10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of March 1, 2024
We don't know how it's already March, but what we do know is that we're kicking it off with some of the hottest tunes we've heard all year, including surprise drops by both Liam Payne and Cardi B.
This week was all about iconic new singles, and our favorite artists didn't disappoint. To listen to everything that has us hooked, keep scrolling and check out the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of March 1, 2024.
('Like What (Freestyle)' via Atlantic Recording Corporation)
1. Liv Miraldi Tackles Infidelity From a Different Point of View With 'Friend of the Family'
Rising singer-songwriter Liv Miraldi has been making quite a name for herself with viral hits including "Wingwoman" and "Same People, and the natural-born storyteller is back with the incredible new single, "Friend of the Family." Despite the upbeat pop sound of the track, the lyrics take on a melancholic note as she laments a parent's affair that winds up destroying not just the marriage, but the whole family, and the complexity of dealing with the feelings around it. "'Friend of the Family' was something I was afraid to talk about, so I knew I had to write it," Liv shared in a press release. "I gave myself the space to feel the full range of my emotions. The song details the complexity of infidelity through the daughter's point of view. This sad indie bop is an instant tearjerker that is sure to bring the feels."
2. Kassi Ashton Takes Down a Toxic Ex in 'Called Crazy'
Country singer-songwriter Kassi Ashton is back with an unforgettable new anthem in the form of her latest single, "Called Crazy." It's a song about being "called crazy" by the very same men who return and beg for forgiveness and another chance later, complete with descriptions of vengeful actions that ambiguously may or may not have been carried out in real life. Either way, it's the kind of bold breakup track that only the country genre can convey with such passion and energy, and we can't get enough.
3. Sherwin Gardner Manifests His Dreams With 'Find Me Here (Blessings Find Me)'
Caribbean artist Sherwin Gardner initially wrote "Find Me Here (Blessings Find Me)" as a way to set his goals and desires for the year of 2024, and clearly, his message resonated with people, just as it's making his own dreams come true. The song has already been viewed more than half a billion times on TikTok alone, and he just dropped its stunning music video, filmed across beautiful locations in Nassau, Bahamas, as it takes us through Sherwin's personal journey. The video further brings the feel-good, celebratory vibes of the track to life—precisely the sentiment we want to take into the weekend and beyond. "Working with Jiggy Productions was an absolute joy," Sherwin explained in a press release. "Their professionalism and ease of collaboration made bringing our vision to life a seamless experience. Witness the inspiring journey of a young Caribbean boy transforming into a beacon of hope, beautifully captured by our dedicated video team."
4. Chicano Batman Celebrate Love and the Springtime in 'Era Primavera'
After a week of blustery winds and snow, we're so ready for the spring to arrive, and psych-soul group Chicano Batman may have just written the ultimate springtime love song. Their new Spanish-language single "Era Primavera" translates to "it was spring," celebrating the season as it reminisces on a lasting love. With its romantic strings, it's got a soothing retro vibe that reminds us of late-'60s Beatles and lyrics about being outside in the spring sunshine and being in love, uplifted by its warmth and glow. "I wrote that song thinking about a past relationship, and about all those romantic ballads that I heard growing up because of my parents," Chicano Batman lyricist and vocalist Bardo Martinez shared in a press release. "It's the music we all loved together, and I still feel very emotionally connected to it now." It will appear on their upcoming album, Notebook Fantasy, set to release on March 29.
5. Kayla DiVenere Yearns for a Deeper Connection to Her Crush in 'Small Talk'
Anytime singer-songwriter Kayla DiVenere releases a new single, we know it's going to be as ridiculously catchy as it is painfully relatable, and her new single, "Small Talk," is no different. It's a bubbly yet angsty alt-pop bop about being stuck on a crush and yearning to deepen that connection while being terrified of taking that leap. "'Small Talk' is about a secret crush I've had on my brother's best friend ever since I was 14," Kayla shared in an interview with Sweety High. "I created the song in my longing to have more than five-minute fleeting conversations with him every time he would come over to our house. I let my imagination run wild and I found myself aching for the kind of love from a John Hughes romance movie… the boombox at the window, playing his favorite mixtape, that kind of secret love. After rewatching every romance movie to exist, it was absolute torture to continue entertaining meaningless small talk with my brother's best friend, so I decided to write 'Small Talk' in an attempt to pour my heart out and make sense of my desire for something more."
Also read about: How a Secret Crush Inspired Kayla DiVenere's Latest Single, 'Small Talk'
6. Cat Burns Begs for Her Time to Come in 'alone'
Recently, English artist Cat Burns has been releasing viral hit after hit, and even before its release, the new single "alone" has taken the world by storm. It's a pop-R&B anthem driven by Cat's powerhouse vocals and raw lyrics as she sings about the angst of being on her own. It's about feeling like you're missing milestones, loneliness and the conflict between learning independence and wishing you had someone to share your life with. That yearning for connection and love is something we can all relate to.
Also read about: Cat Burns Shares the True Story That Inspired Her Breakout Song 'Go'
7. NCT WISH Make Their Big Debut with Self-Titled Project WISH
NCT WISH is both the newest and final group under the innovative K-pop group NCT, and they just made their official debut with the self-titled single, "WISH." The group consists of both Korean and Japanese members—SION, RIKU, YUSHI, JAEHEE, RYO and SAKUYA—and the song was released in both languages for fans in both countries to get the most out of the vibrant track. Channeling old-school hip-hop vibes, "WISH" shows the group setting off on a new journey and wishing for the very best. The four-track project, WISH, includes both versions, as well as Japanese and Korean versions of the B-side, "Sail Away."
8. Kacey Musgraves Hopes Her Love Isn't 'Too Good to Be True'
There's a good reason singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves is the proud owner of multiple Grammy Awards, and even if you've never been a country fan, her latest single, "Too Good to Be True," is sure to have you hooked. The delicate ballad is romantic yet melancholy as Kacey opens up, getting vulnerable about the fears that can coincide with falling in love. Even as she notes that everything has been a perfect dream, she prays it's the real deal, and dreads the pain that might come if things aren't as good as they first appear. "Too Good to Be True" is stunning from the first note to the last, and will also appear on Kacey's upcoming fifth studio album, Deeper Well, releasing March 15.
Also read about: I Hate Country Music, But Here's How I Became Obsessed With Kacey Musgraves
9. Liam Payne Teases a New Era With 'Teardrops'
It feels like it's been forever since we last heard new music from Liam Payne, but with his latest single, it's clear he's ready to embark on the next step of his musical journey. His new single, "Teardrops," was co-written with JC Chasez of NYSNC, with a pop-R&B feel that evokes our Y2K faves. It's about the difficulties that can arise in a new relationship, taking ownership of the pain you caused and learning to overcome challenges together, and it marks an exciting new era for the star. "Teardrops is about the vulnerability of heartbreak and the challenge of overcoming those moments," Liam explained in a press release. " This song marks the start of a new beginning, there's lots more to come in 2024 "
10. Cardi B Calls Out Her Haters in 'Like What (Freestyle)'
It's no exaggeration to say that hip-hop superstar Cardi B is one of the biggest musical artists in the world, and with her new single, "Like What (Freestyle)," she makes it clear that she knows it. The new freestyle samples the classic Missy Elliot song "She's a B****," with a pulse-pumping sound and the smoothest lines as she raps about being at the top of her game and not letting her haters get to her, no matter how obsessed they get with tearing her down.
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of Feb. 23, 2024.