The best new music from February

28 February 2019, 11:34

Ariana Grande Halsey Best New Music February 2019
Ariana Grande Halsey Best New Music February 2019. Picture: Republic / Astralwerks
Woodrow Whyte

By Woodrow Whyte

Featuring Halsey, Ariana Grande, Rex Orange County and SWMRS.

What a month it's been for music. Ariana Grande returned with her second album within 6 months, thank u, next, and smashed every chart record in the process, Adam Levine got his nips out during Maroon 5's Superbowl half-time performance and - perhaps most importantly of all - 'I Love You Jesus' hitmaker Trisha Paytas released her iconic cover of the Oscar-winning song 'Shallow' by lesser-known artists Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.

It was a great month for new music, too. But instead of giving you a 2-hour long list of songs that almost-hit the mark, here's 10 all-killer, no-filler tracks that you need in your life. Want more music? Make sure you check out our list from last month. Just hit the link below.

The best new songs from January 2019

1. Ariana Grande - 'bad idea'

Ariana Grande - bad idea (Audio)

Ariana Grande really outdid herself with ‘thank u, next’. Not only is it her most personal album to date but it’s also filled with bangers and ‘bad idea’ is one of the standout ones. From its Police-esque bass line to its relatable sentiment, it slaps. Fingers crossed she releases it as a single. - Sam Prance

2. Rex Orange County - 'New House'

Rex Orange County - New House

Surprise-dropping new song 'New House' on Valentine's Day, Rex Orange County also shared a note for fans saying: "The greatest things always seem to come with a level of confusion that makes it easy to question whether anything matters. With that being said, I must confirm that I still love doing this and that I'm beyond grateful for all the support I've been shown." Amen to that. Rex is back and he's sounding better than ever. - Woodrow Whyte

3. YUNGBLUD, Halsey - '11 Minutes'

YUNGBLUD, Halsey - 11 Minutes ft. Travis Barker

Halsey and Yungblud are two of the most exciting artists in the industry right now and hearing them team up on '11 minutes’ is as brilliant as you would expect. It sees the two artists merge their styles and lean into full on emo-pop ballad territory. Up there with some of the 00s greats. - SP

4. SWMRS - 'Lose Lose Lose'

SWMRS - Lose Lose Lose (Official Audio)

One of the standout tracks from their recently released second album Berkeley's On Fire, the Fueled By Ramen signed pop-punk act have found a sound and voice truly distinct from the pack. And this track is infectiously catchy too. - WW

5. Jessie Ware - 'Adore You'

Jessie Ware - Adore You (Official Audio)

Jessie Ware is an underrated queen. Her music may not hit you in the face but it’s subtle and exquisite and ‘Adore You’ is just that. It’s a love song in the traditional sense but it somehow manages to be hypnotic and moving thanks to its electronic production. A moment. - SP

6. Yung Baby Tate - 'Cozy Girl'

Yung Baby Tate - Cozy Girl

No relation to Tate Langdon from AHS, Yung Baby Tate is a singer, songwriter, producer and rapper from Georgia. Her new album GIRLS is billed as an exploration of the many facets of being a woman, with each song taking on a different type of 'girl'. While the whole album is excellent, the laid-back vibe and Good Charlotte referencing outro on 'Cozy Girl' caught our attention the most. Yung Baby Tate is definitely one to watch in 2019. - WW

7. Years & Years, MNEK - 'Valentino'

Years & Years, MNEK - Valentino

2018 may be over but 20gayteen lives on. We’ve been wanting Years & Years to join forces on a song for, erm, years and ‘Valentino’ is everything we dreamed of and more. Think ‘The Boy Is Mine’ meets ‘Alejandro’ with a sprinkle of Justin Timberlake thrown in for good measure. - SP

8. Tierra Whack - 'Only Child'

Tierra Whack - Only Child (Audio)

True story: Team PB had a massive argument over whether to include Whack's Whack World, her debut album consisting of 15 idiosyncratic one minute bops, in our best albums list for 2018. Unfortunately, this writer lost that argument and so is using this list as pay back. Yep, we're that petty, but also it's a great song. #JusticeForWhackWorld - WW

9. Dave - 'Black'

Dave - Black

Dave is a remarkable lyricist and ‘Black’ puts his talent front and centre. Not only is he spitting some of the best bars of his career but he’s also sparking a necessary conversation about race in the UK. “The blacker the berry the sweeter the juice A kid dies, the blacker the killer, the sweeter the news". - SP

10. Zedd, Katy Perry - '365'

Zedd, Katy Perry - 365 (Official)

After the nightmare that was her last album Witness, Katy Perry needs a hit. And despite being someone who is usually extremely resistant to Zedd's EDM-by-numbers style of production, this could be it. It's a breezy, slowburn bop that feels like a nice palate cleanser for the next era of Perry. - WW

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