As summer comes to an end, pop artists are ensuring the season closes with a soundtrack worth remembering. This past summer was marked by pop artists, new music and announced releases to look for this fall.
Conan Gray released his latest album, Wishbone, on Aug. 15. His music acted as bookends for the summer as his single “This Song” was originally released in late May. In this song and throughout the entire album, Gray returns to his roots, buried in intimacy and heartbreak.
When listening, I am directly transported back to my high school bedroom playing “Crush Culture” (from Sunset Season) on repeat. Listening to Wishbone’s “Eleven Eleven” in particular is reminiscent of his younger years in style, theme and lyrics, while also displaying his maturity and growth.
The biggest release this week comes from Sabrina Carpenter, whose album Man’s Best Friend spans 12 tracks. Her single “Manchild” was first released on June 5. She keeps things playful and petty, with a catchy chorus that has been stuck in audiences’ heads all summer long.
This summer has also been marked by sombr’s “back to friends” single from his debut album I Barley Know Her that dropped on Aug. 22. The album lacks distinctness song to song, but sombr must operate with the mindset: why fix what’s not broken.
Laufey’s A Matter of Time was also dropped on Aug. 22. The album is a gorgeous, classic throwback to legends like Ella Fitzgerald and Irving Berlin. Lyrically, “A Matter of Time” is as modern as it gets, as it explores the current dating landscape.
Other notable releases include Kings of Leon collaborating with Zach Bryan on “We’re Onto Something,” Florence + The Machine’s titular single “Everybody Scream” for their upcoming album, Zach Top’s “South of Sanity” and Ain’t In It For My Health, and Doja Cat’s lead single “Jealous Type” from her upcoming album Vie.
As fall approaches, the music industry gives audiences plenty to look forward to, but perhaps the most anticipated is Taylor Swift’s Life of a Showgirl. Swift announced her twelfth studio album at 12:12 a.m. on Aug. 12, after it was teased on the New Heights podcast. The Life of a Showgirl will officially release on Friday, Oct. 3.
Summer might be coming to an end, but with this lineup, playlists are only just getting started.
