Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to each week’s New Music Friday’s most important releases: the essential music everyone’s talking about today and dominating your playlists this weekend and beyond.
Last week, we featured Olivia Rodrigo, BTS, Jack White, and more.
This week: British singer-songwriter Miles Smith releases his debut studio album, My Female, My Heart, My Life. FKA Twigs and Lil Yachty team up for a summer hit. And Cassius Culpepper follows up his debut with a new five-song EP…and much more. Check out all of this week’s picks below.
FKA Twigs & Lil Yachty “On Your Mind”
FKA Twigs’ first release since winning the 2026 Best Dance/Electronic Album Grammy for the stunning Eusexua is the punchy, crunchy collaboration with Lil Yachty, “On Your Mind.” The song expands on the dance world of the Eusequa era, but becomes brighter and faster, reaching hyperpop mode for a thrilling three-and-a-half minutes. “On Your Mind” was first released during Twigs’ recent Body High tour in Europe, and the artist shared its backstory when announcing the song earlier this week.
“I wrote this song with Yacht in the evening after a long dance rehearsal, after learning that my previous manager and production team didn’t see eye to eye. [my] Get your visa in time to go to Coachella and complete your headline EUSEXUA USA tour. I stayed at the dance studio until late at night practicing hard, hoping that the news wasn’t true, denying that with a little more practice I would be able to perform across the ocean in front of my amazing and loyal fans. It never ceases to amaze me how pain manifests itself in the hardest, most euphoric sounds. I think making songs like this always keeps me on my toes and reminds me that I’m not in control.
“I tell you this story behind the scenes,” she continued, “because after finishing our first arena tour in the US and EU, it felt like the perfect time to release this song to celebrate what we can overcome when we believe in ourselves as artists and when others believe in us. It feels so fulfilling. BODY Thank you for coming to see HIGH and thank you for continuing to grow with me. Everything happens for a reason and you will always be the reason I make music and art.
Coco & Breezy & Gavin Turek “Tonight”
Twin DJ duo Coco & Breezy link up with the always fun to listen to, Gavin Turek, for a sexy rendition of “Tonight.” Together they offer a groovy summerhouse heater reminiscent of ‘All For You’-era Jacket Jackson, and the trio keeps their work simultaneously relaxed, feminine, and tightly orchestrated. Coco & Breezy have been touring all summer, playing shows across North America and Europe, including Ibiza dates at Coba Santa and Club Chinois. —KB
Miles Smith, My Female, My Heart, My Life
Two years after scoring a huge hit with the euphoric “Stargazing” and releasing three EPs, singer-songwriter Miles Smith finally releases his debut album, My Mess, My Heart, My Life. This full-length expresses the all-encompassing title as Smith reflects on the messy ways in which love and life naturally intertwine. In addition to “Stargazing”, the album also includes previous hits such as “Nice To Meet You” and “Drive Safe”, a collaboration with Niall Horan. Smith is currently opening for Ed Sheeran ahead of his own headlining tour, which concludes at The O2 in London. — Lindsey Heavens
Ruth B. “That’s right.”
Up-and-coming artist Ruth B. shares her latest song, the downtempo, downtrodden “Didn’t I.” Throughout the track, she reveals how she has carried her own burdens in a relationship, urging her partner to prove her wrong. “I tried to tell you once, I tried to tell you twice/I didn’t try to be a victim, but I tried to act nice/I tried to stay calm, so I kept the pain inside/I carried all your problems, I carried all your pride/Isn’t it?” she sings, begging for an answer that never comes. — L.H.
PJ Morton, Saturday Night, Sunday Morning
From touring the world with his Maroon 5 bandmates to recording an entire album across four countries in just 30 days, PJ Morton seems to have done it all. So it makes sense that the six-time winner returned to his roots for a gorgeous new double album, Saturday Night, Sunday Morning. Divided into an R&B (Saturday Night) side and a Gospel (Sunday Morning) side, the new record encapsulates Morton’s music, which has oscillated between sacred and profane spaces throughout his career. From the lilting reggae groove of “Don’t Give Up on Us” to the biblically-rooted lyricism of “Close Enough,” “Saturday Night, Sunday Morning” is an instant reason to be included in the pantheon of modern double LPs. — Kyle Dennis
Masego “Breathing”
Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist and R&B star Masego is back with a captivating new single titled “Breathe.” Built around the concept of having to work through your grief before it really sinks in, “Breathe” sees Masego conjure up a rich soundscape supported by quietly subdued vocals and a choir-driven chorus. “Can I breathe? / Can I live? / Can I grieve? / Can I just take a moment?” he asks at the outset, immediately forcing his audience to grapple with the demands of artists like themselves trying to understand the human experience. Masego, who released his first solo music piece this year, returned to his best with “Breathe.” — K.D.
Cassius Culpepper, Act 1: Summer Night
Cassius Culpepper expands on his previously released debut album “Act I” with this 5-song EP. The set opens with a glorious take on Glen Campbell’s ‘Southern Nights’, includes the ’70s-inspired groove of ‘Let Me Show You Love’, and the heartbreaking ‘Til The Sun Goes Down’ highlights Culpepper’s strong, silky vocals. Overall, the set is filled with polished rhythms and sophisticated textures that lend themselves to the soundtrack of a summer night. — Jessica Nicholson
Braxton Keith and Tyra Rodriguez “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind”
Keith and Rodriguez have teamed up to create a gorgeous version of Dolly Parton’s classic. Rodriguez’s sophisticated and airy vocals are nicely complemented by Keith’s earthy tones. Shimmering guitars and a timelessly catchy rhythm enhance this elegant re-creation, further highlighting the song’s timeless appeal. — J.N.
Hamilton “Beso a Beso”
Hamilton distanced himself from his signature “Afro-rock star” persona and expressed a more vulnerable “beso-a-beso.” His romantic songs, faithful to his sensual Afrobeat sound, appeal to men who are attracted to female energy. Powered by velvety vocals, the Colombian newcomer, one of Billboard’s 2026 Latin Artists to Watch, sings about reading her signals and wanting mutual chemistry. — Jessica Royce
Danny Ocean, Babylona Blue
In a surprise EP titled Babylona Blue, Danny Ocean presents eight new tracks produced entirely by himself with the help of artificial intelligence. Showcasing how AI can fuel his creativity, this set features futuristic reggae, Afrobeats, and pop fusion that could be the ideal summer soundtrack. In addition, Babylona Blue features two notable collaborations: “Desahógate” with Ryan Castro and “Don’t Stop” with Timbaland. — J.R.
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