The Best Songs of July 2026 // New Music Friday!

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"Camera" by Charli xcx

Charli xcx has officially released not one, but two of my very favorite albums of the year - first with the stunning Wuthering Heights concept album / soundtrack, and now with the all‑time career highlight Music Fashion Film. It was also impossible to highlight just one song from this album ("2007" and the closer "No One Lasts Forever" being very close contenders as my monthly favorites too), but "Camera" felt like the most indicative of the entire ethos of what this music represents as a whole. It is such a deeply thought‑provoking examination of what it means to pursue a life of art and stardom in the modern age; while framing the question of legacy and what an artist leaves behind (or doesn't). Closing out the trifecta of singles for music ("Rock Music"), fashion ("SS26"), and film ("Camera"), it is fully representative of who she is as an artist and what her mission is with this body of work. But really though, all I know is how it makes me feel! And it makes me feel!

"Never Follow You" by Javier Reyes

Javi's latest album Shark was finally released this month, following a string of singles released throughout the year. The entire project is incredible and absolutely one of my favorites of the year. "Never Follow You" is especially such a highlight from the album. I love the build up into the second half of the track, the hazy, electronic sound feels reminiscent of some of Tame Impala's recent record, which is an influence that has been recurrent throughout all of the music Javi's been apart of in some way and an artistic connection that is even more meaningful now. I got to see him live for the first time this month, with Djo opening for Tame Impala in Philadelphia, which brings so much of all their collective work so full circle. 

"Follow" by Finn Wolfhard

Finn Wolfhard released his sophomore album Fire From The Hip this month, and while I truly loved his debut, this follow‑up is absolutely one of my favorite releases of the year so far. "Follow" is the song that immediately stood out to me from it, it brings such an uplifting burst of energy to the album, bring such a bright, communal band feeling that he embodies so naturally. It also feels like some of the most interesting work he's made yet, and I'd love to hear him keep exploring this sonic direction in the future. As a whole, the album shows so much artistic evolution from where he left off on Happy Birthday last year. 

"Puppy Dog Eyes" by Suki Waterhouse

Suki released a beautiful new album Loveland and "Puppy Dog Eyes" is one of the many stand-out tracks from it. As a whole, it is such a lush and romantic album, and this song embodies all of that. I have been loving the alternative rock sound she has been diving deeper into with much of this album, which is largely a sound that presents her at her most refined and confident yet. 

"brand new chanel$" by Slayyyter

"brand new chanel$" brings a direct inversion of the iconic, brash "BEAT UP CHANEL$" Slayyyter released earlier this year. It's the complete opposite sonically in nearly every possible way, yet lyrically it mirrors so much of its precursor, with so much of the same sharpness and unapologetic edge that she delivers with such conviction. It's filled with scathing, brutally honest lyrics, all delivered behind some of the most iconic dance‑pop instrumentals of the year. Slayyyter is such an exciting voice in pop music that is finally getting her dues, and her music has been on repeat for me all summer.

"Daughter from Hell" by Gracie Abrams

"Daughter From Hell" is the title track of Gracie's new album, and it's also the one that most clearly delivers the mission statement she's after with this record. It stands out as one of the most compelling songs in the tracklist, best encapsulating not only the album's name but the entire thematic arc she was aiming for. It is largely written as a love letter of admiration for her mom, and the song captures the ways we grow up and begin to see ourselves reflected in our parents. It is some of the most emotionally sharp examples of Gracie's songwriting on this entire record. 

"Secret Language" by Ryan Beatty

There have been so many new music discoveries for me this year, but Ryan Beatty has to be one of my very favorites. Even though he isn't technically entirely new to me and I listened to him over a decade ago, back when he was making Justin Bieber-esque teen pop ("Hey L.A." is an underrated deep cut I've always loved!) - but the music he's making now is truly the best reintroduction to his work. His sophomore album Sweet Fortune is absolutely incredible and I was deeply moved by every single song. "Secret Language" is one of the many highlights from the record, which he released late last month. It captures such a specific form of emotional intensity and is a beautiful portrait of what it means to love. It is so singular to his voice and artistic vision, this is a song that has been on my mind every day since I first heard it!

"petal" by Ariana Grande

The title track of Ariana's new album is largely rooted in the idea that, no matter what, she will always turn to music as an escape as a place to process whatever is happening in her life in that moment - free from all of the drama, noise, or outside expectation. It's a song about growth and resilience, tied with the promise to herself that she'll keep evolving no matter what life throws her way. "This music and I will never die" becomes the core thesis of the entire album from this song. I have generally conflicting opinions on the album as a whole right now, but I always love hearing new music from Ariana, and this song in particular stands out as one of its highlights.

"oh yeah?" by Steve Lacy

"oh yeah?" serves as the title track of Steve Lacy's third album, which is his first record in four years, and a clear showcase of the personal and artistic growth that's shaped him during that time. It features a dreamy, synth pop sound that feels reminiscent of some of his earlier work, but elevated in a way that reflects how much he has evolved since his last release. A distinct sense of renewal is embedded in this song, which is largely centered around hope and new beginnings coming through after a particularly rough patch of life. Just a few weeks after its release, the song received a major boost when it was featured during the ending credits of Spiderman: Brand New Day. Its placement at the end of the film felt like a beautiful artistic choice, acting as a final emotional note that mirrors the story's conclusion.

Check out my full song review of "oh yeah?" by Steve Lacy!



Thanks for reading! It's hard to believe that this month marks nine years since I first started my blog. This also marks my biggest month to date and I am so excited to see what the future brings for this space. I wrote a dedicated anniversary post earlier this month, but again, thank you for your continued support of my writing! It truly means more to me than you'll ever know! 💕

Be sure to check out more of my New Music Friday posts here, as well as my song of the week series.☆




All credit to photo owners - header designed by Melissa Kacar





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