new 2022 song releases are playlist worthy

by: Ryan Fitzgerald

We’re only two months into 2022,  yet many artists have already blessed our ears with new music. Here are some of my favorite songs that have been released so far in 2022.

Rex Orange County - KEEP IT UP & AMAZING

Alexander James O'Connor, who releases music under the name “Rex Orange County”, dropped “KEEP IT UP” and “AMAZING”, which are the first two singles from his upcoming album, “Who Cares?”. Both songs begin with a beautiful string part that made me think that they were going to be ballads, but they both swiftly transition into catchy indie pop tunes with an oddly nostalgic hook.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Black Summer

Legendary band Red Hot Chili Peppers are back with their new single “Black Summer.” This is the first single the Chili Peppers have dropped since their 2016 album “The Getaway”. The track also marks the return of their former guitarist John Frusciante, who left the group in 2009 but returned in 2019. The track has everything you would expect from a Chili Peppers song, including a Hendrix-esque lead guitar part with an incredible solo from Frusciante. While I can’t say it doesn’t sound like anything they haven't done before, it’s exciting to see Frusiante’s return and the announcement of their new album “Unlimited Love”, which is set for release on April 1st.

Laufey - Valentine

Laufey, a rising jazz vocalist and songwriter, released "Valentine," a gloomy love ballad, on Valentine’s Day this year. She posted a snippet of the song on TikTok last year on Valentine's Day, which attracted a large number of users on the app due to the track's relatability and calming sound that can be found on Laufey’s other releases. While the studio version didn't come out until this year, it was well worth the wait.

The Smile - You Will Never Work in Television Again

Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, as well as drummer Tom Skinnard, have released two singles from their upcoming debut album under the band name "The Smile." They also released a song called "The Smoke" in addition to "You Will Never Work in Television Again." With Yorke's forceful and youthful sounding vocals and Jonny's screaming and fast guitar driving "You Will Never Work in Television Again," both of these tracks seem like songs that would have fit in nicely with Radiohead's early catalog.

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