10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of February 9, 2024
Is it just us, or has 2024 been a really good year for music so far?
This last week was particularly stellar, with album announcements and teases galore and featuring unforgettable new singles by everyone from Natalie Jane and jxdn to Conan Gray and Madison Beer. If you're curious about which new music has our hearts, keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of Feb. 9, 2024.
(Photo credit: Muriel Knudson)
1. Blair Lee Reflects on the Path of Life in 'Grow'
Rising Canadian singer-songwriter Blair Lee should be on everyone's radars in 2024, and if you're not yet familiar, he new single "Grow" is the perfect entry point to her artistry. With a dreamy, comforting sound and poetic lyricism, it's an introspective reflection on the long and windy path that's taken her to where she is today. "'Grow' is about the twists and turns of life," Blair shared in a press release. "Thinking that you're off course as life changes and goes through cycles, but learning that you're right where you wanna be after all." It's also the fourth single from her upcoming EP, LIMBO, which is set to release on April 19.
2. renforshort Channels Her Inner Elliott Smith With 'serpentine'
21-year-old Canadian artist renforshort has continuously impressed us with her raw lyrics and ever-evolving sound. Her newest single, "serpentine," is especially evocative, channeling her inner monologue during a stroll through the streets of London and the alt-rock melodicism of musical legend Elliott Smith. "'serpentine is a song that at its surface is about walking alone through London," renforshort explained in a press release. "In crafting the melody, we drew inspiration from the style of the legendary Elliott Smith, whose influence is evident in the musical arrangement. Working with Johnny [Lattimer] was a truly enriching experience, as his creativity and talent added so much depth to the song. It's a special piece for me, being the first track I envisioned for the project reflecting the independence, solitude and isolation I felt during my month long stay alone in London. The simplicity and honesty of the song captures such a personal moment, and I'm grateful for the experiences I had while creating this song, with a nod of gratitude to the melodic influence of Elliott Smith."
3. Lindsey Lomis Announces New EP and Shares New Single 'Long Way Down'
As longtime fans of pop singer-songer Lindsey Lomis, we couldn't be more excited about her upcoming EP, Handle With Care, which will release on March 29. We had the pleasure of chatting with her all about the upcoming EP, and especially her striking new single, "Long Way Down," which follows Lindsey as she falls hard for someone new and begs not to be let down by the relationship. "'Long Way Down' is about a very special date I went on," Lindsey shared in an interview with Sweety High. "This guy took me up to the roof of his New York apartment (so romantic right?) and we had the most perfect night. I felt my hopes getting higher and higher with each thing he did. I just remember looking down at the Lower East Side pavement a couple hundred feet below us, thinking about how hard I was falling for this guy and how much it was gonna hurt when I landed. I didn't want him to let me down."
Also read about: Lindsey Lomis Captures the Vulnerability of Falling for Someone New in 'Long Way Down'
4. Katelyn Tarver Unveils Her Vulnerable Sophomore Album, Quitter
Singer-songwriter Katelyn Tarver knows just as well as anybody that growing up doesn't mean you've figured it all out, and she lays those experiences bare on her second album, Quitter. Across 11 tracks, Katelyn explores what it means to stop people-pleasing and embrace her more authentic self, and we had the opportunity to catch up with Katelyn to learn all about it. "The idea behind the song 'Quitter' is finally learning to stop living for other people's expectations of you," Katelyn revealed in an interview with Sweety High. "We've all been shaped by our upbringings and life experiences, and depending on what they are, picked up some baggage along the way. For me, it was wanting other people's approval, trying to be perfect to keep that approval and thinking if I ever made a mistake or veered from the path, my whole world would crumble. It's an exhausting and unsustainable way to live, so writing 'Quitter' felt like me shedding that identity a bit. And it's what a lot of the songs are getting at on the album, so I thought it was the perfect way to sum it all up!"
Also read about: How Katelyn Tarver Shed an Old Identity for a Newer, Better Self With Sophomore Album Quitter
5. d4vd Drops Double Release of 'Leave Her' and '2016'
18-year-old artist d4vd's music is hard to define, combining hip-hop and indie rock influences to create a sound all his own, and he's exploring an energetic pop-rock sound with his latest two-song pack, Withering, featuring "Leave Her" and "2016." The moody "Leave Her" is about how we can put our relationships on a pedestal, even when our feelings aren't fully reciprocated, while the lively "2016" is about the struggle of growing up and yearning to return to the easier days of your youth. Together, they mark a very exciting start to 2024 for the star.
6. Noah Kahan Stick Season (Forever)
Noah Kahan ushered in an era with the original release of his third album, Stick Season, in October of 2022, and finally, it comes to a close with the final release of the Stick Season series in the form of Stick Season (Forever). The Grammy-nominated folk-pop artist's latest release consists of a whipping 30 tracks, including the new single "Forever" and new collabs, "You're Gonna Go Far"with Brandi Carlile and "Paul Revere" with Gregory Alan Isakov, putting the final touches on the album that changed Noah's life forever. We're particularly enamored with the final track, "Forever," which touches on Noah finally becoming comfortable with the concept of "forever" and the endless potential within in. "I am excited and kind of sad to be releasing 'Forever,' alongside these two dream collaborations with Brandi Carlile and Gregory Alan Isakov," Noah shared in a press release. "Firstly, I'm grateful and beyond proud to be sharing these two songs with artists that have soundtracked my entire life. Gregory and Brandi have written songs that have carried me through pain, loneliness, dramatic life changes, and the entirety of my career. I am so honored to have them on this final re-release."
Also read about: 20 Vulnerable Noah Kahan Lyrics to Use as Your Next Instagram Caption
7. Natalie Jane Deals With the Pain of a Broken Heart in 'Tattoos'
If you spend as much time on TikTok as we do, chances are that you've already heard Natalie Jane's latest single, "Tattoos," whose teasers went viral well before today's official release. The moody and entrancing R&B track is all about the seemingly permanent marks a broken relationship can leave us with and suffering through that pain even long after things have ended.
8. jxdn Celebrates His 23rd Birthday With Stripped Back New Single 'When the Music Stops'
Yesterday, Feb. 8, was singer-songwriter jxdn's 23rd birthday, and he celebrated with the release of his new single, "When the Music Stops." The powerful track takes a more delicate, acoustic-driven approach as it tells a story of the life-saving power of music, showing us a brand new side of jxdn and his work as an artist. "The music of my life has started playing again," jxdn shared in a press release. "All I can think about is showing everyone what it sounds like." "When the Music Stops" will also appear on his upcoming sophomore album, slated to drop in late summer.
9. Conan Gray Teases His Upcoming Album With 'Lonely Dancers'
We're already counting down the days until Conan Gray's third album, FOUND HEAVEN, releases on April 5, and nothing could amp up our excitement more than his latest single, "Lonely Dancers." It's got the most infectious retro sound, with effervescent electronics and '80s pop vocals that will make you want to get up on your feet. The upbeat dance track is also a call to action for union and community, making for another instant Conan Gray classic.
Also read about: 22 Emotional Quotes From Conan Gray's New Album, Superache, to Use as Instagram Captions
10. Madison Beer Invites Love Into Her Life in 'Make You Mine'
Madison Beer kicks off a massive 52-date global "Spinnin Tour" at the end of the month, and her latest single, "Make You Mine," is one that needs to be performed live. The fast-paced and darkly hypnotic track has a ridiculously danceable beat as Madison lends a sultry invitation to love. "I love this song so so much I am so excited for it to be in your hands," Madison shared of the song in an Instagram post. "@leroyclampitt and I made this on a random day in October and have barely been able to sit still ever since. I hope you love it as much as we do—let's dance!"
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of Feb. 2, 2024.