10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of September 29, 2023
The first full week of fall has come and gone in a flash, and we're beginning to feel the shift in seasons—particularly with the help of Ed Sheeran and his second album of the year, Autumn Variations.
Of course, Ed wasn't the only artist to get us in the mood for sweater weather over the past seven days. We also got iconic collabs from the likes of Jung Kook and Jack Harlows, plus The Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder, on top of epic comebacks from some of our all-time favorite musicians. Curious about what we loved best? Keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of Sep. 29, 2023.
1. Jagwar Twin Takes Another Step Toward His Destiny in 'Good Time (1:08)'
Singer-songwriter and producer Jagwar Twin is on a powerful mission to create music that unites and connects the world, and on his anthemic new single, "Good Time (1:08)," he's doing that one step at a time. This bold follow-up to his sophomore album 33 comes just one day short of its one-year anniversary, with Jagwar Twin taking an authentic and vulnerable approach to sharing his personal story in order to connect with the universe at large. It's a track about the never-ending march toward progress, with a darker alt-rock sound that feels perfect for ushering us into the start of Halloween this weekend. "Sometimes life doesn't make sense," the artist shared in a press release. "It's like we're looking for something but we don't know what it is … and that's half the fun. That's what 'Good Time (1:08)' is about—each step we take, leading us down an endless rabbit hole."
2. Black Pumas Celebrate the Power of Blue-Collar Work on 'Mrs. Postman'
If you're not yet familiar with the work of seven-time Grammy nominees Black Pumas, prepare to fall in love with the soulful and psychedelic sounds of this one-of-a-kind duo. Their latest single, "Mrs. Postman," is a soul ode to the working class and the happiness that the simple act of getting mail can bring us thanks to postal workers everywhere. It was co-written by singer-songwriter Eric Burton and guitarist Adrian Quesada with keyboardist JaRon Marshall, and the jazzy piano is a standout on the record. "JaRon and I used to get together on afternoons and make hip-hop beats for fun, and 'Mrs. Postman' ended up coming out of one of those sessions," Adrian explained in a press release. "I was partly thinking about how much joy the postmen can bring to people's lives, but I also wanted to encourage the people in my family and anyone else working a blue-collar job," Eric added. "I know from firsthand experience how arduous it can be, and I wanted to send a message saying, 'I still see all the beauty and light in you.'" The track will also appear on their eagerly anticipated sophomore album, Chronicles of a Diamond, which drops on Oct. 27.
3. Jeremy Zucker Revisits an Old Demo to Bring 'this time' to Life
This week, singer-songwriter and producer Jeremy Zucker celebrated the five-year anniversary of his viral summer EP and hit song "comethru," which effectively put the artist on the map, and he couldn't have commemorated the occasion better than with his latest single, "this time." The song actually came about after he stumbled upon an old, unfinished demo from the summer of 2018, and we're so thrilled he decided to complete the track. The shimmery track is upbeat yet melancholic as he sings about uncertainty in the aftermath of a failed relationship. "5 years of summer, and I can't believe how much things have changed," Jeremy wrote in an Instagram post. "Thanks to everyone who has been along for this insane ride. I love growing with all of you; I am forever grateful for the support and love u have given me. I'm working every day to make it up to you. "this time" out tonight, happy 5 years <3."
Also read about: Taylor Felt on the Toxic Relationship That Inspired Single 'Days Like This'
4. *NSYNC Reunite After More Than 20 Years for 'Better Place'
We can hardly believe our ears, but *NSYNC really is back for their first track in more than 20 years. The hype started after the quintet presented at the 2023 MTV VMAs, and today, we were graced with "Better Place," recorded especially for Justin Timberlake's upcoming film, Trolls Band Together. The single reminds us precisely why *NSYNC remains one of the most iconic boy bands of all time, and the whistled tune and funky, upbeat sound make it hard to resist dancing. We also love seeing JC getting all of the credit he deserves for his flawless vocals on the new tune.
5. PinkPantheress Is Consumed With Love on 'Mosquito'
Pop princess PinkPantheress never fails to surprise us, and we love her breezy, effortless approach on the new single "Mosquito." The silky pop-R&B track is about being completely consumed by love, unable to think about anything else, which is playfully contrasted by its stylish music video. The video also features Queen Charlotte's India Amarteifio, Bridgerton star Charithra Chandran and Black-ish's Yara Shahidi and shows PinkPantheress practicing some much-needed retail therapy with her best friends. "Omg I'm so scared but 'Mosquito' is finally out!" PinkPantheress wrote in a post on Instagram. "With a whole music video on YouTube now! 🥰 I was trying to give Breakfast at Tiffany's lol but a big thank you is in order to Greg Kurstin who was the catalyst for this track and Sophie Muller who directed this amazing video with my darling angel girlfriends."
6. Johnny Orlando Navigates Grief and Heartache With The Ride: Part 2
It's been incredible watching Canadian pop artist Johnny Orlando bloom into the talent he is today, and with his three-part The Ride series, he's taken us on quite the emotional journey telling the story of his first love. Today we saw the release of The Ride: Part 2, a two-song pack about navigating heartbreak and learning to persist and thrive through the pain. "Part 2 is the false sense of control I feel when I've had time to pull myself out of the initial strong wave of emotions," Johnny explained in a press release. "This part is interesting because superficially I'm doing well; growing and moving on, but the reality is the exact opposite. The control I experience is a fallacy, and usually I'm completely self-destructive. 'Man Like Me' is about self-doubt, blame, and making me the villain to justify an outcome. If I'm the problem, the inevitable endings don't come as a surprise and I'm able to avoid painful truths about the person I once loved. 'Party For Two' is the other side of grief where I'm seek instant gratification, and I'm both impulsive and self-destructive. I allow myself to explore 'what-ifs' to prolong the memory of a good moment or a person. In the moment it feels good – a fantasy. But there is always a come-down." And this story isn't done yet. We're still eagerly awaiting The Ride: Part 3, which is expected to release before the end of the year.
7. Ally Brooke Marks a New Musical Era With 'Gone to Bed'
Ally Brooke just released her first new music of 2023, and the pulse-pounding, R&B-pop "Gone to Bed" makes us very excited to see what the artist is cooking up for her long-time fans. The striking, danceable track is all about following your heart over your head and second-guessing your decisions in romance—something we can all relate to a little too well. "It's about fighting with your inner intuition," Ally shared in an interview with Sweety High. "It is like a delicate dance between your emotions and logic. I hope my listeners can relate and be inspired by it. I hope they will love it as much as I do."
Also read about: Ally Brooke Dishes on Her Comeback and What New Single, 'Gone to Bed,' Means to Her
8. The Rolling Stones Recruit Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder for 'Sweet Sounds of Heaven'
The Rolling Stones are one of our all-time favorite classic rock bands, and if we didn't know any better, we'd swear their new single, "Sweet Sounds of Heaven," was a long-forgotten B-side that definitely should have been a hit in the '70s. It sounds plucked right out of the era, with an anthemic bluesy rock sound that's elevated even further by soaring vocals from both Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder. It's set to appear on their upcoming album, Hackney Diamonds, which is out Oct. 20. If this track is any indication of its quality, the new LP is going to be huge.
9. Jung Kook Joins Forces With Jack Harlow for Latest Solo Single '3D'
Leave it to BTS's Jung Kook to hook us up with another unexpected collab in the form of his second solo single, "3D" featuring Jack Harlow. The playful pop-R&B track is all about seeking out a relationship with some extra feeling and dimension, and it comes to life with both artists' voices complementing each other to perfection and an especially addictive rap hook. "'3D' is a song that will draw you in before you know it," Jung Kook shared in a press release. "I thought it was a really fun song when I first heard it. I'm ready to show a different side of myself that I hadn't shown with 'Seven.'" We're also having a hard time tearing our gaze away from the visually impressive and logic-defying music video.
Also read about: The K-Pop Documentaries You Should Know About
10. Ed Sheeran Goes Indie for Second Album of the Year, Autumn Variations
2023 has been a very good year for Ed Sheeran fans, because Ed just dropped Autumn Variations, his second album in just four months—and we may love it even more than May's -(Subtract). The 14-track release comes courtesy of Ed's own label, Gingerbread Man Records, and it's positively swimming with cozy fall vibes. We just found the soundtrack for our weekends! "So Autumn Variations is out now!" Ed wrote in an Instagram post. "This is an album purely for you, the fans. There's no singles, no videos. It's on my own label, so no pressure for anything. I just want you guys to have a soundtrack for autumn/fall that feels like a warm hug. I hope you love it. Lemme know what your fav songs are and I'll see some of you this week at random pop-ups we are doing."
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of Sep. 22, 2023.