Best Songs of the Week

There's so much electro-soul out now that it can make you want to disregard that style altogether. But then you hear someone do it spectacularly well, and you remember how effective that sound is when it's done right.

That is what Hannah Lucia has managed to do with her latest release "Don't Hold Out." It's a luscious blend of Lucia's vulnerable, velvety vocals over waves of stripped-down synths. Between this and her debut, "Lights Out," Lucia is poised to be a name you'll be hearing often. Get familiar now.—Katie K.

Once the summer officially ends and fall continues to roll by in what seems like the blink of an eye, new party hits become more of a rarity. Enter Bonkaz and his latest single "You Don't Know." The bass-heavy track has an upbeat tempo that makes it nearly impossible to sit still. Pair that with Bonkaz' distinctive voice and the infectious "Bonkers" sample on the hook, and this single feels like the party we need, not the party we want. Be ready for this one to heat up just as quickly as his previous single "We Run The Block."—Adrienne Black

TALA's upcoming EP Malika already features plenty of unexpected collaborations (there's some K-pop, a little Egyptian rap), so this collab with Banks seems almost routine on paper—until you press play. These two artists seem made for each other: Banks' smoky vocals glide over the glitchy electronic beats with ease, and TALA holds her own with some pointed lyrics about the benefits of squadding up. This is a progressive, fierce collaboration that hopefully won't be the last we hear from these two.—Graham Corrigan

Novelist is building up a solid catalog of tracks and videos (make sure you watch the "1 Sec" video here) about his life in London, an introduction to the ends for his new fans and all the listeners who are just becoming familiar with grime.

"Endz" is shot in the classic grainy, handycam grime video style, and although Novelist doesn't spit his most complex lyrics, the combination of a simple beat and catchy hook mean these bars are likely to become a live favorite.—Constant Gardner

Pell and Dave Sitek for the win. The young New Orleans rapper and TV on the Radio producer bring out new sides of each other. Pell busts out the gate with Redman levels of charisma, and Sitek laces him with a fun, triumphant beat to commandeer.

The chorus is great, but more importantly, Pell remains one of the most relatable, honest rappers making music right now. Sonically, this track is upbeat and carefree, but lyrically, it's the opposite of stunting. Instead of faking it 'til he makes it, Pell just tells it exactly how it is. That shouldn't be such a rare occurrence in rap, but it is. GoldLink knows. Props to Pell for keeping it real and having fun while doing it.—Confusion

Nao is good at sensual and sultry. She's proven that in the past, and while that's not the limit of her abilities, it's definitely something that we don't mind her revisiting. On her latest single, "Bad Blood," Nao's sweet, coy voice cajoles listeners to stay with her, amplified by the sweltering, molasses-like production that feels simultaneously minimalist and powerful.

It's a very strong first introduction to her debut album, and if the rest is as brilliant as "Bad Blood," she might find her album on some "Best of 2016" lists.—Joyce

After more than three years of waiting, Adele didn't disappoint. "Hello," the first single off of her upcoming 25 album, is the kind of pitch-perfect balladry Adele's fans have been yearning for, complete with a massive hook that will shake more than a few rafters.

This is Adele's lane, and even though it's been a while, she's proven with one song that she's still the de facto queen of heartache and empowerment.—Graham Corrigan