April Showered Us In New Music
So, here's the breakdown–we have much to discuss
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April brought us much to think about. Lorde rose from retirement, Addison Rae announced her debut album, Lana Del Rey is going country, and we have much to discuss. Without further ado, here are my favorite new songs released in April.
“Bluebird” by Lana Del Rey
I briefly covered this song for PEOPLE, when the singer herself shared a video explaining the meaning of the song. The track is Del Rey’s second single in which she continues to toe the line between Americana and country. The imagery of nature used as a symbol for a healing heart and leaving an unhealthy relationship is a timeless analogy that gives the song a subtle staying power.
“Back To Me” by The Marias
Like many, I watched Coachella from my couch this year, and even from the comfort of my apartment the Marias dazzled the stage. Their ethereal alternative style is incredibly unique, lending largely to lead singer Maria Zardoya’s Puerto Rican heritage and Spanish-language music. “Back To Me” is the best of 2000s yearning soft rock angst meets Paramore to the tune of Mazzy Star. There’s also a subtle Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind reference.
“Everybody’s trying to figure me out” by HAIM
HAIM are continuing to dominate the indie pop world. “Everybody’s trying to figure me out” pairs a laid back sound with relatable lyrics perfect for a thought-girl-walk. The track takes a look at how we view ourselves versus outside perception, a theme that the band’s upcoming album I Quit hints at focusing on, given the ongoing recreation of famous celebrity paparazzi photos. Standout lyrics include “I lost count of the ticking clocks baby/and I can’t feel my lungs/oh my god/I feel like I might live inside of everyone’s thoughts.”
“What Was That” by Lorde
Lorde has risen! Four years after Melodrama, the singer is back with new music. “What Was That” is the lead single from her upcoming album Virgin, due for release in June. Typical of Lorde, everything has a deeply poetic meaning to her personal evolution. As she explained on the 2024 “girl, so confusing” remix with Charli xcx, her absence from the public eye was in part due to an internal struggle with her body image. Virgin will examine her relationship with gender, sexuality, and behind the layers of her experience coming-of-age in the spotlight.
“Headphones On” by Addison Rae
Addison Rae is headed for bonafide pop stardom beyond the TikTok landscape. While she began as a cheerleader from Louisiana with a dream and later became a successful dance influencer, her pop aspirations feel hard earned and long curated. “Headphones On” is light and airy, with early Britney Spears meets eclectic Björk. The song manages to feel as though it sonically pays homage without being derivative. The single is from her upcoming album Addison, which also hits the airwaves this summer.
“Tyrants” by Sam Fender
This new bonus track from Fender’s recently released album People Watching has a sultry bassline and fiery lyrics to match. The track encourages listeners to stand up to tyrannical governments that target the vulnerable. The political undertones and folk-rock sound feel reminiscent of the moment Bob Dylan went electric, and brings politics back into music at a pivotal moment on the global stage.
“End of the World” by Miley Cyrus
The first single from Cyrus’ upcoming album Something Beautiful leans into her pop roots. The hook of “lets pretend it’s not the end of the world” is ever relatable for most listeners in the U.S. and parts of the world right now, but also speaks to the chaos of Cyrus’ life. Amid her continued success and happy yet private relationship, her family has been embroiled in rumors for the past year, and some listeners suspect this song alludes to just that.
“Carousel” by Samia
“Carousel” is an unconventional love song that references Samia’s partner, Briston Maroney. The song explores the singer’s desire to be perfect for him, and holds herself accountable for occasionally finding herself too caught up in the trappings of a relationship to notice the lives of those around her. The lengthy guitar solo drives the metaphor of the carousel home.
“Miss America” by Maude Latour
“Miss America” takes Latour’s hyperpop in a Lana Del Rey direction. The ironic interpretation of Americana aesthetics is present, along with a discussion about falling in love with a person of the same gender in this conservative era of America. Lyrically, she becomes her own Statue of Liberty, liberating herself from the stars and stripes that once held the LGBTQ+ community back, and in some ways, are regressing yet again.
“There’s A Rhythm” by Bon Iver
Bon Iver’s recent album SABLE, fable is sonically different from his previous work, Instead of the plucky strings of the eternally popular “Roslyn” or the lilting indie folk of “For Emma, Forever Ago,” this album, and this track in particular, combine the best elements of the midwestern singer-songwriter’s folk stylings with a hint of Wurlitzer electric piano that gives the song an 1980s flair. The track refers to the singer’s healing and willingness to leave behind the sense of winter in favor of sunlight and forward thinking.