10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of September 22, 2023

Today is the last official day of summer ahead of the fall season, and thanks to our favorite musicians, it's going out with a massive bang.

This week, we got brand new albums from everyone from Doja Cat and Stephen Sanchez to Matteo Bocelli, long-awaiting track releases from pop-punk powerhouses blink-182 and so much more to help us celebrate this seasonal change in style. Want to know what we're listening to? Just keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of Sep. 22, 2023.

1. Taylor Acorn Tells Her Story With Her Certified Depressant EP

Nashville-based singer-songwriter Taylor Acorn has spent the last years making a name for herself touring with huge acts including Real Friends, Loveless and The Summer Set, and her latest release, the Certified Depressant EP is a real return to form for the artist. The eight-track EP chronicles her mental health struggles and the journey of finding and losing love, ranging from moody and evocative to playfully effervescent, without ever losing its edge. We're especially fond of the concluding track, the upbeat and romantic "Everything Sucks." "It's been nearly seven years since I put out a project entirely of songs that I've written, but I think now it's finally time," Taylor wrote in an Instagram post. "To those who have stuck around from the beginning and the new friends I've made along this crazy little journey, thank you. I would not be able to do any of this if it wasn't for you and I am eternally grateful. 🖤 I hope you will love these songs as much as I do."

2. VCHA Make History and Release Pre-Debut Single SeVit (NEW LIGHT)

This week, VCHA made history as the first-ever global girl group trained through the K-pop system, and their pre-debut single, SeVit (NEW LIGHT) is proof that these girls have what they take to be stars. Made up of Camila, Lexi, Kendall, Savanna, KG and Kaylee, the six-member group was formed through the competition series A2K, and their talents shine bright in their introductory tracks, "Y.O.Universe," "Go Getter," and "Know Me Like That." They also shared a music video for "Y.O.Universe" that's sure to get you as hooked as we are. "The song discusses how one will experience hardships and struggles within their journey of finding their true self, but can overcome it with the support of others and self-confidence," shared VCHA's Lexi in an interview with Sweety High. "Every individual is special and unique because they are who they are, which is why the name specifically includes 'Y.O.U.'"

Also read about: Get to Know the Girls of VCHA, K-Pop's First-Ever American Girl Group

3. corook Gets Even More Un-serious  With serious person (part 2)

We've been eagerly awaiting the release of corook's serious person (part 2) ever since we first heard (part 1), and it's precisely as irreverent, proactive and emotional as we'd imagined. These five tracks are instantly captivating while further exploring corook's inner workings and journey of understanding and embracing themself as they are. "(part 2) is the fun and funky second child of the serious person era," corook explained in a press release. "This batch of songs is fronted with more silliness and spastic energy while still tackling serious subjects like emergency contacts, self-discovery and depression. I fell in love with the imperfections of recording while making these tracks with my friend Dan Fernandez. We spent most days in his garage studio in Nashville pressing record while I screamed and banged on something until the songs felt alive." We think the new song, "alien," encapsulates the energy and self-discovery of the EP perfectly.

Also read about: corook Talks New EP serious person (part 1), Touring and the Power of 'if i were a fish'

4. Matteo Bocelli Debuts With Stunning Self-Titled Album, Matteo

Over the past five years, Matteo Bocelli has proven he's more than just the son of his world-famous tenor father, Andrea Bocelli, and his work as a singer-songwriter and pianist speaks for itself. Today, the 25-year-old artist released his self-titled debut album, Matteo, featuring 12 beautiful tracks in both English and Italian that show the power of his epic and expressive vocals, making it clear that music is in his blood. The piano-driven "I'm Here" is a positively stunning ode to the strength of human conection and we can't keep our eyes off its music video."'I'm here' is a very powerful thing to say," Matteo explained in a press release. "I think it's beautiful when someone tells you, 'I'm here whenever you need me'—whether you want to share something happy with me, or you feel down and need time to express your emotions. Life is beautiful when you're able to help someone."

Also read about: Here's Everything You Should Know About Musician Matteo Bocelli

5. Stephen Sanchez Tells a Fictional Story of Love, Fame and Murder With Angel Face

We know we're not the only ones who've been addicted to Stephen Sanchez and his music ever since the release of his smash hit "Until I Found You," and the track finds a whole new meaning in the context of Stephen's new debut album, Angel Face. Consisting of 13 songs, this incredible album tells the fictional story of The Troubadour Sanchez from 1958 to 1964, documenting his rise to fame, his doomed romance with a mob boss's ex and eventual murder, channeling the rock 'n' roll romance of the '50s and '60s all the while. It feels plucked directly out of that time, with a dreamy sound that continuously has us coming back for more. "This record, for me, is the antithesis of love's entire humanity," Stephen shared in a press release. "It is here to empower those drawn to the cosmic signs that put two souls in the same place at the right moment. The hope is to evoke memories and be a soundtrack for new ones, that these songs might allow strangers to be caught in a feeling long enough for love to grow."

Also read about: 24 Romantic Lyrics From Stephen Sanchez's Angel Face to Use as Instagram Captions

6. Landon Barker Makes an Impressive Debut With 'Friends With Your EX'

19-year-old Landon Barker may be best known as a style icon and social media sensation, but the young artist is also a powerful singer-songwriter and instrumentalist who just signed to DTA Records. His debut single, "Friends With Your Ex," is a shimmery pop-punk anthem about the complications of falling in love with a girl who dated his friend first, and it definitely doesn't sound like a first foray into music. Despite this being his solo debut, he's already established as a musician, with a little help from his dad, blink-182's Travis Barker. He's played with one of Travis's bands, The Transplants, opened for blink-182 and been featured on Machine Gun Kelly's music, and he even sold out his first headline show at The Roxy. Landon may just be getting started in the studio, but we can already tell he has a promising musical future ahead of him.

7. Dylan Conrique Channels Her Inner Cowgirl for 'When I Go'

We're never not excited for new releases from pop powerhouse Dylan Conrique, and her latest single, "When I Go," does things a little differently as Dylan embraces some cowgirl country vibes. With a pulse-pounding, dancey beat, the empowering track shows Dylan moving on from past loves and being fully willing to break a few new hearts along the way. "'When I Go' is officially out!" Dylan wrote in an Instagram post. "We've been working on this song for a while now, and I'm so happy that it's y'all's finally! I had to get away from the sad songs for a sec and have a lil fun! (also blasting this in the car with your friends and the windows down is a must). Anyway the video and song are out!"

Also read about: Dylan Conrique Shares the Powerful True Story Behind Her Single 'Birthday Cake'

8. EXO's D.O. Further Showcases His Solo Prowess With New EP, Expectation

There's no questioning that EXO's main vocalist D.O. can sing, but with the release of his second EP, Expectation, he shows us precisely what his voice can do, and his potential seems limitless. The EP consists of seven smooth, vibey tracks that flawlessly set the scene for the arrival of the fall season, with "Somebody" being a standout. This groovy and melodic pop track is all about yearning to be loved authentically, and we can't think of anything more relatable.

9. blink-182 Gets Nostalgic on 'ONE MORE TIME'

If there's one track that got us emotional this week, it's blink-182's new single, "ONE MORE TIME." It's the band's second release since their reunion with original guitarist Tom DeLonge, reflecting on the band's rollercoaster history, and how Mark Hoppus's battle with cancer and Travis Barker's near-fatal plane crash helped the band realize they should all be together and making music. The aching, piano-driven song is enough to jerk tears on its own, but its music video, featuring backdrops from all of band's most iconic MVs, mixed with old band footage, hit us with a major wave of nostalgia, and the fact that Travis lends his vocals for the first time on a blink-182 track has us extra emotional. It's also set to appear (alongside today's other blink release, "MORE THAN YOU KNOW,") on the band's next album, also titled ONE MORE TIME…, which releases on Oct. 20.

10. Doja Cat Makes Something for Herself With Fourth Album, Scarlet

Doja Cat has been no stranger to controversy lately, and whether she's been drumming it up on purpose or not, it serves as a great backstory to her fourth studio album, Scarlet. Over the course of 17 songs, she uses various facets of the hip-hop genre to confront rumors, allegations and outcries, all while making it clear they only fuel her as an artist. There's also an independence to the album, and unusually for Doja Cat, these are all solo tracks with no features in sight. The album's cover, featuring spiders with pearls for bodies, takes that theme even further. "The art I chose for my album is beautiful and I like it a lot," Doja wrote on Twitter. "The two spiders signify conquering your fear. None of my album covers had meaning until this album. You not accepting me was a fear I used to have. I don't care anymore about satisfying you."

Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of Sep. 15, 2023.