Listen Tracks: Rina Sawayama, King Princess, Liam Gallagher and more

If her ‘SAWAYAMA’ didn’t already position her as a tour-de-force, then Rina Sawayama’s latest banger ‘LUCID’ will show you just why she’s up there with the greats. A huge club-ready banger that calls to Lady Gaga’s recent epic ‘Chromatica’, ‘LUCID’ sparkles with joy and will have you fist pumping along to the BloodPop-penned beats in no time. Showing off Rina’s pop chops with a fine flair, get ready to dance along in your lounge as soon as the opening beats strike. (Elly Watson)

After giving us our first taste of new music after debut ‘Cheap Queen’ with her return in October with ‘Only Time Makes It Human’, King Princess is continuing to give us the goods, offering up new track ‘Pain’. Once again joining forces with Mark Ronson for her latest bop, ‘Pain’ is a sleek dance-a-long ready number, with an instantly catchy melody that’ll be stuck in your head all day. Hopefully the newest taste of even more bangers set to follow, KP continues her alt-pop reign. (Elly Watson)

A Christmas song by any other name, if it seems unlikely that mad fer it King Gob Liam might have penned a track that could legitimately be considered a contender for a John Lewis festive advert, then, ladies and gentlemen, we present Exhibit A. An unapologetically feel-good ballad, complete with slow-swelling pianos, flourishes of strings and lyrics more soppy than your hankie after a December rewatch of Miracle on 34th Street, in the earnest hands of a Sam Smith or a James Arthur it would be sickly; when paired with LG’s recognisable Mancunian pipes on uncharacteristically softie form, however, it’s just kind of lovely. Turns out even Our Kid isn’t immune to a cosy bit of Christmas cheer. (Lisa Wright)

Cast your mind back, dear reader, to when things like ‘catching the bus’ and ‘seeing other people’ were regular occurrences. Most of us (or perhaps it’s this particular avoider of confrontation talking) would, on seeing a potential breakup about to occur within our gaze, promptly direct our eyes in another direction completely. Not Arlo Parks. ‘Caroline’, a tale of a breakup watched from not-very-far is as dreamily told as we’ve come to expect from the Londoner, regaling a quite ordinary story in such a gorgeous way that we’re gripped as to the story, and listening with a sigh. (Emma Swann)

Considering You Me At Six’s frontman Josh Franceschi told DIY that new track ‘SUCKAPUNCH’ comes from “a domain where you’re just not used to hearing You Me At Six”, it takes only a few moments of the song’s introductory rhythmic throbs to understand what he’s referencing. More akin to an Ibiza club classic than anything the rock quintet have turned their hand to over their time as a band, what’s most clear is that they’re certainly exploring new terrain here. And yet, while the more electronica-driven angle isn’t one they bring to the fore too often, on ‘SUCKAPUNCH’ they own it, blending together heavy guitars and atmospheric beats to blistering effect. (Sarah Jamieson)

With a small collection of hazy early gems under their belts (think The xx gone shoegaze), Galway quartet NewDad’s latest adds a little meat to the breezy bones. Singer Julie Dawson’s vocals still sound one ghostly step away from fully grounded, but there’s more of a nod to ‘90s coming-of-age teen films - all grunge guitars and big soaring chorus - here than the introversion of before. Beabadoobee will be deeply jealous, is all we can say. (Lisa Wright)

Tags: Features, Tracks, Arlo Parks, King Princess, Liam Gallagher, Listen, NewDad, Rina Sawayama, You Me At Six