Men’s Folio Music Fridays (#MFMF) brings you a range of weekly music updates, providing you with fresh new tracks or generally just great music to jam to. Whether you’re staring out the bus window pretending to be in a music video, or getting ready for a night out in the town, we have the perfect playlist featuring our favourite Singles, EPs and Albums from around the world.
5. Mac Miller / Self-care
Mac Miller hasn’t exactly had a smooth start to 2018, with his highly publicised split from Ariana Grande and being slapped with a DUI back in May. But he’s back with a new track, “Self Care”, in his new album Swimming. “Self Care / I’m treatin’ me right, yeah” hints towards him working out his issues with drugs and alcohol, and we see through in the music video that Miller is confident he will overcome these obstacles. Amidst the track, we are introduced to a more mellow sounding beat, in tune with his feelings of being stuck in oblivion. The track ends off with him mentioning that he has all the time in the world to get his act together, but for now he’s just chillin’ in oblivion.
4. Kiana Ledé / Selfless
From the jump, “Get in the Way” off Kiana Ledé’s debut EP pulls us in, just like her gorgeous eyes on the cover. Selfless is jam-packed with eight stunning songs and it’s all that we need to know that she is a future star. You might recognise her for her acting chops on MTV’s Scream as Zoe Vaughn, but now she’s in the limelight for her voice instead.
Standout tracks: “Show Love”, the infectious bouncy R&B track demands her man to show up and show love; “Fairplay “, a woeful number on love, loss and infidelity. Watch the visually stunning story told by Ledé below.
3. LANY / Thru These Tears
Speaking of gorgeous eyes, indie pop band LANY is back with a bop to get you in and then out of your feelings. Through the lyrics, we understand lead singer Paul Klein’s disappointment and pain through a break-up. “In the end, I’m gonna be alright / But it might take a hundred sleepless nights / To make the memories of you disappear / But right now I can’t see nothing through these tears”.
2. Refs / Play God
Refs, an American electro-pop/R&B duo based in New York and Berlin, brings us their latest offering, “Play God”. Composed by producer Zach Lipkins and vocalist Rich Saunders, the atmospheric track doesn’t disappoint. From their first single “Pain Goes Away” till today, they have delivered warm and rich vocals over enchanting beats. Refs mention that “‘Play God’ is about ignoring your inner pragmatist and launching into love, armed with the knowledge that the game is rigged“.
1. Ariana Grande / God Is A Woman
“God is a Woman” had the whole world in a frenzy when Ariana announced the title, but let it be known, it has nothing to do with religion! The song starts out slow as a ballad, but it is not long before the bass kicks in and we are lost in what Grande touts as “a female empowerment song“. With lyrics such as “It lingers when we’re done / You’ll believe God is a woman”, Grande wants you to believe that she isn’t just good in bed — she’s so good you’ll believe you’ve just experienced God.
Her three-part harmonies just before the infectious chorus takes over are a highlight. Then the choir comes in towards the end and has us all worshipping to her — and really takes pussy poppin’ to church, doesn’t it? Hallelujah!
The video has Grande hula-hooping the galaxy, swimming in a psychedelic bath, fingering the earth, and guest-starring queen of pop Madonna; it ends off with her taking over an iconic male portrait.
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main image by Akashdeep Bal (@deeepbal)