10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of August 16, 2024
Stop the presses, because Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars just unveiled the unforgettable duet we never knew we needed in our lives.
Their new track, "Die With a Smile," is a gorgeous retro-pop showcase that allows both of their voices to soar—and it's far from the only massive thing that happened in music this week. We also got a stunning comeback from Carson Lueders, new music from Pauli the PSM and so much more. For more on what we loved best, keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of Aug. 16, 2024.
('Die With a Smile' via Interscope Records)
1. Sibling Duo ORA Make a Bold Debut With 'Bad Day'
Siblings Lea and Samuel make up the Nordic indie-pop duo ORA, and we would have never guessed that their latest track, "Bad Day," is their debut single. The song combines a breezy, smooth sound with yearning vocals as the two learn to embrace those moments when life starts to feel overwhelming, coming to an understanding that a "Bad Day" is nothing more than just that—a bad day. "It's never healthy to ignore your own feelings," Samuel shared in a press release. "I learned that the hard way, when everything was just piling up inside. It wasn't until I wrote the words down in a song that I could see what was really going on and 'Bad Day' became my wake-up call—a help to myself and as a reminder, that life is so much more than just a bad day."
2. Isabella&Sebastian Explore a Different Kind of Heartbreak on 'Lavender'
Isabella&Sebastian is certainly an unusual duo, pairing 19-year-old singer and lyricist Isabella DeFir with 12-year-old actor and multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Sebastian Stephens to create their own unique indie-pop sound. Their new single, "Lavender," is moody and evocative, taking the opportunity to descend into chaos, as Isabella singsabout a woman who self-destructively uses her appeal to get her way, and falling hard for her, despite knowing better.
3. Rey Mario Struggles With Broken Trust in 'No Puedo'
Dominican artist Rey Mario recently made a big move to New York City to pursue his dream as an artist, and with his third song, "No Puedo," he's ready to tug on heartstrings everywhere. The title means "I can't" in English, taking a turn from Rey's usually upbeat and energetic tracks to offer an emotional and reflective heartbreak anthem. The gorgeous Spanish-language track is a song about broken trust and the understanding that things can never return to how they used to be. Even if you don't speak a word of Spanish, the emotion is clear with each and every line.
4. Maude Latour Gets Existential With Debut Album, Sugar Water
24-year-old Maude Latour has made quite the name for herself with hit songs including "One More Weekend," "Furniture" and "Cyclone," and with her new debut album, Sugar Water, she's at her boldest and most confessional. It consists of 12 instantly addictive tracks, with her most vulnerable and raw her experiences communicated exquisitely via her unique brand of experimental and otherworldly pop."My debut album is about growing up and learning how to lose things, people and love—all parts of getting older," Maude explained in a press release. "This album is an attempt at trying to hold onto the sweetness of this short life while it is still happening. It's my most existential, deepest thoughts coated in pop music. I hope it takes you on the journey of a lifetime."
Also read about: Maude Latour Pleads for Forgiveness in Her Upbeat Single 'Cyclone'
5. Isabel Dumaa Practices Self-Reflection with 'C'est La Vie'
Last year, rising singer-songwriter Isabel Dumaa's "Quarter Life Crisis" rapidly propelled her to become a viral artist, and we firmly believe that her new single, "C'est La Vie," is primed to be just as big. The dreamy pop track is bold and introspective, with Isabel examining the parts of herself she doesn't love, while also leaning to practice radical acceptance. "It's a really vulnerable song, and it was really important to me that everything I said in that song was authentic to myself and what I was experiencing at the time (and still am)," Isabel shared in an interview with Sweety High. "Honestly, my hope is for someone to be able to listen to it and find some solace in knowing they aren't alone with what they are feeling." It will also appear on her upcoming debut EP, Just My Nature, out on Oct. 18.
Also read about: Isabel Dumaa Shares 'A Diary Entry of Self-Reflection' With New Single, 'C'est La Vie'
6. Pale Waves Get Pulled in By Love in 'Gravity'
Pale Waves' fourth album, Smitten, is set to release on Sep. 20, and we just got another taste of what's to come with the new single, "Gravity." With a nostalgic '90s-esque sound and upbeat guitar strums, the song details lead singer Heather Baron-Gracie's first experience being in a relationship with another woman, and the struggle with her partner's religion clashing with their love. "It's a really vulnerable song, and it was really important to me that everything I said in that song was authentic to myself and what I was experiencing at the time (and still am)," Heather explained in a press release. "Honestly, my hope is for someone to be able to listen to it and find some solace in knowing they aren't alone with what they are feeling."
7. corook Makes a Triumphant Return With Funky, Cozy New Single, 'blankets'
After taking a long break from the internet, singer-songwriter corook is back and kicking off a new musical chapter with their new single, "blankets."Driven by playful synths and breathy vocals, it's a funky and lighthearted, disco-infused love song retelling how corook fell in love with their partner (and musical collaborator), Olivia Barton. "'blankets' marks my first release since my hiatus from the internet," corook said in a press release. "This song retains the classic corook elements—storytelling, whimsical honesty, and a funky underdog vibe— while introducing an elevated pop sound, thanks to my new collaborator, Ehren Ebbage. The track features punchy drums and distinctive synthesizers, complemented by a vocal delivery that evokes the charm of Marcel the Shell with Shoes On. The accompanying music video feels more like the cinematic opening of a coming-of-age film. It narrates the sweet and playful story of how I fell in love with my partner of six years, Olivia Barton."
Also read about: corook Talks New EP serious person (part 1), Touring and the Power of 'if i were a fish'
8. Pauli The PSM Confronts Self-Doubt and Self-Worth With 'I Don't Deserve You (Sunshine)'
Pauli The PSM is a drummer, composer, producer, musical director, creative director, model and DJ whose musical depths can't be easily defined, and that's very clear on their latest single, "I Don't Deserve You (Sunshine)." The genre-jumping track is a reminder to all of us to nurture the spark of sunshine we have within us, refusing to snuff it out and instead letting it burn brightly. "What began as a chill catch up spiraled into a therapy session," Pauli said of reuniting with collaborator Ariza. "I opened up about my insecurities, the fear of vulnerability and the daunting thought of losing my sunshine. This 'sunshine' represents the love of my life but also the internal spark that fuels my creativity and passion.
9. Carson Lueders Yearns for Lost Love in 'One That Got Away'
23-year-old singer-songwriter and viral sensation Carson Lueders recently dropped his first single of 2024 with "One That Got Away," and it's even better with the release of its cinematic new music video. It's a dreamy, lovelorn pop track about a lost love, and its sweet music video stars viral Brazilian actress Gabriella Saraivah, depicting a sweeping summer romance that makes the track even more heartbreaking.
10. Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars Join Forces for 'Die With a Smile'
After hearing Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars sing together, it's hard to believe that it's the duos first collaboration. Their new single, "Die With a Smile," is more than just a meeting of two of the biggest musical stars in the world, creating an anthemic romance ballad with a silky, retro-pop feel that's further brought to life by their epic vocals. It's a love song in the purest sense as the artists sing about wanting to spend the end of the world in each others' arms. "Bruno and I have a lot of mutual respect for each other and were talking about collaborating," Lady Gaga shared in a press release. "I was finishing up my own album in Malibu and one night after a long day he asked me to come to his studio to hear something he was working on. It was around midnight when I got there and I was blown away when I heard what he had started making. We stayed up all night and finished writing and recording the song. Bruno's talent is beyond explanation. His musicianship and vision is next level. There's no one like him."
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of Aug. 9, 2024.