10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of December 20, 2024
'Twas the New Music Friday before Christmas, and all of our favorite artists came through, offering up the mesmerizing new tunes we'll be listening to until 2025.
The last seven days gave us the eagerly anticipated for Alex Warren and Joe Jonas's "Burning Down," a star-studded remix of Amelia Moore's "See Through" featuring Coco Jones, Absolutely and Samara Cyn and so much more. To celebrate with us, just keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of Dec. 20, 2024.
(Photo credit: Jimmy Fontaine)
1. The Wombats Fall Prey to Overthinking in 'My Head Is Not My Friend'
English indie rock band The Wombats are gearing up to release their sixth album, Oh! The Ocean, on Valentine's Day 2025, but first, they're closing out 2024 with the ultimate overthinker's anthem, "My Head Is Not My Friend." The track kicks off with a laidback sound and slower tempo, contrasting the melancholy lyrics about overwhelming feelings of worry, doubt and knowing your mind is steering you wrong. "Not the jolliest of songs around Christmas time, but very real and raw," the group shared in a post on Instagram. "It's a song about hungover regret and perhaps not having my best interests at heart throughout that time."
2. Zach Hood Continues the Story of His Latest Album With Whispering Pines (Deluxe)
Rising pop artist Zach Hood released his heartfelt debut album, Whispering Pines, on Nov. 15, and its story just got a little bit bigger with the new deluxe edition of the album. It adds two new tracks, the rousing country-folk love song "Simple Life" and an acoustic version of his 2022 hit, "never knew a heart could break itself." The album is a reflection on Zach's biggest struggles so far, tackling topics like depression and abandonment, with the new additional tracks fully rounding out the story. "I truly believe that hard things bring us closer to not only the people around us but to ourselves," Zach shared in a press release. "All I've ever wanted was to write songs and help others through music. This album is not for me, it's for the person going through one of the toughest patches of their life. It's for the person that just found the love of their life. Whispering Pines is a place of comfort and a place where you don't feel so alone. It's for everyone."
Also check out: Zach Hood Performs 'Isabelle'
3. Ghost Hounds 'You'll Never Find Me (Strings Version)'
Country rock band Ghost Hounds' latest single, "You'll Never Find Me," has made a big impactful since its release in October, inspiring listeners with its message of perseverance and finding your inner strength. Prepare to be even more enamored with the track thanks to the new strings version. The moody new orchestration makes the band's "warrior anthem" feel even more empowering and theatrical. It also comes complete with a live music video recorded at Ocean Way in Nashville "'You'll Never Find Me' is dedicated to anyone who has lost themselves in a person or a situation, but who has the strength to reclaim their identity and power," Ghost Hounds frontman SAVNT explained in a press release. " The video complements this message with visuals that portray perseverance, emphasizing the idea that no matter how many times you're knocked down, you can always rise again—'get back on the horse 8 times when you've been thrown off seven.'"
4. d4vd Mourns Lost Love in 'Where'd It Go Wrong?'
A week after d4vd wowed audiences with his performance at The Game Awards, singing "Remember Me" from the soundtrack for Netflix's Arcane, he's captured our attention once again with the release of new single "Where'd It Go Wrong?" The moody new track shows a musical shift for the 19-year-old artist, infusing alt and indie sounds into his unique brand of R&B to tell a haunting tale of heartbreak. The song is smooth yet mournful as he laments the fragility of love, wondering how something that was once so perfect can completely self-destruct. "I've spent the past year recording in L.A. studios, doing sessions with top producers, and doing writing trips, but for 'Where'd It Go Wrong?,' I sat back down at my house in Houston and recorded on Bandlab which I hadn't been doing much of lately," d4vd explained in a press release. "It really got me back in my element of how I began making music. This is one of my favorite songs that I've made in a long time and it reminded me why I've always loved making music on my own."
5. The Driver Era Live in the Moment With 'Touch'
In the new year, brothers Ross and Rocky Lynch of The Driver Era will embark on The Driver Era: Obsession Tour, beginning in New Zealand before heading to Australia and then all across North and South America. But first, they're capping off 2024 with their dark and thrilling new single, "Touch." Driven by a percussive bass beat and Ross's rhythmic vocals, it's a sensual track about deciding to live fully in the moment.
6. Cordae Shares an Ode to His Mom's Musical Ambitions in '06 dreamin'
Cordae is one of the most fresh and exciting rappers working today, and with the release of his latest album, The Crossroads, on Nov. 15, he's cemented himself as one of the all-time greats. The album has features from everyone from Kanye West and Juicy J to Ty Dollar $ign, Lily Wayne and more, bur our favorite feature has to be Cordae's own mom, Jennifer Duston, on "06 dreamin." The deeply personal track has her voice featured throughout as he recounts her struggles to make it big as an artist while promising to live the dream she couldn't. "Cordae's mom was an aspiring artist who made this song in 2006," explains the music video. "In 2024 Cordae sampled it and made the song you're about to hear." We think it's about time she got the recognition she clearly deserves.
7. Katy Perry Shares More of 143 With 1432 Deluxe Edition
If you thought Katy Perry's seventh album 143 was the complete story, think again, because three months after its release, she just shared the deluxe edition, titled 1432. This extended version of the upbeat album includes four new tracks—"I Woke Up," "Has a Heart" and "No Tears for New Year's," plus our personal favorite song from the entire album, "OK." The never-before-heard song is a laidback yer inspirational anthem about hope, love and supporting one another, with an irresistible chanted chorus.
Also read about: 16 Authentic Lyrics From Katy Perry's 143 to Inspire Your Next Instagram Caption
8. Amelia Moore Reinvents 'See Through' with Help from Coco Jones, Samara Cyn and Absolutely
Amelia Moore's "See Through" has been a breakout hit with more than 5 million Spotify streams since it released this summer, and we can already tell its explosive new remix is about to make the track even bigger. In this epic collaboration, R&B sensations Coco Jones, Samara Cyn and Absolutely join in on the magic, adding rich new layers to make the emotionally stirring love song more romantic than ever, with a playful twist. It's truly become greater than the sum of its parts, making it hard to take this one off repeat.
9. Miley Cyrus Shares The Last Showgirl's 'Beautiful That Way'
Today marks the release of Gia Coppola's The Last Showgirl, a film starring Pamela Anderson as a showgirl whose life is thrown for a loop when her show is abruptly canceled after a 30-year run. Its soundtrack features Miley Cyrus's original track "Beautiful That Way," which has already been nominated for a Golden Globe Award, capturing a nostalgic sound reminding us of the great Las Vegas crooners of the '60s. We think its use in the film's trailer is especially poignant.
Also read about: 18 Fierce Lyrics From Miley Cyrus's Bangerz That Double as Perfect Instagram Captions
10. Alex Warren and Joe Jonas Drop the Music Video for 'Burning Down'
Alex Warren has been rapidly on the rise in 2024, and after he initially released "Burning Down" in September, the track has seemingly taken on a life of its own. On Dec. 6, Alex released a new version of the fiery single featuring Joe Jonas, turning it into an impassioned duet offering two opposing perspectives, which has already racked up more than 5 million streams. Now, we can enjoy it in a whole new way courtesy of its cinematic new video, incorporating elements of horror and dark comedy to create an unforgettable narrative. "I know what you're thinking and no we are not twins, we just look a lot alike," Alex joked in a post about the duo in Instagram. We don't know quite what the future holds, but we'd love to see these two continue to work together into 2025.
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of Dec. 13, 2024.