For music lovers, February 2026 has been the gift that keeps on giving, and with new projects from Megan Moroney, Naïka, Sydney Quiseng, Mimi Webb, Leaf, Caleb Hearn and more, the last seven days have been packed, to say the least.
From country to K-pop, hip-hop, pop, indie and more, this week had a little something for everyone. Without further ado, keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of Feb. 20, 2026.
(Photo credit: Amber Asaly)
1. Chloe Qisha Crushes Hard in ‘YDH’
We’re new to the talents of Malaysian-born, London-based artist Chloe Qisha, but with her new single “YDH,” she’s got our full attention. Its future-pop sound seems to transcend genre and time, evoking funk, disco and even country-Western energy as she sings about a guy so hot she simply can’t get him out of her mind. The track’s upbeat, infectious sound is just as hypnotic as Chloe’s infatuation, pulling you into the all-encompassing crush right along with her.
“‘YDH’ was written in one joy-filled, jet-lagged day,” Chloe said in a press release. “It was the perfect reset for a very stressful year—and it reminded me that this next project is about chasing fun. The song taps into that feral, fairy-tale kind of attraction—the all-consuming crush that makes you reckless, invested, and a little dramatic. It’s one of the fantasies I’ll be dipping into for this next project—I want people to let their hair down and stepping into full princess mode. This song was made for hootin’ and hollerin’ in the shower, at home with your cats, on a night out—wherever.”
2. Tabitha Meeks Sets Her Sights High With Can’t a Girl Dream?
Nashville-based singer-songwriter Tabitha Meeks has earned her nickname as the Queen of Retro Pop—particularly with the release of her striking debut album, Can’t a Girl Dream? With retro vibes and contemporary sensibilities anchored by Tabitha’s one-of-a-kind vocals and her skills on the piano and Mellotron, its songs are dedicated to the yearners and dreamers everywhere. The album is an homage to classic pop of the ’60s and ’70s while telling Tabitha’s own modern story, highlighting the belief that if you can dream it, you can do it.
“Words have power,” Meeks shared in a press release. “How often do we think something into existence, or daydream about a better future? We scroll Zillow imagining our dream homes. We save Pinterest boards full of outfits we are not brave enough to wear yet. We sit in coffee shops talking about the life we hope we will have someday. This album is my version of that. It is my vision board, my journal entries, my manifesto. In each song, I am giving myself permission to enjoy the little things, hope for the big things, and believe it is all possible.”
3. Genesis Owusu Calls Us to Action With New Song ‘STAMPEDE’
Ghanaian-Australian artist Genesis Owusu is a force to be reckoned with, and with the release of his new single, “STAMPEDE,” he wants us all to join him. The urgent synth-punk track is a call to action, highlighting the empowering nature of community and how speaking our truth can be a force for rebellion. Driven by industrial synths and a rousing drum beat, it dares us all to follow along into our own stampede, reminding listeners that as the powers of the world try to separate and divide us, it’s more important than ever to stick together.
“This whole project is about humanity and community, not just in Australia where I live, but globally,” Genesis said in a press release. “It felt nourishing to go back to my home country (Ghana) for the first time in 11 years and showcase a bit of the culture there; the youth and the deep subcultures, far beyond the perceptions a lot of people may have of Africa.”
4. Caleb Hearn Sets His Eyes on the Future With LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND
Indie folk-pop artist and viral TikTok star Caleb Hearn is no stranger to hits, and his new sophomore album, LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND, is packed with them. Its 13 coming-of-age songs, including singles “THE LOWS,” “SILVER LINING” and “PLAY IT SAFE,” “IS THERE A WORLD?” and “BITE THE BULLET,” pack the emotional bunch listeners have come to expect from Caleb as he figures himself out and lets go of the past in order to move forward with strength and confidence.
“LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND really just sums up the theme of this album,” Caleb shared in an interview with Sweety High. “I wrote all of these songs from a place of looking forward. Most of my life I’ve spent reflecting on the past and for the first time I feel like I’m only looking out for what’s to come. When writing LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND it was definitely a challenge to get into that new headspace of looking to the future instead of the past, but once we started it felt so good. That’s the energy I want this album to bring for people.”
5. Leaf Is Manifesting Everything She Wants With New Project, In Your Dreams
Brooklyn artist Leaf has been turning plenty of heads with her signature sound, blending pop-R&B with a hip-hop edge, and with her new project, In Your Dreams, she’s making all of her biggest wishes into reality. It’s eight tracks speak to the power of manifestation as she comes to understand precisely what she wants, speaking her deepest dreams into existence and demanding everything she knows she deserves—a life full of love and luxury.
“In Your Dreams is basically my inner world turned into music,” Leaf shared with us. “It’s about wanting more, imagining bigger, falling in love with your future self and not letting anyone tell you your dreams are ‘too much.’ It’s soft, emotional, a little delusional (in the best way) and very honest. It means everything to me because it’s the soundtrack to moments that really matter to me.”
6. Mimi Webb Continues Her Emotional Story With Confessions: An Unexpected Turn of Events
We haven’t stopped listening to English pop phenom Mimi Webb‘s album, Confessions, since it released in September, and we’re delighted to see the story continue in the form of the deluxe album. Out today, it’s titled Confessions: An Unexpected Turn of Events, featuring five additional tracks that make Mimi’s tale more vulnerable, confessional and messy than ever. Featuring five additional songs “Stay Single,” “Eyes Closed,” “That Girl,” “Girls Know” and “Ends in Y,” it takes us even deeper into her emotional world with both pop and country flair, making it want to wallow along right with her.
“I love this addition to Confessions as it really brings a more pop angle to it with songs like ‘Eyes Closed’ & ‘Stay Single,’ but also adding some country elements on ‘Ends in Y’ and ‘That Girl,’ which just makes the album feel so much more vibrant and adventurous,” Mimi shared in an interview with us.
7. Sydney Quiseng Enters a New Era in Life With That’s My Baby!
We’ve been following Echosmith and frontwoman Sydney Quiseng (née Sierota) for well over a decade now, so it’s an understatement to say that we’ve seen her come a long way. Now, she’s a wife, a solo artist and a soon-to-be mom—all aspects of her identity that are thoroughly explored with the release of her new EP, That’s My Baby! Arriving just weeks before the arrival of her daughter, the project explores aspects of her journey of self-discovery with a rich Americana sound, while also serving as a time capsule of sorts before she kicks off the next chapter.
“This EP captures everything from the early days of my relationship to the growing pains of becoming my own person to learning how to move on from a difficult time in life to getting pregnant,” Sydney explained to us in an interview. “I hope other girls can feel inspired by the excitement and genuine joy I feel about becoming a mom if that’s something they want one day, too. I also hope the listener can see themselves in my lyrics and feel less alone, no matter what phase of life they’re in right now.”
8. Naïka Celebrates Togetherness and Eclecticism With Debut Album, ECLESIA
French Haitian singer-songwriter Naïka is a global pop fusion artist whose enchanting music is a powerful synthesis of her roots and culture, resulting in a sound that’s entirely her own. With the release of her debut album, ECLESIA, she gorgeously blends all of the pieces that make up her identity, from her Lebanese, Palestinian and Caribbean heritage to her experiences living in Haiti, Kenya, France, South Africa and the U.S., and the sounds of those places to tell a story of fusion, connection and evolution. Its 13 songs in English, French and Haitian Creole weave a warm and welcoming story that beckons anyone to join in on the celebration.
“I want the album to feel like you’re in your living room with your people, and you’re just talking,” Naïka revealed in an interview with Sweety High. “I love the concept of being in the living room with people I love and having different conversations about different topics of life. I feel like the album takes you through that. It talks about love. It talks about what’s going on in the world. Some songs are more around women’s sensuality, and it’s about heartbreak. It takes you to different places. You’ll also notice throughout the album that there’s a lot of gang vocals that are intentionally used to symbolize this gathering of people and community and coming together. It feels like a conversation with your friends touching on different topics.”
9. Hearts2Hearts Don’t Care If You Approve of Them With ‘RUDE!’
Eight-member K-pop girl group Hearts2Hearts are ready to make their mark in the U.S. with their first stateside showcase in L.A. and New York in March, but first, they’ve dropped their hot new single, “RUDE!” Less than a year after their debut, they’re ready to defy expectations with the track, featuring ’90s dance-house vibes and a bouncy, carefree attitude. The group is totally unapologetic as they embrace their most authentic selves, not caring if they come off as rude and confusing to conform for the sake of anyone’s approval.
“‘RUDE!’ is a house-based dance track with rhythmic grooves and bouncy synth sounds,” the group’s Ye-on shared in an interview with Sweety High. “The lyrics tell the story of cheeky rule-benders who don’t follow the world’s rules, expressed in Hearts2Hearts’ own bold and confident style. Since our concept is ‘playful mischief,’ we’ve been practicing our facial expressions a lot to show that playful attitude!”
10. Megan Moroney Lifts Us All Up With New Album, Cloud 9
Megan Moroney is without a doubt one of the freshest and most exciting artists on the country music scene right now, and that’s especially with the release of her third album, Cloud 9. Consisting of 15 unforgettable tracks, including hits “6 Months Later,” “Beautiful Things,” “Wish I Didn’t” and title track “Cloud 9,” the album sees Megan at her most fiery and confident, baring her sole without losing out on the witty and playful songwriting that first got us hooked, and with features from Ed Sheeran and Kacey Musgraves that further cement her place as a superstar.
“My 3rd studio album Cloud 9 is out tonight at midnight!” Megan wrote in an Instagram post. “Before you listen, I just want to say thank you to every single one of you! I had the most fun I’ve ever had writing these songs/dreaming up this world and the majority of this album was created right int he midst of the Am I Okay? tour. The pure joy y’all brought me night after night resulted in so many of these songs and ideas so I can’t thank y’all enough for inspiring me. There’s a newgound confidence woven throughout Cloud 9 along with humor., honesty, heartbreak (duh), softness and love. It’s got everything I love about country music. Never in a million years would I have guessed I’d have songs with Ed Sheeran and Kacey Musgraves but I hope it inspires any and all dreamers out there to keep going. Your wildest dreams are not out of reach.”
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of Feb. 13, 2026.
