10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of July 21, 2023
The long wait is over—after more than two years, ZAYN is finally back with another solo release, and "Love Like This" sets a new bar for the artist.
Of course, the track wasn't the only new music to stun us over the last week. We were also blessed with the full Barbie movie soundtrack, a Noah Kahan and Post Malone collab and a new glimmering beabadoobee ballad—and that's only scratching the surface. For even more of our favorites, keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of July 21, 2023.
1. Oscar Lang Reveals His Honest Truth on Sophomore Album Look Now
Oscar Lang's unique sound never fails to captivate us, melding the very best of classic rock sounds and '90s Britpop while still sounding uniquely modern and timeless, and he's never been better than on his second album, Look Now. The 23-year-old artist channeled his true story of pain and grief into the album (listen HERE), with a harrowing breakup drumming up new feelings of loss around the death of his mother at a very young age. These 10 tracks are cutting and profound while never being predictable, and we believe this is just the start for the compelling artist. "Making these songs was my escape from a terrible year, and it feels nice to sit back now I'm in a much better place and appreciate that out of this horrible time, I made this wonderful album," Oscar told Sweety High in an interview. " I'm more excited now to keep evolving and making more music."
Also read about: Oscar Lang on Escaping a Terrible Year With His 'More Honest' Sophomore Album Look Now
2. LØLØ Wishes the Worst Upon Her Ex in 'hot girls in hell'
Pop-punk singer-songwriter LØLØ never holds back, but we think she's at her freest and most unapologetic on her newest single, "hot girls in hell." The track begins as a silky pop ballad before the chunky guitars kick in and it explodes into a rock masterpiece, channeling all of the anger and hurt that finally drive her to cut off a toxic relationship for good. It's vulnerable and fiery, refusing to hold back as she wishes nothing but pain upon her awful ex. "I wrote 'hot girls in hell' about someone who really hurt my feelings," LØLØ shared in a press release. "I wrote the first half when I was really sad, and the second half when I was really mad. Ending a relationship with someone is tricky—one second you miss them, feeling miserable and pathetic, and the next you are picturing them burning in hell. I really wanted this song to feel like two completely different moods for that reason. The person I wrote this about is definitely going to hell, so here's hoping there's no hot girls there…"
3. Meet Me @ The Altar Question the Future With 'Give It Up'
Rock trio Meet Me @ The Altar is one of the most exciting rising groups on the scene today, and we're counting down the days until the deluxe version of their debut album, Past // Present // Future, drops in September. We got our first tease of its four new tracks today with the release of "Give It Up," with an irresistible pop-punk riff reminiscent of Descendents and lyrics that are at once vibrant and desperate as they beg for someone to help them figure themselves out. "'Give It Up' is a song about frustration," the group explained in a press release. "It's about feeling lost, confused and indecisive about which way to go. A big takeaway from this song is that sometimes you need help figuring it out. Even though we love this song so much, we didn't think it fit sonically with the initial tracklist of Past // Present // Future. We wanted the deluxe release to be a glimpse into another side of us, giving you a sound that's fresh, new, and different."
Also read about: Photo Tour Diary: Meet Me @ The Altar Get Candid About Their Hangout Festival Performance
4. Becca Means Makes a Strong Debut With First Single, 'My Darling'
Listening to 19-year-old singer-songwriter Becca Means' new track 'My Darling," you'd never guess it was her first-ever single. Showcasing her talents on TikTok through covers and original demos, the artist has already racked up more than 3 million followers, but "My Darling" is poised to truly put her on the map, with the confidence, wit and pure pop vocals of an industry veteran. "My Darling" actually began its life as a love song before Becca's relationship went bad and it transformed into the swooning, playful and instantly unforgettable breakup anthem it is today. We think this is the beginning of a superstar career.
5. Elevator Boys Show Us What They're Really Made of With Debut Single, 'Runaway'
If you think the Elevator Boys are just five guys who make silly videos in an elevator, think again. Today, the TikTok-famous German quintet released their first-ever single, "Runaway," a pulse-pounding, synth-driven summertime anthem about escaping from the drudgery of everyday life and going after your ambitions. The boys could have just phoned it in, but they're on a mission to become authentic and respected musicians in their own right, and we're fully behind them. "We are very keen on making something that really respects the art of music," the group's Luis Freitag told Sweety High in an interview. "We don't just go into the studio and let a bunch of people write our songs and make our music, and we just sing it. We want to be there from the first step to the last step, from creating the beat and the vibe of the song to toplining to songwriting to mastering. When we recorded 'Runaway,' we were there in every single session from everyone. When one person was singing, everyone else was there. We all want to work together to get the best possible product, and not let too much out of our hands, because we really want our label to be on our music. We want to stand behind our music. That's really important to us. We also try to learn the craft of music. We've learned instruments—to play the piano and the guitar—so that in the future, we can be respected musicians. That's our goal.
Also read about: Elevator Boys Reveal the Meaning of Debut Single 'Runaway' and Share Their Musical Mission
6. Blur Prove They're Still Britpop Kings With The Ballad of Darren
English rock band Blur has been making music together for nearly 35 years, and incredibly, they haven't yet lost their touch. Today, the band released The Ballad of Darren, their first album in more than eight years, which shows the group returning to form as they explore feelings of uncertainty, loss and regret that come tangled up with nostalgia. Yet, while the concepts it navigates are challenging, the album is sonically comforting, with upbeat, dreamy and playful sounds that don't work against their own messages. Each of the 10 tracks deserves its place in their storied discography.
7. beabadoobee Lets Go of Past Love in 'the way things go'
With her angelic, fluttery vocals and authentic songwriting, beabadoobee is a pop standout, and she's done it again with her new song "the way things go." It's a track about accepting life as it comes and recognizing how far she's moved on from a past love, with ethereal, laidback vocals that contrast with the almost frenetic classical instrumentation to generate an anxious feeling. The music video is also especially dream-like, transporting us to a past era with prancing ballerinas and antique furniture.
Also read about: 36 Emotional Lyrics From beabadoobee's Beatopia to Use as Instagram Captions
8. Noah Kahan Recruits Post Malone for a New Take on 'Dial Drunk'
We're not quite sure if anyone has had a bigger year than Noah Kahan, and it just got even better with Post Malone joining forces with Noah for a new take on the viral track, "Dial Drunk." With its raw lyrics, folksy flair and undeniable summer vibes, the song becomes even stronger as a duet, and we adore Post's new, original verse on the track, further demonstrating his versatile talents. "The reaction to 'Dial Drunk' has been so incredible and so overwhelming," Noah said in a press release. "I never know when or why a song is going to land, and to see the meaning and connection you have drawn from this track has inspired me in a way I have never been inspired before. You can only imagine my shock and excitement when Post told me he wanted to not only sing on it, but write his own verse. I have been listening to Post Malone since 'White Iverson' dropped, even covering 'Congratulations' right when my career was beginning. It feels like a full circle moment, and it has been a dream come true to make this collaboration happen. Thank you so much Post for blessing me with your involvement."
9. Barbie: The Album Sets a New Bar for Iconic Movie Soundtracks
We're not even sure where to begin discussing the Barbie movie soundtrack, because it may be the biggest and most iconic film soundtrack of all time. It's out today alongside the release of the highly anticipated film, with original features from Lizzo, Dua Lipa, Nicka Minaj, Ice Spice, Charlie XCX, Karol G, Sam Smith, Tame Impala, Dominic Fike, Haim, Billie Eilish, The Kid LAROI, Khalid, PinkPantheress, Gayle, Ava Max, Fifty Fifty, Kaliii and even Ken actor Ryan Gosling. There's a little bit of something for everyone on this playlist, which is surprisingly full of emotion and packed with authentic Barbie vibes from start to finish.
Also read about: 21 Glittering Lyrics From the Barbie Soundtrack That Make Great Instagram Captions
10. ZAYN Makes a Triumphant Return With 'Love Like This'
Even after a two-year absence from the music scene, ZAYN requires no introduction, and his eagerly anticipated new single "Love Like This" makes it feel like he never left. The sleek R&B track is a declaration of love and instant summer romance anthem, complete with a dreamy music video we can't stop watching. "'Love Like This' is a summer tune I'm very proud of and excited for the world to hear," ZAYN revealed in a press release. "I'm working on my new album currently that is coming soon, and I can't wait for everyone to see what's next." We seriously can't get our hands on his next album soon enough.
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of July 14, 2023.