NME Radio Roundup 5 July 2021: Beabadoobee, Doja Cat, Jade Bird and more

Beabadoobee explores sex on ‘Cologne’, a cut from her latest four-track EP ‘Our Extended Play’. It’s a fuzzed-out tune that takes a deep dive into her psyche; but even with the track’s sharp guitars, abrasive production and assertive confidence, talking about sex remains an awkward thing for Bea Kristi: “I hate what this song is about,” she confesses on the song’s earworm refrain. – JX Soo

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Boasting an all-star line-up of Diplo, Damian Lazarus and Jungle, ‘Don’t Be Afraid’ delivers slick house grooves aplenty. Tranquil bass guitars and snappy drums drive the track forward with a cathartic thump, while glossy synths and pulsing arpeggiators instil the song with an atmospheric sense of awe perfectly calibrated for the dance floor. – Isaac Chiew

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The opening track to the highly anticipated ‘Planet Her’, Doja Cat’s ‘Woman’ is an empowering, unabashed ode to womanhood and feminine diversity. “Princess or queen, tomboy or king / You’ve heard a lot, you’ve never seen / Mother Earth, Mother Mary rise to the top / Divine feminine, I’m feminine,” she asserts over an infectious Afrobeat bounce. – IC

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Jade Bird embraces nostalgic retro-pop stylings on ‘Now is the Time,’ an uplifting Bee Gees inspired number. On the track Bird encourages listeners with an infectiously optimistic approach to life’s harsh struggles. “Never have I ever seen a better day to get up, doesn’t matter ’bout the weather / Now’s the time, to go and get it,” she sings over bright guitar chords and cheerful bass lines. – IC

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Liz Lawrence’s ‘Down For Fun’ is a hypnotising indie rock slice. Influenced by Lawrence’s move back to the West Midlands last summer, she’s explained the song is “definitely the sort of music I would have listened to when I was last walking down these streets” when she was a teenager, but adds “it isn’t nostalgic. It isn’t sentimental. All the subcultures and countercultures I was around were very male-dominated, and this is about feeling like there are other options. It’s the words I needed to hear.” – IC

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Rohne’s understated approach to electronic production pays off on ‘Phase’, a soothing track that offers listeners some sonic respite. The Portland-based producer combines downbeat kick-snare patterns, steady synths and ambient textures for a peaceful aural experience. – IC

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Personal notes of hope and pain dominate SAULT’s fifth record ‘NINE’, a record that “carries just as much political and personal weight as its equally vital predecessors”. We’ve selected ‘London Gangs’ for the playlist this week. A stellar cut dominated by distorted bass grooves and skittering beats, and that sees the elusive group craft a treatise on life in the capital. – JXS

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Brooklyn-based psych rock quintet Geese make a lasting first impression on their debut single, ‘Disco.’ With frontman Cameron Winter crooning with an earnest charisma over post-punk rhythms and angular guitar riffing, and clocking in at slightly under seven minutes, the track is an uncompromising, freewheeling jam. – IC

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On his latest single ‘Learning Curve’, Aitch takes over a playful, WhyJay-produced beat to create a summer anthem. The recent NME cover star explained that it’s “just a fun song to show everyone that I’m back,” adding: “I didn’t want to be away too long or let people miss me too much, so it’s a good little vibe to uplift and entertain people”. With its earworm piano licks and witty lyrics, it’s welcome return.

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A shimmering mood piece, Daniel Avery’s latest is a textural study that indulges in luscious palettes and percussion. As downtempo rhythms anchor his bitcrushed chimes, the hedonistic energy of his previous full length ‘Love + Light’ gives way to inviting warmth, in an uplifting, optimistic affair. – JXS

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Love can cure everything, and on this smooth ode to summer love and loyalty, Rico Nasty’s only got eyes for a special someone. Departing from her usual hard-hitting style, on ‘Magic’ she croons about her affection over buttery guitars and thumping beats. – JXS

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