New Music Friday: Charli xcx, Shania Twain, The Strokes and more

What’s on this week’s New Music Friday playlists?

New Music Friday albums 💿

Giddy up! Shania Twain is back in the saddle with seventh studio album Little Miss Twain. Billed as her most personal record yet, the LP revisits her teenage years and roots, weaving the rock and R&B she grew up on into that unmistakable Western twang. Featuring Dirty Rosie, Josh Homme collab Faded Blue Jeans and title track Little Miss Twain featuring none other than country queen Tanya Tucker, could it follow 2023’s Queen Of Me to secure Shania a fourth UK Number 1 album?

Charli xcx expands her creative empire with Music, Fashion, Film; a collision of culture, celebrity and crunchy guitars. Boasting singles Rock Music, SS26, Wink Wink and Camera, even the artwork is a major production, starring John Cale, Marc Jacobs and Martin Scorsese. Should it reach the summit, the record would become Charli’s fourth UK Number 1 album – and her second chart-topper of 2026 alone, following Wuthering Heights.

Snow Patrol throw the doors wide open on a landmark album this week, as an expanded 20th anniversary edition of Eyes Open arrives this week. The Northern Irish band’s fourth studio LP propelled them from alt-rock favourites to arena-filling heavyweights, becoming their first UK Number 1 album and the Official biggest album of 2006.

The bumper 36-track anniversary edition pairs the original album with B-sides, rare live and stripped-back performances, remixes and newly penned sleeve notes from Gary Lightbody. Its release also arrives just days after the Official Albums Chart celebrated its 70th anniversary on July 22 – a milestone that saw Snow Patrol become the inaugural recipients of Official Charts’ Hall of Fame Award, recognising the album’s extraordinary chart legacy, enduring cultural impact and continued connection with fans.

Reality check: New York rock royalty The Strokes are finally back. Recorded in Costa Rica with super-producer Rick Rubin and completed across the globe, Reality Awaits marks the band’s first studio album since 2020’s The New Abnormal, which peaked at Number 3. Featuring early tasters Going Shopping and Falling Out of Love, could the nine-track set deliver the band a second UK Number 1 LP, two decades after First Impressions of Earth topped the chart?

Tyla puts the A in A*POP with her hugely anticipated second studio album. Framed as an African-inspired, unapologetic and confident next chapter, the record includes viral single CHANEL and Zara Larsson team-up SHE DID IT AGAIN, pushing the South African superstar’s amapiano-infused pop into even more ambitious territory.

The Thread, WILLOW‘s second album of 2026 following petal rock black, reunites the genre-defying musician with longtime collaborator Chris Greatti for 10 fresh tracks, including Talk On The Hill and She’s My Religion.

Bad luck? Waterparks aren’t buying it. The Houston trio return with sixth studio album JINX, the long-awaited follow-up to 2023’s INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, promising another technicolour collision of pop-punk, electronic flourishes and gleeful genre-switching chaos. Featuring RED GUITAR, PROWLER, ANY MINUTE NOW and BETTER THAN THERAPY, can JINX outpace its predecessor’s Number 10 peak to become the band’s biggest UK album yet?

Elsewhere, expect big new releases from the likes of SONGER (WHAT IF I SAY NO?), Alex Cameron (Late To Set), Rico Nasty (RX), Nick Hakim (I Can See) and foodman (HIKARIGASASHIKOMU).

Now, onto singles.

New Music Friday singles 🎶

KATSEYE bare their teeth on Animal, the latest cut from forthcoming third EP WILD, dropping August 14. With every comeback pushing the global girl group further up the Official Singles Chart – most recently to Number 14 with PINKY UP – could this be the track that finally sends them into the UK Top 10 and turns KATSEYE into a full-blown national obsession? Read our thoughts here.

Speaking of Dream Academy alumni, Slovak pop provocateur ADÉLA checks out of Hollywood on new single Ain’t In LA. Already road-tested during her support slot on Demi Lovato’s It’s Not That Deep Tour, the track continues the build towards ADÉLA’s upcoming debut LP, following KGB and Red Bottoms, and proves KATSEYE aren’t the Netflix show’s only alumni with global pop stardom in their sights.

Nothing like a messy night out with FLO! Renée, Jorja and Stella bring us back to the bar for another round on Remedied, with their second album Therapy At The Club to follow on August 7.

Eels serve up two contrasting tastes of upcoming 16th studio album Cookie Happened, due October 16. Sweeping and existential, All Forgotten sees frontman E contemplate mortality with the melancholy and wit synonymous with the band, while I’m On Standby is a warmer ode to the kind of friendship that survives life’s curveballs and chaos.

Fresh from headlining Pride in London, MNEK returns with OH NO!! ALL THE BOYS!!, the latest preview of forthcoming album BULLDOZER!!, coming September 18. Co-produced with Jon Shave, the glossy pop cut looks back on romantic misfires and the full-body cringe that comes with remembering relationships that really could’ve gone better.

Gotts Street Park, a Leeds-based trio of instrumentalists and producers, join forces with Celeste on Easy, the latest track from their upcoming second studio record Somewhere Between, landing October 16.

Ahead of their upcoming EP You Like Ugly, Don’t You Babe?, landing September 9, Scottish singer-songwriter Blair Davie unveils new single You Must Be A Miracle, while London newcomers Kissmet offer up Memory Star.

There’s an iconic link-up between Chase & Status, J Hus and Irah on Disgruntled, as Cloonee and Prospa join forces once again on Good Girl, with the help of Tristan Henry.

Mr Worldwide is back in business! Pitbull reunites with Jason Derulo for PRIVACY, a glossy, globe-spanning collaboration produced by STYREOTYPES. Dale! 🧑‍🦲

London-born, LA-based artist JHart writes a love letter to his inner child on Bby Blue, Sam Smith serves up Oh Mother and singer, songwriter and social media star Arthur Hill releases Careless Whisper (Live From Wembley Arena) in celebration of the 42nd anniversary of George Michael‘s iconic single.

In anticipation of their eighth studio album Room 12, due September 2, LP unleashes uplifting new tune Best in Life and, as she continues her support slot on Bruno Mars‘ The Romantic Tour, Victoria Monét drops Reach Out.

Expect more big releases from Morgan Wallen (Been By Now), Martin Garrix and U2 (Fireflies), Natalie Imbruglia (Just Drive), Kojo Funds (How Many), Chloe Qisha (Baby Girl), CHINCHILLA (Dog Eat Dog) and Murex (Flock of Swans Fly in V’s).