Best Songs of the Week (Apr 21st, 2017)

With so much good music steadily coming through, it's easy to miss some of the best. To help prevent this, we've rounded up the best songs from the past week. Here are the songs you can't afford to skip, in no particular order.

If there’s one word to describe Anik Khan’s music, it's versatile. He’s proven that his voice and melodic delivery can fit on just about any rhythm. Recent releases have featured the Queens rapper going in over bass-heavy rhythms, Bollywood-inspired production, and everything in between.

For his new single “Kites,” Anik yet again floats over another kind of beat, one that incorporates an array of live instrumentation. The production provided by Jarreau Vandal, Raj Makhija, and Anik himself creates an atmosphere that's both soothing and thoughtful.

"Kites just don't fall, they fall to grace," Anik told Zane Lowe on Beats 1. "What's important is the people steering. It's basically about who's important to me and that's my loved ones. And those are the ones steering and keeping me up." Anik Khan's Kites drops April 28.—Adrienne Black

Jessie Reyez released her debut Kiddo EP this week. In doing so, she confirmed that all the hype is real. In addition to the previously released stunners "Figures" and "Shutter Island," Reyez shows a massive range of style and skill on four new songs.

We've heard "Gatekeeper" before—the stinging  indictment of the music industry's sexism set the crowd off when Reyez performed at our SXSW No Ceilings show last month, and the finished version is just as powerful. "30 million people want a shot," she sings from a villain's perspective. "How much would it take for you to spread your legs apart?"

It's gritty, unapologetic songwriting—and we haven't even talked about the crazy instrumentation. This is star-making music. Get familiar.—Graham Corrigan

When I think of D.R.A.M., I think of a big smile, bright catchy sounds, and carefree “trappy go lucky” energy. But on his new single “Gilligan,” the Virginia native shows us another side. Alongside ASAP Rocky and Juicy J, D.R.A.M. rides over a dark bass-heavy beat and boasts that he’s “gone off the shit again.” Then Rocky and Juicy J come through with strip club-ready verses.

Wait. Hold on. Did D.R.A.M. just make banger?—Eric Skelton

It's not easy to make a huge pop song interesting, but MØ is a master. On "Nights With You," the Danish singer combines great songwriting with massive production from Cashmere Cat, Benny Blanco, and Sophie, but there's enough space for the song to breathe, making it stand out from your typically overproduced radio hit. MO's 2014 debut album No Mythologies To Follow was excellent, and it sounds like her follow-up could be even bigger.—Jacob Moore

Former actor A.J. Saudin dropped his new EP last night, providing a compelling debut that will definitely lead to bigger things. Of all the tracks on the EP, though, it might be the understated "With You" that's the most promising. With the minimal Emjay production carried by a gorgeous guitar melody, "With You" stands out because of how reserved it is. There's nothing that immediately jumps out about the track, but after one listen it's hard to stop thinking about the combination of that hook and the infectious guitar.—Joe Price

Norwegian singer Sigrid's "Don't Kill My Vibe" is one of our favorite debuts of the year so far, and her follow-up "Plot Twist" is proof that it wasn't just a stroke of luck. Most artists work their way up to anthemic, radio-friendly music of this magnitude, but Sigrid is diving right into it, and 2017 is already shaping up to be a breakthrough year for the talented 20-year-old. Her Don’t Kill My Vibe EP is out on Island Records on May 5.—Jacob Moore

GoldLink has been on his remix game recently—one of the standouts off last month's At What Cost is his flip of Hare Squead's "Herside Story," and the DMV rapper is back this week to add a verse on Khalid's "Let's Go." Positive vibes abound, as GoldLink spins a story of elevation and empowerment over bright piano chords, giving new life to a summer playlist mainstay.—Graham Corrigan