Doja Cat, Clea & More: This Week's Best New Music

16 June 2023 | 4:30 pm | Emma Whines

Each week we track down the best new music and curate it into our 'Hit List' playlist for all our readers to enjoy. Today, we've selected our top picks of the week to celebrate the songs that stood out in the crowd.

Best New Music Artist

Best New Music Artist (Supplied)

More Doja Cat More Doja Cat

Doja Cat - Attention

Doja Cat has entered her new era, kicking it off with new track, Attention, the first taste of her forthcoming album, Hellmouth. Staying true to her earlier claims on a social media post, Attention swerves away from her usual commercial pop bangers such as Say So or Women and goes for more of a smooth groove, R&B vibe, with most of the song (bar the hook) acting exclusively as rap verses. Overall, this is an exciting time for Doja as she explores a new musical area that embodies a stronger, ‘take-no-shit’ version of her old self. It feels like it’s been a long time coming, and we can wait to see what comes new from the diverse artist. 

Clea - Bad Behaviour 

Australian pop princess Clea has dropped her highly anticipated album, Idle Light, featuring previously adored singles I Wanna Be Alive and Listen Up. With the new release comes a plethora of new tracks for us to feast on, and in particular, we're adoring Bad Behaviour, a jovial and mystical love song drawing on all the emotions of earlier adulthood. Bad Behaviour is the perfect blend of pop, indie and electronica that so wholly represents the unique sound of Clea, with her vocals dancing alongside swirling synths and driving electric guitars. The tracks music video, released today alongside the album, showcases the dreamy soundscape that the song embodies, further entrancing you into Clea's world. 

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KennyHoopla, Travis Barker - SABOTAGE//

KennyHoopla has teamed up alongside Blink 128’s Travis Barker for his new track SABOTAGE//, which will make all of your emo dreams come true. Massive drum fills, quick guitar riffs, and KennyHoopla’s signature vocals bring together the energetic two-minute bop. This single comes off the back of his last release, YOU NEEDED A HIT//, which is produced by Barker, whereas SABOTAGE// featured Barker on the drums. Where most collaborations would stop there, Blink 182 have today completed the North American leg of their World Tour, where KennyHoopla was the main support. It seems Blink 182 are as obsessed with KennyHoopla as we are. 

Hilltop Hoods - Laced Up

Hilltop Hoods have today come out with another banger (is anyone surprised?) in the form of Laced Up, a catchy story-driven tune about priorities changing as we get older. On this latest single, Suffa Says: "The idea for ‘Laced Up’ was inspired by an actual dinner I had with my wife when I was young and broke. We were at a pretty nice restaurant for Valentines Day, and I spent the whole time sweating about whether I’d actually be able to pay the bill or not. I was working at a factory at the time and was struggling to make ends meet. The funny thing is that I would have had crisp, fresh kicks on, and I would have been confident that I had enough money for drinks. It’s just how your priorities are when you’re that age I guess, at least, that’s how mine were.”

Tia Gostelow - Early Twenties

Tia Gostelow has returned with another breathtaking preview of her upcoming Head Noise album, today sharing the soulful and infectious Early Twenties. The song shines with honeyed melodies and a playful, groove-tinged bassline that makes its chorus inhumanely catchy. Gostelow herself describes it as “a comfort song for anyone in the midst of their early twenties, reflecting on those years or about to make their way into them”. Early Twenties was co-written by Gostelow, Daniel James and Rami Jrade. It was heavily inspired by Courtney Love and Hole, the leading artist said, noting: “When it comes to the production of the song, we kept it live and raw. It’s so fun to play together as a band, and I feel like the song really holds it own.”

You can listen to the Hit List playlist featuring all the above songs and more on Apple Music or Spotify. We also have our Underground playlists that showcase the best of Australia's emerging artists. Find them here.