The latest in new music from Will Smith, The Kooks, Djo, Viola Odette Harlow & more in this week’s 1883 On Rotation playlist.
On rotation this week is the brand new single from A-list actor and artist, Will Smith. The Hollywood star has shared the bouncing rap song “Beautiful Scars” featuring Big Sean and Obanga. It’s a deep dive into the power of overcoming life’s battles and full of uplifting hooks and introspective lyrics. There’s also a fun Matrix-themed video too. The song is lifted from his fifth studio record, Based On A True Story, which lands in March.
Rising pop star Samira has shared a punchy new anthem entitled “Valentine’s Day (I Ain’t Got Time For That)”. Thematically, the song details a real-life break-up the songwriter went through last year on Valentine’s Day. It’s a melodic earworm with warm production and pristine vocals. Don’t sleep on it!
The Kooks are back with the infectious single, “Never Know”. The indie-rock tune boasts magnetising vocals, sing-along-worthy choruses, and tight production. According to frontperson Luke Pritchard, it’s “a love song about a cute meet with someone unpredictable”. It’s taken from the group’s first record in three years, Never/Know, which releases on May 9. Self-produced by Pritchard, the album was born out of a mission to reconnect with the band’s original creative drive. Read our last chat with the band here.
The Toronto-based duo Cleopatrick have shared the fantastic tune, “PLEASE” and announced their sophomore studio record Fake Moon. “PLEASE” is a ‘love’ song about the implicit forces that pull us to belong and the consuming nature of being a collective. There are stellar vocals, plenty of ambient production, and stomping drums. Fake Moon drops on March 14.
Beloved actor and musician Joe Keery is back as Djo and has dropped the new song, “Basic Being Basic”. The tune is playful, upbeat, and on the poppier side when it comes to the songwriter’s repertoire. He has also announced the LP, The Crux, where he tells narrative-driven stories through a cast of characters. The Crux is out April 4 and his world tour starts on February 6.
Viola Odette Harlow has released the sublime new track, “Perfectly Ordinary”. There’s a haunting quality to Harlow’s gorgeous vocals as they glide elegantly over the driving drums, electronic textures, and ambient piano keys. Throughout the track, the songwriter opens up about her various health issues and how they can make her feel isolated and lost. However, the track also acts as a message about hope. Viola’s new album, Porn Star, is out on March 14 via Play Girl Records. Read our last interview with the artist when she previously went by the name Glüme here.
Acclaimed Italian singer-songwriter and Måneskin frontperson, Damiano David has released a stunning cover of Mark Ronson & Miley Cyrus’s 2018 hit, “Nothing Breaks Like A Heart”. The cover has been shared as part of this year’s Spotify Singles – Valentine’s Day edition series. There are lush vocals and in Damiano’s version, you can also hear vintage instruments like theremin, mellotron, vintage tambourine and tubular bells. Catch him on a global solo tour this year.
Finally, the genre-defying group Black Country, New Road are back with the thrilling single entitled “Besties”, it traverses elements of folk, prog, baroque pop, and alt-rock. Black Country, New Road are truly in a lane of their own. Their new LP, Forever Howlong, is out on April 4 via Ninja Tune.
Listen to all this and more via the playlist below.
