First Listen Fridays (22/5/26) – Charli xcx, MICHAELA, kwn, and More New Music

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Well, the weather is certainly heating up. But whatever time of year it is, First Listen Fridays will be doing the same to your playlist. Whether some seductive R’n’B from kwn, catchy pop goodness from MICHAELA, or even two helpings of Aitch, there are many different flavours of musical goodness. But enough talk, let us get into why these songs and artists are going to soundtrack your next week and beyond.

Charli xcx – SS26

Having took over the world almost two years ago with ‘BRAT‘, and not long after the ‘Wuthering Heights‘ soundtrack, Charli xcx gave fans a taste of her new album. ‘Rock Music‘ got a very polarising reception, but showed this artist was moving in a different direction. It seems there is a commitment to a more rock-influenced sound, and Charli’s delivery does match this sound quite nicely. This sees her reflect on the feeling of hopelessness and pointlessness in the world right now, making this a nihilistic anthem. Now it appears she is committed to this direction, I am intrigued to see what album no. 7 sounds like.

Buy the track here.

kwn – touch myself

After the success of ‘with all due respect‘ last year, this artist is back with a new EP very soon. They have given us two fresh tracks today, but I have chosen the former of them. The gospel-esque production, alongside some sweet synths and acoustic guitar, makes for a really classy instrumental, courtesy of FAXONLY and Zeek. From the title, you can take a good guess of the topic at hand, but our lead’s autotune-tinged vocals fit perfectly, as per usual. This one was certainly made for those longing for an evening with that special someone, and continues this artist’s hot streak. P.S. ‘idea of love‘ is also pretty good (especially those strings).

Buy the track here.

MICHAELA – TTYN

This Purple List 2026 alumna is back with her first release of the year. The energetic pop production is perfect for this tale of realising you can do better. There is a confidence and oomph to this performance, while showcasing vocal flexibility and taking it up a notch on the chorus. Topped by catchy pop lyrics, this well-structured song will do its job in pleasing old fans and getting newer listeners hooked. And with the sun out, this track feels even more appropriate for adding to your playlist.

Blaqbonez FT. Asake – Chanel

These two artists know how to make a banger, so a team-up makes perfect sense. The production feels wavey and slightly futuristic, with cool, braggadocious flows from either artist. Certainly, this will have you moving your hips in the club and feels primed to hit more than a few dancefloors. A track that doesn’t overstay its welcome, Blaqbonez quickly follows up the deluxe release of ‘No Excuses‘ with more great music.

Buy the track here.

Toddla T, Aitch, and Window Kid – For A Sec

The STEEZE FACTORY freestyle platform has been a great showcase of some of the best established and newer names coming out of the U.K. (see our Purple List alumni NUBIA). This latest one saw witty wordsmith, Window Kid, and one of Manchester’s biggest, Aitch, come to the table, and they did not disappoint. Over this mellow, but bouncy beat, they go back-to-back with clean-sounding and impactful flows and bars. Both prove their skills as spitters and why they were picked for this platform. Make sure after you listen to this, you go check out some of the other performers.

Nyla Kwaga – Selfish Era

South West London’s latest future star, Nyla Kwaga comes through with vibrancy and panache. Her soulful vocals are full of confidence, showcasing an artist with presence, which is further indicated on the chorus. The story is about someone who is focusing on just themselves and has clearly had enough of people wasting their time. FXN and YJ bring the fun on the production front and give this the cherry on top. I’m impressed by this artist’s ability to showcase aura, performance, and confidence, whilst vocally, they have what is needed for R’n’B.

Buy the track here.

Chip FT. Aitch – GTTB

Two helpings of the Manny rapper may be a bit greedy, but hey, this is a big collab, and I wanna talk about it. Hazard brings those summery 140 vibes, while Chip references how his pen has helped those he cares about, as well as himself. While ‘getting to the bag’ can sometimes be self-indulgent, our lead is highlighting how his success has been beneficial to those around him. Aitch follows the theme well by referencing being smart with his money and helping those close to him. Fame and money can lead a person to be greedy and stupid, but these two have shown it can also be used positively and smartly.

Lola Young – From Down Here

Following the release of her latest album and some personal struggles, Lola Young is back with new music. ‘From Down Here‘ is introduced with a synthy-keyboard melody that has a very 80s influence to it, while Lola sounds gorgeous, particularly on the high notes. The chorus is a real high point, as this artist really gives her vocals some welly and the melody sounds great. This is very much a reflection on those dark times she has had recently, and it’s a terrific comeback single.

Buy the track here.

Silva Bumpa & Mr. Virgo – Swagger Sound

One of the biggest stars in UKG teams up with a bassline OG for this wobbler of a track from the former’s new EP, ‘Hypa‘. And as I pressed play, that word feels accurate to what this is going to do to a rave. The drum pattern, bass, and echoing sampled vocals all come together for this one. Certainly, this will get a few gun fingers out, and while it has a sense of mellowness to it, it also feels fresh for these two. Certainly, this is one to get your 2-step going to, and as the lyrics suggest, ‘lose your brain’.

Buy the track here.

Luvcat FT. Peter Doherty – Electric Chair

And to conclude, another one of the class of 2026, Luvcat, has teamed up with indie-rock legend, Peter Doherty. From an EP that is a companion piece to her latest album, this is one of two fresh songs. The theme of the project is death, and this tells the tale of someone who is on the run and telling their lover they deserve the electric chair. The instrumental is very whimsical for what is a concept track, and highlights this artist’s intriguing songwriting. We get some awesome guitar playing from Pete, and it makes for a fascinating conclusion to this era.

Pre-order the EP here.

Follow IndustryMe on Instagram, Threads, X, or YouTube. Press play on our First Listen Fridays playlist below to enjoy all our top picks. Don’t forget to follow the playlist on Spotify below or on Apple Music.

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