Welcome to New Music Friday, your ultimate round-up of this week’s single, album and DVD releases.
Let’s get stuck straight into this week’s singles slate.
New Music Friday singles
As she reflects on her illustrious career with three-part Netflix documentary Kylie, Kylie Minogue shares brand-new single Light Up. On the track, Kylie says: “The first phrase of the song came to me as I was thinking about how magical it is when someone who truly loves you can see a world of possibility in you and recognise your potential, even when you’re feeling lost or hurt.
“I shared the seed of the idea with [Coldplay’s] Chris Martin over the phone, and ten minutes later he sent me a voice note with some chord and melody ideas for those few lines.”
Can Kylie claim a 55th Official Top 40 single with Light Up next week?
Fresh off the back of her fourth chart-topping tune drop dead, Olivia Rodrigo releases the latest cut from her upcoming LP you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, due June 12. Olivia describes the track as “my favourite song on the album and one of my favourite songs I’ve ever made.”
Meanwhile, Stormzy teams up with Odeal for 24 Hours, a banger that incorporates elements of Egypt’s UK funky classic In The Morning (Let Your Love Come In). Announcing the track on Instagram, Stormy wrote: “We made this riddim a couple months ago and we’ve been working on it ever since but now that the sun is out and also the fact that it’s bank holiday weekend it feels like a good time for you guys to enjoy it.”
Niall Horan dishes up End Of An Era, the third course from his forthcoming Dinner Party album, to be served June 5. Niall explains: “Julian Bunetta, John Ryan and I started the original version of this song years and years ago…Some songs take a minute to get to what you’re actually trying to say. This was one of those. I hope it means as much to you as it does to me.”
Nothing But Thieves launch a new era with Evolution, which received its first play from our very own Jack Saunders as BBC Radio 1’s Hottest Record.
Cruz Beckham and The Breakers are back with YEAH YEAH YEAH, a song recently debuted on their first-ever headline tour. And Lola Young returns with new single From Down Here – could it become her fourth Top 40 hit?
It’s a big week, too, for David Wynn, who releases his own version of Lauren Duski’s I Would For You, raising money for Meningitis Now.
Elsewhere, expect big new tunes from the likes of former UK Eurovision representatives Remember Monday (Delusional), Brandi Carlile (Life On The Run), Olympia Vitalis (Money Tree), Majid Jordan (Cold), Jessie Reyez (N.Y.F.F.) and Jos Rivers (Thankyou So Very Much).
Now, onto albums.
New Music Friday albums
Maisie Peters follows up her chart-topping 2023 project The Good Witch with third studio set, Fluorescence. Maisie recently announced that she’ll be headlining The O2, London on May 8 2027 as part of the iconic venue’s 20th birthday celebrations.
Dua Lipa will be hoping to secure a hat-trick of Number 1 albums with Dua Lipa (Live From Mexico). The album’s released alongside a concert film recorded across Dua’s three sold-out shows at Mexico City’s Estadio GNP Seguros as part of her Radical Optimism Tour.
Time to CELEBRATE! K-pop girl group LE SSEREFIM unleash their second full-length project, ‘PUREFLOW’, Pt. 1. Will Sakura, Kim Chaewon, Huh Yunjin, Kazuha and Hong Eunchae earn their first-ever Albums Chart entry?
Things Are Looking Up for Northampton-born singer-songwriter Billy Lockett, who delivers his second project. On the self-penned, self-recorded and self-produced LP, Billy says: “I’ve been making the album for just over three years and so it’s been a record of the changes through out my life. Break ups, addiction but also recovery and love.
“The album is hopeful. I’d say most of the songs are upbeat and happy, but it wouldn’t be a Billy Lockett album without some heartbreaking ballads slipped in. I wanted to make an album my dad would’ve loved.”
Meanwhile, New Jersey outfit Bleachers set their sights on a second Top 10 with their sixth studio set, everyone for ten minutes. The band’s current UK chart peak came courtesy of eponymous 2024 record Bleachers, which reached Number 5.
CARMIT, founding member of The Pussycat Dolls, drops her self-titled solo EP. Featuring remastered tracks originally recorded in the 2000s, it combines her debut EP Limited Edition with cuts from her vaulted album Formerly Of….
Liverpool singer-songwriter Luvcat, the hitmaker behind Vicious Delicious, drops her latest EP Lovebites.
You’ll also find big new album releases from the likes of Bentley Robles (Olympus), 6LACK (Love Is The Only Gangster), Eli (Stage Girl (Deluxe)) and Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien (Blue Morpho).
