Every week, Consequence’s Songs of the Week roundup spotlights high quality new tracks from the final seven days and analyzes notable releases. Discover our new favorites and extra on our Top Songs playlist, and for different nice songs from rising artists, take a look at our New Sounds playlist. This week, Girl Gaga leans into her most hypnotic persona.
When Lady Gaga teased her seventh studio album with the discharge of “Disease,” it was clear that she can be utilizing the forthcoming LP, Mayhem, as a return to type of types. If that first single was a murmur within the course of extra dance flooring hits from the Mom Monster, then her new launch, “Abracadabra,” isn’t simply additional affirmation; it’s a shout from the rooftops.
Girl Gaga is likely one of the most well-rounded entertainers we’ve in the meanwhile. She’s an professional songwriter, robust actress, and an undeniably distinctive stage performer. She’s adept throughout genres, from her pop roots to the country-adjacent moments in A Star Is Born; whereas Joker: Folie à Deux was a flop, her Harley Quinn-inspired companion album of jazz and Nice American Songbook requirements virtually made it price it. (Nearly.)
What this all comes right down to is that Gaga is nice at many issues, however one thing particular occurs when she leans into darkish pop, particularly when the music performs round with ideas of the occult or taboo. In “Abracadabra,” she goes all in: “The idea is dance, or die,” she proclaims at first of the music video, which Gaga herself co-directed with Parris Goebel and Bethany Vargas. Throngs of writhing backup dancers, a chanting refrain harking back to witchcraft intertwined with Gaga’s personal title, lyrics about haunting trances and casting spells, and one completely positioned feral scream come collectively like a lightning rod for a brand new era of potential Little Monsters.
There’s a tether between the Gaga of 2009 who seduced us with “Unhealthy Romance” and the Gaga of “Abracadabra,” however it doesn’t really feel just like the acclaimed artist is striving to recreate the magic of the previous. As a substitute, Gaga — 15 years after she burst into the leisure world with a virtually unmatched ardour for efficiency — is exploring her first creative persona via a brand new, extra skilled lens. We all know extra about Stefani Germanotta today than ever earlier than, however eradicating a number of the mystique over the previous few many years has eliminated none of her energy.
Girl Gaga can arguably do all of it — together with solid a spell over her prepared viewers.
— Mary Siroky
Affiliate Editor
Crate — “Necklace”
New York shoegazers Crate provided fairly the spectacular debut single with final yr’s “Julia,” and so they’re maintaining their sizzling streak with new track “Necklace.” With a bit extra unpredictability within the combine, just like the unusual, off-rhythm metronome tones buried behind the guitars, “Necklace” expands the margins of Crate’s nostalgic sound whereas putting them in a dynamic gray space — not precisely quiet or lowkey, and not likely rambunctious and loud. If something, “Necklace” proves that the brand new band have the shoegaze world at their fingertips. — Paolo Ragusa
Deep Sea Diver (feat. Madison Cunningham) — “Let Me Go”
Simply weeks away from releasing their full-length Sub Pop debut, Deep Sea Diver have shared the third single from Billboard Coronary heart. To sweeten the deal earlier than it hits the market on February twenty eighth, the group summoned singer-songwriter Madison Cunningham to affix forces with in-house vocalist Jessica Dobson on “Let Me Go.” Collectively, each Los Angeles natives meld their voices and add a definite glimmer to the instrumentation’s balmy fuzz. — Karan Singh
Deb By no means — “This Alive”
The attract surrounding Deb By no means has solely grown with every of her releases. The Pacific Northwest native hasn’t dropped a lot materials since 2023’s Thank You For Attending, which is why her newest providing completely hits the spot. Pulsating over a backdrop of sprawling guitar distortion, the bassline on “This Alive” provides an excellent darker shade to her shadowy voice and transports it to a spectral dimension. — Okay. Singh
Dora Jar — “Fortunate”
Dora Jar has shared the tender, pared-down “Fortunate,” her first launch since final yr’s wonderful debut No Approach to Chill out When You’re on Fireplace. Although she sings wistfully of being “fortunate,” the blooming sounds beneath her recommend a form of superior energy; it’s just like the goodness she feels is so overwhelming that it’s possibly the scariest factor she’s ever skilled. It’s all completed subtly, although, displaying as soon as once more that Dora Jar is a reduce above her singer-songwriter contemporaries. — P. Ragusa
FACS — “Peculiar Voices”
Immediately, Chicago post-punkers FACS return with their new album, Want Protection. Notably, it was the final document the late, nice Steve Albini engineered — and tracks like “Peculiar Voices” show what makes him, and the band, so unimaginable. The composition is sprawling and dynamic, leaning on area and repetition, whereas the manufacturing boasts Albini’s trademark drum sounds and depth (thanks partially to the manufacturing instincts of John Congleton, who stepped in to combine the album after Albini handed). It’s a killer tune off a killer document that does justice to the most effective of each FACS and Albini. — J. Krueger
Hamilton Leithauser — “Burn the Boats”
On the most recent single from his upcoming solo album This Facet of the Island, The Walkmen frontman Hamilton Leithauser will get playful and groovy. Overtop of its mid-tempo, dancy instrumental, Leithauser squeezes each ounce of emotional theatrically out of his voice. All of the whereas, uncommon, woozy overdubs preserve the tone gentle and breezy, at the same time as he sings about eager for dwelling. — J. Krueger
Maruja — “Aon”
Maruja, one among our emerging artists to watch in 2025, have introduced their subsequent artistic endeavor, Tír na nÓg, a completely improvised EP break up into 4 new tracks. “Aon,” the venture’s opening reduce, arrives as the primary single. Over the course of its prolonged runtime, the preliminary ambiance slowly develops into an intense, dissonant freakout of a jam. It’s the soundtrack to a rising sense of dread, and it’s completely charming. — J. Krueger
Punchlove — “(sublimate)”
There’s an irresistible hypnotism to Punchlove that makes it robust to give attention to something apart from their music. The group’s newest single, as an example, virtually has a tranquilizing impact that evokes no resistance amid its density. A specimen of noise, “(sublimate)” is additional proof of the Brooklyn-based outfit’s proclivity for tasteful disturbance. — Okay. Singh
Yasiin Bey and The Alchemist — “Kijani”
Hip-hop veterans Yasiin Bey (previously Mos Def) and The Alchemist have been teasing a collaboration for fairly a while now, with the latter having previewed their crossover joint “Kijani” at a variety of exhibits over 2024. Cruising over the piano-centered beat along with his trademark lethargy, virtually as if he’s singing in his sleep, the New York MC ponders the sturdiness of all issues lovely on this standout monitor. After teasing the track stay in latest months, the monitor has formally been launched at the moment as a part of the duo’s debut venture, FORENSICS, obtainable completely on Bandcamp. — Okay. Singh
