10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of April 12, 2024
It truly could not be a better week for Sabrina Carpenter fans, as the release of her fiery new single, "Espresso," happens to coincide with her Coachella debut tonight.
And ahead of one of the biggest weekends of music of the year, our favorite artists did not let them down, with new releases from everyone from Perrie and Wallows to K-pop sensations EPEX. To learn more about the songs that have us obsessed, keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of April 12, 2024.
(Photo credit: Island Records)
1. Rowan Drake Clings to the Past in 'why'
Rising singer-songwriter Rowan Drake has a sound that never fails to touch our souls, and his new single, "why" is especially powerful. With gentle, yearning vocals and melancholic strings against the strum of an acoustic guitar, it's a song about clinging to past love and coming to understand just how self-destructive that can be. "'Why' is the beginning of a chapter of music born from longing and confusion," Rowan revealed in a press release. "It's a pattern I noticed in my life of destroying beautiful things that threatened to occupy the space my past lover holds. Even as she pushes forward with great force into her new life, I seem to cling to her from afar and refuse to allow new people or joys into my life. `Why' is me questioning my devotion to someone who has clearly chosen to turn away from me. But yet my cycle of holding on continues."
Also read about: Rowan Drake Confronts His Own Selfishness After a Breakup in 'Part of You'
2. Lexa Gates Shares Her Struggle in 'Stacy's Chips'
Lexa Gates immediately caught our attention with her pita chip-inspired new single, "Stacy's Chips," and held it with her smooth bars and infectious sound. The all-too-relatable track blends hip-hop and dreamy R&B sounds as she reflects on life, and the fact that the more she tries to treat herself right and practice self-care, the less it feels like she's making any difference. It's the first single off her upcoming debut album, set to release this summer, and we cannot wait to see what else the artist has in store for us.
3. The Lemon Twigs Take Us Back to the '60s in 'How Can I Love Her More?'
As massive fans of classic rock, we can't resist the sibling duo The Lemon Twigs and their nostalgic sound, evoking cherry '60s classics, and "How Can I Love Her More?" feels plucked right out of that time period without losing any of its freshness. With horns, strings, woodwinds and even theremin and harpsichord backing crisp vocals, it's evocative of The Beatles, The Beach Boys and The Monkees all at once, and it was even recorded the old-school way, on tape. "With 'How Can I Love Her More?' we tried to bridge the gap between professional Brill Building writing and the more off the wall writing style of the post-Sgt Pepper psychedelic scene," shared the duo's Michael D'Addario in a press release. "There are a lot of musical ideas, but it's still a catchy pop song. We had a lot of fun with the recording of this one, overdubbing two drum sets, some theremin, and strings and horns (all played by Brian)." The song will also be a key track on their upcoming album, A Dream Is All We Know, out May 3, which is sure to delight.
4. EMELINE Tears Down Toxic Men in Style With '99 boys'
The moment we started listening to EMELINE's new single "99 boys" and recognized the tune, we knew we would be hooked, and the rest of the song outdid all of our expectations. The new track interpolates the '80s hit song "99 Luftballons" by Nena to create one of the catchiest tracks we've heard all year, with a danceable beat and hooky snyths. Even better, its lyrics make fun of the behavior of guys who think they're special and toxic men everywhere. "'99 boys' feels like the moment you realize the ick has overpowered any feelings that once were there," EMELINE shared in a press release. "We all get screwed over and blinded by love sometimes, but I hope this song can feel like the moment you laugh about the guy with your friends instead of having to cry about him. I also definitely unintentionally described all of my male exes in this hook, but it's all love to the ones who didn't do me dirty… I still love hazel eyes."
Also read about: How EMELINE Channeled Her Newfound Strength Into 'this is how i learn to say no'
5. Noga Erez Needs to Vent on 'Vandalist'
All eyes should be on alt-pop artist Noga Erez in 2024. She just shared her brash and bold new single "Vandalist," blending hip-hop and dance elements to create a sound that's never predictable but always just right. It's a song about distrust and fear that's justified in a world full of fakes, serving as a rallying cry against the haters. "'Vandalist' is a musical middle finger, a song born out of frustration and a need to vent," Noga shared in a press release. "This song is my response to those who try to define me based on false assumptions and ignorance. I hope this track resonates with anyone else feeling angry or fed up with the world's hypocrisy." It will also be on Noga's third album, arriving sometime in 2024.
6. Jesse Jo Stark Doesn't Feel Herself in 'Skeleton'
Rock artist Jesse Jo Stark is rapidly on the rise, and her new single "Skeleton" may be her most relatable yet. With a hazy guitar sound and far-off vocals that feel like you're listening in from another world, the song simply spilled out of her, written in fewer than 10 minutes. It's about not feeling at home in your own skin, and the power others have to further wreck our senses of self. "'Skeleton' embodies my stream of consciousness on a day I wasn't feeling at home in the vessel I was given," Jesse Jo said in a press release. "It's hard enough to be who you are, and yet, so easy for others to tear apart… then I remember with a smile, we are all just skeletons."
7. EPEX Reflect on Their Younger Days in Youth Chapter 1 : YOUTH DAYS
K-pop sensations EPEX just released first full-length album since their 2021 debut, Youth Chapter 1 : YOUTH DAYS, and it's incredible to see the group's growth over the last three years. Now that all of the members are adults, they're ready to tell a new story, and all eight songs revolve around themes of youth while showcasing the group's signature energy. "We are coming back with our first full-length album centered around the theme of youth," EPEX's MU explained in a press release. "As all of our members have become adults this year, we've filled this album with the essence of youth that best represents us now. From our teenage years, which marked the beginning of EPEX, to our youth, we can convey our stories well. We would appreciate it if you could join us and listen to our youth together. Since it's a really good album, we hope for a lot of interest and anticipation!"
Also read about: How EPEX Explored Themes of a Broken Heart in Prelude of Love Chapter 2. 'Growing Pains'
8. Wallows Pursue a Secret Romance in 'Calling After Me'
It's songs like alt-rock trio Wallows' new single "Calling After Me" that make it clear why they're superstars. The group—led by actor Dylan Minnette and rounded out by Braeden Lemasters and Cole Preston—just dropped the track's laidback music video, perfectly matching its chill sound. It's a song about a new relationship that's forming under the radar, and the double-edged sword of pursuing a romance in secret. It'll also appear on their upcoming third album, Model, which arrives May 24.
9. Perrie Looks Back on Love in 'Forget About Us'
Perrie is best known as a member of the English girl group sensations Little Mix, but she's ready to pave her way as a solo artist with the release of her first-ever solo single, "Forget About Us." Co-written by Perrie herself, it's an upbeat yet bittersweet pop anthem about reflecting on past love and, even though you've moved on, hoping that, sometimes, they still think about you, too. "I look back on past relationships and do think happily about those times," Perrie shared in a press release. "Do I want to be there now? No. It didn't work out that way and if it was supposed to be it would have happened. Relationships have been a huge part of my life and they've made me who I am now. I think it's a nice sentiment to be honest about and it's super relatable."
Also read about: 36 Angsty Lyrics From Sabrina Carpenter's emails i can't send to Use as Instagram Captions
10. Sabrina Carpenter Becomes Her Most Confident Self in 'Espresso'
Today is a big one for Sabrina Carpenter as she celebrates the release of her new single and music video for "Espresso" and prepares to take the mainstage at Coachella for the very first time. The track is just the thing to kick things off with a sleek, breezy pop sound and lyrics about putting your cares to the wayside as you live in the present and embody your most confident self. "The song is kind of about seeing femininity as your superpower, and embracing the confidence of being that b****," Sabrina shared in an interview with Vogue. "Since the day I heard the song, I saw a beach atmosphere—and more specifically this kind of old school [and] modern environment. [I wanted to capture] the playfulness that I like to use throughout all of my videos. I also just wanted a pool car, to be frank.""
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of April 5, 2024.