Spotify’s New Music Friday once again feels like the platform’s editors had their hands tied in terms of their own editorial choices. Starting with “Camera” by Charli xcx felt more like name-dropping than anything else, to be honest. Number two on Spotify’s most influential playlist belongs to Tyla this week and her “THAT GIRL”. A bit colourless, but cleverly quoting Madonna’s “Who’s That Girl”. And, please, how is throwing 808-loaded tunes into the mix still a thing in 2026? You can do better, Spotify, but do you want to?

So, here are my choices:

Victoria Monét “Reach Out”

Lounge-y, warm, summery. Victoria Monét’s latest single did not make it to Top 3 but it actually sounds more exciting and fit to lead this mid-summer playlist. Super-radio-friendly, with a cool, ear-worm-ish chorus. Feels like something that will actually stick around for a while longer.

Sam Smith & The TwoCity Chorus “Oh Mother”

Placed at number 24 (sic!) of this week’s playlist, this is one of the best and most emotional tunes Sam Smith has ever recorded! Brilliantly blending blues and gospel, it feels so exciting to listen to, it literally gave me goosebumps!

Gotts Street Park & Celeste “Easy”

This one didn’t even make the cut. Celeste has had her up-and-down experience with a record label lately, so I am happy to see that she is back with Gotts Street Park with whom she had recorded “Both Sided Of The Moon” back in the day. “Easy” seems to continue where the two acts left off and it is perhaps a direction worth exploring further as it sounds sooo good!

Now that you know my selection for this weekend, what is yours?