10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of March 22, 2024
Stop the presses because Olivia Rodrigo just released the deluxe edition of her groundbreaking album GUTS in the form of GUTS (spilled).
The updated album includes five brand-new songs worthy of blasting on repeat all weekend. Of course, she wasn't the only top artist to release new music this week, with a new EP from Crash Adams, new tracks by Remi Wolf and Abby Anderson and so much more. Keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of March 22, 2024.
(GUTS (spilled) via Geffen Records)
1. Chesle Aims to Be a Better Partner on 'sunsets and cigarettes'
Nashville-based singer-songwriter Chesle is an artist rapidly on the rise, and if you're not familiar with him yet, prepare to be infatuated with his new single, "sunsets and cigarettes." The fuzzy yet anthemic track features a nostalgic acoustic guitar riff evoking our favorite '90s Britpop as he sings about his struggles to find balance in life and be a better partner. As always, it effortlessly fusing pop, hip-hop and alt sounds to create something all Chesle's own, and we can't wait to see where it takes him next. "I treat music seriously. It's a job to me," Chesle shared in a press release. "Since I get so wrapped up in it, I'm not the most reliable boyfriend. I'll have arguments with my girlfriend because I'm not putting her first. Those issues get internalized until I get on a track and it comes out. I'm looking for the right balance."
2. Zoe Ko Craves the Authenticity and Grime of New York City in 'DIRT'
23-year-old artist Zoe Ko is impossible to pin down, and her latest single, "DIRT," is proof. The cheeky and infectious dance track is vulnerable yet hard-edged as she sings about losing her mind in the fakeness of Los Angeles and craving the realness of her home back in NYC. "I'm from NYC, baby!" Zoe explained in a press release. "I was raised there my whole life. I wouldn't be the crazy bad b**** I am without it. NYC is often looked down upon for its grit, intense hustle and bustle, garbage on the street, rats, pigeons, cockroaches, scary subways, etc. But to me, though sometimes admittedly not the most wonderful things to endure, those elements of the city were fun, real and influenced me into becoming an adaptable and adventurous person. When I moved to L.A., I missed all the grit and dirt NYC had. I missed its rawness and the people in it. Though this is an exaggeration, I found myself surrounded by more girlies in lulu lemon outfits and drinking Hailey Bieber smoothies in their snazzy cars than ever before. There was a fakeness and showiness to this city that I wasn't used to. So, a few weeks into living here I walked into Jonny's (prod and co writer) studio and started ranting about how much I miss NYC and its 'dirt' and how I didn't understand where L.A. was hiding theirs. I loved the word DIRT so much I decided it needed to be turned into a gritty dance track I would hear in one of my favorite clubs in NYC, so I could bring some of NYC's dirt to the city of angels. I'd like to say, now living in L.A. for seven months, I actually love it here lol. And when I wrote this song I was being a bit insane, dramatic, and homesick HAHAAH."
Also read about: Zoe Ko Finds the True Meaning of Home in the New Music Video for 'Rib Cage'
3. HALIE Explores Heartbreak and Surrender in 'Runaway Cowboy '
There's a good reason country singer-songwriter HALIE won NBC's Songland—just listen to her new single, "Runaway Cowboy." This soulful western ballad explores the heartbreak caused when you push someone away because of your own inner struggles, deciding to run away instead of confronting what's going on inside. The result is a gorgeously soaring track that sonically captures all of the hurt within its lyrics. In a press release, HALIE described it as, "A gift from God, as I like to say, because the song came to me almost out of nowhere. I heard the tune in my head and immediately went to the piano to play it."
4. Sabrina Sterling Navigates the Complexity of Siblinghood in 'Bittersweet'
It's not often that music explores the subject of the love, hate and other bittersweet feelings that can exist between siblings—especially as they grow up and grow apart—making Sabrina Sterling's "Bittersweet" truly one of a kind. Backed by the gentle strum of an acoustic guitar and led by Sabrina's sweet, dreamy vocals, the song has already been a bit of a viral hit thanks to snippets she shared on TikTok last year. The immediate response to the song inspired Sabrina to dive into it fully and create the single that's out today. "Wow, people really need and relate to this," she said in a press release. "So I decided to make it a full song."
5. Bea and her Business Shares a 'Love(ish)' Anthem With 'WOW!'
18-year-old English artist Bea and her Business is on a roll, and we're preparing for her latest single, "WOW!" to become a relatable hit. The song pairs an upbeat pop sound with self-deprecating lyrics about how foolish we can act when we're in love, making us throw away our tough exteriors for feelings that seem real, even if we've only known someone for a few days. "I wrote 'WOW!' at 17, and especially then, the idea of falling in love made my toes curl," Bea revealed in an interview with Sweety High. "I tried to write love songs for so long but I had never been in love so I had to abort that mission and come at it from another angle. I started romanticizing this guy that I had a three-day fling with, and hey, presto, I wrote a love song ish!)—a very sarcastic, self-deprecating love song, but a love song nevertheless. You know, I thought I was the tough girl, the bada** and suddenly this random dude with brown curly hair comes along, and I'm like right, he's 'the one,' and I'm gonna marry him! My friends thought that was a bit rich coming from a girl who had never had a boyfriend before…. hahaha."
Also read about: Bea and her Business Talks Writing an Almost-Love Song With New Single, 'WOW!'
6. mehro Finds Inspiration in Elliott Smith With 'reason to live'
Any fan of indie legend Elliott smith will immediately hear his influence on mehro's new single, "reason to live," which was inspired directly by the mehro's experience exploring the life and death of the artist. "A friend of mine took me on a tour of famous Elliott Smith landmarks in Silverlake and Los Angeles—we ended up at the house where he died," mehro shared in a press release. "The dysmorphia and darkness left an impact on me I didn't realize would last as long as it has. Even writing this it feels like a part of me is still there. This song came to me after that experience while sitting on the floor of my room, uncertain of the future, lost in a sea of doubt. I hope he had something to do with it and I hope it finds whoever needs to hear it—like it found me to be written." It's a powerful response to Elliott Smith's taking of his own life, with a chorus featuring the resonant lyrics, "Until I find a reason to live, I'll find a reason not to die." mehro's upcoming album, trauma lullabies, is also set to release on May 3, and we cannot wait to hear the project in full.
7. Remi Wolf Channels Confidence and '70s Nostalgia on 'Cinderella'
Need a groovy, feel-good anthem to pump yourself up for the weekend? Look no further than alt-pop sensation Remi Wolf's new single, "Cinderella." On the track, Remi effectively becomes the fairy godmother to her own Cinderella, reminding herself of her worth while triumphantly funky '70s instrumentation backs up the celebration. We also adore the music video, akin to a modern fairytale. "'Cinderella' is a lyrical collage of the ups and downs and mood swings and transient lifestyle I was experiencing while writing this album," Remi said in a press release. "Constant travel and rapid changes led me to feel such a rollercoaster of emotion—moving from feeling really insecure to feeling really good to feeling manic and depressed and then feeling okay again, while desperately craving a grounding figure to tell me I was doing a good job. So, this song was me stepping in as my own fairy godmother telling myself that I was in control. Sonically, I wanted the song to have a sense of '70s nostalgia while still feeling like a record made today. And I wanted to make something where you can't help but dance and move and feel good while listening. I recorded this at Electric Lady in New York at the beginning of 2023. I initially made the song with just myself and Solomonophonic – and then I was able to bring in some amazing horns players to round out the sauce." "Cinderella" is also the first single of her upcoming sophomore album, Big Ideas, which is set to release on July 12.
8. Abby Anderson Finds Light Even in the Dark in 'Bright Side of Blue'
If you're a country music fan, Abby Anderson needs to be on your radar in 2024, and her latest track, "Bright Side of Blue," is sure to win you over. With Abby's incredible vocals front and center, the song is about overcoming the struggles of your past and remaining optimistic in the face of adversity, becoming even more powerful in the process, with a soaring sound that captures both the lightness and darkness within her journey. "I've had some low lows in my life, but I've always managed to find a smile," Abby shared in an interview with Sweety High. "Even when I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel, I knew it was there, and I just kept going. One day I was writing with my dear friends Clara Calaway and Bonnie Dymond. Clara came in with the title 'Bright Side of Blue,' and as soon as she said it, I knew exactly what it meant and exactly how to write it. You can knock me down, you put me in the darkest and deepest of blues, but I'm going to find the bright side of it."
Also read about: How Abby Anderson Saw the Light Side, Even in the Dark, With New Single 'Bright Side of Blue'
9. Crash Adams Crashing Into Your Living Room Vol. 1 EP
Canadian duo Crash Adams has been an undeniable force in pop music in recent years, and we're finding their new debut EP, Crashing Into Your Living Room Vol. 1, extra irresistible. Across five tracks, members Rafaele "Crash" Massarelli and Vince "Adams" Sasso create nostalgic and danceable sounds for the ages while exploring love, loss and everything in between. "At the beginning of Crash Adams we always had the concept of "crashing into your living room," the duo shared in a post on Instagram. "The living room is a place we're all familiar with, and it's a place where so many experiences happen, with so many different emotions attached to them. We love every single one of you that supports our music and owed it to you to release more music this year after only dropping 3 songs in 2023. This is just the beginning for 2024❤️" We're particularly obsessed with the focus track, "Good & Bad," and hope we won't have to wait too long to be graced with Vol. 2.
10. Olivia Rodrigo Expands the Story of GUTS with (spilled) Edition
We didn't think we could be any more in love with Olivia Rodrigo's sophomore album GUTS, but she just went and outdid herself by adding five new tracks to the tally on its deluxe edition, GUTS (spilled). The new cuts include "obsessed," "girl i've always been," "scared of my guitar," "stranger" and "so american," each dripping with Olivia's signature sound while offering something new and exciting to her canon. "GUTS (spilled) is out!" Olivia shared in a post on Instagram. "And the music video for 'obsessed' too! I made obsessed with @dan_nigro and @st_vincent almost three years ago (🤯) and I'm so stoked it's finally out in the world. it's always been one of my favorites and it's been so fun to play live every night on tour. I'm so proud of the songs stranger, girl I've always been, and scared of my guitar as well and especially excited about so american. hope you guys dig! the GUTS have been spilled!"
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of March 15, 2024.