New Music Friday is here yet again, and the first Friday of October is bringing the heat with fresh albums, big-name singles and a handful of tour kickoffs to boot.
Ready to get listening? Just keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of Oct. 2, 2026.
(Photo credit: Patrick McCormack)
1. The Wldlfe Close Out the Story of Ruby on Album Revolver
The Wldlfe just released their new 14-track album, Revolver It arrives alongside the official music video for new single, “Ruby,” detailing the tale of the character at the center of the album.
The 14-track record pulls from everything from classic ’80s rock and Top 40 pop to alternative and indie, with vibrant hooks and emotionally direct lyrics. The band says “Ruby” was the spark that led them to write songs following an imaginary story, with the title track serving as the perfect ending to Ruby’s tale, and that they gave themselves more space and time to allow the project to unfold.
“It just gave us time to sit with things a bit longer—make sure that the parts were right and the production was what we wanted and overall just gave us the space and time to develop these songs,” the band shared in an interview with Sweety High.
The band’s Long Way Home tour kicks off Oct. 17 at The Social in Orlando, Florida.
Also read about: The Wldlfe Talk New Album Revolver, Their Creative Process and Long Way Home Tour
2. Mez and UMI Question the Label in ‘Platinum Fubu’ Video
Grammy-nominated artist, producer and director Mez just dropped the music video for “Platinum Fubu” featuring UMI following the release of the song on Sep. 9.
The track explores the uncertainty of a relationship without a label, with Mez reflecting on leaving past relationships behind. Meanwhile, UMI offers the other perspective. Carolina summers, Hollywood romances and the title’s nostalgia all collide around one question neither of them can quite define the relationship.
The song also appears on Mez’s upcoming debut album, Electric Future Gangster, due Nov. 20.
3. Blossoms Find the Extraordinary in the Everyday on Songs From the Wedding Cake
Blossoms have officially released their sixth album, Songs From the Wedding Cake, and they’ve announced an autumn U.K. arena tour to go with it.
The album’s 10 tracks are all about making the mundane moments in life into something much bigger and understanding the depth of the human experience that exists within every second.
“What an absolute joy this record was to make,” the band shared in a post on Instagram. “Written and recorded over the last year, it’s a collection of songs about what might seem like ordinary moments, viewed through an extraordinary lens… joking about divorce, hire cars, crying at the Kardashians, Wikipedia rabbit holes, trips to The Range, falling asleep in a taxi, your arm going numb because someone’s asleep on it, the 192, being an additional driver on your wife’s insurance and losing her 20 years’ no-claims bonus (ffs), dancing in the kitchen to Grease, crying at videos of dogs on Instagram, picking up parquet flooring, saying the wrong thing, growing older together… you get the idea.”
Shawn Lee produced the album, recording everything live to tape at Tile House Studios.
4. CLOSE YOUR EYES Capture Fleeting Feelings on 256th Note
Rising K-pop boy group CLOSE YOUR EYES released their fourth mini album, 256th Note. It follows their EP blackout, which arrived in November of 2025.
Inspired by the freedom of jazz, the project focuses on capturing emotions as they naturally occur. The title nods to one of the shortest moments in music, and its seven tracks mirror that seven-note scale, ranging from jazz improvisation with touches of hip-hop to R&B, early Korean jazz-funk and Brazilian bossa nova before closing in warm piano ballad “Eternity.”
“When a feeling really pulls at me, I tend to sit with that feeling fully first,” shared the group’s KIM SUNGMIN on the creation and meaning of the mini-album. “Rather than acting on it right away, I take a moment to ask myself, Why do I feel this way?’ But if it’s a feeling I’m truly sure about, I think I end up acting on it in the end.”
Also read about: CLOSE YOUR EYES Talk 256th Note and Reflect on Growth
5. JO1 Unleash Their Wild Side With U.S. Debut EP ANIMAL
JO1 officially enter a new chapter with ANIMAL, the group’s first full English-language EP and their official U.S. debut project. Grammy-winning producer Dem Jointz produced all six tracks.
The title track is a high-energy dance anthem about unleashing the side of yourself that usually stays hidden. Member Takumi Kawanishi helped compose it, reflecting the group’s growing creative involvement.
“I think the title song, ‘ANIMAL,’ is really exciting for us to perform,” shared the group’s Junki in an interview with Sweety High. “It’s so powerful. It’s also the first time for us to perform it. Maybe it’s going to be KCON—I don’t know if it will happen. We can’t imagine what’s going to happen on the stage, so we’re really excited.”
Indeed, fans got an early taste of “ANIMAL” at KCON LA 2026 and ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2026. JO1 also kick off their five-date North American tour today at Toronto’s Danforth Music Hall, wrapping up Oct. 11 at The Novo in L.A.
Also read about: JO1 on Their New EP, Showing the World a New Side of Themselves and Connecting with JAM
6. Emei Gets the Party Started With ‘Molly’
Viral alt-pop singer-songwriter Emei is picking up the pace with the new high-energy single “Molly.”
The buzzy, energizing guitar rift propels the track forward as Emei shows off her vocals, from playful ad-libs in the verses to the operatic chorus. It’s an empowering pep talk countering pre-show nerves with confidence and a dash of fun.
The song heralds her upcoming two-song release, Night at the Opera: Intermission, which arrives on Oct. 23 as she star continues her 18-date North American Night at the Opera Tour.
Also read about: Everything You Wanted to Know About ‘That Girl’ Singer-Songwriter Emei
7. Liamani Reflects on Growing Up With ‘Things I’ve Learned (So Far)’
Singer-songwriter and actress Liamani just released “Things I’ve Learned (So Far)” with a video offering a behind-the-scenes look at her on tour as she performs the song live.
“This song is really about growing up and realizing that every experience teaches you something, even the ones you don’t understand right away,” Liamani shared in a press release. “I’m still learning so much about myself, my dreams and I wanted this song to capture where I am right now. Performing it on tour has been so much fun, and I’m really excited that everyone finally gets to hear this version.”
The star, who’s appeared in Descendants: Wicked Wonderland and in Camp Rock 3, is also performing the song on the Worlds Collide Tour, which kicked off Sep. 25. The track follows her debut EP, Dear Little Me.
Also read about: How Liamani Is Reflecting on Her Life and Career So Far With Debut EP, Dear Little Me
8. Fontaines D.C. Warp Their Sound on ‘Tongue’
Irish band Fontaines D.C. just released “Tongue,” the second single from their upcoming fifth studio album, Dopamine Chamber, due Oct. 16. It arrives with a John Angus Stewart-directed music video, shot in New York City.
The track is one of the album’s most raw and visceral, built around a slouchy, thumping bass sound created by manipulating tape speed. The band’s Carlos O’Connell also ran Grian Chatten’s vocals through a sampler until it took on a haunting, alien quality.
“The album itself is a dopamine chamber,” Grian explained in a press release. “You step inside and we test these different mind- or mood-altering pieces of music on you.”
9. The Paradox Proceed With Caution on New EP
Atlanta punk-pop band The Paradox just released their six-song EP, Proceed With Caution. It includes previously released tracks “I Kinda Like That,” “That’s Not Fair” and “Good For Me,” plus new songs “Living Hell,” “Stoner Mentality” and “It’s Over.”
In spite of the title, there’s no hesitation across this energetic project. “That’s Not Fair” takes inspiration from the Ramones and turns toward the stripped-back urgency of early punk, and the band first previewed it on Kai Cenat’s livestream.
It’s been a huge year for the group, who formed in summer 2024 and have since opened for Green Day at a stadium show and teamed up with Travis Barker on “Bender.” All 21 dates of their first national headline tour have sold out, running from Oct. 14 in Dallas to Nov. 18 in their hometown of Atlanta.
Also read about: 100+ Noah Kahan Lyrics to Use for Your Next Instagram Caption
10. Noah Kahan Draws Us Into The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping With ‘Draw You Out’
Noah Kahan is one of the biggest artists in the world right now, and he’s the voice behind the lead single from The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (The Album).
“Draw You Out” arrived today, written specifically for and inspired by the film. For the track, Noah reunited with GRAMMY-winning producer Aaron Dessner as co-writer and co-producer.
“Music is such a massive part of the Hunger Games in a lot of ways,” Noah told Billboard. “To be able to speak to what the director sees in these characters, what Suzanne Collins wrote these characters for, and to try to match that is a big task—but a really fun challenge. I just can’t believe that I get to be a part of it.”
The soundtrack is executive produced by Dave Cobb and brings together 29 cross-genre artists, all with previously unreleased music exclusive to the album. It arrives Nov. 13 via MCA ahead of the film release on Nov. 20.
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top picks for the week of September 25, 2026.
