10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of October 10, 2025
There's something about the moodiness of fall and the spirit of change it invites that seems to permeate into the music scene each year, and as we move deeper into October, we're really feeling it.
This was another one of those weeks with more great music than we could ever list, including hot new tracks by Queen Naija, Grace VanderWaal and Cavetown, a brand new Calum Scott album and so much more, with themes of change and reflection taking center stage. Curious about the songs that have inspired us most? Keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of Oct. 10, 2025.
(Photo credit: Anthony Ballew)
1. Alemeda and Doechii 'Beat a B**** Up'
Sudanese-Ethiopian singer-songwriter Alemeda is the definition of genre-defying, and with her upcoming EP, But What the Hell Do I Know (releasing on Nov. 7), she's ready to dive fully into pop-punk. We can't get enough of her energetic new single, ""Beat a B**** Up"" featuring Grammy-winning artist Doechii, which channels a vibrant alt-rock energy into a unique tale of loyalty—and violence. Co-written by the duo, it's an unusual ode to friendship and loving your girls so much that you're willing to resort to cruelty on their behalf.
2. POLARTROPICA and Gilbert Louie Ray Join Forces for 'Shiny Things'
We never would have expected a collaboration between rock singer-songwriter Polartropica and Americana artist Gilbert Louie Ray, but their new song "Shiny Things" makes us wish they'd do even more together. The song gives off a soft, retro-pop feel, infused with country warmth courtesy of banjo, acoustic and electric guitar, as it weaves an optimistic story of heartbreak. Instead of focusing on the hurt, the song emphasizes the growth and self-discovery that come along with the end of a relationship. The song also comes complete with a visually captivating music video, made up of Wes Anderson-esque shots as a love story unfolds between a pirate and a country outlaw.
"This song is about eventually finding it in your heart to learn and grow from all the hard lessons and finally let go with a sense of understanding and acceptance, which is a journey in itself, and coming back home to yourself with love and forgiveness," Poltartopica shared in a press release.
3. Amber Mark's New Album Pretty Idea Is the Full Package
We've always adored Amber Mark for her timeless, genre-blending sounds and deeply personal lyricism, and those talents are more finely honed than ever with the release of her new album, Pretty Idea. Featuring fan-favorite singles "Sweet Serotonin," "Let Me Love You," and "Too Much," its 12 tracks feel timelessly classic as she effortlessly navigates between soul, pop, disco, R&B and funk energies and explores the highs and lows of love.
"This album carries many highs and lows and lessons I didn't know I needed," Amber shared in a post on Instagram. "So excited to finally share these songs with you. Consider this my way of turning all my bad ideas into Pretty ones."
4. Eddie Benjamin and Shawn Mendes Bask in the Heartache of 'HOME'
Australian artist Eddie Benjamin has been very busy in 2025. He's perhaps best known for his frequent collaborations with Justin Bieber, and with his debut album arriving in early 2026, he's also been on the road with friend and tour partner Shawn Mendes. Eddie's new single, "HOME," featuring Shawn, feels like the perfect culmination of this work thus far. It's a stripped-back folk-pop ballad that's strength lies in its softness, with the delicate layers of acoustic guitar and vocals driving home the yearning of the track. It's a song about the heartache that comes with doing the right thing and letting go of someone you love—someone who feels like home.
5. MICO and Haiden Henderson Keep Falling for the Wrong Kind of Love in 'Parasite'
Last year, we had the pleasure of seeing pop-rock sensation Haiden Henderson open for Filipino-Canadian alt-pop MICO, so we couldn't be happier to see them collab on the new single "Parasite." The angsty rock track is thrilling and emotional as both artists sing about falling again and again for the wrong type of people. They want something lasting and authentic, but these relationships only suck them dry like a parasite.
"This song carries a really different vibe from what people are used to from me, but it still has a lot of the same elements if you listen in a little deeper," shared MICO in a press release. "The lyrics carry the same almost- mourning emotion, and it still manages to have that punchy rock feel with more of a 2000's pop flair."
"This song is such a cool blend of our two individual styles," added Haiden. "It has the vibrant melodies and production that MICO does so well, while adding in the flirty edginess that my fans have come to expect from me. Where our worlds collide is the crippling specificity of our lyrics."
6. Amazon Music Celebrates Country Music Month With a Tucker Wetmore Cover of Georgia Satellite's 'Keep Your Hands to Yourself'
October is Country Music Month, and Amazon Music got the celebrations started early. On Sep. 25, they kicked things off with Kane Brown's reimagined marching band version of his song "2 Pair (Game Day Version)," and that was just the first of four exciting Amazon Music Original country covers and reinterpretations by today's biggest artists in the genre. Last week, we got Noeline Hofmann's inimitable version of Guy Clark's "Dublin Blues," and today, Tucker Wetmore wowed us with his rousing cover of The Georgia Satellites 1986 debut single, "Keep Your Hands to Yourself." It's a faithful recreation, with Tucker's signature energy mixed in to give it a modern country feel. Be sure to also also keep an eye out on Oct. 21 for Carter Faith's take on Addison Rae's "Fame Is a Gun."
7. Love and Intrusive Thoughts Go Hand in Hand in Cavetown's 'Tarmac'
With every new single, artist and producer Cavetown is getting us more and more excited for the release of his upcoming album, Running With Scissors, out Jan. 16—and "Tarmac" may be our favorite track yet. The song was cowritten with his longtime friend and collaborator Orla Gartland, setting a mood that immediately evokes the moody melodies of Elliott Smith. It begins with the cozy warmth of a hummed tune and gently plucked guitar strings before it explodes with the rawness of anxiety and trying to keep your most pessimistic thoughts at bay. This perfectly pairs with the lyrics, tackling the moments when love feels so precious that your intrusive fears of losing it take center stage.
"This song is the earliest to exist from the album," Cavetown shared in a press release. "It's one which lyrically just fell out when Orla and I wrote it together. We had to kind of figure out the meaning after letting the words choose themselves. We found it feeling relevant to the feeling of overwhelm and the experience of intrusive thoughts, which can come hand-in-hand for me. I hope people find something in 'Tarmac' which resonates with their own experiences."
8. Calum Scott Focuses on the Present with His 3rd Album, Avenoir
English artist Calum Scott is one of those artists with a voice that immediately turns heads, and both his soaring vocals and emotional songwriting take center stage with the release of his third album, Avenoir. Consisting of 14 tracks, including viral favorite "God Knows," the album gets its named from John Koenig's The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, which defined "avenoir" as "the desire that memory could flow backwards." It's a reflection on the importance of living in the moment and being able to look forward, instead of getting stuck in your past.
"Avenoir refers to how we move through life like a rower moves: always moving forward but facing backward, seeing where we've been, but not where we're going," Calum explained in a press release. "The songs on this album speak to both regret and sorrow, and to undying love—a plea to live life to its fullest. While writing the album, I asked myself, 'If I could, would I choose to be able to see what's coming?' I truly believe we are made from our successes and our challenges, from adapting and overcoming. The concept of Avenoir challenges all of us to live in the present, serving as a constant reminder that it is the surprises in life and the not knowing that makes life terrifying, but also truly magical."
9. Grace VanderWaal Reflects on Perfect Moments of Peace in 'High'
It's clear that singer-songwriter and actress Grace VanderWaal is constantly evolving as an artist. aAter releasing her sophomore album, CHILDSTAR, earlier this year, she's back and ready to showcase even more of her talents with the release of her new single, "High." The gentle and moody acoustic guitar ballad is a reflection on moments of peaceful perfection that linger in memory long after they've passed.
"About a month ago, I went into the studio with no idea what I was going to write," Grace explained in a press release. "I just started singing, 'Do you wanna get high?' and from there the idea came to make a song about those moments where everything already feels perfect… and then your friend looks at you and says, 'You know what would make this even better?'"
10. Queen Naija Is Confident As Ever in 'put it on (eat)…'
R&B superstar Queen Naija just announced that her next EP, 30., is releasing via Motown Records on Oct. 24. Its latest single, "put it on (eat)…," is an instant earworm, with an anthemic sense of confidence and self-love. With a touch of '90s R&B flair, it's a track about success, thriving under pressure and letting the rest of the world watch your every move with envy.
"I feel like 30. is just me walking into my 30s," Queen shared in a press release. "I've felt my brain make this switch that I never thought-or I never knew-could happen. I've grown so much, and I've learned so many different things."
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of Oct. 3, 2025.