The ‘Bose x NME: C25‘ mixtape is your go-to-guide for everything that’s great about new music right now. Featuring autumnal indie-pop, heartfelt balladry and floor-filling tech house – with plenty more in between – there’s something for everyone in the latest instalment of our legendary mixtape series. Allow us to guide you through…
Alex Warren – ‘Eternity’
When the Californian singer-songwriter debuted this epic torch song at London’s arena-sized Alexandra Palace Park, it was met by a mass singalong, which just shows how instantly catchy its central hook really is. The devastating tribute to Warren’s late father is even more heart-rending in this orchestral version recorded especially for C25.
Best bit: When the sweeping strings build around the wrenching lyric: “It feels like an eternity / Since I had you here with me…”
For fans of: Ed Sheeran, Teddy Swims
CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso – ‘EL DÍA DEL AMIGO’
Argentine pop pranksters CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso seem to take pride in being unclassifiable, and so they should: ‘EL DÍA DEL AMIGO’ is a joyous collision of languid funk, frenetic rap and swooning, romantic soul.
Best bit: The Muppets-style vocal that crops up in the verse. Daft, ingenious and destined to put a smile on your face, it’s CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso all over.
For fans of: Bad Bunny, Karol G
Parcels – ‘Summerinlove’
The Aussie five-piece may take an inventive approach to grammar, but they’re old-school romantics at heart. ‘Summerinlove’ is a perfect autumnal indie-pop ballad, evoking the bittersweet memory of a hazy summer that’s been and gone: “Now I can’t go back there just to see her…”
Best bit: The boogie-inducing handclaps that rise up through the mix at the midway point. Some of the best songs are joyous and melancholic at the same time, you know?
For fans of: Daft Punk, The Beach Boys
Zimmer90 – ‘what a life’
They say that writing about music is like dancing about architecture, which makes it complicated to pay tribute to German alt-pop duo Zimmer90, one of whom is a former architecture student and recently told NME: “Designing a house is a little bit like making a song or an album.” Well, this minimalist track is a superior structure with all mod cons: crisp beats, ethereal vocals and precision-engineered production come as standard.
Best bit: That spooky synth. If a song really is like a house, this one might be haunted.
For fans of: Djo, Royel Otis
ALLDAY PROJECT – ‘WICKED’ (Diplo remix)
The Korean five-piece landed this year with an air of prestige: all were already successful in various fields – from choreography to rap – before they became the latest export from Seoul-based The Black Label, the gold standard in its field. Now they’ve roped in producer extraordinaire Diplo to further ramp up their chest-out bruiser of a track.
Best bit: When that swaggering donk rallies behind the band’s thrilling provocation: “Take your shot! Photoshoot!”
For fans of: BLACKPINK, G-Dragon
Cloonee – ‘Will We Ever Wake Up’
Sheffield-born tech-house DJ Cloonee has pulled off an Ocean’s Eleven-style heist with this action-packed thriller, which features a voice asking, “Will we ever wake up?”, before the track zooms off in a blaze of breakneck beats. This is dance music with style and flare in abundance.
Best bit: “What happens if we stop?” that voice wonders before the pace ramps up a gear. With Cloonee at the wheel, you’ll never have to find out.
For fans of: Chris Lake, Kelly Lee Owens
LANA – ‘Icy Tale’
The Japanese rapper-singer has made a name for herself as a purveyor of pitiless bars and cutthroat delivery, but you wouldn’t know that from this super-sweet pop concoction. As she rides feather-light guitar licks, LANA effortlessly summons the dizzy headrush of puppy love: “I wanna be with you all day and all night… I’m happy to be here, just you and me.”
Best bit: When she breaks into a throaty, gutsy rap that makes you hope the object of her affection never gets on the wrong side of her.
For fans of: Litty, Sabrina Carpenter
ZIN CHOI – ‘microGiant’
The Korean singer-songwriter was just 15 when she released her debut EP, last October’s fabulously named ‘mom!!iminlove’, through the Standard Friends label. Full of sweet indie-pop guitar, muted electro and even an instrumental lullaby, it pulsed with promise that’s more than come to fruition with this thumping electropop banger.
Best bit: When the finger-clicks egg her on before she launches into that suitably gigantic chorus.
For fans of: Freak Slug, Beabadoobee
Stay tuned to NME.com/C25 for more on the return of the iconic mixtape
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