TGIF: The Most Exciting New Music Releases to Listen to in June 2020
Welcome to TGIF, our series in which our music insider Felicity Cain shares the most exciting new releases to listen to each month. From your favorite artists' latest projects to up-and-coming names you should know, we're here to keep your playlist feeling fresh.
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Welcome to June’s TGIF. This month’s new music roundup is starting a little light—the pandemic had already caused a lot of release delays, and now, protests against police brutality have also sparked a music industry blackout. Many artists and labels announced they would not be releasing music this week in order to reflect on the racial injustices occurring in America. We'll continue to update here as new music is released, but to tide you over, here are the latest from newcomers Raleigh Ritchie and Joy Downer, and some old friends, like Neon Trees, and Jason Mraz. Check out all the hot new music below.
Electronic DJ trio Cheat Codes is back with a killer new summer jam, “Heaven,” which dropped last Friday. The group formed in 2014 and released their first singles in 2015, which received over 15 million views on YouTube, later landing them a gig touring with The Chainsmokers. They’ve since collaborated with many other talented artists, including Demi Lovato, Kim Petras, and Fetty Wap, and have amassed over 15.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Thad Cockrell teamed up with Grammy-winning Alabama Shakes’ frontwoman Brittany Howard for a new single, “Higher,” which dropped last week. Cockrell, an alternative-country artist, released his first album in 2001, and is also a member of the band Leagues. “Higher” is off of Cockrell’s first solo album in 11 years, In Case You Feel The Same, which dropped on June 26th.
A fresh face on our roundup, Delilah Montagu has just released her latest single, “Version of Me.” The 22-year-old Brit released her debut single, “Temptation,” in 2019, which has garnered over 1.2 million streams on Spotify. She signed with Columbia Records on her 19th birthday, and released her EP, In Gold, in 2019. Keep your eye on this one.
After a small delay to honor the #BlackLivesMatter movement, Corey Harper’s new EP, Overcast, drops today! The six-track EP was recorded at a home studio in Harper’s native Oregon and was co-written and co-produced by Dave Lubben. The alternative pop/rock singer has been making a name for himself, touring with Justin Bieber, Niall Horan, and Julia Michaels, to name a few, and his single, “On the Run,” has amassed over 10 million streams on Spotify. Do yourself a favor and stream Overcast today.
21-year-old pop singer Lexi Mariah dropped her latest single, “Sourpatch,” earlier this month. The Connecticut-based artist has dropped two other singles, but this is her first of 2020. She’s new onto the music scene, but definitely someone to keep on your radar.
R&B duo Chloe x Halle dropped their second album, Ungodly Hour, today. The sisters got their start in music by posting covers of songs on YouTube, which got them noticed by Beyoncé, later signing to her label, Parkwood Entertainment. They dropped their first EP, Sugar Symphony, in 2016, and released their debut album, The Kids Are Alright, in 2018, after rising to fame for their roles on Grown-ish. They were subsequently nominated for two Grammy Awards: Best New Artist and Best Urban Contemporary Album. Stream Ungodly Hour TODAY.
Multihyphenate DaniLeigh dropped her latest single, “Dominican Mami,” last week which, yes, technically wasn’t June, but we’re giving it a pass because the music video for the track drops today! Originally getting her start as a backup dancer (and working with Prince on his music video for “Breakfast Can Wait”), DaniLeigh signed with Def Jam Records in 2017 and has been releasing bops since. Check her out single and music video now (seriously, what are you waiting for).
Lil Wayne! Earlier this week, Lil Wayne dropped the deluxe version of his album Funeral, which included the jam "Help" featuring Tory Lanez. Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. got his start in music at age 14 when he joined the rap group Hot Boys, and has since become one of the most prominent rappers of his generation, selling over 120 million records worldwide, and, in 2012, was the first male artist to surpass Elvis Presley with the most entries on the Billboard Hot 100 (with 109). Stream "Help" and check out the rest of Funeral, out now.
Raleigh Ritchie makes bops. It’s a fact. Ritchie (whose real name is Jacob Anderson, also known as Grey Worm from Game of Thrones) started his music career in 2006 appearing as a vocalist on Typesun’s track “The PL.” He signed to Columbia Records in 2013. Today, he dropped his single, “Party Fear,” (which you should listen to immediately). His album Andy is slated for release June 26th.
Australian folktronica singer/songwriter Gordi is someone you should pay attention to. She dropped her latest single, “Unready,” earlier this week, and her new album, Our Two Skins, is set for release on June 26th. Gordi has toured with a variety of artists, including Bon Iver, Of Monsters and Men, and The Tallest Man On Earth, and sang backup vocals during Bon Iver’s performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. She released her debut EP, Clever Disguise, in 2016, and her debut LP, Reservoir, in 2017.
Self-described “alternative dream-pop” artist Joy Downer is dropping her album, Paper Moon, today. Downer released her debut EP, Radio Dreamer, in 2017, and has been releasing a steady stream of singles since. Her track “In the Water” was selected as the theme song for the Netflix Original Series Spinning Out, and her song “Weapons Down” was featured in an episode of MTV’s Siesta Key. Stream Paper Moon today!
Jason Mraz dropped his first album in 2002 and has been making bops ever since. We all know and love his single, “I’m Yours,” from 2008 that landed at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. He released his last album, Know., in 2018, and is now back with his latest, Look for the Good, which is slated for release on June 19th.
Who doesn’t love Neon Trees? The band formed in 2008 and rose to fame in 2010 after their breakthrough single “Animal.” They then took a break in 2016 and singer Tyler Glenn did a solo album, but have since regrouped, dropping their single “Used to Like” last November. Now, the band is releasing their fourth studio album, I Can Feel You Forgetting Me, on June 26th. Truly a gift for this summer.