10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of August 23, 2024
It's finally the day we've been waiting for all summer long—release day for Sabrina Carpenter's anxiously anticipated new album, Short n' Sweet.
Sabrina's hit songs "Espresso" (which recently entered Spotify's Billions Club) and "Please Please Please" have been inescapable this summer, and the rest of the album follows suit to be an instant classic. Of course, Sabrina's album was just the beginning of what made the last seven days so special with new releases by blink-182, Myles Smith and many more. To find out what we loved best, keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of Aug. 23, 2024.
(Image courtesy of Island Records)
1. Nick Ward Yearns for 'Control' in New Single
Up-and-coming Australian singer-songwriter and producer Nick Ward is one to watch in 2024, especially with the release of his upcoming debut album, House With the Blue Door, releasing on Oct. 4. He just released its fourth single, "Control," an upbeat yet introspective pop-punk anthem about yearning for control over his world. It's got a live, intimate feel thanks to being recorded alone in Nick's bedroom studio, which reflects the claustrophobia and angst within its lyrics. "It's about family, childhood and the difficult relationship we have with the past," Nick said of the album in a press release. "I think your early-20s is about coming to terms with your childhood, especially after finishing high school and experiencing more of the world. Starting therapy really made me realize how much emotional baggage I was holding onto, and this record was made while I was unpacking all of that. I finished this album right before my 22nd birthday, so it felt nice to encapsulate my adolescence in one statement. For a while, it was hard for me to listen to just because of the headspace I was in while making it, but now it brings me a lot of joy and it gives me closure to finally release it."
2. Sycco Reflects on Found Family and Understanding With Debut Album, Zorb
First Nations Australian singer-songwriter Sycco is a singer-songwriter and producer with a bold psychedelic pop sound that's fully her own, and her skills come together to perfection on her new debut album, Zorb. Featuring 13 synth-driven tracks, it's a coming-of-age album about many of her firsts as a young woman, including the found family she discovered along the way. Her housemates even co-wrote a number of its tracks with her. "'Zorb' is a term I came up with at a time where I was making new friends and felt so understood," Sycco shared in an interview with Sweety High. "Being in a zorb with people is to be present with them and the outside world doesn't necessarily matter. I think the album hones in on those experiences but also feel like it invites people into my zorb."
Also read about: Sycco Finds a New Kind of Peace With Her Found Family in Debut Album, Zorb
3. VALÉ's 'fit mami' Gets an Iconic Remix Courtesy of Angrybaby
VALÉ's pulsing and wonderfully infectious anthem "fit mami" has been stuck in our heads all summer, and it's got our hearts pounding even faster with a remix by DJ Angrybaby. This house remix has a beat guaranteed to get you moving, perfect for the dance floor or even your favorite workout playlist."'fit mami' is probably my most fun song," VALÉ shared in a press release. "I love to dance and party, so it was only fitting that we made a club track. This song is so incredibly energetic and has a great vibe, playing it live is so sick! I wrote this song with the intention of filling anyone who listens to it with confidence and the best vibes."
Also read about: VALÉ Shares the Influences Behind Her Sizzling, Summery Debut EP, under the sun
4. Ashwin Gane Won't Let Fame and Fortune Change Him With 'milli-ON'
Detroit hip-hop sensation Ashwin Gane is a prolific artist with more than 500 tracks under his belt, but his newest single, "milli-ON," is primed to make the biggest impact yet. The self-produced track creates a dream-like atmosphere that's gritty and dark yet hopeful as Ashwin sings about the importance of maintaining balance with fame and success, embracing its perks without losing who he is in the process. "The track is about finding balance," Ashwin explained in a press release. "It's easy to get lost in the hype when you start seeing success, but the real challenge is staying grounded while you level up. 'milli-ON' is my way of saying, 'I'm here, I'm thriving, but I'm not letting it change who I am.'"
5. Crash Adams Profess Their Love With Uplifting Single '8 Days'
We can always count on pop duo Crash Adams to put a huge smile on our faces, and their new single, "8 Days," is no different. It's a playful, mood-boosting love song hearkening back to the message of The Beatles' "8 Days a Week," promising to give love beyond the confines of the seven days of the week, and we dare you to listen without feeling just a little bit brighter about your day.
Also read about: Pop Duo Crash Adams on Looking on the Bright Side and Making Their Own Luck in 'Lucky'
6. Lily Meola Takes Listeners for a Ride With Heartbreak Rodeo
Pop sensation and America's Got Talent alum Lily Meola found one of her biggest supporters in Willie Nelson early on in her career, with Willie going on to become a mentor and collaborator. Those country influences are clear on her new EP, Heartbreak Rodeo, with Lily taking us through the stages of heartache and ending in a hopeful love song across its five folksy pop tracks. "The through line of these songs follows the heart and its journey with all the things life throws at it," Lily shared with Sweety High in an interview. "Quite a few of these songs represent heartbreak, but the EP's end track is a love song, so I hope it can comfort the listener at whatever stage of love they are going through."
Also read about: Lily Meola on Taking Listeners for a Ride With Her Heartbreak Rodeo EP
7. Mon Rovîa Shares a Message of Freedom and Strength in 'crooked the road'
We've been following Mon Rovîa's musical journey on TikTok for a long time now, and couldn't be happier about the Liberia-born, Tennessee-based Afro-Appalachian folk artist's new signing to Nettwerk Music Group. Today, he also shared his powerful new single, "crooked the road," reflecting on the relationship between suffering and identity, and pain becoming intimately tied up in our understanding of ourselves. It's challenging yet hopeful, and rooted in the artist's own unique experience. "This is a song for those who have fallen too in love with their pain," Mon Rovîa revealed in a press release. "I was there a couple of years back before I became Mon Rovîa. I was in love with my suffering, it became who I knew myself as. Because of this I couldn't see the hands that had been extended to lift me out. Ones that were longing to see me become who I was meant to be. For the listener I hope they find freedom, I hope they find strength to pull away from what brings down. The song is for all of us who thought in our darkest moments, 'this is who I am.'"
8. Myles Smith Professes His Undying Love in 'Wait for You'
Ahead of a massive North American tour kicking off in September and running all the way through April 2025, English singer-songwriter Myles Smith just released his latest rousing single, "Wait for You." The stirring folk-pop track is a profession of undying love and support for someone, even in the darkest times and no matter how long it takes. In a press release, Myles called it "an introspective and deeply emotional track. It delves into the struggle of watching a friend (my previous self) battle their inner demons and their commitment to stand by them through their darkest times. The lyrics reflect a promise of unwavering support and patience, capturing the essence of a relationship that transcends time and hardship."
9. blink-182 Tease Deluxe Album With Double Release of 'ALL IN MY HEAD' and 'NO FUN'
Earlier this week, blink-182 surprised fans with the very exciting announcement that they'll be releasing eight brand-new songs with the deluxe version of the 2023 album, One More Time…, out Sep. 6. Today, we got a first taste of One More Time… Part-2 with not one but two new releases, "ALL IN MY HEAD" and "NO FUN." Both tracks sizzle with the band's signature brand of upbeat pop-punk, with lyrics that'll immediately be stuck in your head, and reminding us all why we couldn't be happier that blink-182 has finally been reunited once and for all.
Also read about: 39 Nostalgic Lyrics From blink-182's ONE MORE TIME… to Use as Instagram Captions
10. Sabrina Carpenter Releases the Album of the Summer With Short n' Sweet
With the massive success of hit singles "Espresso" and "Please Please Please," we had zero doubts that Sabrina Carpenter's sixth album Short n' Sweet was going to be something special. Now that it's here, it's obvious this is the album of the summer. Its 12 tracks are the perfect fusion of her honeyed vocals and absolutely irresistible lyricism, showcasing her incredible versatility as an artist without ever going off track, and truly, every song is a hit. The title is also apt, with a dozen songs adding up to just 36 minutes of playtime—but Sabrina doesn't waste a single second. Plus, the cinematic music video for "Taste" is truly unforgettable, serving as a gory slasher flick that tells it story in just over three minutes.
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of Aug. 16, 2024.