Listen To The Five Best Songs This Week

It’s that time of the week when we look back at the most exciting new releases from emerging artists.

In line with the release of their debut EP, Medusa, Washington DC duo GEMS showed off yet more impressive songwriting with “Ephemera”. Giant beats, 80s guitar, clear-cut vocals and spotless layers of synth congeal to make another pop hit-in-waiting. They’re one of our favourite new bands of 2013.

“Secrets” saw the striking pairing of the established and the new: big vocals from Canadian wonderboy The Weeknd and smooth electronics crafted by little-known producer, Jr. Hi. Starting as minimalist RnB with soulful vocals and restrained bleeps, the track soon progresses into heavier, more bulbous electronic territory. A great collaboration.

NYC model and filmmaker duo Cable unleashed debut single, “Roxanne”, and got us fixated on the song’s seductive protagonist. A definite nod to the 80s with chiming synths and tinny beats, the track details a figure ‘calling your name’ over and over again. The cries continue long after listening.

One of the most creative pieces of new music we heard all week came in the form of “Keepyourbusinesstoyourself” by Indian born, Australian-based artist Jitwam. A wonderful fushion of sounds from muddled hip-hop to electronic jazz, “Keepyourbusinesstoyourself” will have everyone guessing Jitwam’s next move.

Finally, Disclosure affiliate Tourist offered-up his take on “Lies” by CHVRCHES. Reminiscient of Jacques Green’s slow and sensitive rendition of Radiohead’s ”Lotus Flower”, the London producer’s remix doesn’t take away from the original – it only adds. Lauren Mayberry’s vocals are left untouched (though sound strangely less Glaswegian without her bandmates’ barrage of muscular synths), whilst a nice house mid-section gets underway. The remix builds at a perfect pace, leaving a gentle piano naked at the close.

Listen to our selection of the week’s best tracks below: