10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of June 14, 2024
There's no such thing as "boring" when it comes to New Music Fridays, and this final Friday before the official start of summer was all about expecting the unexpected.
From Victor Ray's soulful new EP to an English-language SAAY single and a Skylar Simone teaser for her upcoming EP, the last seven days offered up a little something for every type of music fan—and we're only getting started. To find out what we can't get enough of, keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of June 14, 2024.
(Photo credit: Harvey Pearson)
1. Chesle Tries to Do Better With 'Letter 2 Myself'
If you don't already love Nashville-based artist Chesle, now's the time to discover his music with his latest single, "Letter 2 Myself." The dreamy and introspective alt-pop track serves as a "note to self," reflecting on the bad habits that have taken him down the path he's on as he begs himself to learn from the past and move forward in a new direction. "This record started as a plea to myself to stop the self-destructive habits I formed at the time," Chesle shared of the track in a press release. "To not fall apart or forget who I am. It's a reminder to be me, while having faith that I can become a better version of myself."
2. LULLANAS Share Their Powerful Debut Album Pretty Lies & Time Machines
Chances are that you know twin sisters Atisha and Nishita Lulla (better known as LULLANAS) from their first viral hit, "don't say," and the raw songwriting and harmonious melodies that put them on the map are as strong as ever on their debut album, Pretty Lies & Time Machines. It's 11 enchanting tracks weave a narrative about how we change as we grow, and our relationships are forced to change along with us, with the gentle yet luscious "out of breath" being a standout.
3. Julia Raye Navigates the Perils of a Situationship in 'Expectations'
Rising singer-songwriter Julia Raye comes from a classically trained background in opera, and she flaunts her vocal skills—as well as her keenly honed songwriting abilities—on her latest single, "Expectations." Kicking off with some truly bewitching harmonies, it's a jazzy pop-R&B track, serving as her inner monologue during a particularly challenging situationship. "'Expectations' is actually the second song I ever wrote," Julia shared in an interview with Sweety High. "I wrote 'Expectations' when I was feeling torn in the relationship I was in at the time. I kept feeling so much pressure on us, both from myself and the people around us. This song is my inner monologue as I try to figure out what my expectations are for us as we navigate this relationship/situationship. I wrote this song three years ago and have been waiting to release it until I felt like it was the right time. I rewrote the verses at least seven times and didn't settle on a final version until I was recording it in the studio. I am so excited to finally be able to share it with my listeners!"
Also read about: How Julia Raye Navigated Feeling Stuck in a Situationship With 'Expectations'
4. Denitia Carries a Piece of Her Past With Her in 'Back to You'
Denitia is one of our favorite up-and-coming voices in the country music genre, and there's something about her new single, "Back to You," that makes us feel like we've known it our whole lives. It has a soothing classic country sound while telling a story that's just as timeless, about carrying a piece of your past with you, no matter where you go. "There are some things, people, ideas in life that become themes in your life," Denitia shared in the YouTube description for the video. "Even when you walk away from a place, the impact of that experience still stays with you, and you're forever changed because of it. And no matter where you go, everything reminds you where you came from, or the love that you used to have."
Also read about: Denitia Relishes in the Moment in New Single 'All the Sweet Tea'
5. Jelani Aryeh Reinvents Himself on New Album, The Sweater Club
24-year-old Jelani Aryeh has always been a genre-defying artist, with a sound that combines pop, rock, R&B and hip-hop, but he's never been better than on his new album, The Sweater Club. Its 13 tracks demonstrate his musical versatility as his tale unfurls, with songs centered around the feeling of isolation and seeking a genuine sense of community. "This is the first time I feel I can truly stand behind one of my projects," Jelani explained in a press release. "There's always something to fix, but this time around I feel all the songs are fully realized and they feel like me. I'd say most of the album is about navigating living alone for the first time in Los Angeles, a city I've never felt too welcome in. Like previous projects of mine, it explores themes of isolation, a yearning for something spiritual outside of myself, and a loss of innocence. I'd say there's a song for everyone on this from a little baby toddler to someone who's still stuck in the '80s." We'll also be able to hear some of the album live this fall as he heads out on a massive 22-city North American tour.
Also read about: Jelani Aryeh Shares the Feeling of Detachment That Inspired New Single, 'Sweater Club'
6. Rowan Drake Explores Grief on New EP For all my eyes have seen
20-year-old singer-songwriter Rowan Drake is the viral artist behind many a viral hit, and he takes a new turn with his sophomore EP, all my eyes have seen, an exploration of the grief and heartache that come with the end of a relationship. Its seven tracks have an especially ethereal alt-pop sound, distilling that pain into sounds. "For all my eyes have seen is a collage of the last eleven months of my life," Rowan said in a press release. "It began as a way for me to continue living inside of a person and time of life that had come to its end. I could control the narrative with the songs and they became a great comfort to me. In the last few months I grew desperate for new identity in my life and in my music, so I slashed some of the songs off the project and replaced them with new subject matter far from the girl and the story that this music all revolves around."
Also read about: Rowan Drake Confronts His Own Selfishness After a Breakup in 'Part of You'
7. Walt Disco Show Us the Process of Change on New Album, The Warping
Scottish post-punk band Walt Disco has an unmistakable sound with a theatrical edge and goth-glam sensibilities that have never worked better than they do on their sophomore album, The Warping. Even when their sound is at its biggest, showing their retro influences and glam-rock sound on their sleeves, these 12 songs are raw and deeply personal as the group has ever been as they tackle everything from the trans experience to burnout, community and connectedness. "The term 'Warping' is a severe but also quite bubbly way to describe change," singer Jocelyn Si shared in an interview with Sweety High. "It feels like a good word to describe our change as a band, as people, of the music that we make." "The main theme of this album is change, and this felt like an effective term that shows the whimsy and also fear surrounding change," added drummer Jack Maritn, with Jocelyn continuing, "The track 'The Warping' focuses on personal changes, sonic changes, changes of gender expression and that of our career. It feels like the natural progression from Unlearning."
Also read about: Jocelyn Si and Jack Martin of Walt Disco Tell the Story of Change Behind New Album, The Warping
8. Skylar Simone Teases Her Upcoming EP With 'Shut Up'
Despite being just 22 years old, R&B sensation Skylar Simone already has more than a decade of experience in the music industry, and things are heating up as we approach her next highly anticipated EP, Shiver, set to drop on July 19. It will feature five tracks, including her soulful new single, "Shut Up." With a cool beat and playfully sultry lyrics, it's especially smooth, with Skylar flaunting her incredible vocals and stand-out falsetto throughout.
9. SAAY Shares Her First Single of 2024 With English-Language Song, 'DOMINO'
South Korean R&B singer-songwriter SAAY just dropped her sweltering first single of 2024, "DOMINO." After making her debut as leader of the girl group EvoL, she's since demonstrated her powers as a captivating solo artist, the new new English-language track has all eyes on her. It's a song about the double-edged sword of fame and success, from the power of anticipating the next career move to the fear of a single wrong step that can send everything tumbling, and it beautifully comes to life in the music video, with bold choreography and featuring IBAN and dance crew WE DEM BOYZ ."I wanted to express our feelings of insecurity and imperfectness," SAAY explained in a press release. "I had to do it for me and for us."
Also read about: Victor Ray Dishes on the Toxic Relationship That Inspired 'Comfortable' and What's Next in 2024
10. Viral Artist Victor Ray Unveils His Third EP, i tried.
Uganda-born, U.K.-based artist Victor Ray has become a viral star thanks to his busking videos and soulful original tracks, and his newest EP, i tried., feels like the culmination of all of his hard work so far. It follows up his first two EPs, i was. and i felt., putting Victor's impressive vocals and powerful approach to soul-R&B front and center as he showcases his growth as a human being and artist over four tracks. "Moving past the themes of loneliness and betrayal, as explored in my previous EP i felt., i tried. emphasizes emotional growth in the continuation of this story with songs like 'Comfortable' and 'Lose Myself,' now moving into a more hopeful space in the pursuit of real connections with 'Falling into Place' and 'Halfway There.'"
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of June 7, 2024.