Earlier this month The Killers made their grand return to the spotlight with the soaring new single ‘boy’. The nostalgic, synth-driven anthem marks the band’s first release since 2021’s ‘Pressure Machine’, and was premiered during the band’s performance at this year’s Mad Cool Festival. Speaking ahead of the song’s live debut Brandon Flowers explained to NME that the track: “was the song that took me back home and was sort of the impetus for writing [2021 album] ‘Pressure Machine’. What’s interesting is that it just didn’t make it onto the record – but its absence is not a reflection of the quality of the song. It was an aesthetic decision to keep it off the record.”
The stadium sing-along ‘boy’ is one of our top additions to the NME Radio playlist this week, along with the latest single from Poppy Ajudha’s recent record, a standout track from Calvin Harris’ highly-anticipated full-length return, and fresh cuts from Doechii, Mall Grab, Four Tet and more.
Check out the rest of the new tracks on NME 1 and 2 below:
On the A List:
The Killers
‘boy’
Having confronted the harsh realities of their hometown on ‘Pressure Machine’, it seems The Killers are ready to return to the bright lights and arenas they’ve embraced from the beginning. The uplifting, New Order-esque dance number leaves behind the Americana stylings of their past two records in favour of more familiar territory.
Over neon-coloured synths and Dave Keuning’s signature soaring lead guitar, Brandon Flowers belts, “And when you’re out on a ledge / Please come down, boy”. When they return to the stage, we’re certain this future fan favourite will have you belting along too. – Eli Ordonez
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
Poppy Ajudha
‘NO!’
Off her latest record ‘The Power In Us’, this Jungle-produced rager finds Ajudha trading her sultry vocals for a primal scream. As its misleading soulful intro abruptly cuts to a fast-paced backbeat and distorted guitars, Poppy makes it clear that she’s going for the jugular. “” she yells, exorcising the frustrations she’s bottled up against an unjust world. – EO
