New Music Friday: The best albums out Feb. 13

Summary

All Songs Considered: New Music Friday – The Best Albums Out Feb. 13, 2026

Host: Stephen Thompson (NPR Music)
Guest/Co-Host: Nastya Voinovskaya (KQED, San Francisco)
Date: February 13, 2026

---

Episode Overview

This week's New Music Friday episode dives into the most notable albums released on February 13, 2026. Stephen Thompson and guest Nastya Voinovskaya discuss a diverse slate of artists—ranging from mainstream pop icons to indie storytellers—exploring genre shifts, autobiographical songwriting, and new expressions of emotional vulnerability across today’s music landscape. The episode touches on creative pivots, personal journeys, and cross-generational sounds, providing recommendations for every taste.

---

Key Albums & Discussion Highlights

Charli XCX’s "Wuthering Heights" Soundtrack

• Charli XCX returns, not with a typical studio album, but with a film soundtrack for Wuthering Heights.
  • "It's super interesting how Charli has pivoted away from the success of 'Brat Summer.' ... She’s instead kind of pivoted into this film and soundtrack work. And I think it’s a really cool creative challenge for her." – Nastya Voinovskaya [01:10]
• The album blends chamber pop and 80s ballad styles to echo Wuthering Heights' themes of tortured love.
  • "She really takes it into this dark, intense sort of chamber pop direction with these lush, elaborate strings, big anthemic drums ... reminds me a bit of 80s ballads." – Nastya Voinovskaya [02:28]
• Songs were written during the Brat tour, reflecting Charli's creative versatility.

---

Auguste Pontier – Everywhere Isn't Texas

• Auguste Pontier, a Texas-born singer-songwriter, explores gender, self-acceptance, and the complexities of leaving home.
  • "They debuted a new name. They also are now going by they/them pronouns. And there’s this self-assuredness that comes with that ... poignant, really hard-hitting songwriting." – Nastya Voinovskaya [04:23]
• Comparisons drawn to Chapel Roan’s career rebirth and queer narratives.
  • "It feels like Auguste Pontier has more momentum than ever even after being dropped by a label." – Stephen Thompson [04:55]
• Sonically, Pontier moves to more stripped-down, acoustic arrangements.
  • "This more stripped-down musical vibe I think really allows the lyrics to breathe." – Nastya Voinovskaya [06:10]
• Standout song: “Handsome”
  • "I love the line in that song. ‘I don’t know if I want to be with you or be you.’ I think that speaks to so much queer confusion that is so deeply relatable." – Nastya Voinovskaya [08:13]
• Themes are both LGBTQ-specific and universally relatable: heartbreak, moving, vulnerability.
  • "There are also songs ... about being human and having a moment, emotions and kind of coming unglued in a public place that anyone can relate to." – Stephen Thompson [08:37]

---

Brent Faiyaz – Icon

• Maryland’s Brent Faiyaz delivers his most mature, emotionally nuanced album to date, with heavy hitters Raphael Saadiq and Chad Hugo producing.
  • "He evolves beautifully on this album, especially in how he talks to and portrays women ... emotionally vulnerable portrayal of masculinity." – Nastya Voinovskaya [10:35, 11:23]
• The sound pulls from 80s and 90s R&B, with trap and lush pop edges.
  • "One vibe that I kind of picked up ... was this record reminded me how much I miss Frank Ocean ... his proficiency with a falsetto ... this totally timeless, gorgeous voice." – Stephen Thompson [11:47]
• Highlight: "Butterflies"
  • "I loved Butterflies. ... this beautiful line where he’s talking to a woman ... ‘I appreciate how much you give to others, but I can’t help but wonder, do they do the same for you?’" – Nastya Voinovskaya [13:19]

---

Jill Scott – To Whom This May Concern

• Jill Scott emerges from a decade-long hiatus with a bold, sprawling, and liberated record.
  • "This record feels very liberated ... the work of somebody who doesn’t really have anything left to prove, but still has tons and tons and tons of ideas they want to explore." – Stephen Thompson [18:58]
• Album traverses empowerment ("Be Great"), self-connection, and demonstrates her ever-evolving versatility.
  • "Throughout her discography and especially on this album, there’s this theme of connecting to yourself, coming home to yourself, but also just pumping yourself up to do something amazing." – Nastya Voinovskaya [20:04]
• Notable tracks:
  • "Be Great" – Empowerment anthem with Trombone Shorty [19:48]
  • "Pressure" – Theme of self-acceptance; arrangement by Oakland's Kev Choice [21:47]
  • "Northside" (feat. Tierra Whack) – Proof of Scott’s impressive rapping chops in a lively Philly collaboration [21:55, 22:29, 23:00]
  • "She’s just so good at so many things and this album proves that." – Nastya Voinovskaya [22:40]

---

STAYC – Stay Alive

• South Korean K-pop girl group STAYC releases its first full-length, a vibrant and energetic collection described as “teen fresh.”
  • "When I heard this album, the first thing I thought of was this is just a sugar rush in the form of music." – Nastya Voinovskaya [25:01]
• The album includes infectious synth pop, EDM, and hyperpop influences, with tracks sung in Japanese and Korean.
  • "They really lean into a more house derived sound on this album." – Nastya Voinovskaya [26:03]
  • "This is a full length record full of these just impeccable 3 minute slabs of youthful synthy pop." – Stephen Thompson [25:01]
• Fan response: Passionate, rooting for the band as underdogs [27:28]

---

The Paranoid Style – Known Associates

• D.C. indie rockers The Paranoid Style, led by journalist Elizabeth Nelson, fuse musicological curiosity with sharp political and historical references.
  • "They actually take their name from this 1964 essay ... about how a small minority can leverage anger and fear for political gains." – Nastya Voinovskaya [29:24]
• The songwriting is densely layered, requiring close listening for full appreciation.
  • "The way these songs kind of unfurl in these complex, wordy bundles where it’s like everything she has to say cannot fit into a single line of a song." – Stephen Thompson [30:02]
• Standouts:
  • "A Barrier to Entry" – Tackles meritocracy and American systems in a country rock groove [32:01]
  • "Tearing the Ticket" – A tribute to D.C.’s musical history [32:55]
  • "It's a Dog's Breakfast" – Nods to Linda Ronstadt and mid-career chaos [33:30]

---

Lightning Round: Other Recommended Albums

Timestamps: [34:30]–[39:18]

• The Olympians – In Search of a Revival
  • "A slab of cinematic orchestral instrumental soul ... would sound fresh in really any of the past 60 years." – Stephen Thompson
• Hemlocke Springs – The Apple Tree Under the Sea
  • "She became known as this awkward, kind of quirky bedroom singer songwriter ... and there’s this new dark intensity." – Nastya Voinovskaya
• Neba Solo & Benego Diakité – A Djinn and A Hunter Went Walking
  • "These two instruments aren’t typically heard together, but on their new album they are used to hypnotic, beautiful celebratory effect." – Stephen Thompson
• Aaron Shaw – ...And So It Is
  • "This album is a personal reckoning. ... enveloped in this sort of dark fog ... arrives at this moment of clarity and transcendence." – Nastya Voinovskaya
• Ásgeir – Julia
  • "Continues in that lovely tradition ... full of beautiful, sweet weeping, elegant swoony folk pop." – Stephen Thompson

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Charlie, if nothing else, Charli XCX contains multitudes and that I think is going to be one of the themes of this year in music.” – Stephen Thompson [03:13]
• “So much pressure to appear just like them.” – Jill Scott, "Pressure" [21:43]
• “You don’t know if I want to be with you or be you.” – Auguste Pontier, "Handsome" [08:13]
• “It’s sugar rush in the form of music.” – Nastya Voinovskaya on STAYC [25:01]
• “You inspire me.” – Brent Faiyaz, "Butterflies" [14:17]

---

Segment Timestamps

• Charli XCX / Wuthering Heights: [00:42]–[03:13]
• Auguste Pontier: [03:13]–[09:59]
• Brent Faiyaz: [09:59]–[14:17]
• Jill Scott: [17:39]–[23:13]
• STAYC: [23:13]–[27:53]
• The Paranoid Style: [28:38]–[34:30]
• Lightning Round (The Olympians, Hemlocke Springs, Neba Solo & Benego Diakité, Aaron Shaw, Ásgeir): [34:30]–[39:18]

---

Tone & Closing Thoughts

The hosts maintain an engaging, conversational tone—balancing expertise, personal connection, and a shared enthusiasm for music’s emotional and cultural power. Throughout, the episode underscores themes of artistic risk, personal transformation, and the richness of diverse perspectives in music today.

“Everybody should have a playlist for every emotion that our brains can muster.” – Stephen Thompson [20:31]

---

For more coverage and reviews, check out:

• NPR.org/music
• KQED.org/art for Nastya’s stories and interviews

(Note: Ads, promos, and extended intros/outros have been omitted from this summary to focus solely on music content.)

Transcript

[Announcer]

This message comes from Sony Pictures Classics. Presenting the President's Cake. A young girl in Iraq has been selected to prepare a cake to celebrate the president's birthday. She sets out on a journey in search of the ingredients, now playing in select cities.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

A quick note before the show.

[Sponsor/Support Announcer]

This podcast contains explicit language, unbelievable tension.

[Auguste Pontier (lyrics)]

Wall of sound, no real reason, and.

[Jill Scott (lyrics)]

I can't escape it.

[Stephen Thompson]

Happy Friday, everyone. From NPR Music. It's NEW MUSIC Friday. I'm Stephen Thompson here with Nastya Voinovskaya from KQED in San Francisco. Welcome to the show, Nastya Hi, Steven.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

Thanks so much for having me. Excited to be here.

[Stephen Thompson]

It is a pleasure. So we should note up front that Charli XCX has a new album of music from the new movie Wuthering Heights. One of Alex Just going to pull a number and just go with it. One of 25 movies featuring the music of Charli XCX in some way or another this calendar year. I cannot keep track of everything Charli XCX is doing, but this is one of the big projects she's got this year.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it. I think it's super interesting how Charlie has pivoted away from the success of Brat Summer. She's spoken out about the pressure to follow up something that major. And I think unlike someone maybe like Beyonce or Taylor, she hasn't put forth, you know, another giant artistic statement. She's instead kind of pivoted into this film and soundtrack work. And I think it's a really cool creative challenge for her.

[Stephen Thompson]

You know, as I kind of alluded to, it's hard to keep track of everything. It seems like every day there's like a new announcement or a new trailer or a different project that she's in, either as an actor or as in the case of Wuthering Heights, you know, a soundtrack maker. You know, I just saw within the last week or two the movie the Moment, which is kind of like a mockumentary about the aftermath of Brat Summer and kind of Charlie's effort to figure out what's next. And we should know that the film soundtrack to Wuthering Heights was not made available to us for the purposes of this show before its release. So we're only able to talk about the few songs that are out. What do you think?

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

Yeah, I think it was such an interesting pivot away from her dance sound on Brat, where she really takes it into this dark, intense sort of chamber pop direction with these really lush, elaborate strings, big anthemic drums. Kind of reminds me a bit of 80s ballads. And she really takes on this theme of tortured love that's so present in the film. She was so taken by director and screenwriter Emerald Fennell's screenplay that she started writing this album on the Brat tour. And I just cannot imagine holding those two completely different vibes at once. But yeah, I think it's fascinating. I can't wait to hear the rest of the.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah, I mean, Charlie, if nothing else, Charli XCX contains multitudes and that I think is gonna be one of the themes of this year and music. And frankly, this is an easy pivot to the first album we're gonna talk about in depth, talk about an artist who is extremely self aware in their music. Auguste Pontier has a new album. It's called Everywhere Isn't Texas.

[Auguste Pontier (lyrics)]

Cat had my tongue and put me in a chokehold Forever young. You only speak when you are so told for there's elders here and there looking down and you can't see beyond the trees over town. They prod and poke and make me an example oh, what a joke to.

[Brent Faiyaz (lyrics)]

Say I was a scandal they'll say.

[Auguste Pontier (lyrics)]

It'S just a friendly fire but then they'll run me out long tired.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

So August Pontier is this Texas born and raised singer songwriter who recently has been on tour with big names like Brandy Carlile. And this album, Everywhere Isn't Texas was written as they really came into their own and figured out their gender journey. They debuted a new name. They also are now going by they them pronouns. And there's this self assuredness that comes with that that really lends itself on this album to some really poignant, really hard hitting songwriting.

[Stephen Thompson]

Absolutely. And I think it's hard when you look at Auguste Pontier's journey, not to compare it to the journey taken by Chapel Roan, another kind of transplant to a different city, another artist who put out a bunch of music on a major label, got dropped by that major label, and then kind used that as a springboard instead of as a momentum breaker. It feels like Auguste Pontier has more momentum than ever even after being dropped by a label. And I think their music, like Chapel Roan's music, speaks very specifically to the journey that has taken place. I mean, the title track, Everywhere is in Texas, is kind of about the process of leaving Texas and finding yourself and kind of coming out as queer. And again, the echo of Chapel Roan are there, but the music is very different. It's very lush, indie folk singer, songwritery material that is, you know, like we've said, deeply autobiographical.

[Auguste Pontier (lyrics)]

Everywhere Is in Texas. It's the only place you know but that don't make it home.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

Yeah, I really liked how stripped down and acrylic acoustic the songwriting was on this, especially compared to some of August's past work that was a bit more produced, a bit more polished and electronic. This more stripped down musical vibe I think really allows the lyrics to breathe. And I loved that theme of leaving home to find yourself, but also still loving your home. Despite that, I think that comes across really beautifully on the album. And yeah, and this is adding to, I think, a growing canon of queer music from the south, from the Midwest that really speaks to a queer experience in places that maybe aren't thought of in LGBTQ discourse in the mainstream. Yeah.

[Stephen Thompson]

And one thing that really jumped out at me about their songwriting here is that it manages to be specific and relatable at the same time. And you can imagine some of these songs kind of imprinting on people as anthems and kind of people hearing them and hearing some aspect of their own life that hasn't necessarily been expressed in songs before. There's a track here called Handsome that is about, you know, being jealous of a boy's looks and kind of wanting to be, in this case, as they say on this record, like kind of a new lesbian it boy, you know, name dropping, Timothee Chalamet and Jacob Elordi and Oscar Isaac in ways that feel very specific and very current, but also, I think, speak to what a lot of people who are going through kind of gender transition experience.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

Yes. And I also just want to say the Jacob Elordi reference couldn't be more timely with Wuthering Heights, even though this couple years ago.

[Brent Faiyaz (lyrics)]

Handsome, handsome boy the world loves you don't know if I wanna be with you or be you.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

I love the line in that song. I don't know if I want to be with you or be you. I think that speaks to so much queer confusion that is so deeply relatable. And I think it's great for maybe teenage or younger queer listeners that are going to hear this to have an experience like this actually represented in song, which is definitely something I did not have when I was growing up.

[Stephen Thompson]

And again, it's not necessarily all exactly specific. Right. There are also songs like I'm Crying, Are youe? Which is this kind of mid tempo, kind of Taylor Swiftian anthem about breaking down in public. And like, I'm sorry, everybody's done this. Right. Like, just about everybody at some point has, like, had an emotional breakdown in public. And this song speaks to that as well. So, like, there are songs that are specific to a gender journey. There are songs that are specific to moving from one place to another and feeling this kind of dual citizenship. But there are also songs that are just about being human and having a moment, emotions and kind of coming unglued in a public place that anyone can relate to.

[Brent Faiyaz (lyrics)]

You cringing every time you hear my name Are you living it up? Cause it's all the same and you.

[Stephen Thompson]

I'm crying at you that is Auguste Pontier. Their new album is called Everywhere Isn't Texas. Next up, another terrific record by the singer Brent Fayaz. It's called Icon.

[Elizabeth Nelson (lyrics)]

It's you for me first thing in the morning late at night I move and breathe to make sure you feel special Being mine, oh mine if you're feeling, baby all the time, all the time.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

So Brent Faez is this Maryland singer that first came onto the scene on Goldlink's huge hit crew. And since then he's earned a big cult following for his moody RB jams. And I would say his new album Icon is a huge evolution for him. It was executive produced by Raphael Siddiq. It also features production by Chad Hugo of Neptune's fame. I think Brent evolves beautifully on this album, especially in how he talks to and portrays women. I think in some of his past work, you know, he had that sort of Drake ish, sensitive guy in the club, but also flexing vibes.

[Stephen Thompson]

Sensitive but toxic.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

Yeah, yeah, I would say there was a bit of that sensitive but toxic combo on some of his past work. He even worked with Drake. But on Ikon, all of his songs are pretty much talking to women in this very emotionally nuanced way that I would say in a post heated rivalry world is a very welcome, emotionally vulnerable portrayal of masculinity.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah, I think that non toxic nature runs through these songs. I was also just struck by the sonic confidence going on here. This record opens with a song called White Noise, which is kind of this instrumental throat clearer. But it's like setting sonic stakes that this is a lushly crafted production. One vibe that I kind of picked up throughout this record was this record reminded me how much I miss Frank Ocean and how much I want and feel entitled to a new Frank Ocean record. You know, the ability to kind of morph between musical arrangements that feel very current, very present. Right. The trap beats that kind of work their way in a lot of these songs, but also this deep fluency in 80s R&B in like 90s. Michael Jackson, you know, kind of liminal in between pop and R and B. His proficiency with a falsetto that comes through in songs like Butterflies, which has these kind of billowy synths but also just this totally timeless, gorgeous voice.

[Brent Faiyaz (lyrics)]

Girl, you're truly a wanna superwoman, but remember to take number one.

[Stephen Thompson]

Shaman you perfect, but don't try.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

Yes, I loved Butterflies. It has that very 80s boogie funk kind of vibe that I enjoy so much and that really feels like such a Raphael Siddiq touch on this record. For those that don't know, he came up in Tony Tony Tony in the 80s and 90s in Oakland right now is nominated for an Oscar for his soundtrack work with Sinners. This was such a great marriage of a classic producer and a talent in his prime. And in Butterflies I loved that there's this vibe change at the end and the beat changes. And then Brent has this beautiful line where he's talking to a woman and he says, I appreciate how much you give to others, but I can't help but wonder, do they do the same for you? And I think so many women feel underappreciated in their lives and are gonna really feel that line.

[Elizabeth Nelson (lyrics)]

You're dying. Breathe.

[Stephen Thompson]

For what it's worth, girl, you inspire me. That's Brent Faez. His new album is called Icon. I think it's gonna be a big one. We've got more records we're gonna talk about, but first let's take a quick break.

[Announcer]

This Message comes from LinkedIn ads One of the hardest parts about B2B marketing is reaching the right audience. That's why you need LinkedIn ads. You can target your buyers by job title, company role, seniority and skills, all the professionals you need to reach in one place. Get a $250 credit on your next campaign so you can try it yourself. Just go to LinkedIn.com nprpod that's LinkedIn.com nprpod Terms and conditions apply only on LinkedIn ads.

[Sponsor/Support Announcer]

Support for NPR and the following message come from HomeServe. It never happens at a good time. The pipe bursts at midnight. The heater quits on the coldest night. Good thing. HomeServ's hotline is available 24. 7. Call to schedule a repair and a local pro will be on their way. Trusted by millions. For plans starting at $4.99 a month, go to homeserve.com not available everywhere. Most plans range between $4.99 to $11.99 a month. Your first year terms apply on covered repairs. This message comes from bombas. When you're playing sports. You're focused. Your socks should be too. Bombas engineers socks to fight sweat and cushion impact for every sport. Visit bombas.com NPR and use code NPR for 20% off your first purchase.

[Announcer]

This message comes from Caciava. That wellness goal you set at the start of the year, it's not too late to stick with it and make your future self proud, especially with The all in One Nutrition Shake from Cachava with 25 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber, greens, adaptogens and more. No fillers, no nonsense, just the highest quality ingredients. Stick with your wellness goals. Go to kachava.com and use code NPR for 15% off. That's K A C H A V A.com code NPR from NPR Music, it's NEW Music Friday.

[Stephen Thompson]

I'm Stephen Thompson here with Nastya Voinovskaya from KQED in San Francisco. Nastya, tell us what's going on at the station.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

KQED Arts and Culture. The team that I'm proud to be part of is just coming off a huge week because the super bowl was in the Bay Area. So we all had super bowl and Bad Bunny mania. I had so much fun covering it. I interviewed Bad Bunny's sign language interpreter, which was very, very special. Yes. And I was able to speak to her about the historic moment of Puerto Rican sign language being featured on the super bowl stage. And I also talked to a BU disability justice advocates in the Bay Area about how it continues this long legacy of fighting for accessibility here locally. So that was very, very rewarding. And I think all of us in the newsroom are kind of coming down from the Super Bowl. But some of my colleagues are also very busy covering a historic teacher strike in San Francisco. So that's what's going on with us.

[Announcer]

Wow.

[Stephen Thompson]

Well, everybody can check that out.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

Is it kqed.org kqed.org and kqed.org art if you want to see my coverage specifically.

[Stephen Thompson]

Wonderful. All right. Next up, we've got a new album by Jill Scott. Jill Scott is back with her first album in more than a decade. It's called To Whom this May Concern.

[Jill Scott (lyrics)]

Honey still drips from my lips and it's amazing. Take time for paper to pen. I watch my face and call up my couple of friends. Don't fake adjacent penthouse high in the sky still fuck with basement placement wherever I want to be until Grayson take time out of my mind but I be thinking take a little note of my dreams and I'll be saying glory to the love in me and the Many faces.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

Jill Scott, legend. Absolute Philly legend. She first came onto the scene in 2000 with the classic who Is Jill Scott? And cemented herself as one of the most important voices in neo soul. And since then she's done so much. She's been on Broadway, she's acted in films, she's released several other acclaimed albums. And I think this new record, to whom this May Concern, really shows a maturation of the all the things that she's been already. The incredible insight, the gorgeous voice. But it's also so much fun. I loved this album.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah, I mean, this record feels very liberated in a lot of ways and it very much feels like the work of somebody who doesn't really have anything left to prove, but still has tons and tons and tons of ideas they want to explore and put out into the world. And in its highlights, I mean. Cause this is a big album. This is a sprawling album. It runs more than an hour, it's 19 tracks. It's all over the place in its highlights. This thing is really, really bold and fresh. You know, there's a track called Be Great, you know, which is just this grand, horn drenched kind of. It kind of evokes, you know, homecoming and HBCUs and you know, just trombone shorties on it. And you just hear how much pent up energy is coming out on this record.

[Brent Faiyaz (lyrics)]

I'm flying hard now Clarity love I only get what I put into it I spend my swing I'm where I beam fit I got one life I'mma let my gloves show baby look at this.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

Yeah, and it's Jill talking to herself and pumping herself up. And I think that throughout her discography and especially on this album, there's this theme of connecting to yourself, coming home to yourself, but also just pumping yourself up to do something amazing. And this is an anthem for that. And if anyone needs a track for their motivational playlist, just be great in it.

[Stephen Thompson]

That's a really good point. I feel like everybody should have a playlist for every emotion that our brains can muster. And if you need motivation, if you were looking for an empowerment anthem, Be Great is just the latest to toss onto that stack.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

Absolutely. There's a song that I think is really complimentary to that. It's called Pressure. I loved this one. It was one of the singles and it has a much more low key energy, but it is about being yourself despite the boxes that people try to put you in. And it has this very laid back, head nodding, cool kind of vibe. And I want to give a shout out because it was arranged by Kev Choice, who is an incredible local musician here in the Bay Area, in Oakland, he's kind of been at the forefront of bridging the world of hip hop, classical music and jazz. He's an emcee and a really talented pianist. And fun fact, he was also just the musical director of the Tiny Desk Experience in San Francisco during Super bowl weekend. So, yeah, I was super excited to see him on this album.

[Elizabeth Nelson (lyrics)]

So much pressure to appear Just like.

[Brent Faiyaz (lyrics)]

Them.

[Elizabeth Nelson (lyrics)]

Just like them Just like them so much pressure to appear just like them.

[Stephen Thompson]

You mentioned kind of the collaborative nature of some of these songs. I already talked about Be Great and how it brings in Trombone Shorty. I think that the tracks on this album that feature guests often have kind of the most explosive energy. It's like she's feeding off the energy of the people that she's bringing in. In the song Northside is this kind of hip hop jam that pairs her with another superstar from Philly, Tierra Whack. And you really hear how well their voices and styles mesh together.

[Tierra Whack (lyrics)]

This hop is lonely but I never feel alone after all this time they done made so many clones the Almighty I'm winning Cause God likes me Most likely surviving with the shiesty Jill Scott.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

Is an excellent rapper, even though rap isn't even her main thing. She's just so good at so many things and this album proves that. But I loved her and Tierra Whack going back and forth. It's so fun to hear just an incredible R and B singer. Rap like Beyonce. I love whenever Beyonce raps. So this was such a fun treat.

[Tierra Whack (lyrics)]

When I stack my face When I deal with these men none of them could ever be me J I L L S C O T T In the place to be North Philly Bay It's a Thursday and I left my blues in the backseat of an uber Hollywood hallelujah.

[Stephen Thompson]

That's Jill Scott. But her new album, first in more than a decade, is called To Whom this May Concern. Next up, very different record by the K pop group Stayc. It's called Stay Alive. So for those who aren't up on the seemingly thousands of K pop bands putting out records every week, we wanted to highlight a group called Stacy, which is a South Korean K pop girl group. They've been around since 2020. STAYC is spelled S, T A Y C. And like so many K pop groups, their sound is a mashup of essentially every pop adjacent genre on earth. You hear synth pop, EDM, R&B. I got A lot of hyper pop vibes listening to this record and you know, Stacy is kind of coming up through kind of the K pop system, you know, a lot of dance training and you know, a lot of, you know, kind of singles and EPs. But this is a full length record full of these just impeccable 3 minute slabs of youthful synthy pop. In this case, singing in Japanese as well as Korean and other languages.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

Yeah, when I heard this album, the first thing I thought of was this is just a sugar rush in the form of music. Just this straight dopamine hit to the brain, blasting you with these pumping synths, super catchy melodies and really, really good vibes.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah, I mean their producers describe their sound as teen fresh. They create a kind of a portmanteau Teen Fresh. And in a way like that kind of seemingly nonsensical phrase does sum up the vibe of these songs. You listen to a track like Bebe Youthful Cynthy Pop. Like I said said, it's teen fresh, it's young and it is sonically kind of mashing together tons and tons of extremely youth friendly pop sounds.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

Yeah, it kind of honestly took me a little bit back to the 90s Euro dance era that produced songs like Barbie Girl. They really lean into a more house derived sound on this album. And with tracks like I Want it, it's really about how everything will just be okay. And it's the song that you want to hear when you're just cruising down a coastal highway with the top down or rollerblading down Venice beach or something like that. And. And yeah, I really enjoyed it.

[Stephen Thompson]

And there are little bits of innovation beyond the kind of strict 3 minute K pop template. There's a track called Tell Me now which is kind of mixing that kind of head rushy hyper pop sound with a disco feel. It's got almost, almost like a Daft Punk effect on the vocals. And it's a song among many on this record that will lodge itself in your brain and not let go.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

I was watching some of Stacey's music videos on YouTube and I saw a lot of the comments. They have a really passionate fandom that kind of sees them as underdogs compared to some of the K pop groups. So it will be interesting to see the impact of this album.

[Stephen Thompson]

That is Stacy S T A Y C. Their new album is called Stay Alive. We've got one more record we want to talk about in depth, plus a lightning round of some of our other favorite albums out today, February 13th. But first we're going to take one more quick break.

[Announcer]

This message comes from Schwab. Everyone has moments when they could have done better. Same goes for where you invest. Level up and invest smarter with Schwab. Get market insights, education and human help when you need it.

[Sponsor/Support Announcer]

This message comes from Carvana, who makes buying and financing your next car easy. Thousands of vehicles, terms up front and 100% online even get it delivered to your door. Buy your car the easy way with Carvana. Delivery fee may apply.

[Stephen Thompson]

From NPR Music, it's NEW Music Friday. I'm Stephen Thompson here with Nastya Voinovskaya from KQED in San Francisco. Before we get to our lightning round of some of our other favorite albums out today, we're going to talk about one more record. It's by the band the Paranoid Style. It's called Known Associated.

[Elizabeth Nelson (lyrics)]

Mark my words.

[Timothy Bracy (lyrics)]

Look at birds. You're on the run, you're on the verge. Days of future past. You came in dead fucking last. You excel at noticing tales. You excel at Jim Rummy. You're best friends with a dude who calls himself a bunny. Tied yourself to the mast. Came in dead fucking last. There's no future and there's no past. There's no.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

The Paranoid Style is an acclaimed indie rock band based out of the D.C. area. And they are very heady. They're led by journalist and singer songwriter Elizabeth Nelson. And they actually take their name from this 1964 essay from Harper's Magazine called the Paranoid Style in American Politics. And it's all about how a small minority can leverage anger and fear for political gains. So I think that for many will sound reflective of the times we're living in. And certainly the songs on Known Associates speak to that.

[Announcer]

Yeah.

[Stephen Thompson]

Now this is where I have to state up front, Nastya, that I'm conflicted because Elizabeth Nelson and Timothy Bracey, who's in her band, they're good friends of mine. And so so it's hard for me to sit up here and speak objectively about their music. I mean, I was at their wedding, so I might kind of leave it to you to give kind of critical opinions on this record. But what I will say is that even before I knew them, these are brilliant people. You know, Timothy Bracey used to be in a band called the Mendoza Line. Elizabeth, as you mentioned, is a journalist, a writer, a commentator, and really, I would say, a historian of music, somebody who really studies music from the last, you know, 50, 60 years and is extremely deeply conversant in it. It's worth noting, you know, she did the liner notes to a You know, a reissue of the Replacements, Let It Be. She's somebody who thinks very deeply about music and very passionately about music as well as. As you kind of said, the way these songs kind of unfurl in these complex, wordy bundles where it's like everything she has to say cannot fit into a single line of a song.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

I noticed that there's some very elaborate storytelling on these songs where the songwriting is so not stereotypical. You have to listen to these songs over and over to really get into the storytelling on them. One I really liked is A Barrier to Entry. Super catchy, kind of country rock, foot stomping song. And the title, I think, really speaks to this false promise of meritocracy that many feel about navigating systems in America. And, yeah, the storytelling in it is very dense and deep.

[Timothy Bracy (lyrics)]

Dime store hooch in a silver cup. You take a job as a waitress Serve the landed gentry where one quarter through the century It's a barrier to entry.

[Stephen Thompson]

That's a song that really stood out to me, too, in part for its themes, but also for its arrangement, which feels very timeless, very rooted in classic rock. And then the song Tearing the Ticket, you know, which is kind of a story, a tale of D.C. that references late D.C. music legends like Danny Gatton and Roy Buchanan. The more you know about music history, the more you know about music history in dc, the more you know about the state of the world, the more you're gonna find to latch onto in this record. I'm trying not to editorialize because like I said, you have to take anything I say about this band with a grain of salt, because these are two lovely people who are my friends.

[Timothy Bracy (lyrics)]

Washington, D.C. is the place you go for action, but we lost Roy Buchanan and we lost Danny Gatton. I've got more ways to the end line. I've got way more blues. I've got a lot of choices But I can't choose Tearing the ticket. Tearing the ticket, Tearing the Ticket.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

I think what you're saying really rings true also on tracks like It's a Dog's Breakfast, which I didn't know that phrase, but it is a British phrase that basically means hot mess.

[Stephen Thompson]

I've watched enough cooking shows to have heard that phrase.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

Totally. But, yeah, that. That is a tribute to the great singer, songwriter, and Rock and Roll hall of Famer Linda Ronstadt. And I think it really takes a snapshot of this very chaotic time in her career when she was coming up. And Elizabeth Nelson also actually wrote an essay to go with that song. So as we were saying, very thoughtful, pulling from a lot of. Of music history and political history and yeah, a record that I think is really worth repeated listen ins. Very rewarding.

[Timothy Bracy (lyrics)]

It was a transitory, disenchanted moment. With all due respect to your distinguished opponent, you sent your ancestors back overseas. You've been daydreaming life to the lease. Now they can't find your name on the guest list. It's a dog's breakfast.

[Stephen Thompson]

That is the paranoid style. Their new album is called Known Associates. So Nastia, as you know, we could not get to every terrific album out today. February 13th. We wanted to do a lightning round of some of our other favorite albums that are out today. I'm going to kick us off. It has got to be a tough time to release an album when your band is called the Olympians. You can't really set Google alerts that are going to be of much use right now. But there is, it is a new album by the Olympians today. It's a slab of cinematic orchestral instrumental soul. It's performed with joy and style and such verve. The band is a project of a guy named Toby Panzer. His compositions would sound fresh in really any of the past 60 years. The Olympian's new album is called In Search of a Revival.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

I love that one. And I also want to shout out Hemlock Springs new album, the Apple Tree under the Sea. I got into Hemlock during pandemic lockdowns. When she blew up on TikTok. She became known as this awkward, kind of quirky bedroom singer songwriter. And it always kind of remains to be seen how someone like that will follow up with a fully produced album on a label. In this case, this one was produced by Burns, who's collaborated with Lady Gaga. And I think it really works. There's this new dark intensity that I hadn't really seen from Hemlock before. One track that I loved is called the Beginning of the End and it opens with this really hard hitting line about opioid addiction. And overall you really hear these inner battles play out over this dark, really synth driven production. And I think it's one that is really worth playing on repeat. That's Hemlock Springs and her new album is the Apple Tree under the Sea.

[Brent Faiyaz (lyrics)]

Sometimes I think I should avoid the simpleness of practice.

[Stephen Thompson]

Two Malian music legends have a terrific new album together. Niba solo plays the Belafon, which is kind of like a marimba, while Benigo Diakite plays the Donso Ngoni, which is a hunter's harp. These two instruments aren't typically heard together, but on their new album they are used to hypnotic, beautiful celebratory effect with occasional vocals that can be haunting or ecstatic or any number of points in between. Miba Solo and Bennego Diaquite's new album together is called A Djinn and A Hunter Went Walking.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

Erin Shaw has an excellent new record called and so It Is. He is a rising star from LA's jazz scene. He plays tenor saxophone and flute and this album was actually composed when he was diagnosed with bone marrow failure that led to him having shortness of breath. So he had difficulty playing the very instruments that he's dedicated his entire life to. And so this album is a personal reckoning. It has has some spiritual jazz influence, but it also is enveloped in this sort of dark fog. And I think it's a really, really beautiful record about coming to terms with something you can't control. And it really arrives at this moment of clarity and transcendence at the end. So that's Aaron Shaw's new album. And so it'.

[Stephen Thompson]

Finally. Askir is a superstar singer songwriter in Iceland, where his first album became the biggest selling debut in Icelandic history. Since then, he's recorded music in both English and Icelandic, played a tiny Dess concert and released a string of albums full of beautiful, sweet weeping, elegant, swoony folk pop. Alskier's new one continues in that lovely tradition. It's called Julia Vulnerable and naked.

[Elizabeth Nelson (lyrics)]

I've been tossed around by everywhere trying to fit into what you want me to.

[Stephen Thompson]

And that is our show for this week. Thank you, Nastya Voinovskaya, for taking time out of your week at KQED in San Francisco.

[Nastya Voinovskaya]

Thank you so much, Stephen, for having me. This was so much fun.

[Stephen Thompson]

It has been a pleasure if you enjoyed this week's show. We always appreciate a positive review on Apple or Spotify or whatever app you're listening to right now. This episode was produced by Noah Caldwell and Elle Mannion and edited by Otis Hart. Our production assistant is Dora Levitt. The executive producer of NPR Music is Saraya Morris Muhammad. We'll be back next week to discuss more new music with Robert Moore from 90.9 the Bridge in Kansas City. Until then, take a moment to be well rewatch that Bad Bunny halftime show one more time and treat yourself to lots of great.

[Elizabeth Nelson (lyrics)]

With him. Fling with the stream will in time be the death of me. Want to break from boundaries the world and free up against the cur. I'm just an idea I reflect.

[Stephen Thompson]

This.

[Announcer]

Message comes From NPR sponsor 1Password. Anyone else feel like 99% of your emails and texts are password reset codes trusted by millions of users and over 175,000 businesses. 1Password lets you skip the resets and sign in securely. With strong, unique passwords that auto fill across all your devices, you can safely share logins, store cards and files. And finally, stop using your pet's name as a password. Try it free for two weeks at 1Password.com NPR this message comes from Capella University.

[Sponsor/Support Announcer]

That spark you feel? That's your drive for more. Capella University's flexpath Learning format lets you earn your degree at your pace without putting life on pause. Learn [e-mail].

[Announcer]

This message comes from ADP. Whether it's a last minute policy change or adding a new company holiday, anything can change the world of work. From HR to payroll, ADP helps businesses take on the next anything. ADP always designing for people.