10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of February 28, 2025

Just like that, we're putting February of 2025 behind us—but not before finishing off the month with an epic New Music Friday.

This one was a doozy, from an irresistibly sultry new collab between rising sensation d4vd and icon Kali Uchis to Lizzo's eagerly anticipated comeback and so much more. Can't wait to get listening? Just keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of Feb. 28, 2025.

(Photo credit: Kenneth Cappello)

1. corook Reveals Their Origin Story With Debut Album, committed to a bit

As longtime fans of corook, we've loved watching them become a viral sensation with anthems about queerness and self-love. Their debut album, committed to a bit, feels like the perfect encapsulation of their journey so far. It consists of 13 eclectic tracks, ranking from whimsical synth-funk to folksy acoustic ballads, with indie sounds and hip-hop mixed in for good measure, yet it all feels cohesive and authentically corook. The songs tackle everything from figuring out life to embracing your identity and spreading a message of love, combining playfulness and wit with vulnerable realness at every turn. "committed to a bit is a collection of songs that offers a glimpse behind the curtain of my experience—being both corinne and corook, and the delicate balance of honoring each side of me," corook explained in a pres release. "This album is my origin story and my unraveling all in one: from the raw vulnerability of tracks like 'ok getting older' and the realness behind my picture-perfect relationship with olivia in 'messy,' to poking fun at childhood trauma in 'pepto bismol' and embracing goofball, playful energy in 'worcestershire. It's all me."

2. Stephen Stanley Searches for Belonging With 'this far down'

Rock artist Stephen Stanley is gearing up to make 2025 a very big year, and after dropping his latest track "your heart" last month, he's wowing fans yet again with his fiery new single, "this far down." The track combines an anthemic pop-rock sound with smokey vocals as Stephen sings about the struggle to find his place in life, seeking the thing that'll put him back on the right track. "I wrote 'this far down' during a time when I felt like I didn't belong anywhere," Stephen shared in a press release. "I knew it wasn't true, but the feeling was still there. Rejection is a part of life, and I tried to cope with it through anger—but that's not a path that leads to life. Trusting God and focusing on what truly matters… that's what helps me." "this far down" will also appear on his newly announced next album, trustfall, dropping on April 25. His first-ever headlining, 28-date tour also kicks off in April in celebration of the album. Find ticket details here.

3. Gyubin Captures the Giddy Feeling of New Love on Debut EP, Flowering

Gyubin is one of South Korea's biggest rising soloists, and she shows a brand new side of herself with her debut EP, Flowering. Gyubin was a writer and composer on all six of its tracks, bringing a personal touch to its tales of the blooming of a first love. There's a purity and sweetness as she infuses each song with the giddiness and anticipation of young love, particularly on the infectiously catchy lead single "LIKE U 100," recorded in both English and Korean. "After taking the first step towards my dream with my debut in 2024, I felt the excitement of truly entering my 'blooming' season while preparing for this first album," Gyubin revealed in a press release. "Having participated in writing and composing all of the songs, I poured my honest feelings into this special record, which feels like a diary of my teenage years—a truly unique reflection of 'Gyubin.' As I begin this new journey, I am committed to growing and moving forward. I hope the countless stories I wish to share with you will bloom beautifully through this album. Hope you join me in making this flower bloom even brighter ❤ "

4. Lyn Lapid Announces Debut Album and Drops New Song 'i'll be happy when'

22-year-old singer-songwriter Lyn Lapid has had an incredible career, from viral TikTok artist to genre-bending sensation, and we couldn't be more excited about her recently announced debut album, BUZZKILL. It's set to release April 25, and gets its title from a line from her new single, "i'll be happy when." The yearning track begins with quiet verses backed by gentle, jazzy instrumentation before exploding into the dreamy chorus and ending in fuzzed-out guitars as Lyn imagines the things she needs to finally be happy, all the while wondering if she'll ever actually get them. "I'm listing all of these things I thought I needed to accomplish in order to be happy," Lyn said in a press release. "It dove into wanting friendships with substance. I'm just wondering, 'Will I be able to have these things? Is it even worth trying for, or am I too late?'"

Also read about: Lyn Lapid Weaves a Tale of Situationships and Heartache in to love in the 21st century

5. Cynthia Erivo Confronts Confidence and Fear of Abandonment With 'Replay'

Grammy-, Tony- and Emmy-winner Cynthia Erivo has become a household name following her unforgettable performance as Elphaba in Wicked. With a potential Oscar win for the role on the way, she's kept busy with the release of "Replay," her first solo single since 2021. The song feels like an overthinker's anthem as Cynthia builds lush layers of vocals, using them as the song's primary instrument. She sings of her greatest fears and weaknesses, from abandonment issues to her constantly running worries, a hero complex and the need to overachieve to prove her worth. It's a good reminder that, no matter how successful you may be, these anxieties may never go away.

Also read about: 8 Shows and Films to Check Out If You Loved Cynthia Erivo in Wicked

6. Benson Boone Has a Run-In With an Ex in 'Sorry I'm Here For Someone Else'

Is anyone poised to have a better year than Benson Boone? He celebrated a Best New Artist nomination at the 2025 Grammy Awards, and earlier this week, his emotional single "In the Stars" hit the billion streams mark. It's also clear to us that his new single, "Sorry I'm Here for Someone Else," has all of the makings of his next viral hit. It's a playful synth-pop track exploring the awkward tension that can arise between exes, with Benson insisting again and again that he's not there for her when they run into each other—but can he resist the draw that might still exist between them? We're also crossing our fingers for news about Benson's sophomore album before too long, as this would make the perfect first single.

Also read about: Benson Boone Talks 'Sugar Sweet,' and Its Serendipitous Music Video

7. Damiano David Traps Himself in Heartache With 'Next Summer'

Italian artist Damiano David is perhaps best known as the vocalist of rock band Måneskin, but he's recently proven his own stardom as a soloist, and has been showing no signs of slowing down. "Next Summer" is his latest stunner, with Damiano pouring heartache into his rich vocals as he's unable to escape the grasp of a lost love. Already, he's anticipating the downfall of his ex's next relationship, hoping she can feel just as broken as he has, in the meantime trapping himself in the memories of the past. "When we lack the strength to face change, the mind can become a prison," Damiano wrote in a post on Instagram. "We find ourselves stuck, standing still. In a cage made of fears, judgments, and insecurities. The fear of not being enough, of not succeeding, of not meeting others' expectations, keeps us imprisoned. Facing our own vulnerability is an act of courage. Starting to accept who we are is the first breath of fresh air."

8. Grace VanderWaal Explores Another Persona With 'Babydoll' Featuring Aliyah's Interlude

21-year-old singer-songwriter and actress Grace VanderWaal is making a big left turn from her previous single, the emotional "What's Left of Me," as she adopts a brand new persona in 2025. Her newest song, "Babydoll" features rapper Aliyah's Interlude to create an unapologetic and brash pop anthem about embracing your inner diva and taking what you want. It's playful, upbeat and completely unexpected from the star. "In the studio, we were talking about acting bratty, going out, wanting everything, and being a diva," Grace explained in a press release. "Tiffany Stringer and I had the idea to write a song from our alter egos' perspective. We named mine Baby Doll: who doesn't like to be told no. I had an amazing time writing and creating it." We truly can't wait to see what Grace has in store for us next.

Also read about: Grace VanderWaal: My Career Is 'Super Overwhelming' But I 'Love' It

9. Lizzo Makes a Striking Comeback With 'Love in Real Life'

Can you believe it's been three years since Lizzo's last solo release? At long last, the Grammy-winning star is back, and it looks like she's ready for a brand new era with her latest single, "Love in Real Life." The guitar-driven track has an unexpected rock edge as she sings about getting back out into the world for the first time in a while, working up the courage to get out there and find the love she's been craving. It comes complete with a cinematic and dance-filled music video, as well as the announcement that Lizzo's upcoming fifth album, also titled Love in Real Life, is set to release by the end of the year.

Also read about: 31 Bold Lyrics From Lizzo's Special to Use as Your Next Instagram Caption

10. d4vd Recruits Kali Uchis for the Beautiful Devastation of 'Crashing'

19-year-old breakthrough artist d4vd has been rapidly on the rise in the lead-up to the release of his debut album, WITHERED. The eagerly anticipated release is set to drop on April 25, and he just gave us another wonderful taste with "Crashing," featuring Kali Uchis. It's a sultry and soulful retro-pop track that contrasts imagery of love with devastation as they sing about choosing to be with each other even as the world comes crashing down around them. d4vd wrote the track with Kali specifically in mind, and she loved it enough not to just join the duet with her angelic vocals, but contribute her own written verse. "Kali has been one of my FAVORITE artists for sooo long and and I'm honored and blessed that we were able to collaborate on such a beautiful song," d4vd wrote in a post on Instagram.

Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of Feb. 21, 2025.