[2026] Great for drives too! A roundup of the latest stylish Western music

FacilitaFred again.. · Caribou · Menor Teteu

Facilita

In October 2025, a three-way collaboration track was released by Fred again..—a leading figure in the UK electronic scene—together with Canadian electronic musician Caribou and Brazilian funk carioca MC Menor TeTeu.

The track fuses the raw energy of baile funk, born on Brazil’s streets, with the refined production of UK club music at a high level, with a Portuguese hook and chopped callouts generating a hypnotic, repetitive groove.

Caribou’s signature organic synth textures blend naturally with Fred again..’s talent for turning vocal fragments into instruments, crafting a design that is melodic yet delivers bursts of immediacy.

In the same week, the trio performed live in Lyon, France, creating buzz by linking the release with an on-site show.

It stands as a 2025 benchmark in dance music, bridging global club culture with local festivity.

HandsupMura Masa

Mura Masa – Handsup (Official Video)

Curve +1 is a four-track EP dropped in October 2025 by Murda Masa, the genius producer from Guernsey, via the independent label Pond Recordings.

Closing out the record, this track is a floor-focused banger that distills the raw energy of rave and electroclash into a minimal framework.

Its ebb and flow—driven by looping handclaps, filtered vocal chops, and a throbbing sub-bass—is engineered precisely for those hands-in-the-air moments in the club.

Directed by The Reids, the music video leaves a strong impression with close-ups of interlacing hands on the dancefloor, emphasizing the intimacy of dance and its tactile quality.

Situated as a direct extension of the previous album Curve 1, which made a bold return to rave aesthetics, this song showcases a new frontier for Murda Masa that prioritizes the body’s immediate reaction on the floor.

FrictionThe Midnight

The Midnight – ‘Friction’ (Official Visualizer)

From Syndicate, the album released in October 2025 by The Midnight—the synthwave duo that continues to push the frontiers of electronic music—we’ve picked a track with a fierce groove.

It paints, in electric imagery, the act of tearing off the mask and seeking freedom amid the suffocation and anonymity of the city, with striking metaphors like static sparks and circuits.

Built on an ’80s-style synth sound layered over a four-on-the-floor beat, it stands as a symbolic work that caps off the trilogy continuing from their 2022 release, Heroes.

The tight rhythm and steadily rising tension feel great—perfect for a drive or a night cruise.

Body GoMOLIY ft. Tyla

MOLIY ft. Tyla – “Body Go” (Official Music Video)

This track brings together Ghanaian singer-songwriter Molly and Grammy-winning artist Tyla.

Blending South Africa–born Amapiano with Afrobeats, it’s crafted as a global dance anthem.

Centered on themes of a night out with girlfriends and a sense of liberation, the confident vocals and heavy bassline really stand out.

Released in October 2025, it was produced on the momentum of Molly’s previous hit, “Shake It to the Max (FLY),” which surpassed 1 billion streams.

It’s the perfect song for dancing at the club or turning up the energy at a party with friends.

DesirePuma Blue

Puma Blue – Desire (Official Video)

Puma Blue is the musical project by London-born singer-songwriter Jacob Allen.

Known for blending elements of jazz, soul, and R&B with his own sensibility, his new track released in October 2025 is a distilled embodiment of his sound.

Falsetto vocals—both aching and sweet—intertwine with airy guitar and saxophone, unfolding a sensual soundscape that feels like surrendering to the stillness of the late night.

While introspectively exploring the theme of desire, it maintains a deft balance that never becomes too heavy.

Following 2021’s In Praise of Shadows and 2023’s Holy Waters, this release signals a further evolution in his discography.

It’s the perfect song for unwinding before sleep or for moments of solitary reflection.

Deep DivingAfter

After – Deep Diving (Official Music Video)

After is a male-female duo based in Los Angeles.

The two, both born on August 23, 1995, met on a dating app and have been gaining attention for their unique sound that fuses trip-hop with Y2K pop.

Released in June 2025, this track feels like diving underwater, with floating, immersive synths and lo-fi drum loops weaving a dreamlike atmosphere.

The lyrics delve into deep emotions, beautifully harmonizing with a soundscape that reinterprets early-2000s nostalgia through a contemporary lens.

The vocal timbre—reminiscent of Caroline Polachek—is captivating, making this a perfect piece for nighttime drives or quiet introspection.

Baby Blue (feat. Oliver Sim)SG Lewis

SG Lewis – Baby Blue (feat. Oliver Sim)

SG Lewis from the UK is a multifaceted artist active as a singer-songwriter and producer.

Seamlessly traversing genres like deep house, synth-pop, and funk, he’s a proven talent who has also written songs for numerous artists, including Dua Lipa.

This is the lead single from his third album, “Anemoia,” set for release in September 2025.

The track features The xx’s Oliver Sim on vocals and comes together as a dance tune imbued with the sparkle of disco.

Reflecting the album’s overarching theme—nostalgia for an era one has never experienced—it blends a certain wistful emotion into its glamorous sound.

Its nostalgic world evokes faint memories of young love, making for a wonderfully comfortable vibe.

It feels like the perfect song for moments when you want to linger in a touch of sentimentality, wrapped in sophisticated production.