10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of April 14, 2023
With the first weekend of Coachella 2023 upon us, it's an exciting week of music for so many reasons, and we honestly couldn't have asked for more.
This week saw unexpected and glorious new drops from Dominic Fike and Post Malone, an iconic collab between Lauren Spencer Smith, Em Beihold and GAYLE and so much more. We're not even scratching the surface of the week's best releases with this top 10! So, without further ado, here are the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of April 14, 2023.
1. a kid named rufus Captures the Spirit of Young Love in 'the cute girl from brewster hall'
a kid named rufus is a rising alt-pop singer-songwriter who should be on everyone's radars in 2023. Their new single "the cute girl from brewster hall" tells an upbeat and lighthearted tale of a sweet college romance, and we love the way it comes to life in its colorful music video, with major Wes Anderson vibes. "It was sophomore year of college, and I was working the front desk of this freshman dorm called Brewster Hall. I saw this girl swipe her ID at the front desk and I thought she was cute. Later that day, I matched with her on Tinder. We started dating shortly after. I wrote this song for her as a present a few months into dating her. I never shot a music video before until 'the cute girl from brewster hall.' I always envisioned my music videos in the style of a Wes Anderson film. Everything from the mise en scene to the color palette, Anderson is so tasteful and cool, and I've always wanted to work with someone who could help me pull that look off." The song also arrived with an announcement of a kid named rufus's debut album, whatever works, which comes out July 14.
2. Rowan Drake Explores Selfishness in a Relationship's Aftermath in 'Part of You'
We dare you not to be instantly entranced by singer-songwriter Rowan Drake's silky falsetto—especially on his new single, "Part of You." The song takes place in the aftermath of a breakup, showing Rowan admitting to his own selfishness, with a small part of him hoping that his ex is never able to fully get over him. We think it's proof he's destined to be the next big thing. "'Part of You' speaks to the moments when insecurity leads one's mind to wander to the thought of the person you love moving on and finding new life and devotion with someone else," Rowan shared in an interview with Sweety High. "As these thoughts fester, they can lead to a hope that you will always reside somewhere in the back of that person's mind, not fully allowing them to move on from you. It's a song from a very selfish point of view, and although I've felt this way intensely for short periods of time, it always subsides, and the love for that person ends up overshadowing my insecurities."
Also read about: Rowan Drake Confronts His Own Selfishness After a Breakup in 'Part of You'
3. Mon Rovîa Explores the Loneliness of Behind an Outside With 'Bone'
We quickly fell in love with Mon Rovîa's unique and emotional sound when we first discovered him on TikTok, and we hope that "Bone" can be a song that gets his unique voice out in front of those who will adore his music as much as we do. He was born in Africa, adopted to the U.S. and raised in Appalachia, and his identity is intrinsic to his soothing sound. "Bones" is a song about that identity at its heart, detailing his search to find himself, and feeling like an outsider looking in, not quite fitting in anywhere. "'Bone' is about my struggle to find acceptance on either side of the tracks due to being a trans-racially adopted refugee who grew up feeling like a misfit," he shared in the text of one of his TikTok videos. Despite the melancholy of the lyrics, the instrumentation is warm and gives off optimism, too, creating an uplifting sound, like maybe he's not so alone as he might feel.
4. Leah Marie Mason Makes an Impressive Debut With Her Honeydew & Hennessy EP
There's something about Leah Marie Mason's new Honeydew & Hennessy EP that feels like it was crafted and performed by a country music veteran, so to say we were shocked that this is her debut is an understatement. The Nashville-based singer-songwriter has a folksy, soulful and romantic sound, with lyrics that weave tales like fables, and we firmly believe that even if you're not a country fan, you won't be able to resist these six stunning tracks. "I poured my heart and soul into this collection of songs and I couldn't be more thrilled to share it with the world," Leah Marie shared in a press release. "This EP marks a significant milestone in my journey and I'm honored to have it serve as a representation of my growth and evolution over the past year. Every track embodies a moment of my life, from the struggles, the victories, big dreams and everything in between. My hope is that these songs will not only resonate with listeners but also inspire them to chase their dreams and embrace change." Just take a listen to the title track to see what the fuss is all about.
5. Lindsey Lomis Caps Off a Tour With New EP, Universe
The inimitable Lindsey Lomis just finished a huge tour across North America in support of Joshua Bassett, and she capped it all off with the release of her gorgeous new EP, Universe. Consisting of five stirring pop-soul tracks, the EP is a therapeutic and vulnerable examination of Lindsey's own life, with each song telling a different story. "Universe has the confidence that my past music didn't because I'm still figuring myself out," she shared in an interview with Sweety High. "Obviously, I'm grateful for all those different points of my career, but this feels like the beginning of really discovering myself. I'm being open with people and discussing real-life situations happening."
Also read about: On Tour with Lindsey Lomis and the Making of the Universe EP
6. viisi and Chelsea Collins Lament the Deterioration of a Relationship in 'chasing ghosts'
Songs about relationships are never more powerful than when they can represent both perspectives in the form of a duet, and viisi and Chelsea Collins' new song "chasing ghosts" deserves to be added to the list of all-time greats. The song tracks a relationship on its last legs, with both parties reflecting on the past and only being hurt by the memories they've formed together. It starts with viisi's vocals over a lonely acoustic guitar before it takes on an appropriately ghostly atmosphere, leaving the song as sonically haunting as its lyrics. "'chasing ghosts' is a turning point in my career," viisi explained in a press release. "It represents my dedication to keep pushing myself as an artist. We made a beautiful song that perfectly represents our personal struggles with our own relationships falling apart."
7. Lyn Lapid Teases a New Era With 'poster boy'
20-year-old singer-songwriter was one of the first artists we became fully obsessed with thanks to TikTok, and with her upbeat new pop track, "poster boy," it's clear she's only getting better as she hones her craft. The song just oozes with optimism, feeling like summertime and falling in love, even if it's just about becoming infatuated with a cute boy and the future you imagine with them. "I'm so excited for 'poster boy' because it's the perfect segue into this new era of music I have to share," Lyn revealed in a press release. "It's about that moment when you see a stranger in public that's so fine that you imagine your whole life with them, and that you don't care if they're a serial killer or anything like that because they're so fine. At the airport, in a coffee shop, in a bookstore, I feel like we've all been guilty of doing this. It's a glimpse into the delulu aspect of my personality."
Also read about: Lyn Lapid Dishes on the Meaning of the Title Track for Debut EP, The Outsider
8. Lauren Spencer Smith, Em Beihold and GAYLE Join Forces to Overcome a Toxic Ex in 'Fantasy'
Now, here's a collab we could never have predicted. Multi-Platinum singer-songwriter Lauren Spencer Smith was one of 2022's breakout artists, and with her new single "Fantasy," featuring GAYLE and Em Beihold, we're predicting 2023 is going to be even bigger for the star. The three artists are incredibly powerful on their own, but they're completely unstoppable together as they bring this mysterious and bold, yet empowering track to life. It's a call-out track about a toxic relationship and learning to rise above the nonsense, and together, Lauren, Em and GAYLE transform it into an anthem about women supporting women. "When writing 'Fantasy,' I wanted to capture how hard toxic relationships are and that coming out of those relationships can be so powerful," Lauren said in a press release. "GAYLE and Em instantly connected with the topic and their verses helped take the song to another level." We know we're only a month into spring, but we're already predicting this is going to be one of the songs of the summer
Also read about: Everything You Wanted to Know About 'Fingers Crossed' Singer-Songwriter Lauren Spencer-Smith
9. Dominic Fike Reflects on Youth and Injustice in 'Dancing in the Courthouse'
There truly is no one doing it quite like Dominic Fike. His new single, "Dancing in the Courthouse," seems to seamlessly blend hopelessness with optimism as only Dominic can, contemplating his youth and past run-ins with the law. The song reflects a system that's prejudiced from the start, making everything out of your control, contrasted with an unrelenting optimism, and the power of doing what you can to survive. It all comes to life in the form of an upbeat alternative hip-hop jam, making us very excited for the sophomore album Dominic has slated for later in the year.
Also read about: 23 Vibey Dominic Fike Lyrics That Double As Great Instagram Captions
10. Post Malone Gives a Taste of His Upcoming Album With 'Chemical'
With the release of Post Malone's new single "Chemical," his upcoming fifth album just shot to the top of our most anticipated list for all of 2023. The new song leans hard into the pop genre with a vibrant, euphoric sound and pulsing beat as he sings about a slowly eroding relationship. It's about the complication of love, and how it doesn't get any easier to let someone go when you know it's just happy chemicals in your brain convincing you to hold on. This is one you won't be escaping over the next few months and is sure to win over any Post Malone skeptics.
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of April 7, 2023.