10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of September 15, 2023

We're struggling to believe we're already halfway through the month of September, but at least we have various iconic new albums to listen to, plus countless more unforgettable musical releases, to keep us happy.

Over the last seven days, both Laura Marano and Madison Beer dropped new albums, while Tori Kelly shared a deluxe edition of her new EP and SHINee's KEY shared his own evocative sophomore EP. To hear all of these fabulous releases, and more, keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of Sep. 15, 2023.

1. Colby Acuff Expands His Debut Album With a Deluxe Edition of Western White Pines

Few artists have instantly captivated us quite like singer-songwriter Colby Acuff, and his approach to the country genre has us swooning with every release. Today, he shared the special deluxe version of his label debut album, Western White Pines, adding six new tracks to the album's original 10. With these new songs, Colby continues to show us why he's one to watch, with the perfect, slightly raspy voice to tell his rugged and authentic story. The deluxe album also includes our favorite Colby song, "Movin," which got its own sweet visualizer this week.

 

2. Taylor Bickett Wants More Than a Summer Fling in 'IDIOT!'

We love TikTok for a million reasons, including the fact that it introduces us to up-and-coming artists like Nashville-based Taylor Bickett. Her latest release is the catchy indie-pop bop "IDIOT!," which showcases Taylor's natural talent for storytelling as she weaves a tale about falling for someone when you never expected it, and the thrill and fear of not knowing how they feel about you in return. "'IDIOT!' is a summer's end love song," Taylor revealed in a press release. "It's the realization that you want to spend autumn and winter and spring with your summer fling. To me, it feels like that scene in a rom-com where the characters finally see that they're in love and race to tell each other. It's also a bit of a sheepish confession: I know I told you I wanted to keep it casual… but I think that I might be in love with you." She also just announced that her debut EP, grown up and lonely, will be released on Nov. 3.

 

3. The Beaches Tackle Young Adulthood on New Album Blame My Ex

Canadian rock band The Beaches are currently having a big moment as headline a North American tour in support of their new album, Blame My Ex. Its 10 tracks are profoundly relatable, in signature The Beaches style, but grittier and more expressive than the band has ever been. These songs are bitter, sweet and everything in the middle as they explore the ups and downs of how it feels to be a 20-something finding your place in the world. We especially love the title's reference to the opening track, their viral hit "Blame Brett," and how it sets the scene for everything to come.

 

Also read about: Everything You Wanted to Know About Canadian Rock Band The Beaches

 

4. Mitski Explores What It Truly Means to Love on The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We

There's something impossible to pin down about the music of Mitski, and with the release of her seventh studio album, The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We, the artist is as mysteriously captivating as ever. Its 11 tracks are dark yet beautiful, dreamy and melodic as Mitski explores themes of loneliness, yearning and isolation, and the idea that perhaps it would be simpler not to love at all. Even so, the impossible-to-ignore "My Love Mine All Mine" is an ode to love and its importance, and we especially love its moody new music video. "My song called 'My Love Mine All Mine' is about how to love is the best thing I ever did—the most beautiful thing," she explained in a video on Instagram. "Better than any song I've written, any material possession I've gained, any achievement, and I wish that after I die, I can at least leave behind this beautiful love in the world."

 

5. Noah Kahan and Lizzy McAlpine Join Forces for New Version of 'Call Your Mom'

There's a good reason Noah Kahan is rapidly becoming a household name, and his sold-out Stick Season Tour is one of the buzziest of the season. The tour also recently saw Lizzy McAlpine joining Noah at the Greek Theater to perform a duet of fan-favorite song "Call Your Mom," and since we missed it in person, we couldn't be happier that the two came back together for a studio version. The gorgeous track is about leaning on someone you can depend upon when you need it most, and the artists' complementary voices add emotional layers we didn't know were hidden within it. "Lizzy gave this song new life when she joined me onstage in Los Angeles and was kind enough to take the time to record a duet version with me," Noah explained in a press release. "Her addition brings a hopefulness to this song that gave it a whole new meaning to me. This song has been such an important part of our live show and has seemed to resonate with many, and I believe Lizzy brings it to a whole new level."

 

Also read about: 20 Vulnerable Noah Kahan Lyrics to Use as Your Next Instagram Caption

 

6. SHINee KEY Continues to Impress as a Solo Act With Good & Great

KEY may be best known as a member of one of K-pop's all-time biggest groups, SHINee, but he's made it clear he doesn't need backup to shine—especially with his second solo mini-album, Good & Great. The six-song EP was released earlier this week, showcasing the artist's bold confidence with a retro collection that's part disco, part dancey synth-pop, and all breathtaking. These songs put his flawless vocals front and center, and the upbeat, feel-good title track is bound to be stuck in your head all weekend.

 

7. Tori Kelly Drops a Deluxe Version of tori (deluxe) and New Music Video With Jon Bellion

We couldn't get enough of Tori Kelly's most recent EP, the self-tiled tori, so we are thrilled to get even more of it in the form of its new deluxe edition. The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter's latest drop features three live recordings of fan-favorite songs "missin u – r&b edit," "shelter" and "alive if i die," which come to life in a whole new way when performed onstage. As the cherry on top, Tori paired the release with a new music video for her beautiful collab with Jon Bellion, "young gun."

 

Also read about: 13 Sparkling Lyrics From Tori Kelly's New EP, tori, to Use as Your Next Instagram Caption

 

8. Laura Marano Makes a Stunning Album Debut With i may be an actress, but i can't fake how i feel

We've been super-fans of Laura Marano since her Austin & Ally days, and we feel like we've been waiting for today for forever, because she just dropped debut album, i may be an actress, but i can't fake how i feel. There's a journal-like quality to the actress and singer-songwriter's ambitious album, consisting of a whopping 23 tracks encapsulating her story in a way that feels authentically Laura. We've always known she could sing, but on this album, she's at the very top of her game, and the shimmery, soaring "Someday" is a definite highlight.

 

9. Sebastián Yatra Celebrates the 'Awesome Energy' of Love With 'Energía Bacana'

We firmly believe that Colombian singer-songwriter Sebastián Yatra's music speaks volumes, regardless of whether you can understand the lyrics in Spanish—case in point, his newest single, "Energía Bacana." With its cool, pulsing sound, it feels like the ultimate poolside track with a title translating to "awesome energy." It's an irresistible love song about the one who brings light and joy to your life, complete with a sleek music video (directed by Sebastián himself) starring Spanish influencer and model Georgina Rodríguez. In a press release, Sebastián shared that the song is dedicated to those who "brighten up your life, who lift you up, who bring you peace, who give you good vibes."

 

Also read about: Everything You Wanted to Know About Colombian Pop Sensation Sebastián Yatra

 

10. Madison Beer Shows Just How Powerful She Is on Sophomore Album Silence Between Songs

Over the last couple of years, we've learned never to underestimate Madison Beer. That's why it comes as no surprise to us that her sophomore album, Silence Between Songs, is one of the best new albums of all of 2023. We were first introduced to her new musical direction with the spacey instant classic "Home To Another One," and across 14 tracks, Madison doesn't let us down once. She self-produced and co-wrote each one, exploring the boundaries of the pop genre with the occasional retro twist. Her angelic and soulful vocals pair so well with the thoughtful, introspective lyrics, sometimes wallowing in deep emotion and at other times ringing triumphant. "I've learned so much about myself and my artistry on the journey of the last two years since my last record," Madison said of the album in a press release. "This album tells the story of so many different pieces of me that I discovered in the moments of pause where I settled down from the noise and learned the most about myself. I hope my fans are as inspired listening to it as I was when creating it."

 

Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of Sep. 8, 2023.