#HitsOfTomorrow – A Weekly Rundown of the ‘Should-Be’ Hits

Sam Smith was already an incredibly celebrated singer and their mature voice struck a chord from the get-go. But with their latest LP Gloria, they have finally become the bona-fide Top 40 pop star they were destined to become. Their most confident and dare I say fun album yet, much like Adele’s 30, they’ve never sounded more mature but also hip at the same time.

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum is Lil Yachty who returns with exactly what you wouldn’t have expected, a psychedelic rock album! Yachty has been known to throw sonic curveballs and this one doesn’t disappoint.

Besides these two musical heavyweights, new singles dropped from the likes of Rosalia with “LLYLM,” Chloe with “Pray It Away,” The Kid LAROI with “Love Again” and Pink with “Trustfall.”

While these singles are likely to get the attention they deserve on the radio and in streaming, here are this week’s #HitsOfTomorrow – the should-be hits that deserve a little more attention and that extra nudge! 

“You Only Love Me” – Rita Ora

Rita Ora is quite the anomaly. She’s a musical heavyweight in some sections of the world while in other parts, she’s known as Rita Ora, the celebrity. Marrying filmmaker Taika Waititi last year further fueled her presence in the media sphere, so it’s a welcome return to Top 40 form as she releases “You Only Love Me,” a single that should likely push her back up the charts in places that know and love her, but is also the kind of song that should be a big hit everywhere. Ora has never really faltered musically but here’s hoping that with her post-marriage confidence, the single and its cheeky video give the chart-fame that the song and the artist have deserved for a long time now. 

“Evangeline” – Stephen Sanchez

Capturing a long-gone era isn’t always easy but Stephen Sanchez has found a way to connect to modern audiences with his vintage style and music. “Evangeline” begins with a sample of Bobby Goldsboro’s “Honey” and the feel of the track is established in just those first few seconds. We don’t really have stylized artists these days and the ones we do have often become one-note wonders very quickly. Here’s hoping Sanchez doesn’t fall prey to that and continues to evolve, because this trajectory so far has been just magical.

“Must Be Nice” – Ruel

Age ain’t nothing but a number but Ruel has managed to already accumulate quite the discography and at the young age of 20, after three EPs, he’s finally ready to release 4^th Wall, his debut full-length LP. The single “Must Be Nice” is a ballad, a refreshing change from his previous singles – one that is likely going to catapult the singer from rising star to serious pop artist. The sincerity the artist brings to the song shows how musicians can grow in front of our eyes and when a debut album drops years after we already love them, we understand that they needed that journey to better understand the kind of artist they ultimately wish to be.

“Do You Like Me?” – Daniel Caesar

Grammy Award-winning singer Daniel Caesar has always followed his own path and “Do You Like Me?” continues to do just that. Perhaps a prelude to what’s to come, the single (co-produced by the legendary Raphael Saadiq) is soulful but outside the confines of modern R&B, making for a more authentic and deeply personal track that is likely to resonate far beyond any genre trope. Caesar is definitely here to stay and I can’t wait to see what he has up his sleeves with his forthcoming LP, where he promises to incorporate elements of folk and country too into the mix.

“Baby Lay Your Head Down” – Aly & AJ

Underrated for what seems like decades now, Aly & AJ continue to maintain the excellent streak the duo has enjoyed since their adult renaissance. “Baby Lay Your Head Down” is a perfect slice of pop if radio just gives it a shot. There is a purity of sound and a breath of fresh air sonically that makes the single and the singers come alive. I really hope that the stardom the two had achieved as teens will still carry the same impact, because their music today is not only leagues ahead but it’s some of the best stuff pop/rock stuff we have got out there, period!

Even More Hits!

FOOLISH THINKING – Kimbra, Ryan Lott

ALRIGHT – Charlotte Sands

DAKOTA – Red Leather

GOT IT GOOD – James Johnston

ALERGICA – Paty B

Listen To #HITSOFTOMORROW Playlist on Spotify!