Staff Picks: The Best Songs of the Week (May 16-22)

Every week, Consequence staffers spotlight their favorite new songs for our Songs of the Week column. This week, we’re excited about new tunes from Aja Monet, Eilish Constance, Liquid Mike, Swapmeet, Veeze, and more.

aja monet — “working class musicians”

Poet aja monet has released the color of rain , the follow-up album to her evocative 2023 debut when the poems do what they do . With “working class musicians,” a standout amongst a collection of songs that revel in expressive thought, monet taps into a painful vein of the creative process. By diving deep into the complex elements that define a career as a working class musician, monet gives a voice to artists who are struggling to remain passionate as they fight to keep the lights on: “While the republicoons and the democrazies argue the complexion of money/ We float between classes and corners/ From caviar to canned beans.” — Kiana Fitzgerald

Stream “working class musicians” on Apple Music | Amazon Music | Qobuz

Eilish Constance — “Hold my hand hunter”

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The 17-year-old folktronica artist Eilish Constance has just released her fourth single of the year, “Hold my hand hunter,” ahead of her EP, Singing for fun . This track hits the sweet spot at the intersection between her delicate folk sound and glitchy electronic elements. While her vocal delivery is sweet and disarming, almost swinging you into the song’s core with its catchy melody, the lyrics evoke a physicality and subtle unease. Constance flips the song on its head when she sings, “I would go hunting just to see you as a bigger, better man.” — Kelly Darroch

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Stream “Hold my hand hunter” on Apple Music | Amazon Music | Qobuz

kwn — “touch myself”

East London R&B singer kwn first captured our attention with carnal singles like the Kehlani-assisted “worst behaviour” and the instructive “do what i say,” the latter of which landed on our list of the Best Songs of 2025. With an endless well of sensuality to draw from, kwn continues sharing her passions with “touch myself.” The track opens with sounds of a storm (R&B 101) before kwn harmonizes about her deepest desires. The chorus itself is simple — interweaved iterations of “I touch myself just thinking about you” — but it billows with layered vocals that almost shout, lifting kwn higher in her unabashed yearning. — K. Fitzgerald

Stream “touch myself” on Apple Music | Amazon Music | Qobuz

Liquid Mike — “Drowning Machine”

In his track-by-track breakdown of Liquid Mike’s wonderful 2025 LP Hell Is an Airport , frontman and songwriter Mike Maple told us about his fancy new synth, which he had used on “AT&T.” Well, on his new banger, “Drowning Machine,” it sure sounds like he’s still putting that thing to good use. Led by a synth line and a chant-able melody, the tune is yet another Liquid Mike ripper — short, energetic, and too dang catchy. — Jonah Krueger

Stream “Drowning Machine” on Apple Music | Amazon Music | Qobuz

Master Peace — “ONE of ONE”

Master Peace, one of our 2026 Emerging Artists to Watch , has announced his sophomore album if i don’t love you, who will and shared a great new single, “ONE of ONE.” The track is another breezy, shout-along gem from the London artist, who has a knack for bratty, catchy melodies. It’s a more desire-driven offering, with Master Peace pining for a lover with some desperation and urgency; still, in true Master Peace fashion, he never loses his touch of cool. Keep an eye on this guy — he’s got the voice, the confidence, and the sonics to truly break through this year. — Paolo Ragusa

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Stream “One of One” on Apple Music | Amazon Music | Qobuz

sundayclub — “Blue Wave”

The Winnipeg-based dream pop duo, sundayclub, have just released “Blue Wave” ahead of their self-titled debut album. The song reaches for the purest of the reverb-drenched, fluid indie sound, evoking the nostalgia of past drives on hot summer nights. The band describes the song as a vessel for escapism when you’re seeking to evolve, but you haven’t quite made it there yet; it adds a rather melancholic layer to a track that, sonically, feels free. — K. Darroch

Stream “Blue Wave” on Apple Music | Amazon Music | Qobuz

Swapmeet — “2 C U”

“2 C U,” the latest single from Swapmeet’s upcoming debut full-length Mount Zero , pulls something of an indie rock bait and switch, starting out as a twee-adjacent acoustic singalong before opening up to reveal its true shoegazy intentions. It’s an effective trick, resulting in a pretty addictive little ditty. Just don’t ask me why they have an electric guitar playing a clearly acoustic track in the music video… — J. Krueger

Stream “2 C U” on Apple Music | Amazon Music | Qobuz

Veeze — “Malice in the Palace”

Veeze is a chaos machine. The Detroit rapper surprise-dropped his new mixtape Y’all Won today, and he continues to be on that type of time, subject-wise. His bars ooze debauchery, but Veeze is methodical in his lyrical approach, as heard on “Malice in the Palace,” titled after the 2004 NBA brawl between the Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers. Veeze’s boasts and brags are a cut above the majority of his peers here, even when they’re borderline offensive: “A god up in the trenches speak on me, go repent/ I’ll have yo ass covered in white sheets, join the Klan.” — K. Fitzgerald

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Stream “Malice in the Palace” on Apple Music | Amazon Music | Qobuz

Westside Cowboy — “Kick Stones (The Boys)”

Westside Cowboy have officially announced their debut album. It’s called It Goes On and drops August 21st. As the first taste, the buzzy Manchester act shared “Kick Stones (The Boys),” an infectious tune with a shuffling beat, sweetly sung vocals, and a compelling rise and fall structure. Frankly, it’s charming as all hell, and an impressive way to kick off their first album cycle. — J. Krueger

Stream “Kick Stones (The Boys)” on Apple Music | Amazon Music | Qobuz

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_Originally reported by [Consequence](https://consequence.net/2026/05/best-songs-of-the-week-may-16th-may-22nd/)._