What I'm Listening to This Week: Madison Ryann Ward, Labrinth & Zendaya, and Drake (as Usual)
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In this edition of What I'm Listening to This Week, Drake interrupts my Hot Girl Summer with a compilation album of his nostalgic deep cuts, and Zendaya interrupts my emotional wellbeing with her "All For Us" vocals. And speaking of vocals, newcomer Madison Ryann Ward did that with her four-song EP, which features a fantastically sorrowful breakup song for any of you lonely hearts out there. Here's what you should slam the play button on this week and why.
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Care Package by Drake
Drake went ahead and got his longtime, ride-or-die fans in their feelings with this compilation album, and I don't know whether to thank him or curse his name. His emotional deep cuts aren't totally in line with the Hot Girl Summer I had planned, but you know. . . plans change.
Standout tracks: "Dreams Money Can Buy" and "Draft Day," because they slapped then and slap now.
"All For Us" by Labrinth and Zendaya
I never actually stopped listening to Labrinth's "All For Us" when it first played during Euphoria's third episode, so having the new version (which features gorgeous vocals from Zendaya) on repeat wasn't too much of a stretch for me. The entire Euphoria soundtrack is gold, but I'm especially glad to have this track to get me through the wait for season two.
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Beyond Me by Madison Ryann Ward
The Oklahoma-born singer was first brought to our attention last year, when she was featured in JAY-Z's episode of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, the David Letterman interview series on Netflix. Ward was shown recording in the studio with JAY, Letterman, and producer Rick Rubin, and blew the group away with her vocals. As you'll hear on the 4-song EP, her voice is just exquisite.
Standout track: "BRKN," because it's just a perfect post-breakup song.