10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of January 24, 2025

Is it just us, or does the new music of 2025 keep getting better and better? We're only four New Music Fridays into the year, and we've already been blessed with so many great new tunes to lose ourselves in.

This week was a real showstopper, with an iconic new release by Djo (aka Joe Keery), Chance the Rapper's latest single and a thrilling new collaboration between Kygo and OneRepublic—and that's just the beginning. For all of the latest releases we can't stop listening to, keep scrolling and discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of Jan. 24, 2025.

(Photo credit: Neil Krug)

1. Young Franco Shows Us What He's Made of With Debut Album, it's Franky baby!

Australian DJ and producer Young Franco is impossible to pin down as just one type of artist, and that's never been clearer than with his debut album, it's Franky baby! The album consists of 10 genre-defying tracks, blending elements of hip-hop, dance music, disco and punk, and featuring an eclectic mix of artists including General Levy, Master Peace, Kah-Lo, Jafunk, Franc Moody and so many more, reflecting his international sound. In a press release, Young Franco shared that album is "a reflection of everything and everyone that has shaped me—my influences, my friends and the artists I've been lucky enough to collaborate with. It blends the sounds and voices that inspire me, capturing the energy of the people I love and the creative journey we've shared. It's a mix of the many genres I'm drawn to, fusing into one big pan." He'll also be kicking off an Australian headline tour next month.

2. Sienna Spiro Yearns for Love in 'Butterfly Effect'

19-year-old English singer-songwriter Sienna Spiro will be dropping her eagerly anticipated debut EP, SINK NOW, SWIM  LATER, on Feb. 21, and her new single "Butterfly Effect" is meant to serve as an introduction of sorts. It's the perfect showcase of her powerfully soulful vocals—equal parts honey and rasp—conveying the heartbreaking emotions of a single moment leading her to question everything about a relationship. "Guys, this song means so much to me; not just because of the story it tells. but because it's the introduction to something larger…" Sienna wrote in an Instagram post. "A butterfly effect is the idea that a small action can lead to major and unpredictable consequences. This track reflects this so well because it has this unpredictable structure and climax (impossible to actually sing :/) and the piano ugh."

3. Nina Nesbitt Gives Us a Peek at Her Upcoming Deluxe Album With 'Enough'

Scottish musical sensation Nina Nesbitt released her critically acclaimed fourth album, Mountain Music, in September of last year and she just announced that the deluxe edition of the album (subtitled The Summit) will be out on Feb. 21. The album promises to offer more of her signature brand of shimmery, folksy pop, featuring new songs "The Mountain & The Man," "Crooked Teeth" and  "Good Years" as well as her latest single, "Enough." Both sonically and lyrically, "Enough" pairs gentleness with raw authenticity as she ponders why, despite being enough for everything and everything else, she can never manage to be satisfied with herself.  "I'm so excited to be releasing a new edition of Mountain Music this February," she revealed in a press release. "Mountain Music (The Summit) includes four brand new songs that I wrote shortly after delivering the album. These songs explore different topics from the initial album drop and are some of my favorites yet. I'll be releasing 'Enough' as the first song you'll hear which is all about learning to accept yourself in a society that makes it near impossible. It feels like the perfect way to start the year."

4. JP Saxe Offers Protection in 'Safe'

Canadian signer-songwriter JP Saxe has one of the best voices in the business and has played a role in some of our favorite musical collaborations of all time, and it's great to see that this year, he's showing no signs of slowing down. His newest release, "Safe," comes to life with a hazy lo-fi sound as he sings about wanting to keep the one he loves safe, willing to risk it all—including the object of his affections, if that's what they need most. "I hope these feel like three min of a cozy convo we havin' together," JP wrote in a post on Instagram.

Also read about: Everything You Should Know About Grammy-Nominated Singer-Songwriter JP Saxe

5. Matthew Ifield Realizes What He's Lost in 'Ready for Love'

Australian singer-songwriter  Matthew Ifield has been rapidly on the rise over the last year, and if you're not yet a fan, "Ready for Love" will convert you. It's a nostalgic crooner that's bound to tug on your heartstrings as he comes to comprehend the value of love—but only once he's lost it. It's about how the idea of being "ready" for love is a myth, and we just have to give ourselves to it or we'll miss our golden opportunities. "If you're not ready, love can pass you by, and that's something we can all relate to at some point," Matthew said in a press release. "This song is about that kind of reflection and acceptance that sometimes, you don't know what you've got until it's gone."

6. FKA twigs Aims to Live in the Moment With New Album, EUSEXUA

English singer-songwriter FKA twigs has a truly unique way of looking at the world, and it's the core message behind her third studio album, EUSEXUA. Its 11 tracks are dancefloor-ready electronic tracks convey precisely the atmosphere she set out to capture, living fully in the present while indulging the senses, to the exclusion of the past and future. "EUSEXUA has been my practice for the years that it has been in creation," FKA twigs wrote in an Instagram post. "It is my opus and truly feels like a pin at the center of the core of my artist. EUSEXUA was birthed in chicken scratch, written on the back of my hand in a toilet at a rave in Prague, 'This room of fools we make something together' and we do. We rave, we sweat, we kiss, we make love to the booming thud of culture. EUSEXUA is a practice. EUSEXUA is a state of being. EUSEXUA is the pinnacle of human experience."

Also read about: 20 Quotes by Famous Capricorns to Get You Inspired

7. Tate McRae Paves the Way for 2025 'Sports car'

Tate McRae is going to be a very busy woman in 2025. Her Miss Possessive 2025 World Tour begins at the end of this month ahead of the release of her next album, So Close to What, out Feb. 21. But first, Tate released the ultimate teaser for all of it in the form of her new music video for "Sports car." It's a sensual track about being more interested in fun than commitment or a relationship, and the new music video plays like a fashion show with Tate trying on a dozen outfits and personas. "Making this video was such a dream," Tate shared in a post on Instagram. "So blessed to work with such incredibly talented people and play all day; 12 looks in one day…"

Also read about: These Moody Tate McRae Lyrics Make the PERFECT Instagram Captions

8. Kygo and OneRepublic Join Forces Yet Again for 'Chasing Paradise'

Frequent collaborators Kygo and OneRepublic never miss, and as fans of "Lose Somebody" and "Stranger Things," we knew their latest collab, "Chasing Paradise," would be another instant hit. We may still be stuck in the chilly throes of January, but this song has all of the summery vibes to warm us up and get our bodies moving. Its heartbeat is fully irresistible as it shares a story about the type of love that feels like paradise.

Also read about: Did You Know OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder Wrote These 11 Songs?

9. Chance the Rapper Presents a Tale of Reflection in 'Quiet Storm'

Grammy-winning artist Chance the Rapper has a lot to say with his first single of 2025, "Quiet Storm." The track kicks off with a radio introduction before Chance "calls in," and his tale unfolds over a smooth throwback hip-hop beat. As it begins, he details the relationship he has with a mystery listener before it becomes clear he's not speaking to one person, but American as a whole. It's a reminder that we're all going to be okay as he creates a conversation about identity and community, even against a backdrop of oppression and exclusion.

10. Djo Joe Keery Teases New Album With 'Basic Being Basic'

Is there anything Joe Keery can't do? Even if he hadn't won our hearts as Steve Harrington on Stranger Things, we'd still be head over heels for his music—in particular, his first release of 2025, "Basic Being Basic." Driven by an infectious retro synth beat, the song is a jab at those who care too much about how others view them, acting inauthentically out of fear of being seen as "basic," when that's the most basic thing you can do. "It's kind of a shot fired to anyone who's trying to be of the moment," Joe shared in a press release. The track will also appear on Djo's newly announced next album, The Crux, out April 4.

Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of Jan. 17, 2025.