10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of May 24, 2024
We couldn't be more excited for the long Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start of summer, and lucky for us, so many of our favorite artists dropped new music this week to provide the perfect celebratory soundtrack.
Over the last week, we got the new music video to Camila Cabello and Lil Nas X's steamy collab, brand new tracks from Charlie Puth and Meghan Trainor and so much more. Just keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of May 24, 2024.
('HE KNOWS' via Geffen/Interscope Records)
1. tenderhooks Kicks Off Summer With Escapist Single 'Summer Driving Fast'
We're more than ready to jump into summer celebrations, and English alt-pop singer-songwriter tenderhooks just gave us the perfect laidback single to get the party started. Her vibey synth-driven new track is called "Summer Driving Fast," evoking a moody sense of escapism and the sensation of freedom that only summer can bring. "This is a song about not wanting to let go of the moment that you're in," tenderhooks shared in a press release. "Summer has a way of making you hyper present and this song connects with that feeling of release."
2. Debbii Dawson Finds Her Happy Place in 'Turn the TV On'
America's Got Talent alum Debbii Dawson made a name for herself singing ABBA covers that made the tracks her own, and she's even more powerful as an artist singing her own songs. Her latest single, "Turn the TV On," is proof, with yearning vocals and a sound evoking '70s pop with a modern twist. It's a song about finding escape in television when the world gets to be too much—regardless of whether or not that's what's good for her. "The true meaning of this song lies in what is unsaid," Debbii shared in a press release. "Wishing that I could turn the world off but instead finding an escape in turning my TV on, never leaving home, and the numbing mundaneness of an uneventful life." It's also set to appear on her upcoming EP, How to Be Human, set to release on June 28.
3. Tiny Habits Soar on Debut Album All for Something
Maya Rae, Cinya Khan and Judah Mayowa make up the musical trio Tiny Habits, and we've been enraptured with them ever since we first heard their heavenly harmonies. They just released their debut album, All for Something, written over the last two years while the artists were students at Berklee College of Music, with tracks ranging from folksy to jazzy to upbeat pop, with their unmatched vocals always front and center. Their sound is soothing, while their lyrics explore profoundly relatable aspects of life, with the complete story coming together when you listen to all 12 tracks. "Making this album has really taught me so much about each of you and myself," Judah revealed in a press release, with Cinya adding, "I hope every listener feels like part of themselves is somehow reflected in these songs and I hope people hear words they need to hear."
4. Vince Staples Gets Introspective on New Album, Dark Times
If you're not yet a fan of rapper and singer-songwriter Vince Staples, his eighth album, Dark Times, will make you one. Over 13 tracks, the new album showcases his signature smooth bars and bold yet relaxed beats while his lyrics are as evocative and introspective as ever. The songs serve as an examination of his life, detailing the reality, in all of its ups and downs, from a playful celebration of his Louisiana roots to an upbeat inspirational anthem for the next generation, and everything in between. As the title suggests, the times may be dark, but he's finding the joy and light within them the best he can. "It's a testament to where I am right now and how I view things—it's just a timestamp," Vince said of the album in a press release. "I might not feel like that again tomorrow. But in the process of making this project, these were the things that spoke to me."
5. Jeremy Zucker, Lauv and Alexander23 Join Forces for Romantic Single, 'Cozy'
We never expected to see Jeremy Zucker, Lauv and Alexander23 collaborate on a single track, but the result truly couldn't be sweeter. Their feel-good new single is called "Cozy," a gorgeous, straightforward love song about feeling at ease with the one you adore most. The music video, inspired by Step Brothers and featuring the three artists at a sleepover, could also not be cuter. "This collab has been a long time coming, and it was the most fun I've had in a while making music," Jeremy shared in a press release. "Knowing Ari and Alexander for so many years and having such similar fan bases made this rollout all the more exciting to us. We each had the ability to bring a bit of ourselves into this song and video and created something really special."
6. James Reid Makes a Big Comeback With 'Hurt Me Too'
Filipino-Australian singer-songwriter James Reid is newly signed to Sony Music Philippines and just made an epic comeback with his new single, "Hurt Me Too." The stipped-back, piano-driven ballad emphasizes James' killer vocals, serving as an exploration of heartbreak and the understanding that the hurt after the breakup goes both ways. "I think the inspiration for this song came from a lot of things," he revealed in an interview with Sweety High. "I actually really do not write more heavy, sad breakup songs. I generally like to think I am a happy person, but this was one of the only ones that really dove into that side of myself and it actually took me three years to release this track. I think it just did not make sense at that time, especially with all the music I was doing, but then it was honestly just too good of a song to not release, so I changed it and stripped it down. It started off as synth-pop originally, and now it's with piano because I really wanted to focus on the meaning of the song, which was "sometimes in life, you give your best, you give your all, but it is sometimes just not enough, and sometimes it's just like that. I guess it was more of a feeling of empathy." I know how much you are hurting and how much this sucks, because I feel it too, and I think about it sometimes people forget that, but that was where I was coming from with this song and with the instrumentation and everything, I really stripped it down to focus on me and the music. Take away the big production and everything."
Also read about: James Reid Shares Why It Took Him 3 Years to Release New Single, 'Hurt Me Too'
7. Coi Leray Focuses on Love and Self-Improvement on New Lemon Cars EP
After releasing the vibey, genre-defying "Lemon Cars" two weeks ago, hip-hop sensation Coi Leray just dropped her new EP of the same name, continuing the song's message of love and self-acceptance. Across six tracks, Coi explores her versatility as a rapper and singer as she takes her brand of hip-hop to new places while exploring a new sense of self-discovery and understanding. "Never dumb yourself down to lift any one up," she wrote on a post on Intagram. "Be okay with walking away from whatever isn't helping you grow. We can't change anyone but ourselves so be very self-aware and focus on you. Have more fun. Invest in yourself. Pray. Enjoy. See you on tour."
Also read about: 20 Confident Coi Leray Lyrics to Use as Your Next Instagram Caption
8. Meghan Trainor and Niecy Nash Share New Self-Love Anthem, 'I Wanna Thank Me'
We can always count on Meghan Trainor to be a beacon of positivity and self-love, and her newest single, "I Wanna Thank Me," featuring Niecy Nash, takes that message to the next level. Featuring Meghan's signature pop-doo-wop sound, it's all about loving yourself and remembering just how big of a role you play in making the world a great place, with actress Niecy Nash and her family on backing vocals. "I wanna thank @niecynash1 for inspiring this song and for singing it with her amazing family 😭💝🎉 I'll cherish this day forever! Love you Niecy Nash! Out now!"
9. Charlie Puth Can't Save Someone in Need on 'HERO'
Charlie Puth needs no introduction—especially since the major Taylor Swift shoutout on THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT—and in his first release since his 2022 album CHARLIE, he's reminding us just how talented he is. His new single, "HERO," is a moody indie-pop track about wishing he could save someone from themself to no avail. "My new song 'HERO' is about when you see someone you love hurting themselves, ruining the things in their life that are good, but you just can't save them," Charlie wrote in an Instagram post. "It's one of the hardest songs I've ever had to write, but I wrote it in hopes that you've gone through something similar in your life, and that it can fill in the BLANK for you like it did for me. I'm very excited to share my next album with you, especially this song because it's a great representation of what's to come. I've never put out a song like this before—it's very different for me, but I want to thank @taylorswift for letting me know musically that I just couldn't keep this on my hard drive any longer."
10. Camila Cabello and Lil Nax X Are Even More Explosive in New 'HE KNOWS' Music Video
As we inch nearer to the release of Camila Cabello's next album, C,XOXO on June 28, the excitement hasn't gotten any less—especially with the release of a new video for "HE KNOWS" featuring Lil Nas X. We haven't been able to get its whirring, dreamlike sound out of our heads since its release two weeks ago, and the steamy track is even more fun accompanied by the video, showing the two artists at the club trying to both capture the attention of the same love interest
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of May 17, 2024.