Ninja music: In the rhythm of summer

Summer’s in full swing — the perfect time to refresh your playlist with new tracks.

We’ve rounded up the most exciting releases of the past few months: a fresh album from Djo — the Stranger Things star, a dance drop from PinkPantheress, and soulful R&B from rising American singer Jessie Murph. And of course, we couldn’t ignore the surprise comeback from Justin Bieber.

Djo — The Crux

The third studio album by Joe Keery, best known as Steve Harrington in Netflix’s Stranger Things. Last year, his track End of Beginning exploded on TikTok, and this new release seems poised to follow suit.

Expect beautiful and stylish synth-soft-rock, inspired by the late-era Beatles.

Elton John & Brandi Carlile — Who Believes In Angels?

A joint album where maestro Elton John teams up with American singer Brandi Carlile. The result is fresh, melodic, and incredibly musical.

On some tracks, Elton surprises with energetic piano parts; on others, their voices blend in harmony or complement each other beautifully. Highly recommended.

Jessie Murph — Sex Hysteria

The debut solo album from young American artist Jessie Murph, previously known for country collaborations. Here, she delivers a mellow R&B project built on laid-back beats and deeply personal themes.

Bon Iver — SABLE, fABLE

The fifth studio album — and first full-length release in six years. Bon Iver remains an artist for whom sound matters more than lyrics. What matters most is the soul, the music, the vibe.

The album blends folk with soul in the spirit of Frank Ocean. Central themes: love and self-acceptance.

PinkPantheress — Fancy That

The British singer whose snippets dominate TikTok continues to evolve with each release. Fancy That is the bright dose of dance-pop your summer needs.

She also pays tribute to UK dance classics — listen for nods to Basement Jaxx, Sugababes, and even Panic! At The Disco.

Justin Bieber — SWAG

His first album in four years, released with almost no promotion. Features include Druski, Sexyy Red, Lil B, and Eddie Benjamin.

There may be no obvious chart-toppers, but this is music Justin himself enjoys. Maybe not his best album, but certainly one of the most personal and transitional.

Lo-fi vibes, rhythmic guitars, and gentle synths — this is SWAG like you’ve never heard before.

Travis Scott — Jackboys 2

This might not be Travis Scott’s creative peak — quantity sometimes replaces quality here, with 17 tracks of mixed impact.

Still, some songs are summer playlist material. Guests include Future, Playboi Carti, Kodak Black, 21 Savage, GloRilla, and more.

Tyler, The Creator — Don’t Tap The Glass

Tyler’s second album this year — his work rate is impressive. The release is a rollercoaster: aggressive hip-hop beats alternate with melodic interludes, switching between fiery and melancholic vocals.

The cover art is a clever nod to an NPC from GTA: San Andreas.

JID — GDLU: The Preluxe

A teaser EP for his upcoming album God Does Like Ugly, dropping August 8. All four tracks are worth a listen — especially Animals, a rapid-fire collaboration with Eminem.