THE SPOTLIGHT: WEEKLY MUSIC HIGHLIGHTS (15/08) - DODIE, I PREVAIL, CONAN GRAY AND MORE!
This week’s New Noise: Weekly Music Highlights brings a stacked lineup of fresh releases across rock, metal, R&B and pop. From fiery singles to emotionally charged albums, we’ve rounded up the best new tracks you need to hear. Dive in and discover what’s making noise this week.
POP, ELECTRO, R&B AND SOUL
CHASE ATLANTIC - ‘FACEDOWN’
Chase Atlantic’s latest release, ‘FACEDOWN,’ is a visceral and unflinching look at mental health and emotional turmoil. The band offers listeners a raw, hyper-real dive into internal struggles, describing the song as a portrayal of "chemical imbalance" and the haunting fear of “drowning in a bottomless pool of emotions”
CONAN GRAY - WISHBONE
Conan Gray is officially back with his fourth studio album, Wishbone, released today, 15 August via Republic Records. The LP marks a bold and intimate return for the singer-songwriter, who penned every song on the record, pouring in his signature honesty and emotional depth. The pop sensation revealed that Wishbone emerged from private, often solitary moments.
KAYTRANADA - AIN’T NO DAMN WAY!
KAYTRANADA returns in full force with his fourth full-length project, AIN’T NO DAMN WAY!, marking another boundary-pushing chapter in his genre-blurring career. Known for his seamless fusion of house, hip-hop, R&B, and funk, the Grammy-winning producer delivers yet another groove-heavy, rhythm-charged collection that reinforces his status as one of the most innovative forces in modern music.
LAUREN SANDERSON - ‘SMOKING SECTION’
Singer and rapper Lauren Sanderson is back with a new song titled ‘Smoking Section’, released on 15 August.
MAHALIA - LUVERGIRL
UK R&B artist Mahalia has released her new EP Luvergirl today 15 August 2025, marking a liberating and deeply personal return to her Jamaican roots, crafted amid creative inspiration drawn from the UK, Jamaica, and St. Vincent. The seven-track collection is a vibrant exploration of feminine agency, where Mahalia confidently reclaims control in love and life, unchecked by societal judgments. Co-written with collaborators like Eric IV, BenjiFlow, and Savannah Jada, the EP reflects her most culturally connected, sonically bold era yet.
OLIVIA DEAN - ‘MAN I NEED’
British singer-songwriter Olivia Dean has released her latest single, ‘Man I Need’, taken from her upcoming second album, The Art of Loving, set for release on 26 September via Capitol Records.
THE FAVORS - ‘TIMES SQUARE JESUS’
The Favors - the collaborative project of FINNEAS and Ashe - have released ‘Times Square Jesus’, the final preview of their highly anticipated debut album The Dream, arriving 19 September.
TOM GRENNAN - EVERYWHERE I WENT, LED ME TO WHERE I DIDN’T WANT TO BE
Tom Grennan returns with his most personal and emotionally revealing record yet, Everywhere I Went, Led Me to Where I Didn’t Want to Be. Released on August 15, the album captures a period of deep self-reflection, growth, and healing for the British singer-songwriter.
ZARA LARSSON - ‘CRUSH’
Multiplatinum global pop sensation Zara Larsson has unveiled her latest single, ‘Crush’ - a bittersweet, emotional anthem perfectly primed for late-summer crying-in-the-club moments. The track offers a glimpse into her highly anticipated upcoming album, Midnight Sun, slated for release on September 26.
ROCK, METAL
ACRES - ‘PUSH ME AWAY’ (FEAT. LANDON TEWERS)
British metal outfit ACRES have announced an extended edition of their acclaimed album The Host, set for release on 26 September via Solid State Records. Acting as both a continuation and a completion of the original record, the expanded version includes three brand-new tracks that further explore the album's emotional and sonic depth. Leading the charge is the newly released single ‘Push Me Away’, featuring a powerful guest appearance from Landon Tewers, vocalist of The Plot In You.
AS DECEMBER FALLS - EVERYTHING’S ON FIRE BUT I’M FINE
Nottingham pop-punk outfit As December Falls have today unleashed their highly-anticipated new album, Everything’s On Fire But I’m Fine. Packed with raw emotion, anthemic hooks, and the band’s signature fiery energy, the release marks a bold new chapter for the rising UK four-piece.
COLORBLIND - ‘NEVERSLEEP’
Austin, Texas-based quartet Colorblind - featuring vocalist Travis Moseley, drummer Tyler Moseley, bassist Nicholas Asper, and guitarist Justin Page - have announced their upcoming EP Who Sold You This Truth, due out 12 September via Solid State Records. To coincide with the announcement, the band have released their powerful new single, ‘Neversleep.’
DES ROCKS - ‘RING OF FIRE’
NYC rock revivalist DES ROCS has released a stunning new cover of the Johnny Cash classic 'Ring Of Fire'. The track will appear on the official soundtrack for the upcoming film Nobody 2, which hits cinemas today.
DRAIN - ‘WHO’S HAVING FUN?’
Santa Cruz hardcore outfit DRAIN have unleashed ‘Who’s Having Fun?’ - the latest single from their upcoming album …IS YOUR FRIEND, set for release on 7 November 2025, via Epitaph. It’s the only track on the record that features frontman Sammy Ciaramitaro singing, with high-energy shredding throughout that ultimately erupts into his signature growls.
I PREVAIL - ‘ANNIHILATE ME’
The two-time GRAMMY-nominated rock band I Prevail has dropped their latest single, ‘Annihilate Me’ - the fourth track unveiled from their upcoming album, Violent Nature, due out 19 September 2025, via Fearless Records.
MOUTH CULTURE - ‘REGRET 101’
Fast-rising Leicester trio Mouth Culture keep their momentum going strong with the release of their latest single ‘Regret 101’, out today via InVogue Records, accompanied by a punchy new music video.
RIVALS - MEDUSA’S HOME
Los Angeles based alt-rock outfit Rivals have released their brand new EP Medusa’s Home on 15 August 2025.
SENSES - ‘TIPTOEING’
Los Angeles duo senses return with a burst of sunshine on their vibrant new single, ‘tiptoeing.’ Known for their knack for crafting irresistible pop-rock hooks, the rising pair deliver yet another earworm packed with sugary melodies and breezy summer energy. The track is the first taste of their newly announced EP, onto something, set for release on October 24 via Hopeless Records.
STORY UNTOLD - ‘CROSSROADS’
Pop/rock outfit Story Untold are back with a self-released song titled ‘Crossroads’.
INDIE, ALTERNATIVE AND FOLK
ANA LUNA - ‘CAN WE PRETEND WE JUST MET AT A BAR?’
Rising singer-songwriter Ana Luna unveils her latest single, ‘Can We Pretend We Just Met at a Bar?’, available now on all streaming platforms. Continuing the emotionally rich thread of previous tracks like “Daddy’s Empire” and “Dance in a Trance,” the new song dives deep into raw vulnerability and quiet reflection, offering another intimate preview of her upcoming debut album.
BLACK HONEY - SOAK
British rock band Black Honey have unveiled their hotly anticipated fourth album, Soak - a fearless, emotionally charged record that finds strength in vulnerability and thrives on dynamic extremes. From gothic grit to psychedelic haze and moments of aching tenderness, Soak is driven entirely by instinct, with frontwoman Izzy B. Phillips at the helm - unapologetic, raw, and commanding as ever.
CAT BURNS - ‘ALL THIS LOVE’
Cat Burns returns with ‘All This Love’, a soul-bearing single that transforms grief into a celebration of life and healing. Serving as the second preview from her upcoming autumn album - following the bold queer tribute ‘Girls!’ - this track reveals yet another shade of her introspective songwriting, inviting listeners to embrace sorrow through uplifting soundscapes and an open heart
DODIE - ‘I FEEL BAD FOR YOU, DAVE’
English singer‑songwriter dodie has released a new song titled ‘I Feel Bad For You, Dave’, today, 15 August 2025 via Decca Records. The new song follows her last single ‘I’M FINE!’, her first solo track in over three years released in June. ‘I Feel Bad For You, Dave’ lands as a fiery response to online trolls, inspired by dodie witnessing a close friend suffer racist abuse on social media.
THE ACES - GOLD STAR BABY
The Aces return with their most confident and celebratory work yet in Gold Star Baby, a glitter-soaked, disco-pop album that embraces queer joy, self-expression, and emotional liberation. Released on August 15 via SoundOn, the record marks a vibrant shift for the band - one that trades past introspection for full-blown euphoria, without losing depth.
THE TEMPER TRAP - ‘LUCKY DIMES’
Australian indie band The Temper Trap have returned with a brand new song titled ‘Lucky Dimes’, the first in nine years.
