Playlist: 10 tracks you need to hear

Listen to our ten favourite tracks this week, including Cher Lloyd, Kelly Rowland, The Kooks and Josh Osho.

Drake: 'Marvin's Room'
While Canadian rapper Drake exploded on to the US rap scene last year with his debut LP Thank Me Later, he's yet to charm us Brits to the same measure. His second set Take Care is due out this October and this emotionally-charged trailer suggests he has taken a darker tack to proceedings.



Cher Lloyd: 'Swagger Jagger'
Following her time on last year's X Factor, it's safe to say that Ms Lloyd hasn't lost that feisty 'tude. With all forms of modesty thrown out of the window, the 17-year-old star addresses her "haterz" over an infectious mix of hip-hop beats, trance-inspired synths and an intriguing hook sampled from the western folk ballad 'Oh My Darling Clementine'.



The Kooks: 'The Saboteur'
Following the chart success of 2008's Konk, The Kooks return with 'The Saboteur', a mixture of gruff guitars, tinkling piano and Luke Pritchard's familiar lyrical twang. The track is available as a free download ahead of their third studio set Junk Of The Heart, which is out on September 12.



Kelly Rowland: 'Lay it on Me'
With X Factor auditions well under way, K-Ro has not only announced a title and release date for her third album, but she's promptly turned out this R&B-club cut, called 'Lay it on Me'. While it might sound like another 'What's My Name' re-hash, the chorus remains undeniably catchy.



Josh Osho ft. Ghostface Killah: 'Redemption Days'
Half-Nigerian, half-Irish Josh Osho releases his new single 'Redemption Days' on August 8. Featuring a rare cameo from Wu-Tang's Ghostface Killah, this soulful and uplifting number trails his debut album, which is due for release later this year. Watch the official music video below:



Skylar Grey: 'Invisible'
After featuring on a slew of chart hits with hip-hop superstars including Eminem, Dr. Dre and Diddy Dirty Money, the 25-year-old singer-songwriter from Wisconsin is finally taking it solo with a demure track which infuses delicate guitar riffs with a heavy clap beat.



Jakwob: 'Right Beside You'
Far from another reworking of the Sophie B Hawkins classic, this track from DJ and dubstep producer Jakwob is a mix of aggressive beats, gritty lyrics and wobbling basslines - with just a dash of Middle-Eastern strings. His EP Right Beside You is available to download now.



Wynter Gordon: 'Til Death' (Denzal Park Remix)
After delaying her UK debut 'Dirty Talk' by over a year, Wynter Gordon is wasting no time putting out a follow-up. While the verses bear a curious resemblance to Vanessa Carlton's 'Ordinary Day', this re-swizzle courtesy of Denzal Park adds the right amount of beef to the chorus that the original sorely lacks.



Jess Mills: 'Live For What I'd Die For'
After featuring on Breakage's 'Fighting Fire' earlier in the year, Jess Mills releases her new solo track on June 26. With a mixture of sweeping strings and angelic vocals merging with moments of underlying dubstep reverb and techno synths, expect her to surprise crowds at this year's summer festivals.



Ben Howard: 'The Wolves'
Spurring on the return of acoustic music to the charts, 23-year-old singer-songwriter Ben Howard has played a string of concerts across Europe with his collection of folk-infused ballads. Due to play at this year's Hop Farm Music Festival, he releases his debut single, 'The Wolves', on July 18.



Which are your favourite tracks on this week's playlist? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to? Leave your comments in the box below: