10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of April 26, 2024
After last week's predictably epic New Music Friday starring Taylor Swift's THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT, this week's batch of great releases has been all about expecting the unexpected.
From another astounding solo EP from 5 Seconds of Summer's Luke Hemmings to another new single from Stranger Things star Maya Hawke and Lauv's first new music of 2024, this week had a little bit of everything—and that's just scratching the surface. To find out what we'll be listening to all weekend, keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of April 26, 2024.
(boy via Arista Records)
1. Paige Davis Reflects on Leaving Home Behind in 'The Stars & You'
Paige Davis is an up-and-coming country singer-songwriter who should be on everyone's radars in 2024, and we recommend starting with her newest single, "The Stars & You." It's a lusciously nostalgic country-pop track about the bittersweet feelings that can come with leaving what you know behind to follow your dreams, with an optimistic message we could all use. "I had this idea when I first moved to Nashville—this is the first time I've lived in a city and not a small town," Paige shared in an interview with Sweety High. "I looked up to the sky one night hoping to get some inspiration the way I used to and couldn't see any stars. I was thinking about how, up until that moment, whenever I was missing someone, I could always look to the night sky and find some clarity. For the first time, I didn't have that comfort or reassurance. I brought this idea to some of my besties, and luckily, we were totally on the same page. My hopes are for people in a similar situation to connect with this song and understand that it's okay to take the road less traveled. Sometimes that road can even lead you to some of the best experiences of your life."
Also read about: How Moving to Nashville and Leaving Home Behind Inspired Paige Davis's 'The Stars & You'
2. Lily Kershaw Teases New Album With Ode to Self-Acceptance, 'Poem Song'
L.A. singer-songwriter Lily Kershaw just announced that her third album, Pain & More, will be releasing on Sep. 13. The album marks a new chapter in her life as she finally addresses the depression she's masked most of her life, and the first track she wrote with that concept in mind is her new single "Poem Song." With its soothing sound and soaring vocals, it feels like a song of healing as Lily accepts the swirling emotions bubbling within herself. In a press release, Lily revealed, "'Poem Song' is a song about self-acceptance, and how maybe self-acceptance is actually the truest form of rebellion, of healing."
3. Brooke Alexx Lifts Women Up With New Anthem, 'Hot Like You'
Viral singer-songwriter Brooke Alexx has been making waves with her hit track "All My Exes' Moms," and she's at it yet again with her new single "Hot Like You." The pop-punk-infused bop started as an ode to her beautiful sisters before evolving into something more—an anthem celebrating women everywhere for the qualities, inside and out, that make them "hot." "This song is about more than just physical appearance," Brooke shared in an interview with Sweety High. "'Hot' can be replaced with any admirable trait in a fellow woman—e.g. I want to be thoughtful like you, I want to be strong like you, I want to be fun like you, etc. Basically just saying, 'You make that look effortless and I'm inspired by you.' At its heart, 'Hot Like You' is about empowering and celebrating the incredible women around us."
Also read about: Brooke Alexx Shares the Mentality of 'Hot' Behind New Single, 'Hot Like You'
4. Haiden Henderson Vows to Make It Big With 'bleachers'
Pop-rock singer-songwriter Haiden Henderson's previous single, "hell of a good time," may be still riding high a month after its release, with 3 million streams and counting, and we believe today's new release, "bleachers," is going to be just as big. The song is a call-out to an ex who doubts his abilities to big it as a musician, with Haiden vowing to be a star someday. We also can't get enough of the way the instrumentation tells the song's story, beginning with a stripped-back acoustic sound before it evolves into a screaming electric stadium anthem to match Haiden's success. "This song came about because someone I was dating told me that I wasn't gonna make it in this industry and that I should consider other life paths," Haiden shared in a press release. "I sat down, defeated, at my desk with a guitar and the first few lines of the chorus poured out of me. I feel like this one really hammers home the nostalgic vibe of 'hell of a good time' in a more tongue-in-cheek way."
Also read about: Everything You Wanted to Know About 'flight attendant' Singer-Songwriter Haiden
5. Tiny Habits Bare Their Deepest Vulnerabilities in 'Wishes'
With famous fans including Noah Kahan, Gracie Abrams, Phoebe Bridgers and Elton John, Tiny Habits is a musical trio we're watching very closely this year—especially with the announcement of their upcoming debut album, All For Something, out May 24. The group consists of Maya Rae, Cinya Khan and Judah Mayowa, known for their heavenly harmonies and evocative songwriting, and everything we adore about them is on full display in their new single, "Wishes." On the tear-jerking track, the three get vulnerable about the things they wish could be different about themselves, exposing their own insecurities, with each artist contributing their own deeply personal verses. "I came to the realization that my experience, while unique to me, was one shared by so many others" Cinya said in a press release, with Maya adding, "Writing my own verse to this already heart wrenching, emotional, and vulnerable song felt so cathartic and honestly, just so healing." Judah went on to say, "This song was something my physical and spiritual being needed. It became such a crucial turning point in my songwriting. I only want to share honest art and never shy away from vulnerability."
6. Karley Scott Collins and Charles Kelley Join Forces for the Emotional 'How Do You Do That'
Karley Scott Collins and Charles Kelley are both country music powerhouses, and they're even more powerful singing together on the heartbreaking new single, "How Do You Do That." It's a pained breakup track about still being distraught over the end of a relationship and becoming even more heartsick over seeing the other person move on in an instant. With a perfect blend of Karley and Charles' voices, the two sound like they were born to sing together. "I wrote this song about a relationship ending, and the other person moving on so quickly I couldn't even wrap my mind around it," Karley explained in a press release. "I know people can relate to that feeling of questioning everything about how someone felt about you. Having Charles Kelley on this song was a lucky accident. I was originally supposed to write with Jordan Reynolds and Tom Jordan, but Jordan texted that morning and asked if Charles could join. I was pumped because I'm a fan of his. He has one of my favorite voices in country and I'm honored to have Charles singing on it."
Also read about: Karley Scott Collins' Gorgeous Country Hit 'Tattoos' Is the Perfect Metaphor for a Broken Heart
7. Cat Burns Reflects on the End of a Relationship in 'end game'
With her rich, soulful voice and soul-baring lyrics, English singer-songwriter Cat Burns is one of the fastest-growing artists on the scene, and she deserves every bit of that success. Her eagerly anticipated debut album, early twenties, will release on July 12, featuring her latest stunning single, "end game." Backed by acoustic guitars and swelling strings, the pop-R&B track is a vulnerable reflection on the end of a relationship she believed was meant to last. "After getting through probably the hardest week of my life, this song coming out has allowed me to have a little pocket of joy," Cat shared in a post on Instagram. "I know grandad's looking down smiling and probably proud of me for still moving forward, but I learnt from the best."
Also read about: Cat Burns Shares the True Story That Inspired Her Breakout Song 'Go'
8. Lauv Stars a New Chapter With 'Potential'
It feels like far too long since we've gotten new solo music from singer-songwriter and producer Lauv, but with his first release of 2024, "Potential," it's clear he hasn't lost any of the spark that made him a viral artist. With a laidback sound and dreamy, hopeful vocals, it's a song about being optimistic about new romance, and it's full of the swooning vocals that made us fall hard for Lauv in the first place. "'Potential' is about realizing you have feelings for someone and dreaming about the potential of what it could be," Lauv said in a press release. "It's the beginning of my next, most authentic chapter, and I can't wait to share this and everything that's coming next."
9. Maya Hawke Is There Through the Good and Bad in 'Hang in There'
These days, Maya Hawke is probably best known for her role as Robin in Netflix's Stranger Things, but she's also a talented singer-songwriter gearing up to release her third album, Chaos Angel, on May 31. We just got another taste of what's to come with the gorgeous "Hang in There." Featuring Maya's delicate yet raspy vocals, it showcases her ability to weave powerful stories with her music as she sings about being there for a friend struggling through a toxic relationship. "The idea of 'Hang in There' is when you have someone close to you who's going through something awful that you've been through earlier in your life, and you know that you can't interfere because they'll probably isolate themselves from you," Maya revealed in a press release. "So you have to just watch as they get really hurt. Until they have that moment where they realize they've been in a toxic situation all along. Then they come to you, and together, you help them emerge from it. It's a moment of real happiness when you can witness the pieces all click into place."
10. Luke Hemmings Confronts Adulthood With boy
Again and again, Luke Hemmings has demonstrated he's more than just the guitarist of 5 Seconds of Summer with his bold solo work, and his new boy EP may be our favorite work from the artist yet. Its seven tracks showcase a more mature side of the star as he tackles everything from dreamy, stripped-back acoustic tracks to cool electro-pop, exploring what it means to leave boyhood behind and come into your own as an adult. "The majority of the songs for boy were written at a time in my life when I was a stranger to stillness," Luke explained in a press release. "The songs were born on planes and hotel room notepads, muttering under my breath while walking through new cities each day. I was disoriented and overwhelmed by the world and my place in it. Those emotions weaved themselves through this project. The longing for more emotional understanding within myself, the isolation, grief, love, sadness and hope. They're not intended to be consumed as autobiographical facts, but as an overly dramatic, cathartic, poetic stream of my consciousness. As if you've opened my diary and can only read a line from each page." He's also kicking off his international Nostalgia For A Time That Never Existed Tour starting May 4, and we cannot wait to hear these new tracks live.
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of April 19, 2024.