Now Hear This: New music from Little Mix, Carly Rae Jepsen, Thundercat and King Princess plus spotlight artist Ashley McBryde

In her weekly column, The Independent's music correspondent Roisin O'Connor goes through the best and worst releases of the week

Country artist Ashley McBryde

While everyone is still reeling from that Timothee Chalamet/Harry Styles interview, I’m giddy that we have new music from Marina and the Diamonds AND Carly Rae Jepsen in the same week.

It’s a very good time for pop, it seems, whether it’s a familiar face returning after a long hiatus or one of the world’s biggest girl groups (hi, Little Mix) releasing the latest single from their forthcoming album LM5.

Marina and the Diamonds has teamed up with Clean Bandit and Luis Fonsi on the Latin-infused “Baby”. Meanwhile, Carly Rae Jepsen has released a glimmering gem of a synth-pop track plus the accompanying video (which is fun, even if it is one giant advert for Absolut Vodka). “Party for One” is steamier than Jepsen fans will be used to, and one of the most confident explorations of sexuality I’ve heard from a pop singer in recent years.

That said, it’s hard to beat emerging US singer/producer King Princess, born Mikaela Straus, and her new track “Pussy is God”. The 19-year-old artist’s latest track is sensual rather than cheesy – Straus sings with an endearing fondness and is backed by simple piano chords and sweet female harmonies.

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The force of nature that is singer-songwriter Jade Bird has released her fantastic new single, “Love has all been done before”. I love that perky opening with the acoustic guitar; her witty, wry sense of humour and then just the way she belts it out on the chorus. Jade dropped by the Music Box studio earlier this week to record a session which will run on Monday 5 November – I'm very excited for you all to see it!

Her fellow Music Box alumnus Jacob Banks has just released his debut album, Village, an eclectic collection of songs that show off the husky-voiced singer’s range – what runs the whole way through is pure soul. And for anyone looking for a mellow weekend, you couldn’t do much better than check out Thundercat’s team-up with BADBADNOTGOOD and Flying Lotus on “King of the Hill”.

Rag’n’Bone Man fans will be delighted to see he’s teamed up with Professor Green for a big, epic ballad, “Photographs”, which reflects on how sad songs can feel more healing then happy ones when we’re already feeling low. “In life we're encouraged to be inauthentic with our emotions, told to 'cheer up' or 'smile' if we are open about being sad,” Prof Green explains.

“Photographs conjure up so many different emotions. The ones I miss the most are the ones I never took. They are for me, in many ways, the memories I'll never have – especially the ones from my childhood. I wish I had more. After the sadness comes happiness and the hope in those left behind, who carry the good they took from the time spent with the people they've lost.”​

My spotlight this week is fast-rising country music singer Ashley McBryde, who I saw a couple of weeks ago performing a sold-out show at Islington Assembly Hall in London. She was pretty spectacular, with heaps of attitude and a killer voice to match. The gig was in support of her 2018 album Girl Going Nowhere, which is packed with foot-stomping country anthems and heartfelt acoustic ballads.

If you missed the gig, you're in luck – I'm giving readers the first look at this short film about the show, which includes footage of her amazing performance. Watch the video and read my Q&A with Ashley, below.

Hey Ashley! Obviously I was there, but can you tell our readers how your show in London went the other week?

It was incredible! The fans sang so loud they nearly drown me out. I can’t imagine a better way to wrap up this leg of the tour.

I heard you were told certain things about your appearance when you were starting out – do you still feel as though industry sexism is hugely prevalent in the industry?

Oh yeah for sure. Sexism is just part of it. It’s one of the ugly little realities you’ve got to be aware of when you answer the calling of being an entertainer. And honestly it wouldn’t matter if you’re in “ideal shape”... someone would tell you you’re too fat. You’re too this or too that for someone no matter what. The trick is FEELING good about yourself. Which is no small task. There’s nothing wrong with striving to be healthy. Whatever end of the spectrum you’re reaching for. Just do it for your own health. And not for the machine.

Your fans don't seem to care what you look like, just how you sound, so it seems like the industry is the one that needs to change...

The fans care about songwriting and the art of performing it. You’re right. They care that they feel what you feel when you sing and vice versa. Trying to change the industry is like trying to convince a frog it should be climbing trees instead of hopping around – it's not impossible, but improbable for sure. We’re just going to keep doing our thing and we believe the rest will work itself out.

What other country artists should we be listening to right now?

Brothers Osborne: The talent level there is completely insane. They are 360 degrees of incredible talent. Songwriting, vocals and guitar slinging at its finest. Eric Church... just in case anyone is late to that party. Pick any EC album and dive in.

Tyler Childers: This guy is country. And his songwriting and vocals have more honesty in them than you can shake a stick at. And Faren Rachels. She’s just now breaking through. But you’re gonna love her. I’d go to war with Faren.

Your songs are very poignant snapshots of certain moments or people – is there a particular memory or place you find yourself coming back to in your music?

Absolutely. I grew up on a little cattle farm – you can’t ever let yourself get too far away from your roots. The people and places that make you who you are, you’ve got to keep that heartbeat going.

I first started playing in bars in Memphis, Tennessee, and it plays a big roll in my life still to this day. I go back as often as possible and stay in tune with the vibe there.

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What have you got lined up for next year?

Oh man! We have shows with George Strait and Little Big Town early in the year. I am also going to take a little time off to finish writing the second record. And of course, I am coming back to London, Dublin and Glasgow for C2C 2019.