10 Big Things That Happened in Music the Week of October 3, 2025
This New Music Friday, everyone is talking about the same thing: Taylor Swift just released her new album, The Life of a Showgirl, consisting of a dozen never-before-heard songs that have lived up to and gone beyond all of our wildest expectations.
But while we'll be listening to the album on repeat and picking it apart all weekend long, it's far from the only thing that's had us hooked this week. Looking to broaden your musical horizons a little as you dive deeper and deeper into the life of a showgirl? Keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of Oct. 3, 2025.
(The Life of a Showgirl: The Tiny Bubbles in Champagne Vinyl Collection via Taylor Swift)
1. Ink Shares a Mission Statement With Debut EP, BIG BUSKIN'
Grammy-nominated artist Ink was just announced as one of the performers at Stagecoach in 2026, and before you see her take the stage, you have to listen to the songs on her newly released debut EP, BIG BUSKIN'. Its infectiously listenable songs, including beloved singles "Sweet Tea," "Hoedown" and "Turquoise Cowboy," are an effortless fusion of country music with rock and hip-hop, showcasing her natural abilities as a storyteller as she reflects on heartache, family and survival.
"The hell with all that BS—press play and find out—real music is back!" Ink said of the new songs in a press release.
2. The Moss Set the Mood With New EP, FREE RIDE
Alternative indie-rock band The Moss deserves to be on everyone's radars as we finish out 2025 and move into 2026, especially as they embark on a six-week headline tour in the spring. Ahead of the exciting performance dates, they just dropped their new EP, FREE RIDE. It consists of four funky, soulful tracks, creating relatable moods across "Darkness," "Free Again," "Higher" and the new single "Oasis." In typical The Moss style, these songs feel richly layered, contrasting vibrant and energetic sounds with angsty lyricism.
"Oasis" is "a song about finding someone at a point in time who makes you feel seen," the band's vocalist, guitarist and lead songwriter Tyke James shared in a press release. "It's about how necessary but fleeting it is to have someone to talk to."
3. Jordana Can't Help Falling for the Wrong Guy in 'Like That'
Pop singer-songwriter Jordana is gearing up for the release of her next EP, Jordanaland, on Nov. 7, and after hearing its first singles "Still Do" do and her brand-new song "Like That," we can already tell we're going to be obsessed. The high-energy bop is all about falling for a guy who you already know is going to break your heart—after you already promised never to put yourself in that situation again. Still, the heart wants what it wants, and she finds herself breaking the promise, despite her best efforts. We also adore the off-putting music video that shows Jordana stepping into the world of content creation, only for things to not be quite what they seem.
Jordana shared in a press release that it's "a song about being totally encapsulated in someone, but at the same time, feeling as though they want you only for superficial reasons. It's about knowing the situation you're in is bad for you, even promising to others that you wouldn't ever degrade yourself again, but your feelings are so intense, it's difficult to navigate."
4. GOOD NEIGHBOURS Reflect on Constant Motion With Debut Album Blue Sky Mentality
It's hard to believe that English indie-pop duo GOOD NEIGHBOURS only formed at the end of 2023, because in the two years since, they've taken the world by storm. Oli Fox and Scott Verrill have a knack for channeling raw emotion through their irresistibly energetic songs, and that's evident with the release of their debut album, Blue Sky Mentality. Its 14 songs have a unique rawness, using synth sounds and evocative vocals that capture the spirit of the guys' life on the road and never standing still. These songs are about being away from the familiar, yet managing to find your people and celebrate togetherness regardless.
"It's surreal to finally say we have a debut album out," the duo revealed in a press release. "Blue Sky Mentality was written across cities, vans, tour buses and hotel rooms—we've been playing these songs live for too long, it's amazing that everyone can finally hear them the way we imagined from a tinny iPhone speaker. It's a big record, but it's not polished, which feels really fun. This is our dream."
5. CATCH THE YOUNG Yearn for Lost Love in '안아줘 (In Your Arms)'
Korean alt-rock band CATCH THE YOUNG have made 2025 their busiest year yet with multiple single albums and performances at Jeonju Ultimate Music Festival and Sound Planet Festival, and they're continuing the run with their newest track, "안아줘 (In Your Arms)." The warm and sentimental ballad feels perfect for the start of fall as they sing about remembering a past love and their fondest memories together, wishing they could share just one more moment with them.
"It warms my heart to be able to meet you again with our new song, '안아줘 (In Your Arms),' right when the autumn leaves start falling after a hot summer," the band's vocalist, Namhyun, said in a press release. "We prepared this single with the hope of sending hugs to you all, just as the weather gets colder. I hope your heart can feel warmer just by listening to this song."
6. Lauren Spencer Smith Writes an Ode to Those Who've Done Her Wrong With 'Thick Skin'
Viral Canadian singer-songwriter Lauren Spencer Smith released her acclaimed sophomore album, THE ART OF BEING A MESS, this summer, and she's already launching into a new chapter with a new single called "Thick Skin." Driven by a stomp-clap beat and edgy acoustic guitars, it's an angsty country-pop anthem to the people who've done you wrong. They didn't realize it, but they've actually made her stronger and more resilient every time they hurt her.
"I wrote 'Thick Skin' during a time when I felt both anger and power," Lauren explained in a press release. "It's about realizing that every setback was actually building my strength—that what was meant to break me only made me tougher. My hope is that this song inspires people to embrace their resilience and recognize that true strength is the best revenge."
7. Henry Moodie Explores Figuring Out Your 20s With 'mood swings'
English pop sensation Henry Moodie has had many a viral moment over the last few years, including "drunk text," "you were there for me" and "pick up the phone." Finally, he's gearing up to release his debut album later this month. It's called mood swings and is set to drop on Oct. 24, and today, he shared its title track with the world. The profoundly relatable single is an upbeat track all about the highs and lows and emotional complexity of figuring out your 20s in the modern world.
"mood swings is an album that captures the chaos, beauty and heartbreak I've experienced over the past few years," Henry explained in a press release. "Each track reflects a different side of me, a different mood and a different moment in time. Whether that's the melancholy of drifting apart from an old childhood friend or the excitement of meeting someone new. This album marks the beginning of my story as an artist, and I wanted it to be as honest and personal as possible."
8. Bryson Tiller Rounds Out His Double Album With Solace
Hip-hop star Bryson Tiller released his feature-packed rap album The Vices in August, but that was only half of the story, which became complete this week with the release of its other piece, Solace. Solace's 12 new songs move away from hip-hop beats and instead highlight the soul-trap sound that he made his signature on his first album (appropriately named T R A P S O U L). It's open, melancholic and vulnerable, reflecting on his life thus far and his current emotional state, including the search for love and connection. The release day, Oct. 2, was also special for Bryson as the 10th anniversary of T RA P S O U L and the fifth anniversary of Anniversary album.
"Go for A long drive and spin all 3🍁🍁🍂🍂🍁🍂🍁(drive safely)" he shared on Instagram.
9. Louis Tomlinson Teases His Next Album With the Bittersweet 'Lemonade'
As if this week of music wasn't exciting enough, Louis Tomlinson also made news with a thrilling comeback and the announcement that his third album, How Did I Get Here? will be dropping on Jan. 23 of next year. He's noted that this new album will be the most honest and vulnerable exploration of his truth yet. Louis's been building on his artistry with a newfound confidence, not just as a singer but as a songwriter. We got a first taste (no pun intended) with the release of his new single, "Lemonade," a funky and buoyant track comparing the love of a woman to the bittersweet essence of lemonade.
"The most important thing was for the first single to sound ambitious sonically," Louis said of the track in a press release. "It had to be big and fun. To me, 'Lemonade' really has instant and natural personality. It ended up being the perfect way to begin this chapter."
10. Taylor Swift Takes Her Artistry to the Next Level With The Life of a Showgirl
Ahead of today's release of The Life of a Showgirl, Taylor somehow managed to keep quiet about its contents and didn't give fans much information about what was to come (besides the hints and easter eggs at the Spotify pop-up this week). Now, it's here, and after listening to its 12 tracks more times than we can count, we're glad we didn't get the chance to dive in until we could get the complete picture.
The Life of a Showgirl really hearkens back to the old days when it was about complete albums, rather than singles. From start to finish, it paints a sophisticated, cinematic picture of the triumphs and pitfalls of fame and fortune, and the love that's pulled her through it all. The production is dramatic and rich, paying with retro-modern sensibilities as it hops from disco-pop to classic country-tinged Taylor to alt rock and R&B sounds. It turns out this new era is her most elevated yet.
"Tonight all these lives converge here," Taylor shared in a post on Instagram. The mosaics of laughter and cocktails of tears where fraternal souls sing identical things, and it's beautiful. It's rapturous. It is frightening. I can't tell you how proud I am to share this with you, an album that just feels so right. A forever thank you goes out to my mentors and friends Max and Shellback for helping me paint this self portrait. If you thought the big show was wild, perhaps you should come and take a look behind the curtain… The Life of a Showgirl is out now."
Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of Sep. 26, 2025.