Somehow, we’ve waltzed right into May of 2026, and as time marches swiftly onward, all of our favorite artists are right there along with us to smooth the transition with stellar new releases.
This week, that includes incredible new albums from Maya Hawke, Leslie Grace and Emma Louise, plus new singles from many more unforgettable artists as they tease their eagerly anticipated upcoming projects. Get ready to start building your weekend playlists, and keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of May 1, 2026.
(Photo credit: David Sims)
1. Pope Find Themselves All Over Again With BFM
New Orleans rock band Pope are back with their first album in more than eight years, BFM, and the project feels like a sort of homecoming for the trio. Its 13 tracks unravel like a history of the group so far, feeling somewhat autobiographical as they recount their tale, from feeling stagnant and listless to finding themselves and the unique connection they share as a band all over again. If you’re a fan of ’90s alt-rock, this one deserves a listen.
“The whole dang thing is out there y’all,” the band shared in an Instagram post. “This is a lil part of ourselves over the last few years. Hope ya enjoy it!”
2. Paris WYA Learns to Defy Pressure and the Expectation to Be Perfect With Her MANNEQUIN EP
Global pop artist Paris WYA just released her new EP, MANNEQUIN, an eight-track examination of the pressures and expectations that have defined most of her life. Up until now, she’s felt that she needed to be like a mannequin—outwardly perfect but lacking any realness or soul. Similarly, she’s been torn between the cultures of the places she’s lived, from Shanghai to Paris and New York, but with this EP, she’s finding where she truly exists in between them, and finally unveiling the truest version of herself.
“MANNEQUIN to me is about pressure, perfection and growing up feeling like I had to be everything for everyone else before I even knew who I was,” Paris shared with Sweety High in an interview. ” I’ve always been drawn to the image of a mannequin because they look flawless on the outside, but they’re lifeless underneath—and that contrast felt really honest to what I was going through while making this project. The title track felt like the perfect name for the EP because it’s the emotional core of the project. A lot of the songs come back to identity, loss and finding my way back to myself, and ‘Mannequin’ expresses that in the most direct way. It’s the moment of realizing I’ve been performing versions of myself that felt more like expectations than truth, and choosing to let that go.”
Also read about: Paris WYA Talks Shedding Expectations and Embracing Her Truest Self With Her MANNEQUIN EP
3. Emma Louise Transformed Hurt Into Healing With Her Sunshine for Happiness Album
Australian singer-songwriter Emma Louise has had nothing short of an incredible musical journal. In 2020, she checked herself into a hospital in L.A., preparing to leave the world of music behind, only to find herself inspired. Her new album, Sunshine for Happiness, was written there, without the pressures of the industry or outside voices, allowing her creativity to freely flow and initiate a powerful period of healing. Its 12 deeply personal tracks embody that transformation, turning despair into reinvention and rebirth with atmospheric instrumentation and angelic vocals.
“Here is the cover of my new album Sunshine for Happiness,” she shared in a post on Instagram. “The most deeply truthful and raw bunch of songs I’ve ever written. I’m very proud of this and I hope it heals you as much as it healed me writing it.”
4. Sophia James Embraces Chaos and Defies Expectation With The Wrong Shoe Theory EP
Singer-songwriter Sophia James first catapulted onto our radars thanks to her viral Group 7 moment on TikTok, and we think everyone who was part of Group 7 owes it to themselves to listen to her new EP, The Wrong Shoe Theory. The six-song collection features six tracks including “So Unfair” (the song that launched Group 7), “Sunshine and Apathy,” “Little Bit Better” and “I Always Do,” showcasing more of Sophia’s sonic depth than she’s ever revealed before. For the first time, Sophia decided not to limit her musical horizons by writing what was expected, instead branching out to encompass the full spectrum of her emotions to create something bold and entirely new.
“The wrong shoe theory is essentially the idea that an outfit is elevated by the addition of unexpected footwear (think basketball shorts with a fancy heel or a nice dress with sneakers),” Sophia shared in an interview with Sweety High. “The EP follows a similar practice; many of the elements, whether they exist within an individual song or across the entirety of the project, contain that “out of place” quality that ultimately give the record its signature sound.”
Also read about: Sophia James Dishes on Elevating Her Sound and Defying Expectations With The Wrong Shoe Theory EP
5. Ike Dweck Can’t Move on From a Broken Heart With ‘The End of Me’
Indie-folk artist Ike Dweck is having a big moment as he prepares to head out on his first-ever headline U.S. tour, the Safe With Me tour, on May 10. Fans can also look forward to hearing his fiery and raw new single, “The End of Me,” which just released today. It’s a song of post-breakup as Ike remains addicted to the past, confronting the messiness of attempting to move forward even as he refuses to let go of what they had.
“‘The End of Me’ is finally yours!” Ike wrote in a post on Instagram. “So much to be said about what this song means to me, but that’s a story for another time. Tour is comin up and I’m so pumped to experience these songs with you all in person. Truly so grateful that I get to do this.”
6. Bella Kay Reckons With a Crush With ‘Promise?’
Viral artist Bella Kay‘s powerfully relatable hits have gotten her billions of views on TikTok, and after releasing her a couple minutes out EP in 2026, she hasn’t slowed down. Today, she dropped her most recent single, “Promise?” a delicate, guitar-driven indie-pop track about falling hard for a friend and not knowing whether she can reveal her true feelings, wishing she could ask for a promise she can undo it if everything goes wrong.
“‘Promise?’ is out!!” she shared in a post on Instagram. “Go tell your crush you like em!! Worse case scenario you can just take it back !”
Also read about: Everything You Wanted to Know About ‘The Sick’ Singer-Songwriter Bella Kay
7. Mr. Fantasy Gets Us on Our Feet With ‘Do Me Right’
Viral artist Mr. Fantasy has a knack for turning heads with his infectiously high-energy tunes, and his latest song, “Do Me Right,” already feels poised to be one of the songs of the summer. With its danceable disco-pop vibes, it’s catchy, upbeat and ridiculously danceable. We’re guessing this one’s going to be stuck in our heads for a while, and we’re especially loving its star-studded music video featuring riends and collaborators including Nick Jonas, Alex Warren, Dave Franco, Kiernan Shipka and so many more—including members of the cast of Riverdale, further hinting at the star’s true identity.
“My name is Mr. Fantasy,” the artist shared in a press release. “You may have seen me. You probably have. I am a man who has been born with a sacred commitment. An eternal devotion to the creation of Music. My music is my offspring, my holy seed in which I hope to gently insert into different worlds. My music is my beating reason. My raw heart, manifested into colorful sonic waves. The sounds you hear here will possess you. Leave your troubles behind and give your fears to me. I can be your Mr. Fantasy.”
8. Claire Rosinkranz Doesn’t Mistake Vulnerability for Weakness in ‘Just A Man’
Platinum-certified singer-songwriter Claire Rosenkranz just released her first single since the release of her latest album in February, and we’re instantly hooked. The new track, “Just A Man,” creates a folksy vibe with twangy instrumentation and soothing vocals as she sings about men and their skewed perception of power. They want to be in control and always right, but the vulnerability and openness they see as weakness is actually what would give them true strength.
Also read about: Claire Rosinkranz Breaks Down Every Track on Her Debut Album, Just Because
9. Leslie Grace Explores the Meaning of Love With New Album, Amor, Quien Eres?
Actress and Grammy-nominated artist Leslie Grace is back on the music scene, and with her first album in over a decade, titled Amor, Quien Eres?, she’s clearly at the top of her game. The 14-track bilingual album comes to live with songs in both English and Spanish, reflecting on the time that’s passed since her last project and the evolution she’s undergone in that time. The title, translating to “love, who are you?” is based on a problem she began writing back in 2014, following a love story from early infatuation to passion and togetherness, and the highs and lows that follow. It’s deeply personal, combining dreamy R&B with Latin pop sounds and Dominican Bachata dance influences to create something only Leslie Grace could, and making us fall more and more in love through its progression.
“This album took the time it needed,” she shared in a press release. “It started as a question, and I’m still discovering the answers.”
10. Maya Hawke Creates Her Own World With New Album, Maitreya Corso
These days, most of us best know Maya Hawke as an actress, but she’s also a talented and prolific singer-songwriter who just released her fourth album, Maitreya Corso. The new project is an eclectic collection of 13 tracks that show Maya inhabiting the persona of the titular Maitreya Corso, with the story coming to life through vulnerable journal entries through moody, evocative instrumentation and Maya’s breathy vocals. Over the course of the album, she learns to protect what’s authentic from outside forces, moving deeper into her inner own world to maintain her truth.
In a press release, Maya described the titular character as a “magical misfit, whose sheer inability to adapt to the surrounding world allows her to create a world of her own, and to explore the positive and negative power of the ego.”
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of April 24, 2026.
