereal roots the world first fell in love with. The track begs for a mashup with ‘Follow Your Arrow,’ the song that put her on the map, and hearkens back to a time when she was just breaking through. Yes, at 35, her Saturn really has returned, but through self-reflection, discovery, and maturity, her signature sound has too. Musgraves proves that only through embracing our past are we able to look toward the future. With this masterful track, we cannot help but look forward to the full-length album.” —SM
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“Saturn” by SZA
“After debuting her new single ‘Saturn’ in a Mastercard commercial during this year’s Grammy’s, SZA has officially dropped the song on all streaming platforms. It’s both existential and dreamy as she waxes poetic about the possibility of life beyond earth: ‘If there’s another universe / Please make some noise / Give me a sign / This can’t be life.’ And though it was just released, it’s slowly becoming one of my favorite songs in her catalog.” —JU
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“Commas” by Arya Starr
“Shortly after earning her first Grammy nomination for the wildly popular ‘Rush,’ rising star Ayra Starr dropped this single about staying unbothered by drama and focusing on yourself and your business. (Or, as she says in the first verse, ‘steady increasing the commas.’) ‘Energy wrong, I log off’ is my new mantra.” —Erica Gonzales, senior culture editor
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“I Got You” by TWICE
“This song feels like a pep rally for the power of friendship and supportive partnership. TWICE’s music always uplifts me when I’m having a hard day, but these lyrics here especially resonate, and it’s such a fun track.” —Alyssa Bailey, senior news and strategy editor
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“Spring Is Coming With a Strawberry In The Mouth” by Caroline Polachek
“I have recently been craving songs that make an odd choice, surprise me, or take me somewhere I’m not anticipating. ‘Spring is ComingWwith a Strawberry In the Mouth’ from Polacheck’s Desire I Want To Turn Into You: Everasking Edition does just that. Rife with Polachek’s signature wails and experimental sounds, the track weaves its way through unexpected sounds and melodies. Here, Polachek is defining what the future sounds like.” —SM
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“Von Dutch” by Charli XCX
“‘Von Dutch,’ the lead single off of Charli XCX’s summer album, Brat, is so good I could vomit. As I’m writing this blurb, I am sitting in our very corporate office dreaming of an insanely messy and alcohol-infused night at the club, ready to be a boy’s ‘number one’ for about 20 minutes before dipping for a little break where I’m another boy’s ‘number one’ for another 20 minutes before coming back to be the first boy’s ‘number one’ yet again— wash, rinse, and repeat until dawn. Charli would want that for me, and this weekend, I’m now determined to make this fantasy a reality. New York, you better watch out.” —SM
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“I Don't Love You” by Charlotte Day Wilson
“Upon the release of this single, the first from her upcoming album Cyan Blue, Charlotte Day Wilson explained that this song ‘is meant to remind us that losing love and leaving can be just as inspiring as finding it.’ And it certainly sounds inspired. The melody is simple, but the combination of Wilson’s rich vocals and the glitchy electronic accents give the song added dimension. (There’s something almost Frank Ocean-like about it.) The track is just as stunning in the build-up as it is stripped down in the ending.” —EG
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“Ammunition” by Zara Larsson
“‘Ammunition’ is a dance-inducing highlight on Zara Larsson’s crazy-fun studio album Venus. The pop princess sings about a relationship gone cold on the eclectic track, which concludes with an outro that will leave you wanting more.” —Carine Lavache, senior content strategist
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“One Of Them Ones” by Usher
“A few days before he brought Atlanta to the Super Bowl Halftime Show, Usher released his new album COMING HOME. The penultimate track ‘One Of Them Ones’ has been on repeat for me ever since. It was produced by D’Mile who’s worked with everyone from Victoria Monét to Silk Sonic. No wonder it’s a bop!” —JU
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“Texas Hold 'Em” by Beyoncé
“Excuse me, but I did not know there were ‘Daddy Lessons’ haters in our midst. For those of us who have loved the twangy Lemonade track since day one, and those who welcome another daring creative pivot from Beyoncé, the hoe-down-worthy ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ is the perfect follow-up, and an apt intro to the icon’s long-awaited country era. A moment for Rhiannon Giddens on the banjo as well. Giddy UP.” —EG
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“Richtivities” by Saweetie
“Leave it to the Icy Girl to drop a track about ‘doing rich shit’ (a.k.a. ‘pretty bitch shit,’ as she makes clear in the hook), like paying her bills, flying first class, and being fine. It’s Saweetie’s signature attitude, laid over a Willie Hutch sample for a classic, old-school vibe. Pinkies up, girls.” —EG
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“Miss Me Too” by Griff
“After teasing ‘Miss Me Too’ on TikTok and at some of her recent shows, Griff finally gave fans what they’ve been waiting for. Kicking off volume two of her current Vertigo project, the catchy pop track reflects upon losing yourself to a lover. It’s an evolution from the somewhat darker Vertigo vol. 1, and begs the question, what’s next from the emerging Brit?” —SM
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“Mr Useless” by Shygirl feat. SG Lewis
“Dare you to send this to your ex, no context. Shygirl’s newest EP will take you straight to the club, especially on this SG Lewis collab, which channels those newly-single late nights where the vibe is ‘forget him.’” —EG
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“Black Air Force” by serpentwithfeet and Mick Jenkins
“Serpentwithfeet’s recent collabs with Orion Sun and Ty Dolla $ign are worthy hits on his latest album, Grip, which demonstrates his evolution as an artist. But this track with Mick Jenkins stood out to me with its moody feel and that bass line in the chorus.” —EG
“Black Air Force” by serpentwithfeet and Mick Jenkins
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Denzel Golatt“high water” by Tori Kelly
“After going through a serious health scare and collapsing in mid-2023, Tori Kelly wrote ‘high water,’ the new single off her upcoming album, Tori., coming out April 5. ‘Something is comin’ in the mornin’ / If I can make it through the night / Whatever comes, Hell or high water / I know, I know what’s on the other side,’ Kelly says on the inspirational track. And what might be on the other side, you ask? It seems like some of Kelly’s best music yet.” —SM
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“Hawkmoon” by Hurray for the Riff Raff
“It’s easy to see why Hurray for the Riff Raff (a.k.a. Alynda Segarra)’s ninth album, The Past Is Still Alive, is being showered with critical praise. Their take on folk music and other traditional genres transport you to the dusty freeways of the American West. And their vivid, narrative songwriting shines throughout the LP. On ‘Hawkmoon,’ there are lines like, ‘Here’s a silver spoon / You can eat your heart out as a prize.’” —EG
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“Lonely Dancers” by Conan Gray
“With this single from his upcoming album, Found Heaven, Gray embraces the ’80s with a deeper voice and new vibe, paying homage to rockstars of years past. ‘We’rе lonely dancers / Join me for thе night / We’re lonely dancers, baby / Dance with me so we don’t cry,’ Gray says. It’s a nostalgic dance track for even the saddest, longing soul.” —SM
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“Dancing In Babylon (feat. Christine and the Queens)” by MGMT
“On Loss of Life, their first album in years, MGMT deliver their first duet ever, and it’s aptly paired with Christine and the Queens. Chris and Andrew VanWyngarden sound so good together, as they harmonize and trade lines about romantic yearning. It makes you wonder why this collab hasn’t happened sooner, and wish that it’s not the last.” —EG
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“Midnight Trip to Vegas” by Jennifer Lopez
“In her first album in almost ten years, This is Me...Now, Jennifer Lopez tells the great love story of her relationship with Ben Affleck. The album, which also has an accompanying movie and forthcoming tour, has some jewels, but ‘Midnight Trip to Vegas’ is the clear standout, detailing their shotgun Vegas nuptials. You can feel the nervous drive from L.A. to Vegas in the track, and the song proves that Bennifer has never felt more real.” —SM
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“Bored” by Waxahatchee
“Despite its title, this song is far from boring. Not only does it burst with energy with each guitar strum, but also the imagery Katie Crutchfield paints in her lyrics are a marvel, like, ‘my skin is airy thin’ and ‘my spine’s a rotted two by four.’” —EG
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“Broken Man” by St. Vincent
“Surprise! St. Vincent has a new album out this spring, and it’s the first one she’s self-produced. ‘Broken Man’ is a stop-in-your-tracks lead single to Annie Clark’s next era. It starts out on a sparse note, with grungy flashes of guitar, before going ferociously full throttle by the end.” —EG
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‘Britpop’ by A.G. Cook
“King of the club and Charli XCX’s most frequent collaborator, A.G. Cook declares it rave season with ‘Britpop,’ the first track off his upcoming album of the same name. XCX also features, saying ‘Britpop’ over and over again in a nostalgic, ‘Lipgloss (ft. CupcakKE)’ kind of way. Who knew this much repetition could feel so fresh?” —SM
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“Osmosis” by Earthgang and Spillage Village
“There’s no such thing as too many cooks in the kitchen when Spillage Village is involved. Atlanta duo EarthGang tapped their fellow members of the supergroup (which includes J.I.D., 6lack, Mereba, and more) for this psychedelic, funk-infused track on their new EP Robophobia.” —EG
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“No Se Vale” by Camilo
“Is it possible to be in a bad mood when Camilo is playing? Even when he’s singing about a former lover that’s forgotten about him, as he does here in ‘No Se Vale,’ his gentle vocals and those bright horns make heartbreak sound pleasant.” —EG
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“Make You Mine” by Madison Beer
“Madison Beer has always seemed like she’s teetering on the verge of something great, and with her new track ‘Make You Mine,’ she fell into pop excellence. The track solidifies that Beer’s voice is different in the pop scene, producing a club and dance hit only she can seem to give. It appears Beer has finally found her star power.” —SM
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“Good Bones” by LE SSERAFIM
“The titular track from Le Sserafim’s Easy is the obvious highlight of their latest mini album, but I find myself especially drawn to the opener, ‘Good Bones.’ It’s got a thrashing, hard rock feel and includes lyrics in Japanese, Korean, and English. After the group’s angelic anthem ‘Perfect Night’ went viral at the end of last year, this marks an exciting change of pace.” —EG
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“Test It” by Erika de Casier
“Producer and songwriter Erika de Casier has already made a global impact penning songs for NewJeans and releasing a remix of Dua Lipa’s ‘Physical,’ but on her new album, Still, she’s proving herself to be a star in her own right. The seductive ‘Test It’ is a track to note.” —EG
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“Karma” by SiR with Isaiah Rashad
“If the last single was too experimental for your taste (I personally loved it), this collab with Isaiah Rashad might be a little truer to the SiR sound you’re used to. On it, the singer expresses the uneasiness of knowing what’s coming for you: ‘It’s a little too late to save the old me.’” —EG
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“Probably” by Andra Day
“Shortly before performing ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ at the Super Bowl, Andra Day dropped another single from her upcoming album, Cassandra. On ‘Probably,’ she delivers a stank-face-worthy vocal performance (as she always does) over soulful, pounding piano chords.” —EG
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“Oh, Wait...” by Shaé Universe
“Shaé Universe’s lyrics are eerily relatable for anyone who’s been betrayed: ‘It’s scary how you lie to me / Staring right in my face / And don't feel no way.’ They hit extra deep with her smooth, soulful delivery.” —EG
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