It seems like March came and went in the blink of an eye, and the new music releases are only getting steamier as we march ever closer to summer.

This week in music was truly one for the books, with Chlöe releasing a new album, BLACKPINK’s Jisoo unleashing her solo debut and Charlie Puth teaming up with Dan + Shay for an unexpected and epic collab—with a guest appearance from Sabrina Carpenter in the music video. Curious about what we loved? Just keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of March 31, 2023.

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1. Peyton McMahon Picks Apart His Own Anxiety in ‘No Control’

Louisiana-based singer-songwriter Peyton McMahon is an up-and-comer with a powerful story to tell, and his new single, “No Control,” is the perfect introduction to his insightful approach to his music. With a soothing, nostalgic alt-pop sound and an inspiring beat, the song is an exploration of Peyton’s own mental health. It’s incredibly vulnerable, yet there’s a strength in his honesty, making us feel less alone in our own struggles, and reminding us there’s always hope. “I wrote ‘No Control’ about the anxiety I’ve struggled with since I was a kid,” Peyton shared in a press release. “Whenever I’m in situations where I don’t have control over the outcome, or I’m trying to make a big decision, I can sometimes overthink and worry to the extreme. It’s frustrating and makes things harder than they need to be, and it can sometimes feel like an endless cycle, so I wrote this song to vent about it. I worked on it remotely with Harper James on the production, and I’m super proud of how it came out.”

2. Hayes Warner Explores the Pain of a Long-Distance Breakup in ‘Airport’

New York City-based singer-songwriter Hayes Warner is perhaps best known for dropping viral track after viral track on TikTok, and “Airport” is her latest smash hit. She released it this week after teasing it for four months, with a soulful, yearning sound perfectly suited to the complexity of the long-distance breakup described in its lyrics. Her tracks never fail to pull on our heartstrings, and this may be her strongest release yet.

Also read about: Hayes Warner Pokes Fun and Channels the Butterflies of a New Crush in ‘Shut Up’

3. David J Captures the Beauty of Being in Love With ‘Once’

19-year-old country phenomenon David J has been making quite a name for himself with his viral TikTok hits, and with “Once,” he’s written a love song for the ages. David perfectly strikes a balance between warm, twangy country vibes and pop sensibilities to create something that perfectly captures the essence of first love, drawing from his own experiences. “I wrote this song about the first time I met a girl I dated, but I wrote it after the relationship was over,” David explained in a press release. “I was feeling pensive but also positive about how strongly I felt for her when we were together. The moment it ended was bittersweet, but I wanted to put all the sweet into this song. I hope this song connects with everyone listening, but hopefully they don’t break up like we did!”

Also read about: David J Debuts Acoustic Performance of Country Hit, ‘Lost My Heartbreak’

4. Miki Ratsula Examines Their Gender Envy in ‘jealous of my brother’

Singer-songwriter and producer Miki Ratsula is a trans, nonbinary artist who has often used their music to explore their human experience, from discussing their own top surgery to their dealings with mental health, and their new single “jealous of my brother” dives into the topic of gender envy. It’s a subject we haven’t heard in a song before, with Miki peeling back the layers of their jealousy for their cis brother, who’s never had to work for the family’s affections or fight to be understood like Miki has. The result is an effervescent pop track, expressing a mix of envy and appreciation that’s powerfully relatable, regardless of your own personal experiences.

5. Mae Stephens Drops the Highly Anticipated Music Video for ‘If We Ever Broke Up’

If you’ve been on TikTok at all this year, we guarantee you’ve heard Mae Stephens’ irresistibly catchy “If We Ever Broke Up,” and this week, we were all blessed with its iconic new music video. It took no time at all for the song to be one of the biggest of 2023, thanks to its confident, memorable chorus and upbeat sound, with Mae describing the perfect kind of post-breakup revenge—and in the video we get to see that story come to life. “I used to be quite angry as a kid and I had a lot of pent-up tension, especially coming home from school,” Mae shared in a press release. “I tried so much to find what was going to help me release all of that—stuff like judo, skiing, biking. I tried so many things until it came to songwriting. Just being able to sit, close the door, not have anyone around me and just have some space to think and let my emotions out into something creative was probably the one thing that really got me through school, other than my brother.”

6. Cat Burns Creates Our 2023 Mantra With ‘live more & love more’

22-year-old English singer-songwriter Cat Burns is one of the fastest-growing artists on the scene, and her latest single, “live more & love more,” is the most powerful mantra we could have asked for. The entire track is a positive affirmation to live the life you want to live, reminding us to do the things that matter and to not allow overthinking to stop us from going after our dreams, all brought to life with a stunning R&B sound. “It’s a very positive song about starting whatever it is you want to start and doing whatever it is you want to do in life because we only have one life, and we deserve to live it to the fullest!” Cat shared in a press release. Cat is also gearing up for a very big year, joining Sam Smith on tour in April before touring with Ed Sheeran in June, and we can’t wait to see her glow onstage.

Also read about: Cat Burns Shares the True Story That Inspired Her Breakout Song ‘Go’

7. Jhayco Drops an Ode to Gorgeous Ladies, ‘Cuerpecito’

Trailblazing Puerto Rican artist and producer Jhayco is one of the biggest young Latin stars in the world, and with his new single “Cuerpecito,” he puts all of his undeniable talents on full display. The genre-busting track combines a pulse-pounding reggaeton beat with Latin trap lyricism as he croons about his love for women and the beauty of their bodies. It’s a crossover track anyone can get behind, and we’re preparing to hear it everywhere.

8. Chlöe Unveils Her Debut Solo Album, In Pieces

24-year-old singer-songwriter Chlöe may be best known for being half of the sister duo Chloe x Halle, but with her debut solo album, In Pieces, she proves she can stand just as strongly on her own—and her message feels more impactful than ever. The album dropped today, featuring 14 breathtaking tracks, including “Pray It Away” and “How Does It Feel,” putting Chlöe’s soaring, evocative voice front and center as she sings about her deepest pains, as well as the process of healing. “I saw a photo of a porcelain doll 3 years ago, holding her heart just like this and from then, I said this will be my album cover,” Chlöe wrote in a post on Twitter. That same day I also wrote ‘Heart on My Sleeve.’ The beginning of a scary and exciting journey for me. This cover represents so much for me, down to the color of my hair. When I had red hair 1.5 years ago, it was one of the darkest times in my life. That’s why I never wore it again.”

9. BLACKPINK’s Jisoo Goes Solo With ME Single Album

As the best-known K-pop girl group in the world, BLACKPINK always commands our full attention, so you can bet we were curious when we heard that Jisoo would be releasing her first-ever solo project, ME. To no one’s surprise, both singles are pure magic. The single album consists of the sultry and mysterious “Flower” and the upbeat pop ballad “All Eyes on Me,” with Jisoo joining the other three members of BLACKPINK in having their own chart-topping solo hits. We especially love the high-fashion music video for “Flower,” with Jisoo finding her strength again in the aftermath of a breakup.

Also read about: 25 Fierce BLACKPINK Lyrics to Use as Your Next Instagram Caption

10. Charlie Puth Teams Up With Dan + Shay for Toxic Relationship Anthem ‘That’s Not How This Works’

We would never have expected this collaboration between singer-songwriter and producer Charlie Puth and country duo Dan + Shay, but it’s sheer perfection. “That’s Now How It Works” evokes the best in ’90s pop, with Dan + Shay flawlessly dueting with Charlie at the top of his game with his shimmering falsetto. The song laments a relationship of convenience, where it seems like the other person only shows up when they’re feeling lonely, and it comes complete with a music video akin to a short film, starring Sabrina Carpenter. The striking video flashes back through the on-and-off toxic relationship, guiding us through its highest ups and most devastating downs.

Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of March 24, 2023.

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