One of TIDAL’s founding principles is that we do not rank creativity. To each their own, in terms of what constitutes a great song or makes one song “better” than another. However, each week there are a few tunes that really test our belief system, and we can’t help but elevate them above the thousand-plus tracks we’re pitched across genres. So keep checking this space on Fridays for a list of new songs that are sitting atop our own personal playlists. Maybe yours are different. That’s cool. After all, if you are part of the TIDAL family, your opinion matters and, also, you clearly have better taste in music than your friends. That’s one ranking we can make with certainty. - Tony Gervino
4batz
Still Shinin
On Still Shinin, 4batz continues to prove why he’s more than just a viral sensation. From the jump, the Dallas-born artist has thrived at the intersection of hip-hop grit and R&B vulnerability. The features include fellow Texans Maxo Kream and Zillionaire Doe, while a cameo from the legendary OG Ron C on “act xx: u” stamps the record with chopped-and-screwed authenticity. But it’s in the slow burns and ballads where 4batz shines the most. Songs like “act xiii: my lil shootah” and “act xv: could we last 4ever?” feel like nods to Jodeci and Boyz II Men. His connection with Leon Thomas on “act xi: she ain’t no angel” feels like a meeting of two worlds, 4batz’s rawness against Thomas’ polished pen. One of my favorites from the album is the standout “act xvi: twentyfoe7,” featuring Flo. Flo’s harmonies glide against 4batz’s husky delivery, creating a call and response that feels both familiar and brand new. 4batz is carving out his own lane with an album that delivers heart-on-sleeve songwriting anchored in romance, pain and undeniable Texas DNA. - Juan Navarro
5 Seconds of Summer
“NOT OK”
After three years away, 5 Seconds of Summer are back and kicking off a new era with their single “NOT OK.” The track captures everything fans love about the band like anthemic hooks, raw emotion and that perfect balance of pop and rock energy. It also marks the lead-up to their highly anticipated album dropping this November, signaling a full-circle return for the group. With lyrics that hit on vulnerability and self-reflection, “NOT OK” feels like both a confession and a comeback statement. It’s proof that 5SOS knows how to evolve while still delivering the kind of songs that stick with you long after the first listen. - Amberliz Mateo
Rauw Alejandro
Cosa Nuestra: Capítulo 0
Rauw Alejandro is different. And different in music is good … it’s really good. On his latest album, Cosa Nuestra: Capítulo 0, an extension of his previous work, Raulito extends his hold on the tropical game with bachata (“SILENCIO”), salsa (“FALSEDAD”) y más salsa (“Callejón de los Secretos”). Previously released bangers (“Carita Linda,” “Santa,” “GuabanSexxx”) are also sprinkled in, yet one of the many standout tracks is “El Cuc0.0,” featuring Jey One. The beat is frantic and sensual, and its lyrics are just as accelerated. In other words, typical Rauw. Creatively, his only competition is another fellow boricua. But in the end, music lovers and proud boris worldwide are all winners. - Jesús Triviño Alarcón
BUTCHABOI
“Back 2 U”
West Yorkshire’s Freya Butcher has been making waves on the Manchester scene for some time now. Under her moniker BUTCHABOI, she has been spellbinding the clubs with her highly addictive fusion of classic house and UK garage. Latest single ”Back 2 U” is no exception from the formula and would’ve been an instant classic at the Haçienda (RIP). - Christer Alexander Hansen
In the Rat
“Nothing for No One”
I know nothing about Upload artist In the Rat other than that they seem to be based in Bend, Oregon, and have been crafting harsh noise for some time. From what I’ve heard of their earlier work on TIDAL, their music spans doom-laden guitar riffs (“Finally”), ambient explorations (“Blue Shrimp Blues”) and unfiltered walls of pure noise. One of their recent releases, “Nothing for No One,” leans more toward the latter.
Across six minutes, it transports us to a 15-second sloppy noise rock fragment before slamming the brakes, leaving only a thumping bass line undercut by a rising tide of white noise. That sound mass gradually engulfs every trace of human warmth, pulling the listener into a deep sea of drones where high-frequency guitar distortion battles for dominance. The result is ugly and unsettling, but also beautiful and compelling in its stark isolation.
In the Rat occupies a musical playground not too far from Wolf Eyes, Yellow Swans or even Earth and Chat Pile, and it is possible to imagine those bands mashed together to become this monster. I’m excited to hear what’s next, and to paraphrase David Lynch as Gordon Cole in Twin Peaks: “There’s a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on in Bend, Oregon!” - Bjørn Hammershaug
Ari Lennox
“Vacancy”
Ari Lennox’s new single starts innocently enough — “hot cocoa on the couch,” “Etta James surround with a sound.” But it does not stay that way. Silky production from Bryan-Michael Cox and Jermaine Dupri. - Brad Farberman
