10 Fresh Music Singles from August You'll Want to Repeat

If your playlist has been sounding a little stale, August is here to shake things up. If July was a feast, then August is the afterparty; louder, brighter, and serving up the perfect sonic refreshments.
The month has been buzzing with fresh tracks that feel like ice-cold drinks on a sweltering day, from Filipino indie gems like We Are Imaginary and Vietnamese singer-songwriter MINH, to global heavy-hitters Ed Sheeran and Doja Cat. There are also exciting collabs currently making waves, like Filipino R&B mainstay Jay R teaming up with LA-based rising pop artist Shanice and rising Filipino artist Jolianne working together with Korean producer Ziv.
Whether you’re on the hunt for your next obsession or simply looking for some fresh bangers, here are some of the newest releases hot off the press for you to listen to.
“Never Ever” by Jay R and Shanice

Produced and co-written by Grammy-nominated producer Mark Feist, “Never Ever” is an R&B track that combines the soulful voice of Filipino R&B artist Jay R with the powerhouse vocals of LA-based pop artist Shanice.
This track is composed of lush strings and slow-burning grooves, capturing the soothing warmth of coming home to a loved one. A love song at heart, this track stands as a promise to stay even through life’s coldest seasons.
“‘Never Ever’ is about love and wanting it forever,” said Mark in an official statement. “It’s a tale as old as time, and something all people can relate to, whether it manifests in the form of love, loss, or longing.”
Listen to “Never Ever” now. Follow Jay R on Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram; and Shanice on Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram.
“Stockholm” by We Are Imaginary

Filipino indie rock band We Are Imaginary explores toxic relationships in their latest single, describing it as “a gripping meditation on toxic attachment disguised as love.”
The track also marked a pivotal moment for the band’s frontman and guitarist Ahmad Tanji, who channeled his personal emotions and experiences into the song — creating their most sonically and lyrically captivating release to date.
“Stockholm” was accompanied by a Dracula-themed music video where the iconic vampire has been reimagined into a brooding, hopeless romantic, lost in a world that has outgrown him. The video was directed by their long-time collaborator, Darrell Guinn of Hungry Cat Pictures, and was shot entirely in the vibrant city of Bangkok.
“Dracula can almost interact with the world, yet there’s this passive obstacle that prevents him from completely connecting,” Darrel explained. “It felt right for the lyrical mood: like he’s there but not quite seen.”
The band will also be representing the country at this year’s NO HEADLINER 4, which is happening on Oct. 18 to 19, 2025 at West Lake Water Park in Hanoi, Vietnam, and is expected to release an album in November.
Listen to “Stockholm” now. Follow We Are Imaginary on Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), and Instagram.
“Thought Shuffle” by mermaids

The Singapore-based producers just dropped a smooth lo-fi house track with a jazzy twist, the kind of song that makes your morning coffee taste better and keeps you going on those long workdays. The single also brings in saxophonist Roxy Modesto, a familiar name in the rock and jazz scenes of the Philippines and Indonesia, adding that extra layer of soul to the mix.
“I wanted to make a track that bridges my previous work with the current sound I’m dropping at my DJ sets across Southeast Asia," explained the artist. “The improvised nature of Roxy’s sax adds this organic human element on top of the music I produced in a DAW. It's like finding clarity in the noise we all experience more and more of.”
Moreover, this track also represents the artist’s continued commitment to featuring diverse artists from the region, showcasing local talent, and building bridges between Southeast Asia’s music scenes.
Listen to “Thought Shuffle” now. Follow mermaids on Instagram.
“Gossip” by MINH

Vietnamese singer MINH is channeling the sting of betrayal in this razor-sharp pop confessional. “Gossip” was inspired by a real-life friendship break-up that blindsided him, turning it into a catchy and clever pop tune that’s both edgy and bold.
“This song was me not caring anymore, taking back my power. Yeah, I like gossip. So what? People love to shame others for being messy, emotional, or loud. But everyone gossips. If you say you don’t, you’re lying,” MINH shared in a statement.
The track moves like a one-on-one confession, tense and dangerously intimate as it peels back layers of drama after each verse. It’s raw with just a touch of revenge.
Often deemed as a guilty pleasure in Vietnamese culture, gossip is as entertaining as it is hurtful, depending on which side you’re on. MINH leans into that paradox with this new single, as he unapologetically dances on the fine line between pain and play, truth and theatrics.
Listen to “Gossip” now. Follow MINH on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.
“Spark” by Jewel Owusu

This self-written track by Filipino-Ghanaian artist and producer Jewel Owusu reflects on the “what ifs” and the fleeting thoughts and emotions one sometimes feels despite having settled in a relationship. It’s about fantasizing over a connection you know would never work, and how our craving for aliveness can sometimes be mistaken for the thrill of someone new.
This riveting track is wrapped in an electronic pop dance sound that feels like a good time, but in hindsight holds a deeper meaning, which is all about reconnecting with oneself and finding that confidence — your “spark” inside of you.
Listen to “Spark” now. Follow Jewel Owusu on Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram.
“A Little More” by Ed Sheeran

English hitmaker Ed Sheeran is gearing up for the release of his forthcoming album, “Play,” which is slated for release on Sept. 12, 2025. Following up instant hits “Azizam,” “Old Phone,” and “Sapphire” is “A Little More,” a playful track with witty and sharp lyricism, underpinned by a blues sound. Although the lyrics carry words of hate and resentment towards a previous relationship that unraveled, they also carry a message of self-preservation and moral courage.
Ed wrote the song alongside DAVE, who previously worked with him on “Nothing On You” and “F64,” Blake Slatkin (Charli XCX, Kid Laroi), Cirkut (The Weeknd, Lil Nas X), and his long-time collaborator Johnny McDaid.
The single was also accompanied by a music video starring the musician and “Harry Potter” star Rupert Grint, who reprised his role as Ed’s stalker in the 2011 “Lego House” music video.
Listen to “A Little More” now. Follow Ed Sheeran on Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram.
“Portion Control” By Ena Mori

Acclaimed Filipino-Japanese singer-songwriterEna Mori returns with a thrilling new EP, “rOe,” which steps away from the explosive energy of her previous full-length album to present a more introspective and sophisticated body of work.
This coming-of-age project is composed of six tracks that navigate the emotional whiplash of entering your twentieswhile still having one foot planted in childhood. In short, it’s about the paradox of moving forward while feeling stuck.
One of our favorites is “Portion Control,” a powerful pop single that’s both dreamlike and disoriented. It’s deeply emotive and nostalgic, reminiscent of an 80s-inspired sweep. The artist’s voice in this carries a raw vulnerability that perfectly balances the lush synth layers of the track.
We believe this song embodies the production aesthetic of the entire compilation, which leans more into unconventional textures, mixing string quartets with lo-fi guitar sketches, nylon-string plucks with harps, and layered vocal whispers with glitchy electronics. The artist collaborated and co-produced the EP with Tim Marquez to bring this unique sonic landscape to life, one they described as “microbe-like.”
“Tim and I talked a lot about the visual imagery of the album while we were working on the record. We gathered tons of photos and shapes for inspiration, but one of the main things we were trying to capture was this idea of “microbe-like” sounds — something that feels alive from within,” the multi-awarded pop artist explained.
Listen to “rOe” now. Follow Ena Mori on Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram.
“Kuryente” by Jolianne

If you’re at that early stage of crushes and butterflies in your stomach, Jolianne’s new single “Kuryente” is the perfect accompaniment to the soundtrack of your life, as this pop soul track captures the feeling of infatuation in its earliest stages.
The rising Filipino artist teamed up with acclaimed Korean producer Ziv to bring to life this new track co-written by Miguel Benjamin of the award-winning band Ben&Ben, as a love letter to his wife. The song took inspiration from the couple’s intimate anecdotes, letting those tender details shape the music and lyrics.
“That inspired me to make and produce this playful song about how infatuation and early romance feel,” shared Ziv in an official statement. “I really wanted to hit the right balance of expressing who I was through my musical background. Being Korean yet being born here in the Philippines, I wanted to find the right balance of putting both of those influences into the production, which I feel makes it unique.”
“Vocally, this was one of the more challenging songs I’ve put out because it pushed me to access my voice in a different way,” the “Plain Girl” singer added. “From a technical standpoint, I experimented a lot with dynamics and registers. And of course, singing in Tagalog also shaped the way I sounded here, adding another layer of character to the performance.”
Blending funky pop groove with heart-stopping charisma, “Kuryente” merges Jolianne’s silky and infectious vocals with Ziv’s soulful R&B production. Definitely worth a listen!
Listen to “Kuryente” now. Follow Jolianne on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram; and Ziv on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.
“Jealous Type” by Doja Cat

The “Say So” and “Attention” heavy-hitter returns with a new single, “Jealous Type,” which is part of her fifth studio album, “Vie,” coming out this Sept. 26, 2025. The singer penned the track with producers Jack Antonoff (Taylor Swift, Lorde) and Y2K (Ariana Grande, Tate McRae).
Even though the summer is over, “Jealous Type” brings back the heat and fun vibes every time you play it. It’s catchy, groovy, and pure pop perfection — as expected from a Grammy-award-winning artist! We especially love the 80s synth elements and how Doja Cat’s singing voice shines through in this, balancing well with the colorful sounds.
In line with the release of her new album, the artist also announced her first-ever tour across Asia, New Zealand, and Australia. The “Ma Vie World Tour” will kick off on Nov. 18 in Auckland, while the Asian leg will start on Dec. 7 in Manila. This will be followed by Singapore (Dec. 10), Seoul (Dec. 13), Tokyo (Dec. 15), Bangkok (Dec. 18), and Kaohsiung (Dec. 21).
Listen to “Jealous Type” now. Follow Doja Cat on Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram.
“Sue Me” By Audrey Hobert

Singer-songwriter Audrey Hobert just released her much-anticipated debut album, “Who’s the Clown,” led by the single “Sue Me.”
A singer, musical theatre devotee, and dancer, Audrey got her first taste of songwriting when she teamed up with her childhood best friend and then-roommate Gracie Abrams to make her album, “The Secret of Us.” Together, they penned some of Gracie’s standout hits, including “I Love You, I’m Sorry,” and “Risk,” for which Audrey also directed the music videos.
Audrey released her debut single, “Sue Me,” in May, and it was an instant hit! The artist shared more about the song in a statement, saying how it was inspired by feelings of wanting to be desired again.
“It was the fifth song I ever wrote alone and one of the first I made with my producer, Ricky Gourmet. I was with Ricky the week after I had slept with my ex, who I knew still had feelings for me,” she said. “I felt pretty bad about it — although it was a nice evening with him — because deep in my heart I knew I didn’t feel the same way. But we were at the same party and we were — put simply — vibing/reconnecting. It had been a while for me. I thought, 'Jeez, why not?' Hence, ‘being a saint is exhausting.’ I wanna do it, okay? Let me do it. This was one of the only instances in making all of my music where I said out loud to Ricky in his kitchen, ‘Sue me, I wanna be wanted.’ Then I sang it to the melody. Then we made the beat. Then I took that beat home and it was just me and the pen, moonlight, and the truth.”
Listen to “Who’s the Clown” now. Follow Audrey Hobert on X (Formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram.
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