10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of January 12, 2024
With the release of Ariana Grande's "yes, and?," it truly feels like a new era is upon us.
2024 has taken off with a bang—especially when it comes to new music releases—and Ari has certainly helped with her effervescent and optimistic new single. This week also saw an epic western-pop-meets-K-pop collab and new tunes from NIKI, The Black Keys and many more that feel perfect for kickstarting the wintery weekend. To find out what we're listening to, keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of Jan. 12, 2024.
1. Rex & The Rhythm Catalogs the Journey of Life in'Highs & Grows'
Barbadian singer-songwriter, instrumentalist and producer Rex of Rex & the Rhythm is making a big statement in the new year with the release of new single "Highs & Grows." The alt-R&B jam channels '90s hip-hop influences with a dash of soulful funk, resulting in a soothing and uplifting anthem to the human experience, all of its ups and downs and finding peace in whatever might happen. If you're new to the artist, like we are, prepare to be swept away.
2. GALE Brings New Life to the Shakira Classic, 'Inevitable'
Puerto Rican singer-songwriter and three-time Latin Grammy nominee GALE has quickly become one of our favorite Latin artists, and her new cover of Shakira's 1998 classic, "Inevitable," makes it obvious why. We love the original track, about the kind of love that's simply destined to be, but GALE takes what was established and makes it soar with a new rock edge and a pulsing, nostalgic electronic beat that infuses it with new energy. Even if you don't understand a word of the Spanish-language track, it's impossible to forget.
3. LØLØ Feels Stuck in a Bad Relationship in '2 of us'
The world can never have enough toxic relationship anthems, so get ready to add Canadian rock singer-songwriter LØLØ's "2 of us" to all of your angsty playlists. It's an absurdly catchy pop-punk single about feeling dumb about the way your feelings have trapped you in a toxic relationship, combining a bold sound with some of our favorite lyricism of the year so far. "Unfortunately, it is based on a real-life relationship lol," LØLØ shared in an interview with Sweety High. " It's about feeling stuck pining over a relationship with someone that you know isn't good for you, but you still can't stop thinking about them anyway. I kept getting disappointed and let down by someone, time after time, but for some reason, I would still go back. This person made my blood boil, but at the end of the day, I was also obsessed with them. It was a very s****y situation, to say the least."
Also read about: LØLØ Shares The True Story of Toxic Obsession Behind Her New Single, '2 of us'
4. Harrison Storm Shares Debut Album, Wonder, Won't You?
Australian indie-folk artist Harrison Storm just dropped his debut album Wonder, Won't You?, and it's everything we could have wanted from the captivating singer-songwriter. Harrison shares that the process of writing these 10 songs was like therapy for him, and he hopes it helps others heal, too. With its especially vulnerable and real songwriting and dreamy, soothing sounds, we know it's already done that for us. "This collection of songs feels like it sums up the past few years for me as best I could," Harrison revealed in a press release. "There's a sprinkle of everything I've been through. Falling in love, facing and getting through mental health issues and ultimately striving to connect more with myself and the world. It's been really healing to sit with these songs before I've shared them to the world as well, but I can't wait for people to discover something through this album."
5. Black Pumas Go to Space in Their 'Hello' Music Video
If you're like us and haven't stopped listening to Black Pumas' latest album, Chronicles of a Diamond, since it was released in October, you're going to love the new music video for its new single, "Hello." The synth-driven, falsetto-sung song is a spacey, straightforward love song, and we adore the way it comes to life in its ethereal and otherworldly music video. "Across the celestial expanse, two souls find themselves drawn together by an unstoppable force, destined to entwine," explained singer-songwriter and producer Eric Burton of the video. We can't imagine a better way to tell its story.
6. The Black Keys Announce New Album With 'Beautiful People (Stay High)'
Rock duo The Black Keys is starting off the year very strong with the announcement of their 12th studio album, Ohio Players, set to drop on April 5, and the release of its first single, "Beautiful People (Stay High)." The release takes the group's sound in a slightly new, jazz-driven direction thanks to a collaboration with Dan "The Automator" Nakamura and Beck, creating a raucous celebration backed by big band instruments. The album will also include collabs with Greg Kurstin, Noel Gallagher and more, and we're already anticipating that it'll be their most eclectic yet.
7. Victor Ray Can't Break Away From What's Bad for Him in 'Comfortable'
English singer-songwriter Victor Ray was one of our favorite artists we discovered in 2023, and he's continuing to enthrall us with his new single, "Comfortable." The striking R&B single is his first release of the year and first new music since hi s i felt EP last fall, showing off his rich, velvety vocals and abilities as a lyricist as he sings of a situation in which a relationship has grown toxic, but it's easier and more comfortable to stay in place than to leave it. "The song is based on a time where I was in a relationship without realizing it was toxic," Victor explained in an interview with Sweety High. "In my defense, it was my first one, so you live and learn."
Also read about: Victor Ray Dishes on the Toxic Relationship That Inspired 'Comfortable' and What's Next in 2024
8. NIKI Tenderly Reflects on Her Life Thus Far in '24'
Indonesian singer-songwriter and producer NIKI may be just 24 years old, but she's quickly established herself as a top artist with a powerful story to tell. She's exploring a whole new side of herself in 2024 with her new single, "24," which is more delicate and intimate than we're used to from the artist as she explores the magical contradictions of her young life thus far. With its sweeping strings and enchanting melody, it's absolutely gorgeous, and why can't wait to see what else this era brings for NIKI. "'24' was heavily inspired by Joni Mitchell's performance of 'Both Sides Now' at the 2022 Newport Folk Festival," NIKI said in a press release. "I came across that performance and was so unbelievably moved by it, it brought me to tears immediately. I felt struck by some lightning bolt of inspiration and just ran to my studio and picked up my guitar and out flowed the words to '24.' The song is essentially my attempt at synthesizing my early 20s, and the many humbling things I have learned up to this point in my life—namely, learning to embrace nuance and the idea that life is rarely ever dichotomous. Everyone can be many things at once. Of the many takeaways I've gathered since turning 24, I think that's the most freeing one."
9. Powerhouses Sam Ryder and Kim Min Seok Join Forces for 'Back In Love'
What happens when you take vocal powerhouses Sam Ryder and Kim Min Seok and have them perform together? You get a completely irresistible duet in the form of "Back in Love." English artist and Eurovision sensation Sam Ryder and vocalist Kim Min Seok of K-pop duo MeloMance are both top singers in their respective games, and together, they sound like they were born to combine their voices. It's a song about heartbreak and how life can feel pointless when you've lost the one you love, yet it manages to be a ton of fun thanks to Sam and Kim Min Seok's sensitive yet soaring voices.
10. Ariana Grande Makes a Triumphant Return With 'yes, and?'
We've been buzzing ever since Ariana Grande began teasing the release of new music this week, and the new video for "yes, and?" provides everything we could have asked for. It begins with her naysayers gossiping about Ari and commenting on her career before the vid explodes into a '90s-infused dance beat with an energetic, upbeat sound that feels tailor-made for the dancefloor. It's an unapologetic anthem to owning her actions and ignoring the haters, and it's never been more relevant.
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of Jan. 5, 2024.