10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of June 2, 2023
We don't know how it's June already, but with the steady passage of time, we can always count on our favorite artists to fill each week with unforgettable new music.
This week, especially, was one for the books, kicking off the almost-summer season with stellar new tunes, from new releases by notable up-and-comers to huge new albums by everyone from Toosii to the Foo Fighters and K-pop legends Stray Kids. To find out what we loved best, keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of June 2, 2023.
1. Aisha Badru Finds Healing on Learning to Love Again EP
Nigerian-American singer-songwriter and producer Aisha Badru needs to be on your radar in 2023, and her new EP, Learning To Love Again is the perfect entryway to obsession. To us, the five-track collection feels like an exploration of the healing power of music as she soulfully integrates sounds of R&B, pop and folk music to tell her own story, work through her traumas and come out stronger on the other side. The concluding track, "Move," is an especially powerful examination of movement and the way it can ward off negativity and depressive feelings. "Everything has a purpose," Aisha explained in a press release. "I was meant to be here, doing this. And it's just part of my purpose to experience certain levels of trauma that are very universal, go through every process of healing, and somehow put it together so I can help guide someone else."
2. Baby Fisher Introduces Himself to the World With Debut EP, Chapter 1
Sam Fisher, aka Baby Fisher, is one of those rising stars you just know will make it big someday. The 17-year-old artist actually started making music and playing in bars when he was just 12, which introduced him to a much wider world of music full of seasoned professionals who'd seen it all. Today, he dropped his first-ever EP, consisting of six gritty pop-rock tracks that showcase his wide array of influences, from classic rock to '90s jams, rap and everything in between. "All they are is silly little documentations of my life," Sam said of his songs in a press release. "There's nothing spectacular or fantastic or whatnot. All the magic comes from you. It's already there, the music is just what brings it out. There's no me without you."
3. Rio Romeo Embraces the Present in 'Everyday Is the Best Day of My Life'
Musician Rio Romeo has made quite the name for themself on TikTok, not just for their bold and theatrical piano-driven music, but also as a creator sharing their life as a non-binary butch in America fighting for representation and equality. If you're anything like us, their new single "Everyday Is the Best Day of My Life" is about to have you hooked. There's an amusement park-like whimsy to the track that brings us back to childhood, simple yet undeniably compelling with its cyclical sound reminding us that no matter what happens, with all of the ups and downs of life, every day you're still here should be embraced. "'Everyday Is the Best Day of My Life' it out!" Rio wrote in an Instagram post. "So thrilled to kick off Pride Month with you! Stream it, scream it in the car, embrace delusional optimism and hear it on tour now."
4. David J Channels His Real-Life Heartache Into 'Last Time'
When it comes to addictive country-pop crossovers, no one does it quite like David J, and his new single, "Last Time," is no exception. We can't get enough of David's silky, low tones as he croons about a relationship that just keeps on breaking his heart, and the dreamy pop instrumentation has precisely the right amount of country twang to make our hearts soar. "'Last Time' is a song about going back to that person who you know isn't right for you, and you think one more time won't hurt as badly, but instead it just makes everything worse," David J revealed in a press release. "I actually wrote this right after I went back to an ex, so this song is for people who may be going back to a person or situation they know are bad for them in the moment."
Also read about: David J Debuts Acoustic Performance of Country Hit, 'Lost My Heartbreak'
5. corook Shows Just How Unserious Their Are With serious person (part 1)
corook's "if i were a fish," co-written by and featuring their girlfriend Olivia Barton, has been one of the runaway hits of pre-summer, but the self-love anthem is just one small piece of the artist's quirky, raw and vulnerable musical range. Their new EP, serious person (part 1), paints a much richer picture of their perspective, putting all of their hopes, dreams and fears front and center across seven confessional yet tongue-in-cheek tracks—and we're already looking forward to (part 2). "'serious person' is this huge concept to me," corook shared with Sweety High in an interview. "It's bigger than the song. It feels like a comment on how I live my life, which is through humor and avoiding pain, but still looking at it through this humorous lens. It felt important to start off the EP in that way, by showing that before anything else."
Also read about: corook Talks New EP serious person (part 1), Touring and the Power of 'if i were a fish'
6. Katelyn Tarver Gets Self-Destructive on 'Starting to Scare Me'
With a massive North American headlining tour beginning in September and a sophomore album set to drop early in 2024, Katelyn Tarver has some big things on the horizon—and we got a first taste of it all with the new single "Starting to Scare Me." The driving pop-rock track feels like the next step in her musical journey as she describes the bad habits that she keeps on practicing, despite the harm they cause, ignoring her problems and hoping they go away on their own, while in reality, they're spiraling out of control. "This song is about indulging in self-destructive behavior because it's easier than doing the work of looking underneath it to try and figure out what's causing it in the first place," Katelyn shared in a press release. "I've spent a lot of time running from my darker impulses, pushing them down, pretending they're not there… this song is about shining a spotlight on them and kind of liking the feeling even though it… well… uh… scares me." You can check out the music video HERE.
Also read about: Katelyn Tarver Reveals the Meaning Behind 'Nicer' and Her Debut Album, Subject to Change
7. Toosii Leaves Us Swooning With Debut Album, NAUJOUR
Toosii's hit single "Favorite Song" is the kind of track so good it instantly makes someone a household name, and with the release of his first-ever album, the self-titled NAUJOUR, the rapper and singer-songwriter proves he's anything but a one-hit-wonder. Across a whopping 19 tracks (including three variations of "Favorite Song," courtesy of collabs with Khalid and Future), the 23-year-old artist demonstrates his smooth musical prowess while rejecting the need to be the tough guy. It's often romantic, other times effortlessly cool and confident, and sets the tone for a very bright future for the artist. "I had always told myself that when I dropped my debut album, it would be a self-titled album," he shared in a press release. "I feel like there is a difference between NauJour and Toosii and with this album, I am actually giving people the real in my life."
Also read about: Toosii Shares the Inspiration Behind His Viral Hit, 'Favorite Song'
8. Foo Fighters Grieve and Persist With But Here We Are
Fans around the world were devastated when Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins passed away suddenly last year, but few felt that loss quite so powerfully as the band themselves. The new album But Here We Are feels like the distillation of the band's grief, as well as their drive to persist in his absence, honoring his memory at every step. It's a hint more somber and introspective than albums of the past, with frontman Dave Grohl's songwriting at its barest, without losing any of that distinctive Foo Fighters edge that makes them one of the greatest rock bands making music today.
9. Madison Beer Teases New Album and Goes to Outer Space With 'Home to Another One'
It felt like it had been way too long since Madison Beer last graced us with new music, but with the release of "Home to Another One," it's clear the wait has been worth every second. The chill-inducing sound on the track is almost otherworldly, with spacey synths and echoey vocals that are perfectly matched by its sci-fi music video. It also arrived with the announcement that her second album, Silence Between Songs, will hit Sep. 15. We can already have a feeling it's going to top her debut. "I've learned so much about myself and my artistry on the journey of the last two years since my last record," Madison revealed in a press release. "This album tells the story of so many different pieces of me that I discovered in the moments of pause where I settled down from the noise and learned the most about myself. I hope my fans are as inspired listening to it as I was when creating it."
10. Stray Kids Score Perfect Points With 5-STAR
Stray Kids are K-pop legends at this point, and their third album, 5-STAR, is sure to satisfy any fans of the musical kings. At this point, the band oozes with the kind of confidence that you only see from those who know they're the best of the best, effortlessly melding genres of pop, rap and dance music into their own distinctive Stray Kids sound. "S-Class" seems the perfect single to accompany the release, complete with a music video packed with unbelievable choreography. We give it five stars out of five.
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of May 26, 2023.