The Best New Songs We Heard in December

“A new Skye Ferreira song in 2024? We are so back. The indie icon wrote and recorded an original track for Halina Reijn’s Babygirl, incorporating the A24 film’s themes of sexuality, submission, and power. The synthy track sounds reminiscent of the ’80s, but new Skye is something we definitely need in the present—and future.”—Erica Gonzales, senior culture editor

“Chat: Were we all up Friday night waiting for SZA’s deluxe album, LANA? And did we all suck it up and wait a little more for it to finally drop the following afternoon? The wait was worth it, though, with tracks like this one: another no-fail collab with Kendrick Lamar—just a month after ‘Luther’ on GNX and ahead of their joint headlining tour.”—EG

“Megan Thee Stallion screaming, ‘Left, right, left, right, do it to the beat!’ tickles a part of my brain on this TWICE track. Megan can yell at me any day, and with the number of times I’ve had this song on repeat, she sure is!”—Samuel Maude, associate editor

“Rebecca Black, perhaps best known for the 2011 viral hit ‘Friday,’ is still making music, however now the playground isn’t at the school—it’s at the club. In ‘Sugar Water Cyanide,’ Black has a raging beat set to elementary, four-square-style chants. It’s a fun track, showing that even in the dead of winter, we can always find time for a rave.”—SM

“Bad Bunny is back, remembering an ex while having a night at the club. It’s a tale as old as time. Who hasn’t thought a little too much about an ex? The song has a great melancholy bridge, offering a quick smoke break from the pulsing beats before signing off with a reggaeton finish, casting a clear picture of what a night out with Benito may look like.”—SM

“When I first heard ‘Archangel’ by Olly Alexander, I felt an bolt of serotonin creep into my bloodstream. The third single off his upcoming album, Polari, feels like that moment in the club where your group comes together for a hug, swaying along to a pulsing beat. It’s a euphoric, heavenly dance, and a welcome return for Alexander, formerly known as Years & Years.”—SM

“Instead of Lucy Dacus and Phoebe Bridgers, this time Julien Baker links up with Torres for a tribute to their Southern roots. It’s a twangy love song, with woozy guitars and vivid imagery, like, ‘I love you swimming upstream in a flash flood wondering when I’m gonna drown.’ And if that’s too much to imagine, let them put it simply: ‘I love you all the ways that I know how.’”—EG

“Gaga rock Christmas cover. I repeat: Gaga rock Christmas cover. One more time: GAGA ROCK CHRISTMAS COVER! It’s absolutely perfect, and you know the elves are getting down in Santa’s workshop. Thank you, Mother Monster, for bringing us all the joy of Father Christmas and more. Happy holi-gays, truly.”—SM

“Need a last minute addition to your New Year’s Eve party playlist? This is it. Burna Boy’s latest is an inarguable bop with an inviting rhythm and even some string flourishes.”—EG

“ROSÉ serves up an Avril Lavigne, pop punk-style track that’s perfect for any Y2K lover. It’s a head-banger off of her album Rosie, and the music video has an appearance from Mr. Gossip Girl Evan Mock himself.”—SM

“I’m sure I’m not the only one whose ears have perked up at Amelia Moore’s riffy hook while scrolling on TikTok. On this remix to the viral track, she enlists Coco Jones with her buttery alto, pop up-and-comer Absolutely, and Samara Cyn to top it off with laid-back rhymes.”—EG

“NAO must’ve put some magic in this song. Maybe it’s the ethereal arrangement, the hypnotic repetition of the hook, her own high-pitched vocals, or the sound of low rumbling thunder in the background. It’s unique touches like these that take this R&B love song into a different stratosphere.”—EG

”I love the drums and Smino’s flow here. With Thundercat in the mix, you’re going to get something weird but really freaking cool at the same time.”—EG

“2024’s Best New Artist Victoria Monét put a festive spin on her hit debut album by turning its tracks into cozy instrumental arrangements you’ll want to snuggle up to on snowy days. I do wish there were lyrics, but at the same time, the songs are a great excuse for some impromptu yuletide karaoke.”—EG