10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of March 8, 2024
As much as we're dreading springing forward, we can't wait for the extra hour of sunlight Daylight Saving Time is about to give us—and we're celebrating with some absolutely unbeatable new music.
While the biggest music news of the week has to be the release of Ariana Grande's epic new album, eternal sunshine, the week also saw new releases from 5SOS's Luke Hemmings, Victor Ray and so many more. To find out what has us singing along this weekend, just keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of March 8, 2024.
(eternal sunshine via Republic Records)
1. Izzy S.O Reflects on Becoming a Stranger in 'I Swear I Made You Up'
Rising alt-pop singer-songwriter Izzy S.O is one to watch in 2024, and with her second single of the year, "I Swear I Made You Up," her relatable storytelling is as evocative as ever. It's a song about the strange passage of time, and the alarming experience of becoming a stranger to someone you once dearly loved. "'I Swear I Made You Up' was inspired by one real moment when I met up with someone I once loved, and we were acting like strangers," Izzy explained in a press release. "It was a weirdly polite conversation, where we both pretended to be fine like we had put these walls up to protect ourselves. Focus on your journey and how you feel about you; don't let someone else's behavior stunt you or distort your view of yourself. Focus on being a good person for you; everything else is out of your control."
2. Abby Sage Can't Go Back in 'Three Floors, Three Doors'
Last week, alt-pop artist Abby Sage released her striking debut album, The Rot, and this week, she's followed it up with the lush and dreamy music video for focus track "Three Floors, Three Doors." It's a song about feeling out of place at home and looking back on your childhood, understanding you can never go back to the naivety and innocence you experienced in your youth. As we grow up ourselves, it definitely strikes a chord. "The Rot album focuses on the decomposition and reconstruction of everything I was taught growing up," Abby revealed in a press release. "It's choosing what to take as truth and what to rebuild in my mind to fit what I now believe. I wanted The Rot to cover a pretty long span of time. I felt it was important to address what shaped my childhood, what shapes me now, and everything in between. It's what I carry with me and what I choose to let go. I think rotting is a perfect visual for this process because of the cyclical nature. Things rot and then something new grows because of it, like ideas and values."
3. Jelani Aryeh Watches Life Pass by in 'sweater club'
The last few years have been difficult for many, with the pandemic and overall unrest making us feel detached and apathetic about life, and we don't know if that emotion has been captured more brilliantly than in Jelani Aryeh's newest single, "sweater club." The viral 23-year-old star released the song earlier this week, teasing his upcoming album, The Sweater Club, and we got the chance to ask him all about its inspiration. "'sweater club' comes from a place of detachment," Jelani shared in an interview with Sweety High. "It kind of sums up how I felt emotionally throughout late 2021 to the top of last year. Every day felt like I was waking up in somebody else's body, starting all the way back at zero. It's like standing at the rear of a room with your back attached to the wall and you're just watching life pass by in a blur. I think it comes from a similar place as 'From These Heights,' but instead of talking about the bad things happening in the world, it's directed at myself."
Also read about: Jelani Aryeh Shares the Feeling of Detachment That Inspired New Single, 'Sweater Club'
4. Jon Muq Yearns for True Love in 'One You Love'
Ugandan singer-songwriter Jon Muq should be on everyone's radars ahead of his upcoming debut album, Flying Away, which drops on May 31. In the meantime, prepare to fall in love with his newest single, "One You Love." With a classic, upbeat soul sound, it's a hopeful ode to love, showcasing Jon's incredible vocals and honest, yearning songwriting. We plan to have it on repeat all weekend long.
5. Jagwar Twin Follows His Gut in the New 'Bad Feeling (Oompa Loompa)' Music Video
When Jagwar Twin released his single "Bad Feeling (Oompa Loompa)" in December, it was like fate, with the drop coincidentally aligning with the new Wonka movie and instant viral success all over TikTok. This week, he shared its official music video, complete with a spooky circus vibe to match the haunting trumpet and accordion sound of the beloved track. We got to catch up with the artist to learn all about it. "It's a song about trusting your gut, trusting your intuition and a song about our place in the cosmos," Jagwar Twin told us. "I always have loved Willy Wonka. I love the Gene Wilder film. I used to watch it with my grandma growing up and I've watched it a lot of times since and have been unpacking all the different codes in it. It's such a deep movie. You could look at that movie, especially the Gene Wilder one, as a pattern in which you could orient your life if you put yourself as Charlie. It's the same movie as The Matrix. It's the same story as Pinocchio. It's a code."
Also read about: Jagwar Twin on Going to the Circus in the New Music Video for 'Bad Feeling (Oompa Loompa)'
6. Hayes Warner, Billy B and Kevin Rudolph Celebrate International Women's Day With New Take on 'Just a Girl'
If you love No Doubt as much as we do, you have to check out this version of "Just a Girl" from Hayes Warner and Billy B, featuring Kevin Rudolph, released just in time for International Women's Day. The new song reimagines the '90s anthem with a whole new sound while tackling the same issues as ever as it tears down the expectations placed upon women, complete with some of the most infectious bars we've hard all year, backed by the iconic guitar riff of 1995's "Just a Girl." A portion of proceeds from the single will also be donated to Supermajority, an org that builds women's collective political power at all levels of government. "Ever since I can remember, I've been a fan of No Doubt and Gwen Stefani," Hayes shared in a press release. "Their tongue-in-cheek lyric writing and high energy performances has had a huge impact on me and my own artistry. With this new reimagined version of 'Just A Girl' I wanted to honor that while creating a version that reflects my 2024 perspective. I'm so excited to collaborate with amazing artists like Billy B and Kevin Rudolf, who both add their own levels of brilliance to the track. Our version 'Just A Girl' was made to remind the world that women are strong and resilient. Partnering with an organization like Supermajority to release this song on International Women's Day feels like the perfect way to bring that to life in a meaningful way that uplifts female voices."
Also read about: Hayes Warner Pokes Fun and Channels the Butterflies of a New Crush in 'Shut Up'
7. Jojo Tua and Clever Beg for Forgiveness With 'HALLELUJAH'
Rising star Jojo Tua's eagerly anticipated album, Dreamer, is set to drop sometime this year, and we just got a taste with the moody and atmospheric new hip-hop track, "HALLELUJAH." Jojo recruited rapper Clever for the single, which combines a pulsing, hazy R&B sound with lyrics about temptation, regret and forgiveness to create an unforgettable collaboration. "Working with Clever on 'Hallelujah' has been an incredible experience," Jojo said in a press release. "His talent and creativity brought a new dimension to the song, and I can't wait for our fans to hear it."
8. Victor Ray Is Willing to Risk it All for Love in 'Halfway There'
Victor Ray has one of those soaring, powerful voices that are impossible to forget, and while he may be best known for his viral busking videos, his recent singles have all been show-stoppers in their own right. His newest, "Halfway There," is an instant classic. Written just a few weeks after his most recent hit, "Comfortable," it's a song about the kind of love that makes you lose yourself, that you're willing to give it all up for, and the angst of knowing your commitment to the relationship only gets you "halfway there." The other person has to be all in, too.
Also read about: Victor Ray Dishes on the Toxic Relationship That Inspired 'Comfortable' and What's Next in 2024
9. Luke Hemmings Longs for the Feeling of Home in 'Shakes'
Luke Hemmings is probably best known as the singer and guitarist of 5 Seconds of Summer, but he's also made a name for himself as a talented and provocative solo artist. This week, he shared his first solo release since 2021's When Facing the Things We Turn Away From in the form of the new single, "Shakes." The track promises to continue his success as a solo artist with a dreamy, yearning sound as he sings of missing home and feeling drained and alone. "'Shakes' was written on a dreary NYC evening in between long periods of being on the road," Luke revealed in a press release. "This made it come naturally to write from a melancholy place and feeling of yearning to be back home and feeling lonely and emotionally depleted. There is a longing for love and self-acceptance in the lyrics and I hope it to be a song and feeling that anyone listening can find themselves in and attach their own story." Luke also has a solo EP, boy, on the way, with a release date set for April 26.
10. Ariana Grande Drops Her Best Album Yet in the Form of eternal sunshine
Ariana Grande just released her seventh studio album, eternal sunshine, and even if you didn't love the divisive "Yes, And?," we think this is one that you're going to find hard to resist. Consisting of 13 tracks, this release feels like it marks a whole new era for Ari, and we couldn't be more thrilled. "we can't be friends (wait for your love)" is a particular standout, with a pulse-pounding, anthemic sound that feels like young love, and we adore the way Ariana ended the album with the brass-driven "Ordinary Things," a tribute to her love for her Nonna (whose voice is also featured on the song). With eternal sunshine, it's clear that Ariana has more to say than ever, and it's no stretch to say that this is her best album yet
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of March 1, 2024.