Sunday Spin: New Releases From Olivia Rodrigo, ILLIT, LE SSERAFIM, and KATSEYE, Samuel, Janet Jackson and BE:FIRST, and Marbles
Sunday Spin is EnVi‘s weekly music showcase, where we bring you the hottest global hits in our curated playlist. Join us every Sunday for new music that sets the perfect tone for your upcoming week.
Kicking off the week with World Oceans Day has us ready to take on both sustainability and summer fun. What better way to enjoy your time than artists who are coming in hot? Whether you’re tuning into a heated sports match or cooling down by the water, Team EnVi presents new tracks to keep you hype throughout the week.
Olivia Rodrigo – “stupid song”
When Olivia Rodrigo released “drop dead,” the lead single off her freshly released you look so sad for a girl so in love, she described the song as this third record’s most joyful. “Stupid song,” the single that dropped alongside the album, almost immediately proved it. It sits right behind the hat-trick-earning chart-topper on the tracklist, taking listeners from a rambunctious yacht rock pastiche to a stripped back, acoustic quietness.
“Stupid song” acts as the direct antithesis to “drop dead.” It’s the rude awakening to the fluttery night of stalking your crush, imagining all the ways he’ll make you become the oxymoron of most alive and kick the bucket. It’s the morning after where you’re sitting alone with your insecurities, which instead, allows you to imagine all the worst things. The object of your affection went from a Versaillais artwork to “a spark in the dark and my clothes all caught aflame.” The oxymoron persists — “I feel wrong, I feel right” — along with that all-consuming infatuation that “I want you more than any stupid song could ever say.” The song then picks up from here, slipping into a synthy, electro-infected, Lorde-like progression that leads to a signature scream-out bridge à la “deja vu.”
LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, KATSEYE – “ICONIC BY MISTAKE”
Artists clapping back at haters through song isn’t a foreign concept. But three of them — all girl groups with no less than five members, even — joining forces to do so might just be “ICONIC BY MISTAKE.” The latest of HYBE’s eccentricities, this track unites LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, and KATSEYE, who each respond to personal unwarranted criticisms in their respective verses, before coming together and sharing the explosive final chorus as a 15-piece act (which Sakura, a former 48 Group member, is more than familiar with).
The collaborative effort also extends behind the stage. An ensemble force is behind the lyrics, including Alice Longyu Gao, who famously penned “Gnarly”; KATSEYE’s longtime collaborator Justin Tranter; and one of ILLIT’s most frequent songwriters and producers, dyvahh. Spearheading the visuals are Gabriel Cho, Yoon Cho, and Chansol Bok, the minds behind LE SSERAFIM’s visual direction and aesthetics, while the music video was directed by Cody Critcheloe, who EYEKONS may know as the same SSION behind “Touch” and “Gnarly.”
This collaboration nodded to the online hate received by the girls, including death threats, attacks on their looks, and accusations of over-dancing. The choreography also seemingly references that of the three groups’ iconic moves, from micro-references to formations and dance bits lifted straight from other songs.
LE SSERAFIM Socials: IG | TK | X | YT
ILLIT Socials: IG | TK | X | YT
KATSEYE Socials: IG | TK | X | YT
Samuel – “ZIGI-ZIGI-ZIGI”
Samuel is bringing the heat back with “ZIGI-ZIGI-ZIGI,” the lead track off his new single, SAMUELiTO. Bringing forth the love for his Mexican and Korean heritage, Samuel switches smoothly between verses in English, Spanish, and Korean. Cultural fusion is shown through the title rooted in the Korean word for sweltering heat (찌다/jjida) and the instrumental’s bass-heavy reggaeton beat.
The music video shows off Samuel’s performance with sharp and fast-paced choreography. His confidence is present throughout the song, drawing the attention of all those nearby. Samuel acknowledges his influence in the refrain, “A mí me sigue un fuego / Baby, yo estoy ardiendo / No te vayas a quemar.” (A fire follows me / Baby I’m ablaze / Don’t get burned.)
With layered vocals from adlibs to a call and response, Samuel invites listeners to sing along and dance. Amidst the rising summer temperatures, “ZIGI-ZIGI-ZIGI” is sure to keep your energy going.
Chanpan – “i got a gun”
New York’s newest sensation, Chanpan, are back to bring everyone to their feet with “i got a gun.” Part of the pre-release singles for their upcoming album autogratis, set to release on June 26, “i got a gun” is a fun hyper-pop dance anthem that is set to take some revenge on those who loved you wrongly. Singing, “I got a feeling, and it’s getting better / I’m setting fire to your unopened letters,” and repeating the catchy chorus, “I got a gun and you better run, run,” the track captures the feeling of chasing someone down. With heavy drum hits and guitar riffs, the band almost creates an atmosphere where they are playing a game of cat and mouse with a past significant other.
The music video takes us through a visual experience that feels like a mix between a video game and a shooting range, with lead vocalist Grace serving as the main target, tracked by red-dot sights and lasers, while twin brothers Lance and Matthew tie the scenes together with their guitars and close-up shots. With the music video’s concert VCR-esque visuals, Chanpan are fresh off their performance at Governors Ball on June 6 and ready to get back on the road with their newest North American tour, “Autogratis,” set to begin in September in California and conclude in Brooklyn, New York. Chanpan are ready to make you run in some way (for tickets, of course!)
Feid – “50 MIL PIEX”
Surprising fans with an unexpected drop, Feid released his latest EP, EL MOCO VERDE. Inspired by the late ‘90s and early 2000s hip-hop scene in New York City, Feid is transporting listeners back in time with his own twist. With five new tracks and features from Sfera Ebbasta, Munic HB, and Granuja, the EP features sharp snare drum beats, jazzy loops, and a steady rap flow among the featured artists. With this particular era being one of the leading inspirations behind Feid’s superstar persona, FERXXO, Feid has brought listeners back to where it all started.
Among the EP’s standout tracks is “50 MIL PIEX,” a song that feels uniquely shaped by Feid’s appreciation for the 1990s hip-hop era and its melancholic storytelling. The track opens with smooth, snare-heavy production that gradually introduces Feid before bringing in Colombian hip-hop artist Granuja. Together, they blend Granuja’s steady rap flow with Feid’s melodic vocals. The song tells a story for the brokenhearted, those longing for an ex-lover who is no longer part of their lives. Comparing memories to a torment they cannot escape, even high above skies, Feid and Granuja sing, “Estaba por las nube’ cuando te recordé / El destino era Miami, pero el mío tu piel / De tu recuerdo no me escapo ni aunque estemo’ en un avión a 50 mil pies” (“I was up in the clouds when I remembered you / The destination was Miami, but mine was your skin / I can’t escape your memory, not even if I’m on a plane at 50,000 feet.”).
Whether you’re longing for a lost love or reminiscing about the classic sounds of hip-hop and reggaetón echoing through the streets of Nueva Yol, Feid has a track for every mood. As he prepares to conclude his “Feid vs. Ferxxo: Falxo Tour” in Australia this July, Feid continues to keep fans on their toes and their dancing shoes on.
alan vuong – “FOR CERTAIN?!”
SoCal native alan vuong returns with new single “FOR CERTAIN?!” ahead of his upcoming album HEAVEN SENT ME, slated to release June 26. The laidback indie-rock track explores the uncertainty of toeing the line of a relationship with someone. “I wanna be yours / but I just don’t know for certain,” vuong contemplates in the looping chorus. He enhances the lyrics with a resonating guitar melody and echoey vocals, creating a soundscape just as abstract as a complicated relationship.
Uncertainty creates many challenges when trying to commit to someone or something, alan vuong shared in a press release. Issues like “not knowing what’s for sure, not knowing if it’s going to last, not knowing what the future expectations might hold” can easily complicate a relationship. “FOR CERTAIN?!” becomes the perfect backing track for listeners who get caught up in doubt. The singer performed his dreamy repertoire for two sold-out audiences at his headlining shows in Santa Ana and Los Angeles earlier this year, with a concert in New York City’s Mercury Lounge set for June 24.
Janet Jackson, BE:FIRST – “Doesn’t Really Matter (Remix)”
Global collaboration goes to the next level with “Doesn’t Really Matter (Remix),” Janet Jackson’s reimagining of her 2000s hit, now featuring Japanese hip-hop group BE:FIRST. Janet Jackson brings nearly four decades of music experience to the upbeat R&B track. The six members of BE:FIRST — SOTA, SHUNTO, MANATO, RYUHEI, JUNON, and LEO — add their own spin with fresh vocals, highlighting the love and acceptance in the lyrics. “Doesn’t really matter what the eye is seeing,” they sing in unison on the chorus. “‘Cause I’m in love with the inner being.”
Janet Jackson first came onto the pop music scene in 1982 with her debut album, Janet Jackson. In the years since, she has amassed an impressive musical portfolio — 180 million records sold worldwide, multiple Grammy Awards, and ten Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles. BE:FIRST debuted in 2021 after competing in the reality audition program, THE FIRST. Just five years into their career, the group has topped charts like the Billboard Hot Trending Songs and Billboard Japan Hot 100 charts, bringing their sound to stages across the world. Janet Jackson and BE:FIRST will perform their collaboration track live during Jackson’s tour across Japan, starting on June 14 at the K-Arena Yokohama in Yokohama.
Janet Jackson Socials: IG | TK | X | YT
BE:FIRST Socials: IG | TK | X | YT
INJI – “I WANNA FEEL IT ALL”
INJI is emerging into a new era while “taking [EDM elements] to a true female front woman led pop world.” Her return with “I WANNA FEEL IT ALL” engages in new electroclash and hyperpop sound to get your heart racing. With powerful synth, distorted vocals, and thrumming bass, this song is a certified club anthem. Themed around a sexual encounter that could turn sour, INJI is ready to take it all in.
INJI shows off her carefree attitude in the music video, as she dances and wanders around the streets of New York City. Just as she isn’t afraid to run around barefoot or dance in the street, INJI leans into the adrenaline rush from bad decisions. INJI hints at the relationship she’s pursuing being in poor taste, as she acknowledges in the first verse, “Know you love to see it when I’m screaming when I lash out.” Though the pair’s dynamic is turning toxic quickly, “Until I’m screaming ‘F*ck you’ / I wanna feel it all,” INJI declares.
Marbles – “Hompimpa”
Ask any Indonesian to settle a schoolyard pick, and they would immediately know to decide with a “hompimpa.” It’s a simple game played by three or more people, where they would chant “Hompimpa alaium gambreng,” and at the last syllable, stretch out either the palm or the back of their hand. The odd ones out either win or lose, depending on house rules. This serves as the basis for the debut from the nation’s latest girl group, Marbles.
“Hompimpa” is an upbeat, hip hop-inflected track underscored by traditional Indonesian instrumentations and a melody line that evokes Missy Elliott’s “Get Ur Freak On.” The quintet — Beverly, Daniella, Kyka, Quilla, and Tiffany — takes turns twisting the meaning behind the namesake game. Instead of leaving it up to chance, they’re the ones with the power of choice when it comes to returning the slurry of attention, leaving all “you boys to fight over [them]” in the process. The lyrics also alternate between English and Indonesian, the result of a collaborative team that includes ATEEZ lyricist DWAYNE and Indonesian singer-songwriter Tarrarin.
Other tracks in this week’s Sunday Spin playlist include “UMAMI” by AleXa, Adéla’s “Red Bottoms,” “TALK” by Quadlips, and MEYOU’s “Not Sure.” Listen to everything mentioned and more, curated by Team EnVi only for you on Spotify.
Want more of the latest releases? Check out last week’s Sunday Spin featuring Joji, FLO, Tinashe, and SHINee!
