What to Listen to This Month – Best New Songs of May

US actor-turned-rapper Donald Glover, who stars in the new Star Wars spin-off film Solo and acclaimed TV show Atlanta, scored his first US number one hit with his surprise release ‘This is America’.

The satirical rap takes on racism, gun crime, police violence and stereotypes that blight the music genre.

It’s a rare beast – a song that somehow manages to bridge the gap between breezy party song and furious indictment on the state of American society. The song’s brilliance is elevated by a genius music video that features the rapper dancing around as a riot breaks out.

Not as incisive but just as fun is Pharrell Williams’ collaboration with Camila Cabello, ‘Sangria Wine’, a summery Latin-influenced pop jam hoping to be the next ‘Despacito’ as it switches between Spanish and English.

Los Angeles band Milo Greene are back with ‘Move’, a sultry slice of 1980s electropop that promises great things for their upcoming third album ‘Adult Contemporary’, which is due out later this year.

Beach House have also released their magnificent new album 7 this month, arguably one of their most profound offerings.

‘Dive’ is one of the strongest tracks from the LP, their seventh, which sees the Baltimore dream-pop duo take a bold leap with a rockier aesthetic puncturing their woozy atmospherics.

Haux, who usually makes hazy electronica, has released a condensed piano score of his new album ‘Something to Remember’ – a fragile composition which has shades of Nils Frahm and Ólafur Arnalds.

There are also new releases from several up-and-coming musicians.

WENS, a 19-year-old rising star from Los Angeles who makes moody and hypnotic synth-pop, and her latest track ‘Take’ showcases her powerful vocals.

Québec singer-songwriter Marianne Poirier, otherwise known as l i l a, has debuted her new single ‘Great Drama’, a darkly evocative folk song, while Florida indie-pop duo SALES continue to impress with their lo-fi dreamy new single ‘White Jeans’.

There’s plenty more to enjoy from our May playlist, so hit play and relax.