10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of July 7, 2023

Thanks to the long 4th of July weekend, it seems like this week came and went in a flash—but not without leaving us with some incredible music.

Obviously, we're celebrating yet another huge release from Taylor Swift in the form of Speak Now (Taylor's Version), but this week also gave us K-pop collabs, new singles from old favorites and great tracks from newcomers we don't plan to stop listening to anytime soon. Can't wait to get into it? Just keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of July 7, 2023.

1. Um, Jennifer? Find Themselves in Trans Anthem, 'Girl Class'

Um, Jennifer? is an indie punk-pop duo from New York City, and they just shared their debut single, "Girl Class." With its stripped-down yet infectious instrumentation, the song puts the band's message front and center. It's a trans-focused narrative about wishing there was a class that would teach you the right way to be a girl, and realizing in the end that girlhood is whatever you want it to be. "'Girl Class' was born out of craving community within trans girlhood," the band explained in a press release. "It's about unbecoming and becoming; being molded by expectations of femininity. Ultimately, it's the realization that despite the noise, there is no one way to be a girl."

 

2. Jonah Kagen Explores Love Lost and Nostalgia in 'The Roads'

Jonah Kagen's writing never fails to impress us, but he's truly outdone himself with his new single, "The Roads." The painfully nostalgic track begins with the gentle finger picking of an acoustic guitar before the strings set in and the song explodes into a folk epic. It's at once aching and soothing as he croons about longing for the past, and though he's lost his love, he holds on to hope that life will bring them back together again. "'The Roads' is one of those songs I feel like I've been working toward for so long," Jonah explained in a press release. "It's the culmination of so much heartbreak, so much growing up, and so much learning. Some of my favorite lyrics and sounds I've ever created are in this song, and I think the story speaks for itself—I hope you can feel the years of emotion and human experience pouring out in it."

 

3. Carneyval Proves He's More Than a Mashup King in 'Never Gonna Drink Again'

There's a good reason that Carneyval is known as the "King of Mashups," but the artist and producer is equally adept at crafting bangers of his own, and his upcoming, "Never Gonna Drink Again," is proof—even if we've only heard a minute of the track. The featured vocalist's voice is smooth and irresistible as she laments her repeated mistakes and the discomfort of a bad party, promising not to repeat the situation—even if doing so seems inevitable. We cannot wait to hear the full thing when it drops next week, and we hope to soon hear this ridiculously danceable track everywhere.

 

Also read about: Everything You Wanted to Know About the Viral 'King of Mashups,' Producer Carneyval

 

4. Madilyn Bailey Finds Love in the Face of Apocalypse in 'Doomsday in LA'

Pop singer-songwriter and YouTube superstar Madilyn Bailey's debut album Hollywood Dead, drops next month, and her latest single, "Doomsday in LA," feels like the perfect taste of what's to come. The unusual ballad is pessimistic and romantic all at once, with heavenly instrumentation telling a tale of the type of love that makes the end of the world no big deal. "Over the past few years, L.A. has changed a lot: you know… pandemic fallout," Madilyn shared with Sweety High in an interview. "So many of my friends and collaborators moved away, you couldn't go out or eat out. What was once a vibrant, loud, life-filled city felt like a ghost town. But even while I watched 'the end of world as I knew it,' I knew there was no place I'd rather be because I had the love of my life by my side and that was all that really mattered in the end."

 

Also read about: Madilyn Bailey Talks 'Doomsday in LA' and Her Upcoming Album, Hollywood Dead

 

5. Barbie The Album Gets Even Better With a Little Help From Fifty Fifty and Kaliii's 'Barbie Dreams'

We're only two weeks out from the release of Greta Gerwig's Barbie movie, and its soundtrack, Barbie The Album, just got even better with an iconic collaboration between K-pop stars Fifty Fifty and rapper Kaliii. "Barbie Dreams" is instantly classic thanks to interpolating Janet Jacket's "Together Again," with an upbeat message and sunshiney sound that perfectly match the hot pink energy of the Barbie movie. This pairing is everything, setting the bar very high for even more Barbie tracks to come.

 

Also read about: FIFTY FIFTY Take Love Into Their Own Hands in Dreamy Comeback Single, 'Cupid'

 

6. Dominic Fike Continues His Story With Sophomore Album, Sunburn

There's always been a confessional quality to Dominic Fike's music that's drawn us in and demanded our attention, and that's never been truer than with his sophomore album, Sunburn. Across 15 tracks, he's sometimes playful, sometimes dead serious, but always breezy as he effortlessly hops between hip-hop and pop-punk sounds to tell his own poignant and authentic story of growing up as a troubled Florida kid. In just about every way it feels more confident and refined than his debut album, What Could Possibly Go Wrong, and we think his incredible growth is only just beginning.

 

7. Jax Jones and Fireboy DML Join Forces for the Uplifting 'Me And My Guitar'

Looking for something special to boost your mood this summer? Look no further than "Me and My Guitar," the upbeat and inspirational new collaboration between producer Jax Jones and Nigerian singer-songwriter Fireboy DML. The autobiographical track tells Jax's true story of discovering the power of music and finding himself through it, incorporating Afro-pop sounds while featuring Jax's voice on a track for the very first time. It's sweet and empowering, with the perfect sound to hype you up all season long. "This record is the first time I'm putting my own story in my music and also the first time I'm singing on a song as I want to find new ways to connect with my fans," Jax revealed in a press release."Being an artist and having successful music for the last 10 years, it's important to me to try and push myself creatively. I've been using classical guitar to write songs for 15 years and that's what the song is about—a young Jax Jones trying to achieve my dreams. When I sent the song to Fireboy, he connected straight away and brought an amazing and authentic energy to it. My stepdad is Nigerian, so being able to connect with the song ethnically with Fireboy has been great."

 

8. NewJeans Makes Their Feelings Heard in 'Super Shy'

NewJeans might just be the fastest-rising rookie group in the world of K-pop, and for good reason. Their latest single, "Super Shy," encapsulates everything we adore about the group, from their pitch-perfect vocals to their vibey and atmospheric synth sound and music videos that demonstrate just how effortlessly cool and coordinated they are. This song in particular strikes a chord with lyrics about rising about your shyness to make your feelings for your crush completely clear. We've been there ourselves, and we hope this track encourages shy listeners to also confess their true feelings.

 

9. TOMORROW X TOGETHER and Jonas Brothers Join for the Ultimate Superstar Teamup on 'Do It Like That'

We don't know if we've ever seen a collaboration so extraordinary as "Do It Like That," bringing together the boys of K-pop icons TOMORROW X TOGETHER and the Jonas Brothers on one sizzling track. The infectious track is pure summer fun, with lovey-dovey lyrics and an upbeat sound tailor-made to get the whole room dancing, and we especially love the way that all eight contributing artists are highlighted to show off their particular strengths and make this one song that won't fade away anytime soon.

 

Also read about: 22 Loving Lyrics From the Jonas Brothers The Album to Use as Instagram Captions

 

10. Taylor Swift Reclaims More of Her Musical History With Speak Now (Taylor's Version)

Speak Now (Taylor's Version) has been highly anticipated and speculated about before it was even announced, and we're not exaggerating when we say that this is the most impactful Taylor's Version album yet. We can't help but appreciate Taylor's wise touch as she rerecorded these tracks, making small tweaks to bring her classics into the modern age while knowing when not to mess with perfection. These may not be the definitive versions for everyone, but hearing them fresh more than a decade after their initial release is a powerful experience for any fan. It also includes six brand new "From the Vault" tracks—"Electric Touch" featuring Fall Out Boy, "When Emma Falls in Love," "I Can See You," "Castles Crumbling" featuring Hayley Williams, "Foolish One" and "Timeless." "It's here. It's yours, it's mine, it's ours," Taylor shared in an Instagram post. "It's an album I wrote alone about the whims, fantasies, heartaches, dramas and tragedies I lived out as a young woman between 18 and 20. I remember making tracklist after tracklist, obsessing over the right way to tell the story. I had to be ruthless with my choices, and I left behind some songs I am still unfailingly proud of now. Therefore, you have 6 From The Vault tracks! I recorded this album when I was 32 (and still growing up, now) and the memories it brought back filled me with nostalgia and appreciation. For life, for you, for the fact that I get to reclaim my work. Thank you a million times, for the memories that break our fall. 💥🐉🏰 Speak Now (MY VERSION!) is out now."

 

Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of June 30, 2023.