There are certain New Music Fridays we literally have marked on our calendars for months, and this was definitely one of them.
Today saw the release of hotly anticipated albums from WILLOW, Charli xcx, GIULIA BE and FLO, and that’s not even to mention the new singles, EP’s and more that have our jaws on the floor. The last week’s releases will keep us busy for a while, so get listening, and keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of July 24, 2026.
(Photo credit: Sabra Binder)
1. Kiefer Recruits Tony Stone, Erick the Architect and CARRTOONS for ‘NewLevels NewDevils’
With his unique approach to the piano, blending improvisational jazz and hip-hop sounds, Kiefer is an artist worth watching in 2026. His debut solo project, Memory Bomb, is out Sep. 25, and its lead single is the new track “NewLevels NewDevils” featuring Tony Stone, Erick The Architect and CARRTOONS. It feels like the perfect effortlessly listenable introduction to the artist and his one-of-a-kind sound and collaborative prowess.
2. Rocco Leans Into Authenticity With A Comedy Romantic (Act. 1)-EP
Indie-pop artist Rocco has undergone quite the musical evolution since we first fell in love with his sound years ago, and that’s clear with the release of A Comedy Romantic (Act. 1)-EP. The four-track project is deeply personal and creatively expressive as he gets in touch with his roots and creates a unique narrative about love and self-discovery.
“Honestly, this is probably the truest I’ve ever been with myself and the most in tune I’ve ever felt,” Rocco shared with Sweety High in an interview. “I feel like there was the most alignment between who I am as a person and who I am as Rocco the artist. I feel like all artists can relate to the fact that who you are as a performer and the face of your brand is totally different from who you are when you’re just hanging out with your friends. But I feel like I’ve kind of bridged those two together because I think authenticity is what really separates you as an artist, as cliché as that sounds. I truly think that’s some of the best advice you could give another artist. The more authentic you are with yourself, the less you have to try with everything else. I’ve just been having so much fun creating this music. This version of Rocco was very fun. It’s very free. Like I said, I revisited a lot of the old ways I used to do things. The way I’m approaching the music and making it feels very true to me. It’s stuff that I’ve done before, but now it’s just way cooler, I guess. So if you’re new to me and you’re new to my music, I think this is the perfect time to step in and join the Rockovers.”
Also read about: Inside Rocco’s Most Authentic Era Yet: A Comedy Romantic (Act. 1)-EP
3. Ruth B. Reflects on Falling in Love With ‘Best Days’
Canadian indie-pop artist Ruth B. has been masterfully generating anticipation for her upcoming album, Peace to Make, out Aug. 21. We just got a final preview with the release of the new single “Best Days,” which was actually the first track she wrote for the album. The breezy pop track is emotional and sunny as she sings about those perfect moments in life, holding on to love and optimism and trusting life to bring you what you need.
4. Denise Julia Rediscovers Life in Love Again EP
Filipina R&B hitmaker Denise Julia is an international sensation, and her fame is about to grow even bigger with the release of her new LOVE AGAIN EP. Its six tracks are vulnerable and raw, channeling the Y2K R&B greats with intricate harmonies and delicious vocals as she teaches herself to love again. But it’s not just about romantic love and finding the right person. Denise has also remember how to love life, rediscovering her passion for the things that fuel her creativity and excitement for the future.
“I think people see the music, the visuals, the performances and the beautiful parts of this job, but they do not always see what it takes out of you,” Denise revealed in an interview with Sweety High. “They do not always see the the parts of yourself you have to protect while your life and your work are being perceived by other people. I felt so disconnected from the things that used to make me feel alive, including music. I was questioning my purpose, my relationship with creating and whether I could feel excited about life again. I think when you go through a season like that, love starts to mean something much deeper than romance. It becomes about learning how to care again, how to hope again, how to create again and how to believe that there is still something beautiful waiting for you after everything that tried to take that feeling away.”
Also read about: Denise Julia on Losing and Rediscovering Her Passion With Her New LOVE AGAIN EP
5. Kylie Cantrall Takes Listeners on an Emotional Journey With Valley Girl Problems EP
Pop sensation and actress Kylie Cantrall has had a very busy month with the release of the new Descendants movie and her brand-new EP, Valley Girl Problems. Its nine tracks, including hit single “Carrie Bradshaw,” are diaristic and emotional as Kylie puts listeners in the passenger seat and takes them through her vibrant coming-of-age story.
“I’ve always heard people say, ‘Write what you know,’ and that’s exactly what I did with this EP,” Kylie revealed in a press release. “Valley Girl Problems truly captures everything I’ve experienced over the last year and how I’ve embraced this new chapter of my life—from the excitement of late nights out in the Valley with my friends to the devastating heartbreak that came with losing some of the people closest to me. I wanted this project to feel like an emotional journey from start to finish, where the listener is riding shotgun with me in my Mini Cooper”
Also read about: How Kylie Cantrall Playfully Tackled Double Standards in Dating With New Single ‘Boy for a Day’
6. The Paradox Cling to Toxicity in ‘I Kinda Like That’
Rapidly rising pop-punk band The Paradox deserve to be on your radars in 2026, and we’re absolutely hooked on their new track “I Kinda Like That.” The single teases their new EP, Proceed With Caution, which drops on Oct. 2, buzzing with Y2K nostalgia and unbridled energy as they sing about being hooked on a toxic relationship that keeps them coming back for more. The band will also be heading out on their first-ever national headline tour in October.
7. GIULIA BE Unveils 3 Sides of Herself in Trilingual Self-Titled Album
Singer-songwriter and actress GIULIA BE knows that identity can be complicated and beautiful, and that’s something she explores to great effect with the release of her new trilingual self-titled album. GIULIA BE consists of 21 tracks—seven each in Portuguese, Spanish and English—each reflecting a piece of GIULIA’s identity through the lens of that language and its culture, genres and attitudes. All three languages are intrinsic to who she is, reflecting her background and history, and the result is an eclectic and powerful project that encapsulates the whole of her musical identity.
“I feel like anyone who speaks more than one language knows that they cannot be the exact same person in each of these languages,” GIULIA shared in an interview with Sweety High. “It’s in the words you choose, the way thoughts come out, the traumas that you have in one language that you don’t in the other. It all adds up to who you are. Obviously, my essence is still the same, but I definitely express myself in different ways … Each one of them brings out a different side of me. They’re all me, but I can feel different sides of my personality coming out depending on what language I’m speaking.”
Also read about: GIULIA BE on Exploring 3 Languages—And 3 Identities—With Her New Self-Titled Album
8. Charli xcx Reflects on Identity With Music, Fashion, Film
English singer-songwriter Charli xcx is one of the queens of experimental pop, and with the release of her new album, Music, Fashion, Film, it’s obvious how she’s broken so firmly into the mainstream. Its 11 tracks include recent singles “SS26,” “Rock Music,” “Camera” and “Wink Wink,” featuring tongue-in-cheek lyricism and ridiculously catchy sounds as Charli examines her identity, its flexibility and the inconsistencies it holds with the way the world sees her. The release comes ahead of a headline tour across North America in September and October, and we cannot wait to here these stellar songs on the big stage.
Also read about: All the Best Charlie xcx Lyrics as Instagram Captions
9. KATSEYE Embrace Their Wild Side in ‘Animal’
2026 is proving to be the biggest year yet for KATSEYE. Their theatrical film KATSEYE: WILD HEARTS, releases on Aug. 12 ahead of their next EP, WILD, on Aug. 14, and they’re also gearing up for their WILDWORLD TOUR in October. We just got a new tease of everything to come with their confident new pop single, “Animal,” which feels like a return to form for the group while also fitting perfectly into the theme of their upcoming EP. It’s brash, fun and playful as the group sings about putting on an act to appear perfect in public, but being today uninhibited once they get the chance to drop the facade.
Also read about: Groundbreaking Global Girl Group KATSEYE Discuss Their Formation and First Single, ‘Debut’
10. WILLOW Explores Her Connection to the Universe at Large in The Thread
WILLOW continues to surprise and impress us with each new release, and with her new album, The Thread, she’s as unabashedly authentic and introspective as ever. The project’s 10 tracks blend alt-jazz, dreamy and atmospheric pop and a forward-thinking approach to R&B as WILLOW gets in touch with the divine feminine and analyzes the evolution of her spirit and her powerful sense of connectivity with the larger universe. She’s always refused to be confined to any one concept or genre, constantly reinventing herself through experimentation and openness, and with The Thread, her narrative feels as eclectic yet authentic as ever.
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of July 17, 2026.
