The Playlist: Fever Ray's 'To the Moon and Back' & 10 More New Songs

Every Friday, OUT's pop critics weigh in on the week's most important new music releases. This week saw Fever Ray return after an eight year hiatus with "To the Moon and Back," as well as drops from rising queer talent like Warren Wolfe, K.I.D., and Butter. Watch and listen to everything, below.

"To the Moon and Back" by Fever Ray

Eight years after their last record, The Knife's Karin Dreijer has returned to her Fever Ray alias and she's stranger than ever before. In a video that'll make you rethink your Halloween costume, a bald Dreijer in makeup that would make The Joker blush awakens from being cryogenically frozen to attend a tea party and sing about, among other things, sweet and creamy kisses and running a finger up a pussy. Just like old times. -- CT

"It's Okay to Cry" by Sophie

We've long caught glimpses of the red-haired producer Sophie, who's remained anonymous throughout the beginning stages of her career-working with everyone from Charli XCX to Madonna. Yet, for all the big-name talent, she's kept her performances secretive and mysterious until now. She broke out of the background with the single and self-directed music video for "It's Okay To Cry." The whole thing is instantly iconic and a much needed jolt of soothing, powerful pop that lasers its powerful visuals right into the core of the LGBTQ community. -- HD

"Stranger" by Warren Wolfe

"Nothing feels stranger than to be in bed with a stranger," Wolfe sings. For the Brooklyn-based musician with impeccable music taste, coming out coincided with entering the shadowy, hollow world of hookup apps, which formed the basis for this danceable new pop track. It's in the self-produced new song that we see more of the queer artist than ever before and judging by how addicting his mix of brooding vocals and frenzied pop sensibilities are, we've got a lot to look forward to. -- CT

"Ring-a-Ring O' Roses" by Charlotte Gainsbourg

There's a rogue sense of cool in hearing French words spoken against a kinetic, almost spooky electronic beat. Sure, we don't know what she's saying but it's definitely sensual. By the time the French singer and actress switches to English for a chorus about rings of roses and pockets full of posies, the children's hymn sounds so soothing and beautiful that we can't help but listen to her latest track in awe. With the accompanying video that's exclusive to Apple Music subscribers (because music executives still think exclusive content is a way to win people over), Gainsbourg films her 20-year-old son Ben Attal in a series of romantic moments including a passionate kiss, which would be weird if it were anyone other than Charlotte Gainsbourg. -- CT

"Born to Bond" by Feist

"Born to Bond" is Feist's soft, breathy contribution to the 7 Inches for Planned Parenthood album, which also includes work from Sleater-Kinney, CHVRCHES, Bon Iver, and Sharon Van Etten, to name a few. The song is a gorgeous, atmospheric track perfect to listen to as you softly cry while staring out your window at work, waiting for the weekend. And all proceeds go to benefit Planned Parenthood. -- HD

"Feelings" by Hayley Kiyoko

The former Disney star's new release is a grungy dance track that would work well in a pre-game environment--its catchy hook and strong synthesizers are paired with lyrics about being overemotional and getting "Hooked on all these feelings," something we can all surely relate to as everyone around us seems to be coupling up just in time for the holidays while we remain dancing alone in the corner. -- HD

"Little Dark Age" by MGMT

Just in time for Halloween, MGMT have dropped the gloomy, moody electronic track "Little Dark Age," reminiscent of Depeche Mode, or a more computerized Drums track. As you concoct witch's brew over the weekend, you may want to put this on and bob around the room in a black cloak, contemplating the thin veil that separates the living from the dead. -- HD

Lover Like Me by Off Bloom

The Danish trio of producers that is Off Bloom has a new EP of five songs out this week. It's house music for the house party you'd want to die at, slightly reminiscent of some of the deeper cuts on Justin Bieber's Purpose. Our fave on the new collection is "Golden Dreams," which features a scintillating piano track alongside the synthetic sounds typical to Off Bloom's work. -- HD

"Elevator" by K.I.D.

Sometimes, you've just got to let go of your inhibitions and sing about fingering someone in an elevator. At least that's what K.I.D. is doing in their new track. The Canadian indie rockers released a video to go along with the track that features, yes, someone in an elevator--though it doesn't feature any fingering. The lyric video is a glitchy, video-game-inspired meditation that'll be soothing for anyone who ever spent hours trapping their character in a room on The Sims. Now take the lyrics to heart and remember: "Loving you is good, touching you is better." -- CT

Drippin by Satica

From the streets of Long Beach to writing K-Pop hits, it's safe to say Satica's had a strange journey. Now, with the release of her sensually-titled new EP Drippin, the Cambodian-American singer takes glitched, electronic beats and infuses them with her arresting and disarming vocals. Our favorite is the infectious, lay-in-bed-and-think-about-your-crush bop, "You Are Here." -- CT

"Lifted" by Butter

Paula Deen who? Sorry not sorry to the racist chef, but there's a new butter queen in town and she just delivered the post-summer bop we needed. Set in a technicolor video that would bring a tear to St. Vincent's eye, the musician named after cow byproduct cuddles with pasta noodles, takes cabbage for a walk, and generally just does crazy shit for a wonderfully weird art pop video that'll make you look at food in a whole new way. -- CT

Listen to OUT's full 10/20 playlist, below.