African Music News: 8 fresh songs to listen to (2024)

The latest pop roundup is here, meaning it’s time to add a few songs to your playlist.

Madison Beer – “Home To Another One”

Pop singer Madison Beer released “Home To Another One” as her latest single. This ethereal track is super catchy. Beer co-directed the engrossing visual that accompanies it with Aerin Moreno. “Home To Another One” is lifted from her upcoming second album titled Silence Between Songs. “I’ve learned so much about myself and my artistry on the journey of the last two years since my last record. This album tells the story of so many different pieces of me that I discovered in the moments of pause where I settled down from the noise and learned the most about myself. I hope my fans are as inspired listening to it as I was when creating it,” she said.

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Thomas Day – “Come Home”

“Come Home” is the newest release from Nashville pop artist Thomas Day. It arrives in the heels of the emerging singer’s singles “MASOCHIST” and “VICIOUS”, all dropping on Arista Records. “Come Home” is a heartfelt and melancholic piece whose depth stems from Day’s powerful vocal delivery and impressive songwriting ability. The artist elaborates, “This song is about coming to accept everything that has ever hurt you in your life, and realizing it’s ok. I wrote this about growing up and it has completely changed me, and for that I am forever grateful. It’s an emotional song for me with a lot of heart and I can’t wait for the person who listens, to heal.”

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Ashley Elle – “Heavy, Heavy, Heavy”

Ashley Elle is a burgeoning indie pop artist from the US. The singer shared her second single called “Heavy, Heavy, Heavy” a few days ago. Emotive and vulnerable, it explores one’s desire to escape the grip of anxiety and depression. For a person so young, Ashely approaches this topic delicately and with great maturity. She explains, “‘Heavy, Heavy, Heavy’ is a song about struggling with the complexities of life. I wrote it at a time when I felt so much pressure and responsibility trying to deal with growing up and the challenges we face.“

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Chris Noah – “Take A Minute”

Latvian artist Chris Noah delivered a magnificent song the other day. To create this contemplative indie-pop piece called “Take A Minute”, the Riga-based singer teamed up with his go-to producer Kristofer Harris as well Nathanael Graham. “Take A Minute” was brilliantly produced and that’s worth emphasizing. Noah notes, “‘Take a Minute’ explores the idea of existing in the current culture – one full of distractions and posturing, with the internet, making almost anything and everything easily accessible (including people’s daily lives). This often leads to indecisiveness and stalling, because we have so many options and unrealistic examples, or aspirations. Nevertheless, the storyline remains positive and light, there’s no heartbreak. The modern way of saying, ‘I love you’ is, ‘I might like you’. So the song follows this train of thought.”

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Devon Cole – “1-800-GOT-STRESS”

The newest song by Canadian phenom Devon Cole is about seeking therapy amidst mental health issues. It was aptly named “1-800-GOT-STRESS” and paired with a befitting visual directed by Zebulon Griffin (Columinati Films). “1-800-GOT-STRESS” is about feeling lost and helpless. Devon says, “I’ve struggled with anxiety throughout my life, and there are times when I’ve been unbelievably low. Now that I’m older, I’ve got a better handle on how to cope—and meds help—but there were times in my early teens and in university where I could not see the light at the end of the tunnel. And that’s a really scary feeling. So, I wanted to create a song that conveys those feelings of helplessness. All I needed in those times of mental struggle was to feel seen. I hope people who listen feel seen.”

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Etham – “Guilty”

“Guilty” is an elegant track recently released by Reading-based UK singer-songwriter Etham. It serves as the second single taken from his forthcoming EP. “Guilty” is evocative and uplifting. For this song, Etham stepped away from the piano and embraced the guitar. The artist’s finger-picked style and beautiful melodies complement his hopeful lyrics. “Guilty” follows the balladic “I Won’t”.

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Claudia Neuser – “Greatest Story Never Told”

17-year-old Swedish newcomer Claudia Neuser got to share her second single, “Greatest Story Never Told”. She had debuted last month with “Euphoria”. With this new song, Claudia created an electro pop record with R&B influences. “Greatest Story Never Told” was released alongside a stunning visual via TEN Music Group. This artist is surely one to watch.

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Pablo Brooks – “Boy Don’t Cry”

Colorful and filled with creamy melodies, the newest song by German pop artist Pablo Brooks is amazing. The song is called “Boy Don’t Cry” and is taken from Pablo’s upcoming sophomore EP Pleaser. It came paired with an eye-catching video directed by Nils Ladewig. The artist says the song is about gaslighting and toxic relationships.

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Enjoy!