The best new tracks, picked by our staff

Rated by THE FACE: a playlist featuring Coco & Clair Clair, Tommy Richman, Doechii and Knucks.

Want to keep up with the best new music?

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

Coco & Clair Clair – My Girl

Atlanta duo Coco & Clair Clair have just released their second album, Girl – not to be confused with My Girl, one of the project’s best songs, which sees the pop-rap provocateurs dig deep into Tumblr-era references. It’s the ultimate hater anthem, and the lyrics are hilarious. You’re a wannabe heartthrob/​Broke ass with no job/​Grown ass thingamabob,” they deadpan over fizzy electro-pop production, also making on-the-money fashion references: Hit the club with my squad tight/​You know this is Luar, right?” Give this one a listen when someone’s pissed you off – it’ll make you feel less alone. JW

Tommy Richman – Thought You Were the One

There’s been a lot of pressure on Tommy Richman to top the success of his last two singles: the ultra-viral Million Dollar Baby, which is nearing a billion Spotify streams, and its excellent follow-up Devil is a Lie. On Thought You Were the One, the Virginia musician’s sound is as laid-back and lo-fi as ever. The one-who-got-away anthem will appear on Tommy’s album Coyote, which drops on 27th September. JW

Doechii – Denial is a River

Doechii’s 19-track mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal is a rap odyssey of sorts, leaning into the Florida artist’s aptitude for lyrical storytelling to offer a glimpse into her psyche. Nowhere is this more prevalent than on Denial is a River, which revives Doechii’s therapist/​school teacher persona from 2020’s Yucky Blucky Fruitcake to facilitate a back-and-forth convo that spans depression, cheating boyfriends, taking drugs at Hollywood parties and navigating pressures from her record label. Sounds heavy, but with retro boom-bap beat and injections of Doechii’s signature humour (clock the meme reference in song’s title), the tone is more sardonic than grab-a-tissue sad. OP

Knucks – Studio Fit Riddim

Two years ago, Knucks reached No.3 in the UK album chart with Alpha Place, one of the best UK rap projects of the decade so far. Still, the North West Londoner knows the struggle of trying to make an impact in an industry dependent on streaming services and TikTok virality. New song but there ain’t no one that I hear run it /​Got em all like Trump covering their ears from it,” he spits on this low-stakes freestyle. Give this razor-sharp lyricist the attention he deserves. DR

Mustafa – Old Life

Next month, Mustafa releases his debut album Dunya, which features Rosalía, Clairo and Nicolas Jaar. With the politically-potent video for his previous single Gaza is Calling, which the Sudanese-Canadian musician conceptualised himself, Mustafa depicted the lives of Palestinians seeking refuge. Old Life, the fourth and final single from Dunya, feels deeply personal. In the press release, Mustafa says the song is about reminiscence, and separation, and romance being a life sentence even in tragedy.” DR

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