• BigXthaPlug & Bailey Zimmerman, All the Way (Country/Rap)- Debuting last week at #4 on the Billboard US charts, “All the Way” builds on Dallas native BigX’s buzz from his remarkable Coachella set. At Coachella, he was shirtless (at >400 lbs) and “glowering like a henchman” to an overflowing crowd, according to Pitchfork.

  
  

Trivia Question- What 1970’s protest song does “All the Way’s” guitar riff borrow from? (Answer at the bottom of page).

• Jessie Murph, Blue Strips (Pop)- 20 year-old Alabaman, Jessie Murph’s “Blue Strips” is currently the #2 streamed song on Apple Music, breaking the Kendrick/Drake hegemony. With a White Trash Rap sensibility, 808 drumbeats and distorted basslines, the song is a departure from Murph’s country roots. “Blue Strips” also has an unintentionally contradictory lyric and a video where Jessie spends the entire time preening; indicating there may not be more than meets the eye with Ms. Murph.

  
  

• Addison Rae, Headphones On (Pop/Alternative)- The 24-year-old Louisianan “It Girl” and Vogue cover model Ms. Rae continues her path toward interesting pop music with “Headphones On”- which is trending on social media. In the dreamy “Headphones On”, she admits vulnerability and uses her headphones as a Gen Z relatable metaphor to escape from insecurities and pain.

• WizTheMc, bees & honey & Tyla, Show Me Love- (Dance/AfroBeats)- Currently #6 in the UK, “Show Me the Love” is a simmering mix of Amapiano and European dance music, much like its composer producer, DJ WizTheMc, who was born in South Africa, but mostly raised in Germany. Wiz is joined on “Show Me Love” by his Saffa compatriot, the Grammy winning Tyla who created a fashion stir at Coachella with an outfit that paid homage to Britney Spears' iconic 2001 MTV VMA performance.

• Davido & Omah Lay, With You (AfroBeats)- AfroBeat mega-star Davido’s April 18 LP release “5ive” is already dominating the African charts, with its songs holding all top 10 streaming positions in Nigeria, with “With You’ claiming the #1 spot. The energetically punctuated guitar riff of “With You” is a signature of Davido’s collaborator, former Neuphoria winner, Omah Lay.

  
  

Trivia- While Davido is not Muslim, his “5ive” is an acknowledgement of the 50% of Nigerians who are Muslim, referring to the Five Pillars of Islam, Declaration of Faith, Prayer, Almsgiving, Fasting and Pilgrimage.

• Ed Sheeran (feat. Googoosh), Azizam (Persian Version)- (Pop/World)- While the standard version of Azizam is already #3 in the UK, it is the Persian Version that is in the Top 20 Global streaming charts. “Azizam” is Farsi for “my beloved” and is a collaboration with Iranian cultural icon, Googoosh.

  
  

Trivia- Googoosh was the most popular Iranian pop star and actress until the Iranian revolution in 1979, whereupon she ceased performing until 2000, due to Iran’s ban on female singers. She has since resumed recording, touring and is now revered by younger and older Persian generations alike.

• KAJ, Bara Bada Bastu (Pop)- Yes, we are only one month from Eurovision! And the present favorite to win is Sweden’s comic polka entry, “Bara Bada Bastu”- per Neuphorian JoeMo. Being a sauna lover, I can relate to the lyrics (translated) “Sauna brothers, we’re the ones who glow”….”One, two, three, SAUNA!!”

• Wet Leg, catch these fists (Alternative/Rock)- The Isle of Wight’s Wet Leg continue their mission of making alternative rock and post-punk great again (would that be “MARGA”?) with the blistering and cheeky “catch these fists”. With the Wet Leggers sporting intimidating claws on the cover art and singing lyrics like “He don’t get puss, he get the boot” and “I don’t want your love, I just wanna fight”, pickup artists better beware!!!

• • Pulp, Spike Island (Alternative)- Quintessential Britpopsters Pulp are back with their first single in over 20 years, “Spike Island”- and it doesn’t disappoint. Ever the nerdy eccentric, Jarvis Cocker reflects on his unlikely fate as a frontman; “I was born, to perform, it’s a calling. I exist to do this, shouting and pointing…”

• Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Relentless Love (Dance/Pop)- Sophie’s career has gone through a revival after making it through the business end of raising her 5 kids- and after “Murder on the Dancefloor” was featured at the end of Saltburn. However, some of us, including Neuphorian Paddybear never left her- and can’t wait for her forthcoming 2025 LP!

  
  

• Miley Cyrus, End of the World (Pop)- “End of the World”, the 3rd teasing single from Miley’s upcoming LP, is a catchy 80’s pop-influenced gem, with glistening production. Teaming with cult indie band, Alvvays on “End of the World” Miley is keeping good company.

  
  

• sombr, back to friends (Pop/Alternative)- The 19-year-old New Yorker, sombr (Shane Boose), has seemingly burst onto the scene in the past few months, with two songs in the Top 20 of both the UK/BBC and the US streaming charts. The recent graduate of La Guardia High’s (alums incl. Timothy Chalamee, Nicki Minaj and Adrien Brody) chances at success aren’t harmed by his angular model-like features.

  
  

• Maren Morris, carry me through (Pop/Country)- Maren’s gospel-tinged “Carry Me Through” is the latest teaser single from her forthcoming “DREAMSICLE” LP. Kudos to Neuphorian JoeMo for turning me onto this one- and its sweeping chorus.

  
  

• Morgan Wallen, Just In Case (Country)- Currently #3 on the US streaming charts, in “Just In Case” Morgan sings of the uncertainty of moving on from a past relationship, never falling in love “just in case”. With 5 hit singles already from his forthcoming LP, Wallen fans can still look forward to 32 more new songs…..

• Lana Del Rey, Bluebird (Folk/Pop)- With the April release of two new singles, Lana’s much anticipated Folk/Country album finally seems to be a reality. Widely considered one of the finest songwriters of her generation, “Bluebird” channels the chord progressions and string instrumentation of early 70’s singer songwriters like John Denver.

  
  

• Bon Iver, There’s a Rhythmn (Alternative/Folk)- “There’s a Rhythmn” is the most streamed song from Bon Iver’s acclaimed “SABLE fABLE” LP and continues the comforting 70’s singer songwriter vibe. Usually publicity shy, Justin Vernon has been uncharacteristically making the talk show rounds recently, allowing a broader audience to appreciate his laconic, but charming persona.

  
  

• BRONCHO, Funny (Alternative)- The March Neuphoria winner, “Funny” by Oklahoma hipsters, is so dreamy that its lyrics are virtually undecipherable. It sure sounds pleasant though.

Trivia Answer- “Ohio” by Neil Young recorded with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in 1970.