Friday has a way of resetting the music conversation. As the week winds down, artists from different corners of the world are dropping records that bring entirely different moods to the same playlist, from Afrobeats and UK R&B to dancehall, hip-hop, and melodic soul. Ayra Starr and ZAYN open this week’s conversation with “Heaven Baby,” a romantic collaboration that gives Starr’s new era an international edge, while Jorja Smith turns complicated emotions into something far more danceable on “I Lied, You Lied.” Neither track needs to carry the entire week, though.
What makes this week’s new music particularly interesting is how little interest these artists have in staying inside one lane. Afrobeats continues to travel beyond its traditional borders, while UK garage, dancehall, and R&B are finding new points of connection, and hip-hop artists are increasingly using atmosphere as much as drums to establish a mood. Some of these songs are attached to major album moments, while others simply arrive as the kind of records that can quietly take over a playlist after a few listens. If you’re looking for new songs to soundtrack the weekend, these are five releases worth knowing.
Here’s a closer look at the hits that have defined this week…
#1. Ayra Starr and ZAYN — Heaven Baby
Ayra Starr enters the next phase of her career with “Heaven Baby,” a collaboration with ZAYN that gives her latest era another international dimension. The song arrives alongside Starrgirl, her highly anticipated follow-up to 2024’s The Year I Turned 21, which became her first album to chart on the Billboard 200.
Starrgirl is a 16-track project featuring songs including “Hot Body,” “Who’s Dat Girl,” “Gimme Dat,” “Where Do We Go,” and “Tornado,” while also bringing in guests such as Wizkid, Rema, kwn, and Theodora. On “Heaven Baby,” Starr and ZAYN lean into devotion, with both vocalists delivering lovestruck performances over polished production from The Monsterz & Strangerz. The pairing gives the song a smooth crossover quality without taking away from Starr’s Afrobeats foundation.
#2. Jorja Smith — I Lied, You Lied
Jorja Smith is counting down to her third album, What Are The Odds, with “I Lied, You Lied,” the project’s third single. Following “What’s Done Is Done” and “Alive,” the new track finds the British singer-songwriter exploring the fallout of a relationship built around dishonesty.
Produced by P2J and Marco Bernardis, “I Lied, You Lied” blends UK garage and dancehall influences with electronic programming, piano, and saxophone. Smith’s understated vocal performance keeps the emotional tension close to the surface, while the rhythm gives the track enough movement to avoid becoming a purely introspective record.
The song arrives ahead of What Are The Odds, a 12-track album that explores friendship, grief, growth, self-discovery, and love while drawing from UK garage, 2-step, grime, and Afro house. It also comes during a busy stretch for Smith, who is set to co-headline All Points East in London’s Victoria Park with Tems.
#3. Juls, Projexx and Pa Salieu — Cutlass
“Cutlass” finds Juls stepping away from the smoother side of his production for something far more aggressive. Taken from Juls and Projexx’s newly released joint album, Junction, the track brings Pa Salieu into the mix for a collaboration built around hard percussion, bass, and commanding vocals.
Pa Salieu attacks his verse with his unmistakable rasp, bringing UK drill instincts into a dancehall-leaning pocket. Projexx follows with an equally forceful delivery, creating a back-and-forth that gives “Cutlass” its confrontational energy. Rather than crowding the production, Juls leaves enough space for both artists to dominate their respective moments.
#4. Quavo — Trance (Walk It Down)
Quavo returns with “Trance (Walk It Down),” an atmospheric hip-hop track that introduces another chapter in his solo career. The record is tied to his forthcoming project, Rocket Power, which is being executive produced by Pharrell Williams.
The collaboration continues the pair’s creative relationship, which previously produced Migos’ “Stir Fry.” This time, the sound is more spacious, built around layered synths, deep bass, and crisp percussion. Quavo’s melodic delivery sits naturally within the production, while the repeated “Walk, walk, walk it down” refrain gives the song an instantly recognizable hook.
#5. Fridayy — Can You Stay
Fridayy closes out the week’s selection with “Can You Stay,” a new addition to his growing catalog. The song appears on Tension and adds another emotional layer to the project, with Fridayy’s vocal style giving the record its intimate character.
Produced by Hossy, Xander, and Nico Baran, “Can You Stay” fits comfortably into Fridayy’s melodic approach. It is the kind of record that works just as well during a reflective late-night listen as it does within a broader R&B playlist, making it a natural addition to this week’s rotation.
Featured image: Foxxatron for Ayra Starr
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