Music of the Month: 15 Songs from October to Play on Repeat

Every month we gather our favorite new songs and compile them in a list, crafted just for you. Artists who took breaks reappeared in October with some fire new tracks. Harry Styles, JoJo, JT from City Girls and Lil Kim all dropped amazing projects, putting long waits to an end. Below you’ll find our favorite 15 songs released in October 2019. *headphones in* 

“Highest in the Room” hit number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 in October. Fans have been waiting for this track since April, when Kylie Jenner teased it in a Kylie Jenner Kybrow cosmetics ad. The banger marks Travis Scott’s second song to hit the top of the Hot 100 charts, after “Sicko Mode.” The standalone track reflects on the Houston-rapper’s previous relationship with Jenner and his testimony as the most intoxicated person in the room. 

It’s been two long years since we’ve been blessed with a Harry Styles song, but “Lights Up” proves it was worth the wait. Released on National Coming Out Day, the track’s music video features the British musician surrounded by men and women caressing him. Fans had no idea the track was bound to come out, as he only posted a preview on his Instagram a few hours before its debut. A combination of desolate lyrics and sweet-sounding vocals is building the hype for his sophomore album.   

You might recognize this dreamy track from Camila Cabello’s recent performance on Saturday Night Live. In “Easy,” the American-Cuban singer talks about a bad relationship that taught her to love herself more. Relatable and enlightening, this track is the fourth song released from her upcoming album, Romance. “Easy” is one of those songs that gets better with repeated play, making the listener see the depth of the message. 

From start to finish, “Big Stepper” is a catchy stylistic track. With exceptional wordplay and a smooth flow to accompany killer lyrics, Roddy Ricch continuously proves his place in the rap game. The Compton, California-born artist raps with charismatic ease that is nothing less of sly.

JT is out of jail and not wasting any time to hop back on the hip-hop train. In “JT First Day Out,” the City Girls member reflects on her time spent in prison for credit card fraud. On Oct. 9, the Miami-bred rapper was released from prison and went straight to work by clocking in several studio hours and catching up with fans on social media. The track is attributed to City Girls but mostly features JT talking about her time in jail, debunking rumors and Yung Miami’s loyalty during her time away. The song was recorded on the first day of her release.

FKA twigs is scheduled to release her second album, Magdalene, on Nov. 8. Twigs has given us another sneak peek of what to expect on the album by dropping “Home with You” and a tastefully crafted music video to accompany it. The gloomy track, matched with melodies that seep into your brain, explores a relationship filled with love and suffering. In an interview with Pitchfork, twigs described her inspiration for the ballad, “You can take the girl out of the suburbs but you can’t take the suburbs out of the girl. ‘Home With You’ reinforced my reoccurring suspicion that when I’m in doubt, I should follow my gut and go home.”

This country love song has the range to be on the playlist at every wedding you attend this year. In “Kinfolks,” Sam Hunt talks about introducing a new love interest to his family and friends, solidifying his seriousness for their relationship. The song came 17 months after the country singer’s last release and is arguably a top hit in his library. The combination of fairytale lyrics and Western harmonies make for replay-worthy record.

It’s been a while since we’ve received new music from JoJo. Famous for her song “Leave (Get Out),” the 28-year-old singer-songwriter is reinventing her image with a more mature and classical sound, but her soulful vocals remain untouched and consistently admired. In “Joanna,” JoJo playfully reflects on the constant push she receives from labels, fans and the music industry to reignite her career. As amazing as Joanna sounds, we’re glad JoJo gave it the time it deserved.  

Gucci Mane isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. On Oct. 17, Mr. La Flare released Woptober II, his second LP of 2019. It was hard to choose just one song off this fresh album, but a first-time collab with Megan Thee Stallion seems like a fair choice. In “Big Booty,” Gucci Mane and the Houston rapper team up to discuss their love for big butts, resulting in the perfect track for twerking.

After 14 years of silence, Lil Kim is back. “You Are Not Alone” is the sixth track on her newly released fifth studio album, 9. Legendary as ever, Kim shows she is still an influence and top contender in hip-hop, even after such a long hiatus. “You Are Not Alone” has an old-school and nostalgic sound, similar to Kim’s original style with a little revamping.

Anna Wise, popularly known for her features on Kendrick Lamar songs, just released her fourth studio album, As It Were Forever. Delivered with passion and raw emotion, “Abracadabra” marks our favorite song from the project. The combination of a powerful theme of self-love and Wise’s soulful vocals, paired with a poetic verse from British rapper Little Simz, gives this track strong weight.

“Twenty-Something”—from singer-songwriter WEKS’ 20 Something album—explores the confusion and frustration that many people face in their 20s before “figuring it all out.” WEKS is an artist on the rise, whose vocals have been compared to Carly Simon and Carole King with lyrical matter that often focuses on relationships and raw human experiences. This 25-year-old multi-instrumentalist has the range to end up on your favorite public playlist in the near future. 

Maybe you haven’t heard of LYYN, but you’ll be tuned in after listening to her new track “Heat Wave.” Just in time for Halloween, this seductive, spooky pop song with post-apocalyptic vibes will transport you to the dance floor of a late-night warehouse party. And just in time for Scorpio season, the track delves into a spooky embrace of how thrilling a new infatuation can be. The Chinese-American singer is nothing short of sprung. The combination of a ’90s R&B sound and witch house-inspired beat makes this harmonically rich tune one worth repeated plays.

“Raising Hell” is the lead single on Kesha’s upcoming album, High Road. In an interview with Radio.com, she described the inspiration for the song’s naughty theme: “The concept of the song is that good people sometimes enjoy doing bad things, and it doesn’t take away from you being a fantastic soul.” Paired with vocals from bounce-music icon Big Freedia, “Raising Hell” is the perfect track for your next dance party.

Rapper, singer and songwriter Doja Cat never fails to amaze us. “Rules” is a work of instrumental genius and a single from Doja’s second studio album, Hot Pink. Released with aesthetically pleasing and highly stylized visuals, “Rules” is the singer's most explicit and compelling expression yet. In the song, Doja takes on the role of a Mafia Boss, rapping about her low tolerance for mind games and BS.