On The Record: Fourth, Laufey, ADÉLA, TAEYONG and Everything We Jammed to in April

At the end of each month, we go On the Record to share the newest songs on our playlist. Bringing the international music scene straight to your device, each list contains a combination of established and up-and-coming artists from around the world.

Ushering in a new season, April releases brought energy and rhythm in global flavors. All around the world, from Colombia to Thailand, artists leaned into experimentation, genre fusion and stepping out of their comfort zone.

From Fourth’s mellow and romantic serenade and Yves’ tense pop to Laufey’s smooth bossa nova and TAEYONG’s gritty collaboration with Anderson .Paak, here’s everything music editor Valentina Reni Doukeris curated for your playlist.

What’s your favorite April release? Don’t forget to cast your vote for your favorite songs and check back at the end of next week to see NMM readers’ favorite song of April 2026.

StarBe – “Inferno”

Indonesian gir group StarBe’s newest single, “Inferno,” is three minutes of intense bass, hypnotic vocals and femme-fatale energy. In the three-minute track, the quartet turns up the heat with a combination of vocal and rap displays alongside the song’s anti-drop, danceable chorus and crescendoing bridge.

LE SSERAFIM – “CELEBRATION”

Five-piece act LE SSERAFIM is staking their claim in the recent wave of ‘90s techno-inspired K-pop. “CELEBRATION,” the group’s newest single, is a straightforward, resoundingly bold track that demands its listeners do one thing: celebrate. Accordingly, the song’s 150 beats-per-minute tempo bolsters an energetic performance, where Sakura, Chaewon, Yunjin, Kazuha and Eunchae deliver club-worthy choreography.

ADÉLA – “KGB”

ADÉLA released her latest hyperpop anthem, “KGB,” as the first taste of her forthcoming debut album. The Slovak starlet draws lyrical inspiration from both her Eastern European upbringing and long-time aspiration to perform on a global scale to craft an autobiographical single that serves as a promise of sorts—watch ADÉLA become a pop icon. Balancing risqué and fun, “KGB” is accompanied by a music video where ADÉLA simultaneously asserts her status as an idiosyncratic artist and proves to be a style icon in the making.

Boza & Beéle – “Hasta Abajo”

Boza & Beéle reunite to take on dancehall with “Hasta Abajo.” Dedicated to the raw intimacy created on a heated dance floor, “Hasta Abajo” wastes no time with niceties. Boza and Beéle are explicit with what they want from their night. The duo, well-versed in urban Latin sound, feels at home over the song’s dominant bass line and sultry, minimalistic rhythm.

Taeyong & Anderson .Paak – “Rock Solid”

NCT rapper Taeyong expands his catalog as a soloist with the 90s-inspired “Rock Solid.” Following his military service discharge, Taeyong returns to the music arena with a collaboration with California native Anderson .Paak. In the 2:38-minute track, Taeyong delivers his familiar, groovy flow over a catchy instrumental that fuses hip-hop and Neo-Soul elements. The recurring chant of “rock solid,” imbued in the song’s instrumental construction, is perfectly designed to get stuck in your head.

Yves & Lolo Zouaï – “NAIL”

South Korean singer Yves continues her journey into experimental pop with “NAIL,” featuring American singer Lolo Zouaï. Laden with tension, the team-up brings together two of electronic-pop’s most notable figures. Yves trades falsettos for a demanding, whisper-sung chorus, while Lolo Zouaï delivers dreamy vocals in a bilingual section.

XngHan&Xoul – “Glow”

South Korean singer Seunghan, artistically known as XngHan, debuts his first EP with a cross-industry collaborative project titled XngHan&Xoul. In “Glow,” the track giving the name to the EP, XngHan dives into the type of electronic dance sound that marked K-pop in the 2010s. “Glow” thrives on its combination of genres, uplifting energy and smooth delivery. Paired with high-energy performance and ultra-modern styling, the song is an instant addition to any pre-summer playlist.

no na – “rollerblade”

Proving once again their adaptability as a unit, Indonesian girl group no na makes a genre-crossing comeback with “rollerblade.” The track blends elements of reggaeton with gamelan, a style of traditional Indonesian ensemble music, placing percussion at center stage for the song’s under-two-minute duration. To match the single’s demanding tempo, no na exchanges their signature vocal demonstrations for rap-singing and high-energy choreography.

XO – “Hotline”

UK-based quintet XO joins the ranks of 2020s girl groups reclaiming the music industry. Their first single of the year, “Hotline,” is a lesson in high-energy confidence. Highlighting the group’s vocal diversity, members Summer Askew, Shali Bordoni, Zoe Miller, Emmy Statham and Reanna Sujeewon master the art of layering tones to deliver addictive harmonies.

Anitta & Los Brasileros – “Meia Noite”

Anitta draws on her decade-long experience as a musician to enter an introspective, unmistakably Brazilian era with EQUILIBRIVM. Her latest album is a passionate homage to Brazilian history, culture and tradition that builds upon her musical legacy. In “Meia Noite,” the 14th track on the album, Anitta connects with her Afro-Brazilian roots. Though short, the track packs a meaningful, rhythmic punch with a nearly ritualistic chorus and intense Afro-Brazilian percussion.

Camila Ramón – “Mary Jane”

Argentine singer Camila Ramón drew on her experience as a Peloton instructor for her fifth single, “Mary Jane.” The reggaeton track, whose instrumental picks up as the song progresses, encourages movement with its catchy percussion and dance-pop escalation. As the singer explains, “Mary Jane” is all about “getting so lost in the music, in the moment, in someone, that nothing else exists.”

Olivia Rodrigo – “drop dead”

Olivia Rodrigo may be entering her lovergirl era with “drop dead,” the lead single off her upcoming third album. ”drop dead” is subtle and love-stricken, with a tone that feels novel in Rodrigo’s discography, but remains loyal to her musical style. The song contains all of the singer’s signature pop-punk elements, from emotional belting and bubbly percussion to melodic sing-rapping, making it a perfect introduction to you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, slated for June release.

Niall Horan – “Little More Time”

Niall Horan is gearing up for his fourth studio album, Dinner Party, with “Little More Time.” In this uptempo guitar-led title track, the Irish singer details the intimate reluctance to let an enjoyable moment become a memory. With duclet vocals and Horan’s favored folk-pop sensibilities, the song encourages listeners to press pause to stay in the moment.

“I spend a lot of time away from home. So having found roots and wanting to be at home more, I felt compelled to write a song about the smaller moments and wishing that you could just stay in them,” explained the star in a press release.

Midnight Til Morning – “Math”

American-Australian boy band Midnight Til Morning looks for the root of their problems in “Math.” In this dynamic, pop-rock track, the quartet (consisting of Shane Appell, Zach Newbould, Conor Smith and Mason Watts) uses numerical word play, robust percussion and ramping guitars to tell the familiar tale of a complicated relationship.

Karol G & Greg Gonzalez – “Después de ti”

Colombian trailblazer Karol G is no stranger to history-making and record-setting moments. At Coachella, where she became the first-ever Latina to headline the festival, the singer debuted one of her most vulnerable performances to date. “Después de ti,” featuring Greg Gonzalez of Cigarettes After Sex, is a melancholic story of loss, grief and absence.

Fourth – “อยู่ด้วยกันนะ (Every Single Day)”

Multifaceted artist Fourth expands his work off screen and channels his inner heartthrob, vocally and visually, with “อยู่ด้วยกันนะ (Every Single Day).” Thriving on its combination of honey-tinged vocals and earnest lyrics, the mellow tune tells a romantic story of devotion and longing. The accompanying music video features fellow Thai idol Prim, spotlighting the duo’s tangible chemistry as Fourth yearns for her love.

Laufey – “Madwoman”

Laufey’s smooth voice and lower register shine in the minimalistic bossa nova single “Madwoman.” The song’s deceptively upbeat instrumental masks blunt lyrics about a compulsive and toxic relationship. In the music video, Laufey deals with an irresistible infatuation with leading man and fast-rising Hollywood darling Hudson Williams, who you probably recognize from the media phenomenon Heated Rivalry. Meanwhile, a cast of celebrated female co-stars comprising actress Lola Tung, Olympic gold medallist Alysa Liu and singer Megan Skiendiel of Katseye encourage her through rose-colored glasses.