Hear a long-awaited new song from SZA, plus new-album tracks from The War on Drugs (feat. Lucius) and from Common (feat. Seun Kuti and Black Thought). Also, discover the sounds of ill peach and Geese, and of Minneapolis artist Chris Bierden, a longtime collaborator with Poliça and others, now releasing his own solo project.

SZA, "The Anonymous Ones"

It feels like SZA has been teasing a new album for nearly a year; she even mentioned in an interview that she scrapped an entire album. So, while it's not an album cut — it comes from the Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack — it's still great to hear something new from SZA. "The Anonymous Ones" is a song about feeling insecure and wishing someone could see you.

ill peach, "GUM"

Duo Pat and Jess started making music together in college. They wrote some pop songs for Weezer, SZA, and Pharrell Williams. Now making music under the moniker ill peach, they have a single that has ties to Minnesota (where Pat is from and made music for a while). As the band tell it, "'GUM' is about two kids in a diner. Who go there to dream big. It was inspired by a real place in Minneapolis that we used to go to after all-ages shows called Hard Times Cafe. It's open 24 hours a day. It's legendary. We eventually talked about how life is like a piece of gum. Once it loses its flavor you spit it out and hide it somewhere and pop in a new piece. The song reflects that. It's all about keeping perspective and remembering the two kids in the diner. Not letting the worn-out piece of gum define it all."

The War on Drugs, "I Don't Live Here Anymore" feat. Lucius

"Time surrounds me like an ocean, my memories like waves" hits at about the midway point in The War on Drugs' title track to their new album, and the nostalgic tune has a full, golden sound that lets you float along. Reminding me of Don Henley's "Boys of Summer," there's heartbreak and confusion running through this song that feels nearly bloated with instrumentation and backing vocals to the point where the lyrics are nearly drowned out. Submerge yourself in "I Don't Live Here Anymore."

Common, "When We Move" feat. Seun Kuti and Black Thought

Funk and afro beat shake hands in the new single from Common featuring Seun Kuti and Black Thought, "When We Move." The song will find a home on A Beautiful Revolution Part 2, out September 10.

Geese, "Low Era"

The young Brooklyn band (the oldest member is 19), Geese, sound like they have been raised on a steady dose of New York cool. There's moments of Talking Heads and The Strokes in their debut record, Projector. Their sound was found in going against some instincts. "We had been trying to get everything to sound super heavy, creepy crawly, and complicated," Geese said in a statement, "really because that's all we knew how to do. Four-on-the-floor songs like 'Low Era' had felt a little like poison to us for a while, until we consciously tried to challenge ourselves to write something more danceable."

Chris Bierden, "One Last Time"

Chris Bierden has one of those distinctive voices that transcends time. His contributions to artists like Poliça, Lady Midnight and Under Violet relay just how magnetic his sound truly is. Now as the frontperson for his own solo project, Bierden crafts music that is delicate, tender and sonically/melodically pleasing. Certainly, it's music that is well-suited for a Sofia Coppola film. Think My Bloody Valentine meets Jesus and The Mary Chain meets Minneapolis indie. Chris Bierden will host a release for his new record at the Turf Club on Oct. 28, 2021, with Russian-experimental-pop band StoLyette. – Diane Miller