Press Pause And Hit Play: The Best New Songs You Missed In 2021

WJCT News | By Lars Gotrich

Published February 11, 2021 at 1:19 PM EST

Updated Feb. 11 at 1:19 p.m. ET.

It can be hard to keep pace with life's restless forward motion – chores and news, friends and family, work and play. At the very least, let us help you find some new music via Press Pause, a regularly updated playlist keeping track of new songs deemed absolutely essential by the NPR Music staff.

Just like the 2020 edition, you'll find R&B, reggaeton, rock, country, Americana, punk, pop, hip-hop and whatever else helps frame the days ahead, or simply helps you to take a breather.

Stream this playlist via Spotify or Apple Music.

Press Pause Tracklist

Added Feb. 11

H.E.R., "Fight For You"
Katy Kirby, "Portals"
Matt Sweeney & Bonnie "Prince" Billy, "Hall of Death"
AMOR & LEMUR, "Unravel"
Arm's Length, "Garamond"

Added Feb. 8

Devin The Dude, "Soulful Distance"
VanJess, "Come Over"
Daniel Hope & Alexy Botvinov, Schnittke: "Suite in the Old Style: V. Pantomime"
Raveena, "Tweety"

Added Feb. 4

Flock of Dimes, "Two"
The Armed, "ALL FUTURES"

Added Feb. 2

Robyn & Röyksopp, "Monument (Olof Dreijer Remix)"
Bomba Estéreo, "Agua"
Lil Durk, "Kanye Crazy"
Goat Girl, "Sad Cowboy"
underscores, "Second hand embarrassment"
William Parker, "A Great Day to Be Dead"
Nina Tech, "Hocus Pocus"

Added Jan. 27

FKA twigs (feat. Headie One, Fred again..), "Don't Judge Me"
Esther Rose, "Keeps Me Running"
DijahSB, "Throw That Back"
IAN SWEET, "Drink the Lake"
Jensen McRae, "Immune"
FKAjazz (feat. Noah MacNeil, Philippe Lemm), "YLEM"
Rat Tally, "Shrug"
Half Waif, "Orange Blossoms"

Added Jan. 22

Valerine June (feat. Carla Thomas), "Call Me a Fool"
Michael Franks, "Coming Home to You"
Palberta, "Big Bad Want"
Tomaga, "Intimate Immensity"
Rowdy Rebel (feat. Funkmaster Flex), "Re Route"
Devin The Dude, "To Each His Own"

Added Jan. 21

Olivia Rodrigo, "drivers license"
Jazmine Sullivan (feat. Anderson .Paak), "Price Tags"
Jhay Cortez & Myke Towers, "Los Bo"
Vagabon (feat. Courtney Barnett), "Reason to Believe"
The Weather Station, "Atlantic"
Anna B Savage, "Baby Grand"
Joy Oladokun (feat. Jensen McRae), "wish you the best"
Wild Pink, "Oversharers Anonymous"
C. Tangana & Toquinho, "Comerte Entera"
Willie Jones, "American Dream"
Noga Erez, "End of the Road"
Sun June, "Everything I Had"
Hailey Whitters (feat. Little Big Town), "Fillin' My Cup"
Pale Waves, "Easy"
Ebhoni, "Hit This"
AceMo, "Aquarium Date"
Run The Jewels (feat. Mexican Institute Of Sound & Santa Fe Klan), "Ooh La La (Mexican Institute Of Sound Remix)"
Th1rt3eN, "Cult 45"
Dj Jahmar (feat. Josh David Barrett), "This Feeling (Love Original)"
Matthew E. White & Lonnie Holley, "This Here Jungle of Moderness/Composition 14"
Flo Milli, "Roaring 20s"
Alfa Mist, "Run Outs"
Julien Baker, "Hardline"
Adult Mom, "Sober"
Hand Habits, "4th of July"
Jillette Johnson, "Forgive Her"
Pom Poko, "Andrew"
Middle Kids, "Questions"
Renée Reed, "Fast One"
A Winged Victory for the Sullen, "So That the City Can Begin to Exist"
Monolord, "I'm Staying Home"