10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of May 9, 2025
It's another stellar and inspiring New Music Friday, and with a soaring new album from Kali Uchis, a raw new track from Miley Cyrus's eagerly anticipated project and so much more, we know precisely what we'll be listening to all Mother's Day weekend long.
This week had a little bit of everything, from heartfelt ballads to breakup anthems, cinematic soundtracks and so much more. Without further ado, keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of May 9, 2025.
(Photo credit: Zach Apo-Tsang)
1. Royel Otis Fall Hard, Despite Everything, With 'moody'
Australian indie rock duo Royel Otis have been rapidly on the rise as of late. They recently announced their "meet me in the car tour" across North America, including stops at Governor's Ball, Lollapalooza and Outside Lands, and dropped their infectious new single, "moody." Featuring laidback and hazy '90s vibes, the song reflects on a powerful infatuation on a girl, despite all of her many shortcomings.
In a press release, the two explained of "moody" simply that, "It's a song about a girl."
2. Abbie Callahan Laments the Ups and Downs of a Brief Situationship in 'Yo-Yo'
Country-pop singer-songwriter Abbie Callahan is definitely one to watch in 2025. Her debut single, "Mary Jane," has racked up well over half a million streams since it debuted in December of last year, and we believe the follow-up, "Yo-Yo," is primed to be an even bigger hit. It's a jangly, banjo-driven ode to a broken heart, telling the tale of a short-lived romance, with all of the rapid ups and downs of a yo-yo. Despite the playful and even dancefloor-ready sound, its lyrics are positively heart-wrenching—a testament to Abbie's strengths as a songwriter.
"I wrote 'Yo-Yo' about an eight-day situationship, and I'm glad I at least got something good out of that whole experience," Abbie shared in a press release. "It's light and fun sounding but lyrically dark and pretty sad, honestly. It is the catalyst for my forthcoming EP, setting the stage for a defining story in my life to unfold. I'm really excited to get it out there, and I hope people love it as much as I do!"
Abbie will also be making her Bonnaroo debut on the Who Stage on Friday, June 13, and we're eagerly awaiting the release of her upcoming debut EP.
3. Mt. Joy Reminds Us to Fight for Life With 'Lucy'
Mt. Joy's eagerly anticipated fourth album, Hope We Have Fun, releases on May 30, and the hype is bigger than ever with the release of their emotionally resonant new single, "Lucy." The track was inspired by a friend of the band, known for embracing everything life has to offer, who was recently diagnosed with multiple brain tumors. The real woman who inspired the song is still alive, fighting the good fight, but the song imagines the grief of losing "Lucy," and the power of remembering her life.
"We were told that the prognosis was uncertain, but that it would be an uphill battle and there was uncertainty around fighting it at all. It was obviously sobering news," explained Mt. Joy frontman, Matt Quinn, in a press release. "From the invincible heights of the fairy tale we are so fortunate to experience in this band to the reality of how fragile things are in an instant, it was deeply sad, but I felt instantly inspired by the idea of someone living their life without fear when the odds are stacked against them. I found a pseudonym ('Lucy') and set out to write a song to pay tribute."
Also read about: Matt Quinn Shares How Mt. Joy Reconnected With the Earth in New Album, Orange Blood
4. PinkPantheress Pushers Her Creativity to New Levels With Fancy That Mixtape
English singer-songwriter and producer PinkPantheress has a unique ear for unusual sounds, and her sophomore mixtape Fancy That is the perfect fusion of bedroom pop and U.K. garage music that truly couldn't have come from anyone else. The nine tracks were made in collaboration with iconic creatives including aksel arvid, Count Baldor, phil, Oscar Scheller and The Dare. Through her irresistible signature production, the mixtape includes samples and interpolations from everyone from "Panic! at the Disco" and Basement Jaxx to Jessica Simpson, while still feeling like one cohesive project.
"This tape marks a huge milestone for me as an artist," she revealed in a press release. "This feels like the most tied together project I've applied myself to as an artist and for my fans who have been with me for years, I hope they can hear the signs of growth in me as an artist."
Also read about: 18 Cheeky Lyrics From PinkPantheress' Fancy That to Inspire Your Next Instagram Caption
5. Johnny Huynh Feels Consumed by Love in 'RED ROSE'
Seattle-based singer-songwriter Johnny Huynh has already had a number of viral moments in 2025, and his lush new single, "RED ROSE," is sure to be the next. The dark and soulful track bares Johnny's soul as he sings of the sometimes all-encompassing nature of true love. We're equally enchanted by its cinematic music video, which sets Johnny in the darkness of a red room, toying with red rose stems as he examines his love.
Johnny shared in a press release that the song, "is about falling for someone who feels impossibly rare—someone who moves you in ways that are hard to explain but impossible to ignore. It's about the kind of connection that's both beautiful and consuming, where even the difficult parts feel worth it because of how deeply you care. Right now, I'm seeing someone who makes me feel like that. There's a weight to the love I'm experiencing, a kind of emotional gravity that keeps pulling me in. It's intense, it's real, and it feels like something I don't want to let go of."
Also read about: Everything You Wanted to Know About 'The One That Was Meant for Me' Artist Johnny Huynh
6. Calum Hood Shares a Loving Apology in 'Call Me When You Know Better'
New Zealand star Calum Hood is best known as bassist and vocalist of rock band 5 Seconds of Summer, but after making his solo debut with "Don't Forget You Love Me" in March, he's already proven himself as a massive talent on his own. His solo album, ORDER chaos ORDER is to release on June 13, and the new single "Call Me When You Know Better" feels like a thesis statement for what to come. Kicking off with pulsing and energetic digital sounds, it's just as chaotic and unpredictable as the album title suggests as Calum issues an apology reflecting the constant contradictions within his thoughts.
"'Call Me When You Know Better' is a love letter in the form of an apology," Calum said in a press release. "For maybe not being the best lover or friend to the people who mean the most to me. Thoughts contradicting one another, talking over each other and stretching reality. It's a reflection on mistakes made, perpetual regret and self pity."
7. Finn Wolfhard Forgets Who He Is in 'Objection!'
Finn Wolfhard has been hard at work showing the world that his talents don't end at acting, and with his upcoming album, Happy Birthday, on the way, he just gave us another glimpse at what's to come with the new single, "Objection!" Driven by an acoustic guitar, a '70s-tinged folk rock sound and Finn's echoey vocals, it's a song about losing your own sense of identity because of a relationship. The music video, directed by Marcus Massula, was shot in the snowy mountains of British Columbia and perfectly captures the sentiment in the form of a rambling, aimless and potentially deadly journey.
"The 'Objection!' video is dedicated to my grandfather who passed away soon after we made it," Finn shared in an Instagram post. "He was a geologist and spent much of his life outdoors, and shooting this video reminded me of him. He was an amazing man!"
8. ROSÉ's 'Messy' Joins F1 THE ALBUM
Joseph Kosinski's epic Formula One drama, F1, releases on June 27, and its soundtrack F1 THE ALBUM, is already shaping up to be one of the biggest film soundtracks of 2025. Last week, we got a first taste with Don Tolliver's "Lose My Mind" featuring Doja Cat, and now we're even more in love with the release of "Messy" by ROSÉ. The new music video stars ROSÉ and acts as a movie teaser of sorts, with footage of the film starring Brad Pitt and Kerry Condon sprinkled throughout. The pop track has an evocative and anthemic sound as ROSÉ opens herself up to the potential of a messy love.
Also read about: 21 Lovelorn Lyrics From Rosé's rosie to Use as an Instagram Caption
9. Miley Cyrus Wishes for a Deeper Kind fo Heartbreak in 'More to Lose'
The days are ticking down until the release of Miley Cyrus's ninth album, Something Beautiful, drops on May 30, and given all we've heard through singles "Prelude," "Something Beautiful" and "End of the World," it just might be her very best yet. She graced us with yet another single, "More to Lose," today, a raw yet elegant pop track that explores a shallow kind of love, and lamenting the smallness of her heartbreak when it ends.
"On a song like 'More to Lose,' I try to keep it a singular take—add my harmonies or ad libs at the end," Miley explained in a video on Instagram. "But it's really a song that's more of a story and I never want that to be interrupted or overthought or chasing perfection. I never wanted 'More to Lose' to feel perfect. I wanted it to sound meaningful and emotional."
Also read about: 18 Fierce Lyrics From Miley Cyrus's Bangerz That Double as Perfect Instagram Captions
10. Kali Uchis Romanticizes the Power of Love With New Album, Sincerely,
Last year, Grammy-winning artist Kali Uchis had her first child. The themes of motherhood, protection and unconditional love she's gained from that experience are undeniable with the release of her fifth album, Sincerely, and we believe it's her most powerful collection of music yet. Its 14 tracks are wonderfully vulnerable and full of emotional, combining retro grooves and dreamy ballads with the occasional doo-wop twist to create something that's a blast from the past, and yet fully grounded in the present. Her silky, dreamy vocals are at their best here as she explores various facets of the powerful of love, including self-love as she embraces everything she's meant to be. It's a genre-bending album that breaks down boundaries, and we think it's bound to be a hit with just about everyone.
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of May 2, 2025.