• Chappell Roan, Pink Pony Club (Pop/Alternative)- I’m not sure what I can say about Ms. Roan that hasn’t been said before.  She has achieved overnight superstardom, (7 years in the making), by supplementing her considerable songwriting and singing skills, with exuberant showmanship and a unique goodwill drag queen style.  With the help of talented stylist, Genesis Webb, Chappell has appeared variously as the Statue of Liberty, Penelope Pig and Lucha Libre at recent concerts.  But it wasn’t always this way, as evidenced by this TikTok clip (courtesy of Neuphorian Jane S):  https://www.tiktok.com/@chelseadoingthings/video/7382143115567615262?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7360452390188172842

• Kesha, Joyride (Pop/Dance/Electro)- What a long road it’s been for the July 30 playlist winner, Kesha.  She overcame an upbringing in a poor, single-parent household and later hospitalizations for eating disorders to chart 10 Top 10 singles between 2009 and 2013, including the presciently named “Tik Tok”. In mid-2023, Kesha finally settled her 9 year-long lawsuit with her producer and label owner Dr. Luke, which included allegations of sexual assault. The irreverent and liberating “Joyride” is her coming out single- enjoy the ride!

• Charli XCX & Billie Eilish, Guess (Dance/Electro)- The brat summer continues with this new remix of Charli’s “Guess”, featuring Billie Eilish, which debuted at #1 on the BBC radio UK charts this week- and has already been viewed 14 million times on YouTube.  While this collaboration retains the thumping electro bass of the original “Guess”, the lyrical exchange with Billie has flipped “Guess” to a provocative sapphic ode. The result is a kinky banger which is conquering the clubs.

• Hanumankind & Kalmi, Big Dawgs (World/Rap/Electro)- An international phenomenon, “Big Dawgs” has reached #1 in India (rare for a non-Bollywood song), the Top 10 globally and now the Top 40 in the US- all within the first month of release.  Hanumankind is a relatively unknown Bengaluru-based rapper, who also spent time as a teen in Texas and he teams with Hyderabad-based producer, Kalmi on “Big Dawgs”. The video features Hanumankind rapping HARRRRD inside a “Wall of Death”; a rickety wooden silo with motorcycles and cars trick-riding around the walls at 90° angles- (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOHKltAiKXQ) an Insurance Underwriters’ nightmare

• Asake & Travis Scott, Active (AfroBeats/House)- Nigerian superstar Asake’s brand new LP, “Lungu Boy” is dominating Africa, with its songs sweeping all top 15 positions in the Western African streaming charts and with “Active” debuting at #2 in Africa and #20 in the UK.  “Active” uniquely integrates Asake’s signature Afro/Fuji style, with a 90’s Chicago HipHouse sound that Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock would be proud of. 

Meg and I are excited see Asake at this weekend’s AfroNation Festival in Detroit.  FYI, AfroNation is the Coachella for African music and we loved the initial US Festival in Miami last year when we attended- although we did feel a bit conspicuous. 

• Vybz Kartel, Terror by Night (Jamaican DanceHall)- After 12 years, the “King of DanceHall”, Vybz Kartel was released from prison this week, also releasing his LP “First Week Out”, which has debuted at #1 in 19 countries.  After being acquitted of one murder charge in 2013, he received a life sentence for an unrelated murder charge in 2014, but that conviction was overturned in 2024. Somehow during his incarceration, the gaunt Kartel continued his string of #1 Caribbean hits and awards to the apparent mystery of the Jamaican Prison System Authorities……

In “Terror by Night”, Kartel, whose distinctive patois has been called an inspiration by Drake, Mick Jagger and Lil Wayne, draws upon his faith for resilience against the dangers of prison and the bleak outlook of a life sentence.

• Gordo & Alice Aera, Guard Down (Amapiano)- The singular characteristic of Nicaraguan/American DJ, Gordo’s newly released first LP “Diamante” is its subtle diversity of Latin, African and Electronic influenced beats.  “Guard Down” features a swelling Amapiano (South African house music) beat with an alluring duet from Gordo and Ms. Aera about shared vulnerability.

• Sevdaliza, Pabllo Vittar & Yseult, Alibi (Reggaeton/Latin)- Reaching #1 on the TikTok music charts this week and the Global Streaming Top 10, “Alibi” is a dramatic testament to sisterhood, with a menacing chorus; “I just killed a man, she’s my alibi”.  “Alibi” is also a truly diverse venture, featuring the Dutch/Iranian Sevdaliza, the Brazilian drag queen, Pabllo Vittar and the French Cameroonian, Yseult. 

Trivia- With lyrics transitioning between Portuguese, Spanish, English and French, “Alibi” includes the most languages in a single Top 10 hit ever (based on my research😊).

• Katy Perry, LIFETIMES (Dance)- After Perry’s mega-popularity in the aughts and 2010’s, she has maintained a lower profile recently, with the birth of her daughter and her Vegas residency.  Ergo, she has lost some pop momentum as her most recent 2020 LP, peaked only at #5, compared to her previous streak of best sellers- and she hasn’t charted a #1 single in 11 years.  With the house anthem “LIFETIMES”, that was inspired by her daughter Daisy, Katy is back with a “Roar”!

• Addison Rae, Diet Pepsi (Pop)- If you don’t know Addison Rae, you should.  The 23-year-old, Louisianan has 88 million followers on TikTok, the 5th most on the platform. She is also now scheduled to co-star with Ryan Reynolds for a 2025 action movie.  Her brand new single, “Diet Pepsi” is in the Top 10 trending YouTube music videos, with its steamy black & white film-craft.   Given that Ms. Rae reportedly makes $9 million per year from TikTok, I'd be suprised if there wasn't a lucrative product placement angle with "Diet Pepsi"..........

• Khalid, Heatstroke (R&B/Pop)- Following two #1 LP's, Khalid released his 3rd LP, “Sincere” last week and its most streamed song, the breezy “Heatstroke” sublimely captures the late summer vibe.  The El Paso native R&B star (callout to fellow El Pasoan Neuphorian, Stu for that tidbit) shows greater maturity and versatility on “Sincere”, effortlessly transitioning between R&B, Alt and Pop.

• Shawn Mendes, Why Why Why (Pop/Alternative)- Mendes is an easy target, given that he debuted as a 15-year-old (the youngest artist to ever debut in the Billboard Top 25), with appealing, but insipid pop fare and comparisons to fellow Canadian teenstar, Justin Bieber.  But 10 years on, each of his 4 LPs have been #1- and “Why Why Why” from his forthcoming LP “Shawn”, while still taking no risks, renders a huge singalong pop hook, channeling the folk sounds of Noah Kahan and Mumford & Sons.   

• ROLE MODEL, Frances (Alternative)- Given the strength of ROLE MODEL’s (Tucker Pillsbury) July LP, “Kansas Anymore”, he reappears on Neuphoria, with “Frances”, a somberly nostalgic song about his first girlfriend, model, podcaster and “funniest person on YouTube” (according to a NY Times article), Emma (Frances) Chamberlain.  The introverted Pillsbury moved from his native Maine to LA in 2022 and "Kansas Anymore" references his culture shock and homesickness from being thrust into the LA spotlight with Ms. Chamberlain.  Also, recommended by Neuphorian JoeMo is “Oh, Gemini”- another ode to Chamberlain.

• Father John Misty, I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All (Alternative)- Last week, Father John released a compilation of his work, “Greatish Hits” (an ironic take given that he is not a singles artist), which included the new 8+ minute opus, “I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All”.  Each verse of the sprawling “I Guess Time……” is a separate fatalistic vignette, which exposes Mr. Misty’s poetic cynicism; a reaction from being raised in a strict evangelist family with no exposure to secular music or culture allowed.  

• Jack White, That’s How I’m Feeling (Rock)- While it has been seven years since White’s last Grammy and five years since he’s been on a #1 LP, rumors of his demise are premature, based on his new solo LP “No Name”.  Reviewers are calling “No Name” his best solo LP- and possibly better than late White Stripes’ LPs.  “That’s How I’m Feeling” is a bonecrushing exercise in garage rock, stripped down to essentials except White’s howling “Oh, Oh Yeah”.  When listening, put on your own oxygen mask before helping others.

• Ella Langley, better be tough (Country)- Neuphorian alum, Langley released her first LP, “Hungover” last week- and boy is it a jimdandy!  While “Nicotine”, “Hungover” or “I Blame the Bar” would all be fine playlist inclusions, I’ve chosen “better be tough”.  Not only is it dangerously catchy, but the lyric is plumb clever- with the Alabaman Ms. Langley showing some real gumption.  Remember Neuphorians, “if you’re gonna be dumb, you better be tough.”

  
  

Neuphorians- If you have any newly released songs that you think are worthy of including, please send them to me by the Saturday after they are released so I can consider including them in Neuphoria.

Happy listening!

D