The best new tracks, picked by our staff

Want to keep up with the best new music?

Listen to this weekly playlist, lovingly curated by THE FACE’s editorial team.

Ice Spice – Did It First ft. Central Cee

Last summer, Ice Spice revealed that Central Cee had recorded a verse for an unreleased remix of her breakthrough hit Munch, which sadly never saw the light of day. Then in an interview published in October 2023, Cench told Complex that he’d become good friends with the Brooklyn star: ​“She’s cool innit. Humble, down to earth, don’t really care too much about the shiny stuff but knows how to play the game.” Ice and Cench have certainly been playing the game in recent weeks, sparking dating rumours for a healthy dose of virality before dropping Did It First. Over Jersey club kick drums and purring synths, the duo rap about reckless acts of infidelity. Sit back and watch the speculation mount on social media. DR

Nettspend – That One Song

Deftones have a strong Gen Z following, hence their 2023 collab with Heaven by Marc Jacobs. So it was a good shout for them to clear a sample for the 17-year-old underground rap star Nettspend. On That One Song, the guitar riff from Deftones’ 2012 track Entombed is smudged together with crumbling bass and the Richmond, Virgina artist’s slurred vocals. The track’s already a fan favourite, because Nettspend has been opening moshpits with it at his live shows for some time now. DR

Kelly Lee Owens — Love You Got

The veteran DJ/​producer/​songwriter dropped this shiny new single to a rapturous response last Thursday, at the launch party for the shiny new label she’s just signed to: dh2, helmed by The 1975’s George Daniel, no less. It ushers in a new era for Kelly, too – one that’s inspired by the kind of chart-topping club bangers from the early 2000s. On Love You Got, she hones in on feelings of euphoria and spirituality, delivering a house-influenced earworm that’ll be the perfect soundtrack to any decent sunrise. JW

Fcukers – Homie Don’t Shake

There isn’t a huge variety of lyrics in Fcukers’ new drop, but the few lines that feature all feel worthy of being printed on a T‑shirt – ​“Say you’ll dj at my wake,” for example, or ​“Champagne in my cornflakes”, all delivered deadpan by front woman Shanny Wise. Here, the New York trio’s signature ​‘90s house sound takes shape with a bouncy bassline, allowing synths and punchy guitar riffs to build throughout the track, before breaking into a percussive burst of crashing symbols and cowbells towards the end. A certified Brat summer banger.

Niina — Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Riffing off Cindy Lauper’s 1983 classic, Girls Just Want to Have Fun sees bedroom producer Niina reminisce on the days she spent smoking loads of weed, not being sad and having pancakes for breakfast. We can get on board with that. There’s plenty of squelchy, twinkling production on this song, as the chorus bursts into uplifting breaks. It’s a playful homage to everyone’s favourite season (summer) and putting your feet up after months of doom and gloom. JW

Lexa Gates – I Just Can’t Be Alone

Old school soul merges with new-gen rap on Lexa Gates’ latest, a jazzy, dreamy track about – as the title suggests – the fear of being alone. ​“Feeling stuck, please let me out /​Wait, please don’t let me go,” raps the Queens-native over production by Billy Lemos (Omar Apollo, Still Woozy), before showing off her vocal chops in the chorus. Think: Mac Miller meets Lauryn Hill meets that girl you get locked into philosophical chats with at afters. OP

Sam Akpro – Chicago Town

This track’s got nothing to do with those microwaveable pizzas. Rather, South London musician Sam Akpro lulls you into a false sense of security with gentle vocals, before the song erupts into a medley of heavy, head-banging guitar riffs. It makes for a satisfying contrast, as Sam conjures up images of dimly lit streets in the Windy City while reckoning with self-doubt and past transgressions. A smooth, soulful track with plenty of bite. JW