10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of September 1, 2023

Nicki Minaj's latest banger has us so ready for the long Labor Day weekend.

The summer may be coming to a close, but musically, it's going out with a splash thanks to hot new tunes from our favorite up-and-comers as well as certified smashes from some of the biggest artists in the world. Looking for the perfect soundtrack for your holiday festivities? Just keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of Sep. 1, 2023.

1. Floor Space Channel the Frustration of Growing Up in 'Smile While It's Ending'

Alt-rock band Floor Space just announced that their third album, Maybe This Is It, drops Oct. 20, teasing the release with the pop-punk-tinged new single "Smile While It's Ending." With a sound that's as playful as it is angsty, the track is real, funny and powerfully relatable, channeling all of the uncertainty and frustration of growing up, fear of venturing into the unknown and learning to accept it all. "'Smile While It's Ending' is a song about powering through the final moments and making light of it all," shared frontman Charlie Bruno in a press release. "It's also largely about intoxication, catholic school traumas and my fear of trying new vegetables."

2. Anna Kellam Wonders What It Is 'To Be Young' on New Single

If you've ever felt like you're squandering your youth, Anna Kellam's yearning new single "To Be Young" needs to be on your radar. The indie pop track is gentle yet anthemic, telling a coming-of-age story about struggling to be present and happy with what should be the greatest years of your life. "'To Be Young' is the first song I wrote, ever," Anna said in a press release. "While it's the most musically upbeat song I've released to date, it's about dissociation and never allowing yourself to be content in a moment. There was a 5-year gap between writing and recording this song, and when coming back to it, I realized I wanted the music to reflect my 18-year-old self, and the artists I liked at that time." The song is also set to appear Anna's upcoming debut EP, Fetch, out Sep. 29.

Also read about: H1-KEY Dishes on their Inspiring New Album, Seoul Dreaming, and Journey as Artists

3. Wilderado Focus on the Here and Now With 'In Between'

Oklahoma-based indie folk trio Wilderado are gearing up to release their sophomore album, and their first music video of 2023 comes in the form of the new single, "In Between," written during that album's sessions. Between the smooth vocals and relaxed instrumentation, there's something incredibly soothing about its sound, with just a hint of twangy country guitar as it tells a story about living in the present. Its captivating music video further distills the essence of the Oklahoma landscape within an indescribable moment of time and space. "'In Between' is one of those songs that fell out while struggling to write several other tunes," vocalist and guitarist Max Rainer explained in a press release. "We paused in a moment of frustration while at the studio and found a riff Justin (drummer) had written several years back. The song appeared as a reprise in the space caused by exhaustion, writer's block and imposter syndrome. There's an easy nature to it that seemed to form itself. The lyrics came in with the melodies and all we really did was sit around and enjoy it. Then we had to go back to working on the others."

4. JEWELS Goes to Space With Galaxy Baby

Singer-songwriter JEWELS is probably best known for her unforgettable vocals on "LOVE HOW I LOVE YOU" with DaBaby, and today, the North Carolina artist dropped her spacey new EP, Galaxy Baby, destined to further cement her glowing reputation. Across its six tracks, JEWELS stuns with irresistible, pulsing dance beats and soulful, evocative vocals that demonstrate both confidence and versatility. The lead single, "My Alien," is our favorite play on the outer space theme, making for a love song that's going to stick in our heads all weekend.

Also read about: Zoe Ko Finds the True Meaning of Home in the New Music Video for 'Rib Cage'

5. Leah Marie Mason Can't Find Where She Fits In With 'Black Sheep'

Leah Marie Mason is one of the country artists to watch in 2023, and her new single "Black Sheep" may be her most emotionally resonant yet. On the song, the 24-year-old artist sings about jumping from clique to clique in hopes of finding her place, realizing she can't even fit in among the biggest misfits of them all. With its gentle acoustic instrumentation, eventually swelling into a swelling orchestral sound, it's about the powerful urge to belong somewhere and feel accepted, and how destructive that sense of loneliness can get. "This song was born from my own experiences in high school and college," Leah revealed in a press release. "It's about those vulnerable times, the challenges I faced, and how I grew. It's the song I needed back in high school, so if it can help even one person, it's worth it. It came straight from my heart and I knew it needed to be out there, not just for me."

6. Amelia Moore Gets Stuck on Old Love in 'over my ex'

22-year-old singer-songwriter Amelia Moore always manages to write precisely what we're feeling, lending a sense of pure truth to her edgy pop hits, and her latest, "over my ex," is no different. It's the kind of searing anthem you can't help but sing along with as Amelia takes up a new romance that doesn't do a thing to soothe her heartbreak, being with the new person yet only being able to think about her past love. "'over my ex' is the most honest I've ever been with myself in my songwriting," Amelia said in a press release."It's easy to feel ashamed when you're not over someone, but I hope my fans feel liberated when we all sing this together."

7. Sam Fischer Finds Himself Again in 'Afterglow'

It feels like we were just blessed with an iconic duet between Sam Fischer and Meghan Trainor in the form of their song "Alright," and the Australian hitmaker is already back with the infectious new track, "Afterglow." The uplifting track has an '80s power ballad feel, with drum machines and reverby synths as he croons about letting go of what's been troubling him and finding the peace and clarity he's been searching for. "I wrote 'Afterglow' at a time when I felt totally burnt out on writing sessions, just creatively spent," Sam shared in a press release. "It was a total Hail Mary song that started with me asking myself, 'What would Chris Martin do,' which I recommend for whenever you feel like you're running on empty. It's that euphoria you feel when everything clicks, that explosion of radical self-love, and you finally feel what you've been waiting for your whole life. I want the world to 'let go' of all the BS that keeps you down when they hear 'Afterglow.'"

Also read about: Everything You Wanted to Know About Australian Singer-Songwriter Sam Fischer

8. teo glacier Reimagines'close with desires' With Help From thuy

If you already thought teo glacier's "close with desires (right person wrong timing)" was both beautiful and heartbreaking, get ready to hear it in a whole new way thanks to the reimagined version of the track, featuring thuy. This stripped-back acoustic version of the song puts both artists' powerful vocals front and center, and with all-new verses from thuy representing the previously unheard side of the relationship, this breakup hit becomes even more crushing. "I never imagined myself signed to a label, especially one with the history of Capitol Records," teo shared in a press release. "I still can't really believe it, to be honest. I'm waiting for someone to wake me up and ruin this dream. It's a dream I had from the start, but it was never a goal. It always felt too impossible to actually try and achieve something like this. To the 15-year-old boy stuck in quarantine making songs – anything is possible bro, cos we did it."

9. Angelic Montero Dares the World to Keep Up in '7 Days a Week'

19-year-old singer-songwriter Angelic Montero only gets better with every release, and she's never been fierier than on her latest single, "7 Days a Week." With lyrics in both English and Spanish, the song is a bold expression of the artist's ever-growing confidence—each and every day of the week—and with a Latin-inspired beat and melodic vocals, this one positively sizzles.

Also read about: How Angelic Montero Channeled the Experience of a Toxic Relationship Into '9 Times Outta 10'

10. Nicki Minaj Laments a Drifting Love in 'Last Time I Saw You'

When it comes to Nicki Minaj, you can always expect the unexpected. Her newest single, "Last Time I Saw You," absolutely delivers on that front while continuing to demonstrate her unbridled versatility and talent. This track is pure, vibey pop, with a sound that's open and vulnerable, yet hopeful, as she sings about a love slowly coming apart at the seams while fully displaying Nicki's talents as both a stellar vocalist and rapper with some of the best flow in the biz. The track will also appear on Nicki's upcoming album, Pink Friday 2, dropping Nov. 17, and we are counting down the days.

Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of Aug. 25, 2023.