Now that I’ve finally made it through the madness of wrapping up festival season, I can get back to one of my favorite editorial exercises: digging through the week’s new singles and deciding what’s actually worth putting on repeat. And apparently, the music industry decided to welcome me back by releasing practically everything at once. This week’s release schedule was particularly ridiculous, with dozens upon dozens of tracks from household names, legacy bands, current chart sensations and emerging artists worth keeping an eye on. There was certainly no shortage of competition, but three records stood out for entirely different reasons. From an exhilarating indie electronic collaboration to a master class in regional hip-hop influences and a ridiculously well-executed pop remix, here’s what earned a spot on my playlist this week.
The Drums & Genesis Owusu, “Black Star”
Topping my list this week is “Black Star,” the collaboration between The Drums and Genesis Owusu, who has become one of my favorite artists of 2026, period. Individually, both artists have such distinct musical identities that I was curious how they would sound together. As it turns out, the combination puts an exclamation point on everything I enjoy about both of them, bringing out a particularly playful side of their respective styles without sacrificing what makes either artist interesting.
The best way I can describe the energy of “Black Star” is that it feels like being Sonic the Hedgehog sprinting through a video game. There’s something almost cartoonishly kinetic about it, with the bright, restless textures of 2010s electroclash colliding with Owusu’s half-rapped, half-sung delivery and grime-influenced vocal phrasing. I hear shades of Kaytranada and Bloc Party in the rhythm and urgency, although without the latter’s brooding guitar rock tendencies. Instead, everything feels accelerated, colorful and just a little hyperactive, as though the track is perpetually trying to outrun itself.
What makes the collaboration so successful is that neither artist seems particularly interested in slowing the other down. There’s an infectious momentum running through the song, and the contrast between its dance-oriented production and Owusu’s commanding vocals gives it an edge that keeps the whole thing from becoming disposable party music. It’s urgent without being anxious, energetic without becoming exhausting, and immediately danceable without requiring much introduction.
I can practically guarantee that if “Black Star” came on in a club, I’d be heading straight for the dance floor, drink in hand. More importantly, I suspect it would have the same effect on people who had never heard of The Drums or Genesis Owusu before. That’s the beauty of a collaboration like this: two artists with established creative identities manage to make something that feels both unmistakably theirs and immediately accessible to everybody else.
Out of the enormous number of singles released this week, nothing quite matched the urgency, personality and sheer fun of “Black Star.” Genesis Owusu is also touring, and if you have an opportunity to catch him live before the year is over, I’d strongly recommend taking it. He’s one of the most compelling artists on my radar right now, and this collaboration only reinforces why.
Tierra Whack, “Liar Liar”
Chicago rapper Tierra Whack is back with “Liar Liar,” and while I’ve always appreciated her artsy, experimental approach to underground hip-hop, this particular track caught my attention for an entirely different reason. Listening to it as both a critic and a lifelong hip-hop fan felt almost like studying how a great rap record is constructed, particularly when an artist manages to combine distinct regional influences without making the result sound forced or overly calculated.
The production immediately brings to mind classic Chicago hip-hop, with a vintage soul-and-funk sample that sounds like it could have come straight out of the James Brown catalog, layered over a contemporary drill-influenced beat. There’s also something about the arrangement that reminds me of a young Kanye West, particularly his early fascination with repurposing older recordings into something distinctly modern. But what really threw me for a loop was Whack’s delivery. Despite the unmistakable Chicago influence in the production, her pacing, enunciation and rhythmic choices sound remarkably West Coast, and more specifically, Bay Area. I could hear similarities to LaRussell and Miles Minnick in the way she attacks certain phrases, giving the track an unexpected regional crossover that works surprisingly well.
The lyrics are unapologetically confident, full of the kind of flexing, self-assurance and larger-than-life personality that Bay Area hip-hop has always embraced. There’s something distinctly hyphy about hyping yourself up without the slightest hint of embarrassment, and that attitude looks particularly good on Tierra Whack. Her delivery is crisp, precise and full of character, with every syllable landing exactly where it should. In a week when Cardi B‘s Tiny Desk performance offered a reminder of just how impressive vocal enunciation, showmanship and technical control can be in hip-hop, Whack delivers another example of why those fundamentals still matter. There’s no need for Auto-Tune or distracting vocal effects when an artist has this much command over their own voice.
What I find most impressive about “Liar Liar” is how cleanly these different influences come together. The Chicago-inspired production, the West Coast rhythmic sensibility and Whack’s own eccentric artistic personality could easily have competed for attention, but instead they complement one another. She’s been releasing some excellent material throughout 2026, and this track feels like another demonstration of how much range she possesses as a rapper. It’s clever, technically sharp and brimming with confidence, which makes “Liar Liar” an easy addition to this week’s On Repeat.
Olivia Rodrigo featuring Chappell Roan, “Expectations (Remix)”
Rounding out this week’s On Repeat is Olivia Rodrigo‘s “Expectations (Remix),” featuring Chappell Roan, a collaboration that takes an already deliciously indulgent little pop ditty and somehow makes it even more irresistible. The original had all the makings of a perfectly engineered earworm, the kind of sugary, bubblegum pop song that practically begs to be added to an Instagram Story or TikTok reel. It’s catchy, playful and just self-indulgent enough to make repeated listens feel entirely justified. But adding Chappell Roan to the mix pushes the whole thing into another category.
What makes this pairing particularly successful is how naturally the song accommodates Roan’s voice. In fact, “Expectations” could just as easily have been one of her own records. She practically purrs through the melody, melting into the arrangement with a velvety softness that complements Rodrigo’s vocals without competing with them. There’s a real elegance to the way their voices are blended, and the production gives both artists enough room to showcase their individual personalities while maintaining the song’s infectious momentum. The vocal mixing, studio engineering and overall arrangement are exceptionally polished, which is precisely what a good remix should accomplish. Rather than simply adding a guest verse for the sake of another famous name on the credits, this version genuinely improves upon the original.
The accompanying music video is equally adorable, embracing an unmistakably ’80s-inspired aesthetic that complements the song’s bright, playful production. There’s something about the combination of its retro styling, infectious melody and unapologetic pop exuberance that reminds me of Roan’s “HOT TO GO!” It’s colorful, cheeky and thoroughly entertaining, with the kind of visual personality that makes the entire collaboration feel like a natural extension of both artists’ creative worlds.
When I’m narrowing dozens of new releases down to three selections for On Repeat, an artist’s celebrity has very little influence on the outcome. Being one of the biggest pop stars in the world doesn’t automatically earn anyone a place on my list, particularly during a week with this much competition. But “Expectations (Remix)” earns its position entirely on merit. Between the vocal performances, thoughtful production, excellent engineering and charming music video, there’s very little to criticize. It’s a remarkably well-executed pop collaboration, and sometimes a song really is just that much fun.
Until Next Week
If there’s one thing this week’s selections demonstrate, it’s that great music doesn’t need to fit neatly into a single genre, generation or level of celebrity. The Drums and Genesis Owusu delivered the kind of unexpected collaboration that makes me want to abandon whatever I’m doing and head straight to a dance floor. Tierra Whack reminded me why technical precision, regional influences and an artist’s individual personality still matter enormously in hip-hop. And Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan proved that even the most unapologetically commercial pop record can earn its place through sheer craftsmanship. After sorting through an unusually crowded release schedule, these were the three songs I kept returning to, and ultimately, that’s what On Repeat is all about. Festival season might finally be behind me, but judging by the volume and quality of new music arriving every week, my listening schedule isn’t getting any less ridiculous.
Featured image credit: punk rock journalist & the artists mentioned in the article
