10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of March 21, 2025

Selena Gomez and benny blanco couldn't have picked a better time than Valentine's Day of this year to drop the first single and the announcement of their collaborative album, I Said I Love You First. We're thrilled they didn't keep us waiting too long, because the romantic and dreamy project is precisely what we need in our lives right now.

We don't want to let the release to overshadow the rest of the week's new music too much, given we also got a sizzling collab between Jack Harlow and Doja Cat, an anniversary version of Conan Gray's debut alum and so much more. Without further ado, keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of March 21, 2025.

(I Said I Love You First via Friends Keep Secrets)

1. ONE OR EIGHT Put a Twist on a Rihanna Classic With 'DSTM'

We're new fans of Japanese boy group ONE OR EIGHT, but after listening to their latest release, "DSTM," we plan on watching these guys very closely. The eight-member ensemble's new release samples Rihanna's megahit "Don't  Stop the Music" (in turn, also incorporating Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'") to create a pulse-pounding sound we hope to soon hear one every dance floor. It's the perfect fusion of nostalgia and modernity, with a special ONE OR EIGHT twist.

2. Thomas Day Is Giddy in Love in 'Sleep When We're Dead'

TikTok sensation and pop darling Thomas Day has never released a bad song, and new earworm "Sleep When We're Dead" keeps the streak going. It's a sweet and straightforward love bop that captures all of the giddy sensations of new infatuation, when you're way too busy enjoying every second together to even consider sleeping. Thomas is also currently on tour with The Driver Era and has also teased on Instagram that he's hard at work on a new album.

Also read about: Thomas Day Chronicles the End of His Teenage Journey in Love Me for Another Day

3. Japanese Breakfast Explores Temptation and Punishment With New Album For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women)

Japanese Breakfast has never failed to wow us with her introspective and thematic releases, and her fourth album, For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women), has to be our favorite yet. This time, she takes a darker and more poetic turn as the album's 11 songs explore wants and desires, and how giving in to them can sometimes lead to tragedy. That might sound like a downer, but the whimsical nature of the tracks allows these cautionary tales to feel wonderfully mystical and fun instead.

"Over the course of promoting this new album I've often been asked to clarify the difference between melancholy and sadness," Michelle Zauner (aka Japanese Breakfast) explained in a press relese. "I think of melancholy as a kind of anticipatory grief, one that comes from an acknowledgment of the passage of time, from the recognition of mortality and finitude. In some way, too, I think it marks the artist's condition, constantly observing through that lens. 'Nothing thicker than a knife's blade separates happiness from melancholy,' Virginia Woolfe writes. I wanted this album to capture the moments where that knife slips. When people want too much, when they cede to temptation, when they are seduced and punished."

4. Rhiannon Rodriguez Celebrates True Friendship in Debut Single 'Pink Lemonade'

19-year-old singer-songwriter and visual artist is one to watch in 2025, as she just released her warmly infectious debut single, "Pink Lemonade." As the daughter of filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, she's been involved in the arts from a young age, culminating in the release of her Bittersweet EP sometime this year. The delicate track invites cozy vibes with Rhiannon's jazzy vocals and a lo-fi piano sound as she sings about those unforgettable moments shared between the most beloved of friends.

"This was written about my closest friends and the experiences we've had staying up till 4 in the morning, laughing so hard that our stomachs and cheeks hurt until almost the next day," Rhiannon shared in a press release. "Those feelings are what I feel for them and how much I adore them."

5. Dylan Fuentes Reflects on a Broken Heart in 'Que Pava'

Colombian singer-songwriter Dylan Fuentes is one of our favorite up-and-coming Latin artists, and you'll be hooked, to, with his new single, "Que Pava."  The title literally translates to "What a Turkey," which in Colombian slang refers to a painful situation. The smooth song recounts a beautiful woman who played with his heart, and being unable to forget her.

"'QUE PAVA' is more than just a song—it's a reflection of my journey, my way of loving, and the rhythms that shaped me," Dylan shared in a press release. "It's about realizing what you have only when it's gone and seeing someone else appreciate it. This track is an unforgettable mix of emotion, culture, and raw truth."

6. MARINA Turns the Table on Cupid With 'CUPID'S GIRL'

Leave it to MARINA to subvert all expectations with the release of her new single, "CUPID'S GIRL." The Welsh artist is drumming up big things in 2025, teasing the release of sixth album M6, and her latest electro-pop anthem, "CUPID'S GIRL," has us entranced with its angelic falsetto and thumping beat. The visualizer shows MARINA wielding a bow and arrow and wearing an outfit that channels Snow White as she sings about taking on the role of Cupid, using his own powers against him to make him fall for her.

7. Noah Cyrus and Fleet Foxes Team Up for 'Don't Put It All on Me'

Over the years, Noah Cyrus has asserted herself again and again as a country powerhouse, and she's at the top of her game with "Don't Put It all on Me," featuring indie folk band Fleet Foxes. The song starts off as a gentle piano track, highlighting the artists' thrilling vocal harmonies, before exploding into a stirring country track ballad backed by steel guitars. The music video also feels like something out of a fantasy film. We see Noah escape her situation on a white horse as she sings about the self-discovery found in unburdening herself from the ties of the past.

"I have always been the observer in our family, and Braison wrote about how I tend to carry the weight of that on my shoulders," Noah said in a press release. "I want my music to offer fans a sense of comforting, peaceful nostalgia. That's something that I feel so heavily when I listen to music. We all want to connect with our past while also being aware of the present moment. Music does that for me, and this new collection of songs was made with that in mind. I want to evoke that feeling of a comforting friend that a song can be—and allow us all to heal."

Also read about: 32 Heartbreaking Lyrics From Noah Cyrus's The Hardest Part to Use as Instagram Captions

8. Conan Gray Looks Back on 5 Years of Kid Krow With New Decomposed Version

Five years after the release of his critically acclaimed debut album, Kid Krow, Conan Gray is back with the Decomposed version, and we've fallen in love with it all over again. This version features new cover art by Conan himself, new live recordings of "The Cut That Always Bleeds" and "Heather" and the stunning unreleased track "Bed Rest," detailing a relationship that's rapidly wearing him out.

"Five years ago, on March 20th 2020, this album began my life!" Conan shared in a post on Instagram. "So in celebration of these past five years, I wanted to make this little birthday gift for us. Words cannot express how grateful I feel to everybody who welcomed me into their worlds because of these songs. Of all the 200+ songs I wrote for this album, 'Bed Rest' felt like the perfect way to celebrate the five year anniversary; because not only does it perfectly encapsulate how I felt about life then, it somehow also speaks so perfectly to how I feel about life now, five years later (sometimes you have to go a little crazy before you can come back to your senses)."

Also read about: 22 Emotional Quotes From Conan Gray's New Album, Superache, to Use as Instagram Captions

9. Jack Harlow and Doja Cat Join Forces for Steamy Single 'Just Us'

With Jack Harlow and Doja Cat's new single "Just Us," the two superstars collide to create something irresistibly steamy. The track is seductive yet playful, highlighting both artists' rap prowess as they suggest everything they'd get up to if they weren't surrounded by people and got the chance to be alone together. The new music video further highlights their undeniable chemistry at a dinner party, also attended by stars including Matt Damon, John Mayer, PinkPantheress and so many more.

Also read about: These Eye-Catching Lyrics From Doja Cat's Planet Her Album Make Amazing Instagram Captions

10. Selena Gomez and benny blanco Showcase Their Love With Collab Album I Said I Love You First

We've been counting down the days until the release of I Said I Love You First since Selena and benny's collab album was announced, along with the release of "Scared of Loving You," on Valentine's Day. Now that it's finally here, we're swooning right alongside Selena. Consisting of 14 tracks (starting with a spoken-word thank you message from Selena), it's an eclectic pop collection bouncing between yearning ballads, upbeat anthems and pulsing dance tracks, all built around the theme of love. It also features Gracie Abrams, Tainy and J Balvin and feels like the ultimate celebration of the couple's relationship and engagement.

"benny, thank you for being my own personal journal throughout this process," Selena wrote in a post on Instagram. "These songs represent our past, present and future… something I can't wait to experience with you from now until forever. Thank you for pouring your unconditional love into creating this project with me. To every collaborator on the album: @gracieabrams, @themarias, @finneas, @charlixcx and so many more, thank you for helping me communicate my deepest, truest self into art. I am forever grateful for your trust in creating something so special together. And finally, thank you to my amazing fans who have grown up with me and cheered me on through every chapter of this story. I hope you love these songs like I do and they help you along your own journey. Thank you for being a part of mine, it truly means the world to me."

Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of March 14, 2025.