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New Music Friday – August 16, 2024

Today’s New Music Friday showcases a thundering week of returns from powerful hitmakers. Let’s look at the best new releases.

Foster The People – Paradise State of Mind

Foster The People are back with their first full-length studio record since 2017. The pop band fronted by Mark Foster has released Paradise State of Mind, an 11-song record of disco-laden dance tracks. It’s funky, a little extra and certainly inspired. Months ago fans went from speculating that Foster The People was “over” to now having a plethora of new tracks to enjoy.

Paradise State of Mind inspires an intrusive thought: “So this is what Foster The People would sound like if they made a Bee Gees album.” But that’s not an annoying question to ponder. It’s actually right on the money. Mark Foster wanted to showcase dark disco drama on several tracks like “Glitchzig,” which purposely comes on like a cross between Outkast, Kraftwerk and the Bee Gees.

In recent years Foster The People has dwindled to its namesake member and his musical partner-in-crime Isom Innis. Despite that, the two have seemed to hit a creative stride with this new record. It’s an exciting moment for all Foster The People fans, especially the OG’s and a new generation looking to get their dancefloor routine in.

Bishop Briggs – “Mona Lisa on a Mattress”

Everyone! Attention everyone! Bishop Briggs is back. The British singer just shared a new song called “Mona Lisa on a Mattress.” The tune is messy, sexy and a teeny bit toxic. Most importantly, it’s a thrilling guitar-pop triumph. This is Briggs’ first single since her 2023 EP When Everything Went Dark.

“Mona Lisa on a Mattress” looks to be the beginning of a new era for Briggs. She just announced her new album Tell My Therapist I’m Fine will arrive October 18. It’ll be her third full-length album. Her last record, Champion, came out in 2019.

New Music Friday Top Picks:

Charly Bliss – Forever [Lucky Number]

Gel – Persona EP [Blue Grape Music]

Horse Jumper of Love – Disaster Trick [Run for Cover]

NoCap – Before I Disappear Again [Atlantic]

Post Malone – F-1 Trillion [Mercury/Republic]

Tinashe – Quantum Baby [Nice Life]

Wishy –Triple Seven [Winspear]

Which of these tracks from New Music Friday will you add to your favorite playlists today? Any we missed? Let us know in the comments or on Instagram!

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Ben Pagani

Music Projects Manager at Beyond The Stage Magazine

Ben is a music journalist living and working in Chicago. They joined Beyond The Stage as an intern and have stayed on the staff for several years. Now serving on the editorial board, Ben is proud to be BTS' Music Projects Manager, coordinating coverage between international record labels and our staff. Ben has interviewed, photographed and written about bands from across the world. Ben has lived all over the United States working in television and media. They are an Emmy Award-winning writer. Ben can be found spinning records as 'DJ Wearing Sunglasses' in clubs and basements across the US.