10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of August 4, 2023

It's not every day that an artist is a worldwide phenomenon before the release of their solo debut, but Halle Bailey has proven herself to be anything but ordinary.

The literal Disney princess made quite a mark on the world with the release of "Angel" today, but she wasn't the only one to leave us floored with new music in the last seven days. We also got a LE SSERAFIM and Demi Lovato collab,  a new track by DPR IAN and so much more. For all of the best new tunes, keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of Aug. 4, 2023.

1. Zoe Ko Finally Finds Something Like Home in 'Rib Cage'

We're new to the music of NYC-based singer-songwriter Zoe Ko, but it's only taken one track to leave us completely enthralled. Her new single "Rib Cage" is a pleading and angsty yet honest pop-rock exploration of what home truly means. It's a song of healing and moving forward, realizing that sometimes, being "home" means finding hope and comfort with a person, rather than a place. "'Rib Cage' is about the feeling of homesickness finding itself in a person or partner rather than a physical house," Zoe explained in a press release. "When you find your person and love someone, they often become your 'home.' I moved so frequently as a kid, had divorced parents and never truly felt settled. I don't have a family home to go to or reference in my memories, so I've found the feeling of homesickness attaching itself to a person my whole life. I recently have been dating around and finally have a partner now, and already I can sense myself starting to know them inside and out the way one would memorize every floorboard and paint chip in a family home. This song has helped me come to terms with the feeling of being uprooted and a nomad all my life and redirecting what to focus that feeling on. 'I'm searching through your rib cage like a closet, use your lungs as my pillow, I know you with my eyes closed, like something that I'd miss, you could be nostalgic' pins the feeling of experiencing someone becoming a home."

 

Also read about: Mckenna Grace on Her Upcoming Album and Beginning a New Chapter With 'Casual Kisser'

 

2. Izzy Bizu Opens Herself Up to a Whole New World in 'Flower Power'

Soul-pop artist Izzy Bizu has been making quite a name for herself with various viral TikTok hits, and her empowering and upbeat new single "Flower Power" is sure to join them. It's a jazzy, feel-good track about feeling like anything is possible, especially with the people you love and trust most in the world, making it just the thing for your sunny summer playlists. "This song is about trying things for the first time, feeling liberated, feeling the energy or others, and trusting in them to take me on adventures I'd never forget!" Izzy wrote in an Instagram post. "Hope you enjoy this little piece of my story, big love." She'll also be at Lollapalooza this weekend, sharing the stage with ODESZA, and it's a set we don't plan to miss.

 

3. Giant Rooks Tell a Different Kinds of Love Story in 'Somebody Like You'

We've been obsessed with Giant Rooks ever since they first rocketed onto our radars with their viral cover of "Tom's Diner." The German rock band's latest single, "Somebody Like You," is proof that they've also got what it takes as writers of their own. The striking love song feels ready for belting out in a concert stadium with otherworldly chimes and a hugely energetic and anthemic sound. "We wrote 'Somebody Like You' in just a few hours in our rehearsal room, playing and writing together as a band releases a special energy and we tried to capture that feeling on the record,"the band shared in a press release."Lyrically we wanted to explore a vignette form of songwriting, telling different stories of different characters in each verse.
Something we've never done before."

 

4. Katelyn Tarver Ponders the Branching Paths Not Taken in 'Parallel Universe'

We've always appreciated Katelyn Tarver's unique thought process and approach to songwriting, and it's never been reflected more clearly than on her newest single, "Parallel Universe." The dreamy, acoustic-driven pop track is all about imagining how life could be different if different choices were made and different paths were followed, as well as realizing there's peace in embracing precisely the trail you've landed on. "When you're in a phase of re-evaluation, it's easy for your mind to wander over to 'what if's,'" Katelyn shared in an interview with Sweety High. "What if I had taken that job? What if I had taken more risks when I was young? What if I had pursued that relationship instead of letting it go? Would I be more successful? Would I be happier? Would I not wonder what if? I think it's so human to ask these questions and to wonder about where our lives might be had we done something different. What if we could talk to that different version of ourselves? What would they say? Would it make things clearer or would they have the same questions for us? This song is an exploration of that idea, and ultimately coming to the conclusion that I, of course, can't know for sure the answers to these questions, but that through asking them, I'm learning to make peace with where I have ended up and where I am going."

 

Also read about: How Katelyn Tarver Explored a Million 'What If's' for New Single, 'Parallel Universe'

 

5. Stephen Sanchez Provides Glimpse Into His Debut Album With 'Be More'

Nashville-based singer-songwriter Stephen Sanchez just announced that his debut album, Angel Face, will be out on Sep. 22, and we've already marked the big date on our calendars. The 20-year-old artist's first full-length product has an incredible concept, following a fictional Stephen "The Troubadour Sanchez" becoming an overnight success with the 1958 hit "Until I Found You," with the story branching into the '60s, when he meets Evangeline, of the song with the same name. Today, he also released Angel Face single, "Be More," with a nostaglic sound ripped right out of the '60s, and an important place in the tale. "It's a dialogue between lovers, in this case, 'The Troubadour Sanchez' and Evangeline," Stephen revealed in a press release. "'The Troubadour Sanchez' is saying how much he wants Evangeline and asking her to 'Be More.' For instance, 'Be More' is far more than 'I love you' and 'I need you.' Both sides are begging and proclaiming love. That's the purpose of the song. It affirms your love is far more than you could ever understand, know, or hold within your hands by yourself."

 

6. Marley Bleu Makes Her Debut With 'unintentional,' Featuring Pink Sweat$

As the great-great niece of rock 'n roll legend Chuck Berry, there's no denying that rising L.A. singer-songwriter Marley Bleu has music in her blood, and her incredible talents are very clear on her official debut single, "unintentional." The slick and sweet R&B track is propelled by her clear voice, made even more dreamily romantic as a duet with help from multi-Platinum artist Pink Sweat$. It's a song about accidentally falling in love, yet living that love wholeheartedly, and we believe it has all of the makings of an instant classic.

 

7. Lauv Enters a New Musical Era With 'Love U Like That'

We've been eagerly awaiting new music from singer-writer and producer Lauv since the release of his second album, All 4 Nothing, almost exactly a year ago, and his new single "Love U Like That" is worth every second of the wait. The song ushers in a new age of music for the multi-talented artist, with a booming, blissful synth-driven sound that feels just like being in the throes of love. It's a song about giving yourself fully to love and ignoring what anyone might think, and it's going to be big. "I'm so insanely proud of this new song because it marks the beginning of a new era for me," Lauv said in a press release." A song about realizing you're into something you didn't think you were into and empowering yourself to go for it and not judge yourself and let society or ideas sway you from it. It's the beginning of a journey. It's a proud start."

 

8. DPR IAN Begins His Busy Weekend With New Track 'Peanut Butter & Tears'

Korean-Australian artist DPR IAN is having a very busy week, with performances at both Head in the Clouds LA and Lollapalooza slated for this weekend, and his new single "Peanut Butter & Tears" is the elegant bow on top of it. The self-written and produced track plays a very important part in the larger story of his upcoming EP, Dear Insanity…, arriving on Oct. 6. We adore the twinkling indie-pop sound, and it truly comes alive with the captivating, spacey music video (which IAN directed and edited himself). He's an artist who really does do it all, transforming his music beyond sound into a full sensory experience. "'Peanut Butter & Tears' portrays the fading playfulness of our youth, as we embark on a bittersweet journey into adulthood," IAN explained in a press release. "But before MITO, there was Insanity. The Dear Insanity… EP is the prequel story to MITO's creator, 'Mr. Insanity.' This EP follows MITO on his journey to and throughout the dreamlike realm known as 'The Other Side.' As he traverses through The Other Side, IAN slowly begins to lose his sanity bit by bit, thus fully turning into new alter ego 'Mr. Insanity' at the story's climax."

 

9. LE SSERAFIM Recruit Demi Lovato for a New Take on 'Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard's Wife'

We haven't been able to get LE SSERAFIM's 'Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard's Wife' out of our heads since we first discovered it in May, and the earworm just got even better with a new remix featuring Demi Lovato. The bold, pulse-pounding single is named after three famously shunned women from mythology, with lyrics about breaking free from expectations and restrictions, and Demi's soaring vocals take the excitement to a whole new level. We're getting ready for the song to go viral all over again.

 

Also read about: LE SSERAFIM on UNFORGIVEN, Disrupting K-Pop and FEARNOT

 

10. Halle Bailey Finds Pride in Herself With Solo Debut, 'Angel'

Halle Bailey has already made a name for herself as half of R&B sensations Chloe x Halle and an actual mermaid as Ariel in Disney's live-action The Little Mermaid, so all eyes are on her as she unveils her debut single, "Angel," and she does not disappoint. It's clear that Halle's entire heart and soul went into the new track, channeling her unwavering vocal talents and true emotion into a powerful song that's equal parts vulnerable and optimistic. Its music video is also the stuff dreams are made of.  "With everything I've gone through the past three to four years, suddenly finding myself in this bubble of all these eyes and new opinions, it was easy for me to feel doubt in myself and who I was," Halle shared in a press release. "This song for me was my climb out of those feelings, a mantra and promise to myself that the work I'm doing here on earth matters and that I matter. I wanted to be able to embrace and be proud of myself and who I am naturally through and through."

 

Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of July 28, 2023.