New Music

#HitsOfTomorrow: A Weekly Rundown Of The ‘Should-Be’ Hits

While Olivia Rodrigo has us lapping up “Vampire,” here's the bloody truth about the single and the other hot releases this week, including Alok ft Ava Max, Dean Lewis and Julia Michaels, Jon Batiste and more

Published by

Amit Vaidya

July 1, 2023

And here we go! June ends with perhaps the strongest first single from a sophomore record since Dua Lipa’s “Don’t Stop Now.” Olivia Rodrigo is back and by the time you think “Vampire” is yet another “Driver’s License,” it speeds up the tempo, the intensity and the angst. While perhaps the comparisons to Alanis Morissette felt premature with her Sour LP, if this first single is any indication, Rodrigo’s upcoming album Guts truly is making the comparison feel both legit and so direly needed. This is an instant smash but the songwriting here makes it a winner for time to come.

Beyond Rodrigo, we get another single from the Barbie world – this time Charli XCX gives us “Speed Drive” which interpolates Toni Basil’s “Mickey” while also sampling Robyn’s “Cobrastyle.” The Mark Ronson-produced soundtrack is proving to be the soundtrack of the summer and you have to wonder in an era of streaming why there aren’t more bigger soundtracks anymore.

Meanwhile, The OG Barbie of hip-hop Nicki Minaj is also back, this time with Lil Uzi Vert. Their collab “Endless Fashion” ironically samples “Blue” by Eiffel 65 which recently was a smash for David Guetta and Bebe Rexha on “I’m Good (Blue).” Minaj continues to feature nearly every Friday with a new release and all of this in advance of her recently declared next album Pink Friday 2.

While all these songs and albums are likely to impact the charts, let’s spotlight the SHOULD-BE hits of the week. Here are this week’s #HitsOfTomorrow.

“Car Keys (Ayla)” – Alok, Ava Max

While the current trend of dance classics getting resurrected is likely not coming to an end until there seemingly will be no old records left to update, you have to acknowledge the ones that do it and do it well. Brazilian DJ Alok comes together with Ava Max for “Car Keys (Ayla)” – a dance-pop update featuring Tiesto’s iconic “Ayla.” The track produced by Cirkut was written by U.K. hitmaker Raye. In fact, it’s very easy to imagine her voice on the single but while she’s having her moment with her own album, Max gets to step in and give us a fun summer track that’s likely to light up the charts and the dancefloor this summer.

“In A Perfect World” – Dean Lewis, Julia Michaels

In a perfect world, Dean Lewis and Julia Michaels would both be huge stars already but we’re hoping their duet “In A Perfect World” does the trick. We don’t really get emotional duets as often anymore. Yes, this is technically a “collab,” but it feels more organic than that and you can hear both artists complimenting each other rather than competing. Michaels has always been dependable and her brilliant songwriting is yet again on display here but her matchup with Lewis is just perfect. Let’s hope radio agrees!

“Calling Your Name” – Jon Batiste

In advance of his Word Music Radio LP releasing in August, Grammy winner Jon Batiste gives us “Calling Your Name.” The song plays much like most of his other work; catchy, engaging and timeless but this time, it’s also playlist/radio-friendly! The single is probably the most pop Batiste release we’ve ever heard and you’ll instantly be reminded of Eighties Stevie Wonder when listening to the single. The upcoming album features the likes of everyone from JID to Lana Del Rey to Fireboy DML to Lil Wayne so it looks like Batiste is entering the mainstream and we’re loving it.

“All We Ever Do Is Talk” – Del Water Gap

Hot on the heels of announcing his sophomore album I Miss You Already + I Haven’t Left Yet, Del Water Gap (aka S. Holden Jaffe) gives us “All We Ever Do Is Talk,” a brilliant first single for this new era. The songwriting here is what holds the song alongside Jaffe’s vocal delivery that make this melancholic lookback to the early days of a relationship feel relatable and instantly memorable. Catchy and perfect for summer playlists, the single is everything lacking in Top 40 right now and programmers would be fools not to highlight this talented rising star!

“Long Way Home” – Walk Off The Earth, Lindsey Stirling

Remember there was a time not so long ago when everyone from Enya to Linkin Park to Shania Twain all got played at Top 40 back-to-back without anyone batting an eye? It was a glorious time in music history because radio allowed the listener to explore the many layers of what is pop music. Nowadays, the formula has mostly been brought down to a science (or should I say algorithm) that songs we otherwise would expect to be a “hit” in any other era now only have a shot in certain niche genre markets. Such is the case with Walk Off The Earth and Lindsey Stirling and their single “Long Way Home.” A good song is just that – one that defies categories and so long as folks sing along, it’s a winner. In a dream world, this single gets play on Top 40 but that’s a tall order today. But I’m going to keep pitching songs that belong there…no matter what.

Even More Hits!