Friday Favourites: The Best New Tracks of the Week 14/08/26

There’s so much new music being released in the world these days that it’s hard to keep up. Even if you consider yourself a music nerd, it’s impossible to listen to the hundreds of new tracks dropping every week. That’s why we are here to help.

The crew at The Note are constantly turning up the volume in the office, checking out all the latest tunes from local emerging artists right through to your favourite global superstars.

We want to make sure you stay ahead of the curve, so every Friday we are collating a list of our favourite tracks of the week.

This week’s list features new music from Jorja Smith, Purée, Yung Gravy, Fenne Lily and more.

Jorja Smith ‘I Lied, You Lied’

Big call, but Jorja Smith is one of the great vocalists of our generation. Despite only having two albums to her name, the UK songstress has proved time and again she has a knack for crafting refreshing garage tunes incorporating everything from pop and soul to R&B and jungle.

Co-produced by P2J and Marco Bernardis, her latest single 'I Lied, You Lied' finds Smith singing about a dishonest relationship over piano, saxophone and probing electronic beats.

It's just another wonderful example of her talent and what listeners can expect from her upcoming third long player, What Are The Odds, one album we at The Note can't wait to hear.

Purée - ‘Wait’

Adelaide indie rockers Purée return with the effervescent single 'Wait'. The first taste of new music from the quartet since last year's What Happens Now? EP, 'Wait' combines thrilling riffs with pulsating '80s synths on a song the lads explain is about a couple who can't seem to agree.

"It’s about feeling like you’re speaking two different languages and every conversation ends up going in circles," the band says. "It’s honest, emotional, and hopefully something that feels familiar to anyone who’s ever struggled with loving, arguing and the sometimes uncomfortable nature of close relationships."

DESTINEZIA – ‘Faker!’

I was immediately bobbing along to this one. 'Faker!' has a great guitar riff and sounds exactly like the type of song you want to hear from DESTINEZIA when seeing them live, which is a good thing, as the band have expressed their desire to "embrace the raw energy of our live shows" on this track.

The duel male/female vocals also add depth to 'Faker!', with the song a great counterpoint to their previous 2026 release, 'crooked teeth'.

Yung Gravy – ‘My Bitch’

Yung Gravy is certainly an acquired taste. His new single 'My Bitch' is certainly going to divide opinions. Fans of the rapper will no doubt love the trap-infused beat and comical lyrics. Everyone else will be turning off in droves. The Note office is split, so give it a spin and make up your own mind.

Fenne Lily – 'Sleeping'

Prepping for the release of her new album, Win Win, UK folk singer Fenne Lily has given fans another tease of what to expect from her fourth long player with the track 'Sleeping'.

Now based in Brooklyn, 'Sleeping' is another relationship ditty, written in the aftermath of a phone break-up (which is never a great way for things to end).

Lily says the song is "thoughtful rage". We agree.

Blue Lucy & The Kavs – ‘Catching Bass’

With their demise imminent, local guitar outfit Blue Lucy have teamed with The Kavs for one last hurrah: the blues-soaked ripper ' Catching Bass'.

This is an old school rock lovers' wet dream, with scintillating (and slightly over the top) guitar solos, gruff rock vocals and a nice balance between pub rock and '80s excess.

If this is to be the final swan song from Blue Lucy, they are going out on top.

Mertas – 'CC'

Hailing from the heat of Arnhem Land, Mertas are an emerging punk quartet whose latest 'CC' is a boisterous explosion of rattling guitars and headache-inducing percussion with a liberal dose of the C word.

"'CC' is an anthem for anyone who's ever lost patience waiting on a reply, decoding corporate jargon, or resisting the urge to smash a keyboard," explains vocalist Matt McLean. "It’s about the passive-aggressive world of corporate email culture we've all had to tolerate when trying to get the information we actually need."

Poltergeist 9000 – 'SPIDER-MAN 1'

There really isn't anyone like Poltergeist 9000.

The synth-punk duo of Iggy Clue & Cal 9000 create dance music that's brash and abrasive, having just as much in common with '80s punk luminaries Black Flag and Dead Kennedys as their modern electronic peers.

'SPIDER-MAN-1' is another assault on the senses. A raw, industrial punk kick to the balls with a thunderous beat and electrifying guitar riff. Turn it up loud.

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – 'Kill for the Steel'

Psych-rockers turned synth lovers King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard unveiled their 28th album, Alien Metal, today. Trading '70s guitar riffs for futuristic synths, it's another showcase of the band's willingness to experiment with sound and not be trapped in one box.

Earlier this week, the group released the single 'Kill for the Steel', a fierce seizure-inducing dose of electronica that will leave you with a sense of euphoria by the time the final glitchy computer sound expires.

Holly Throsby– 'Missing You'

It's great having new Holly Throsby music in the world. It's been almost a decade since the release of her last album, and she's been sorely missed.

New track 'Missing You', which is exactly how we feel about the ethereal poet, is a delightful sad song with a little banjo thrown in for good measure.

There's a quiet relentlessness to this one, with Throsby's vocals on point.

Kasabian – 'NOTHING BETTER THAN THIS'

When it comes to Kasabian's most recent material, I can take it or leave it. It's all been pretty meh in my opinion, but there's something about 'NOTHING BETTER THAN THIS' that's piqued my interest.

It's got that mid-00 indie electro vibe that takes me back to my days living in the UK and getting down on the dance floor.

Maybe it's just the feeling of nostalgia this track gives me, but either way, I like it.

La Roux – 'Lose Myself'

Remeber La Roux? Turns out she's back.

The UK artist has released several singles over the past few months (none of which I was aware of), but today I stumbled upon'Lose Myself', the latest track taken from her upcoming new album.

She's ditched the '80s synth-pop for a song that sounds like it was meant for The Weeknd, with La Roux's voice even mirroring Abel at times. It's also giving me Michael Jackson vibes.

Whatever I'm feeling, I like this one, and hopefully you will too.