It’s the last New Music Friday of May 2026, and the summer vibes are undeniable. It’s clear our favorite artists have been hard at work in the studio, with exciting new album release from aespa, Johnny Huynh and Camylio, a new Ariana Grande track teasing her upcoming album and so much more.
It’s time to get the weekend party started, so keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of May 29, 2026.
(Photo credit: Katia Temkin)
1. Bella Kay Continues to Dominate With Her are you mad at me? EP
20-year-old pop singer-songwriter Bella Kay has been rapidly on the rise in 2026, with more than 17 million monthly Spotify listeners and it feels like she hasn’t taken a breath this year. She just dropped yet another three-pack EP, are you mad at me?, including the indie ballad “Say it Say,” yearning pop track “Promise?” and her newest single, the R&B-tinged anthem “STOP.” They join her discography of songs that get directly to the emotional heart of the matter, making too relatable to deny, and we think they’ll be extra fun to scream along to when she takes the stage at All Things Go and Lollapalooza this summer.
“‘STOP’ is my favorite because it’s just so representative to who I am,” Bella wrote in a post on Instagram. “i wrote this song with the loml Alexis and we were just giggling through the whole thing and I think you can tell. I feel like a lot of people think I’m really sad and all I do is cry (which…partially true) but it felt important to me that you guys know I like to have fun just as much as I like to cry.”
Also read about: Everything You Wanted to Know About ‘The Sick’ Singer-Songwriter Bella Kay
2. corook Explores the Complexity of Human Connection Despite How do I relate to you? EP
Alt-pop sensation corook has made a name for themself writing songs that are delightfully catchy yet relentlessly relevant, and they’re keeping the streak going with their new EP, How do I relate to you? It features six songs, including beloved singles “Scooby,” “Kleptomaniac” and “Banana peel,” cutting into the real, pressing issues of the day with a blend of wit, empathy and humor. These bops tackle the tricky subject of how to live authentically in modern society, particularly when you don’t nearly fit into the boxes people want to create for you, and finding out how to not just survive, but thrive.
“How do I relate to you? is about staying connected when things feel complicated,” corook explained in a press release, “especially in moments of fear, disagreement or uncertainty, and choosing to keep showing up anyway. It explores that question in my relationship with myself, my wife, my neighbors, my family and even the country I live in. At its core, it holds onto the hope that we’re still trying.”
Also read about: corook Talks New EP serious person (part 1), Touring and the Power of ‘if i were a fish’
3. Eyedress Laments Uncertain Love in ‘Alone at Night’ Featuring Loren Rivera
Filipino alt singer-songwriter Eyedress is best known for his hit song “Jealous,” which made him a member of Spotify’s illustrious Billions Club, and moving forward, he’s doing things a little differently. He just released his second single following the launch of Psychedelic Industries, “Alone at Night” featuring Whirr’s Loren Rivera, to explore an intimate and hazy shoegaze sound. It’s a moody reflection on unfaithful love and how sometimes, it’s easiest to make yourself out to be the bad guy. We also can’t peel our eyes away from the music video, which very purposefully looks like A.I. slop on the surface but was actually painstakingly animated by AnimatedByben
“I DM’d Loren from Whirr because the song felt perfect for him,” Eyedress said in a press release. “I had been listening to Whirr heavily after my friend Julius told me the singer was Filipino. I originally made the instrumental back in my old studio in Altadena before the fires went down, so I felt like the music was special because it was made there before everything burned down.”
4. Camylio Gives All of Himself for Love in Take My Bones
24-year-old singer-songwriter and producer Camylio got his start with viral covers that enchanted audiences with the rich rawness of his vocals, but now that he’s telling his own stories, his artistry has never been more finely tuned. He just released his debut album, Take My Bones, featuring 13 darkly atmospheric songs that are also his most revelatory to date. He holds nothing back as he explores the idea of willingly giving all of yourself in the name of love, knowing you could lose everything. In a way, this also reflects his position as an artist, spilling out his soul for us, the listeners, in the name of art.
“The song itself and the meaning of the lyric describes giving yourself to someone, every last part of your devotion, all the way to your bones,” Camylio revealed in an interview with Sweety High. “There is something admittedly insane about that, but also that could be beautiful with the right person, and I think that perfectly describes the spirit of the album.”
Also read about: Camylio on the Sense of Love and Giving That Inspired His Debut Album, Take My Bones
5. Syd Crushes Hard in ‘Callin’ Featuring Blu June
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and producer Syd just announced that her third solo album, Beard, is out July 17. Based on its list of collabs alone, we can already tell it’s going to be a doozy. It’ll feature Raphael Saadiq, Big Sean, Rodney Jerkins, James Fauntleroy, Van Hunt and Jordan Ward, as well as Blu June, who appears on her latest single “Callin.” The silky-smooth R&B track is all about crushing hard, needing someone so desperately that it begins to feel like an emergency that can only be stopped by their love.
“Beard is a coming of age album for me,” Syd revealed in a press release. “It’s a snapshot of what my life looks like right now. The title was inspired by the peach fuzz on my upper lip that society has always taught me to hate. I fell in love with my peach fuzz and it made me rethink everything that was supposed to make me feel insecure. It allowed me to take my confidence into my own hands, and own everything that I am and everything I love about myself, regardless of what anyone else thinks. The title also represents the way I see myself in relation to my peers, especially in music. ‘The bearded lady.’ Not so much a spectacle in my case, but an anomaly and an outlier. Hard to compare. I’m owning that too. Taking things that were once insecurities and flipping them on their head has been extremely empowering.”
6. Wyclef Jean Remembers Where He Came From in ‘Mr. October’ Featuring G Herbo
Haitian artist and producer Wyclef Jean is preparing to release his first album since 2019, Clef Notes, promising a return to form with a classic hip-hop sound. After hearing its first single, “Mr. October” featuring G Herbo, we’re already convinced it’ll be one of the best rap albums of the year. The song flows effortlessly over a melancholic piano mellow as Wyflec looks back on his youth, moving to the U.S. from Haiti and turning to rap to crave out his place in the world as a means of survival.
“30 years in—and I’m still here, still growing, still creating,” Wyclef Jean shared in a post on Instagram. “This time, I’m back with Nephew @nolimitherbo And it’s a true honor. ‘Mr. October’—different generations, same hunger.”
7. Max McNown Yearns to Be Truly Seen in ‘Something to Someone’
Max McNown‘s unique approach to the country-Americana genre has us completely infatuated with his sound. His newest single, “Something to Someone,” may be our favorite from the star yet. The indie folk-rock track is a yearning anthem for anyone who’s ever wished to be truly seen, understood and loved for their real self. It manages to be just as catchy as it is deeply emotional.
“Lying deep in nearly every person’s heart sits the desire to be known,” Max shared in a press release. “Not on the surface, but truly known, all that they feel scared of, alone in or grateful for. When writing this track, I had to dig deep into my past insecurities, all of the times I fell in love while someone fell out of it. The desperate nature of the chorus comes directly from my experiences; a plea crying out for somebody, someday, to truly know me, and love this broken person for the good, in spite of the flaws.”
Also read about: Everything You Wanted to Know About ‘A Lot More Free’ Singer-Songwriter Max McNown
8. Johnny Huynh Explores the Duality of the Human Experience With Debut Album HEAVEN’S ON FIRE
Viral singer-songwriter Johnny Huynh has one of those voices that just can’t be ignored, and he’s at the top of his game with the release of his debut album, HEAVEN’S ON FIRE. Its 13 songs are an analysis of the human condition and the duality of life, feeling like the world is burning down even when you’ve got all of the things you thought you ever wondered. It was inspired by love, loss, growth and everything in between, with Johnny’s cinematic songwriting and haunting lyricism at the forefront as he takes us through his story so far.
“To me, that title represents the reality that even the most beautiful parts of life can be painful,” Johnny shared in an interview with Sweety High. “Sometimes you can be surrounded by love, dreams, family and hope—things that feel like heaven—but still feel like everything is burning around you. This album captures the past year of my life: toxic love, true love, missing home, losing my grandma, growing up and trying to understand who I am as a young Asian American. It felt like the perfect title because every song comes from a moment where beauty and pain existed at the same time.”
Also read about: Johnny Huynh on Getting Vulnerable and Sharing the Pain in Life’s Beauty With Debut Album, HEAVEN’S ON FIRE
9. aespa Seizes Every Moment With Sophomore Album LEMONADE
K-pop icons aespa have been on a roll in 2026, and the release of their sophomore album, LEMONADE, is bound to get their momentum going faster than ever. Its title track is an anthem about turning chaos into success and ensuring that whatever life throws at them, they can make it into lemonade. We can’t think of a better encapsulation of the group so far. LEMONADE‘s 11 tracks are eclectic and intensely energetic, running the gamut from hip-hop and electronic music to rock, R&B and pop. The girls feel completely in their element no matter what sounds they’re exploring, and we know these songs are going to be especially explosive on the stage when 2026-27 aespa LIVE TOUR – SYNK : COMPLæXITY kicks off on Aug. 7.
Also read about: The Boldest aespa Lyrics in English to Use as Your Next Photo Caption
10. Ariana Grande Teases petal With ‘hate that i made you love me’
Grammy-winning pop icon and actress Ariana Grande is generating lots of buzz ahead of the release of her eighth album, petal, out July 31, and we just got the first taste with the release of her new single, “hate that i made you love me.” The moody track showcases Ariana’s vocal prowess in a lower register than we’re used to from the star, creating a completely different sound—and setting the stage for something thrillingly fresh as Ariana laments the one-sided relationships she accidentally courts by simply being who she is. Her Eternal Sunshine Tour kicks off on June 6, and we’re already jealous of whoever gets the honor of hearing this one live.
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of May 22, 2026.
