Refresh your playlists with this week’s recommended picks! We’ve got new music from pop stars Demi Lovato and Olivia Rodrigo, Icelandic rock group KALEO, rising singers Olivia Holt & Chord Overstreet! All that and more in this week’s edition of New Music Friday for Friday, April 2, 2021.
“The Art of Starting Over” by Demi Lovato
DL7 is finally here!! Pop singer Demi Lovato released her latest album, Dancing With The Devil… The Art of Starting Over today! The 28-year-old songstress has made a very emotional and vulnerable album coming off a very turbulent past couple of years. I’m impressed with what she’s created this time around! To narrow it down to one track for this week’s picks, I’m highlighting her track called “The Art of Starting Over.”
In “TAoSO,” Lovato declares that it’s okay if you feel lonely on whatever new journey/chapter in your life you’re embarking on. It could be a recovery from an injury or disease. Or, it could be starting a new career path or perhaps starting a fresh new life in a new town, city, neighborhood, country, etc. Just know that you’ll always have yourself to guide you, so in turn you’re not truly alone. Be brave, and venture to new things in life that bring you joy and passion.
I dug her vocals and the overall instrumentation, it’s well mixed like something Fleetwood Mac would put out. The visualizer seen above enhanced the chill mentality.
Be sure to check out the other star-studded collaborations she has on the new record which includes pop icon Ariana Grande (“Met Him Last Night,”) hip-hop artist Saweetie (“My Girlfriends Are My Boyfriend,”) and rising singer Noah Cyrus (“Easy.”) The previously released song, “What Other People Say” with fellow Australian artist, Sam Fischer is also featured on the new LP. That track’s music video already has 7 million views on YouTube plus charted around the world including Billboard’s U.S. Adult Top 40 Airplay charts.
Miss Lovato even has a Tears for Fears cover! Her rendition of “Mad World” is so surreal and gave me goosebumps! Hear that one, right here.
Stay updated on all things Demi Lovato, here. What’s your favorite track off the new album? Let me know in the comments below.
“deja vu” by Olivia Rodrigo
If you combined the sounds and stylings of Lorde and Taylor Swift, you get Olivia Rodrigo’s new song, “deja vu.” The track follows the massively successful single, “driver’s license” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts for 8 weeks straight! It’s still currently in the top 5 as of this week!!
Rodrigo talks about moving on from the heartbreak while also airing out her commentary about her former lover and the new girl her ex is currently dating. The activities her ex is enjoying with this new girl is so unoriginal to the 18-year-old singer-songwriter/actress because she did exactly what they’re doing. “So when you gonna tell her that we did that, too?/She thinks it’s special, but it’s all reused/That was our place, I found it first/I made the jokes you tell to her when she’s with you,” she sings.
The chorus was pretty telling too when she belts out, “do you get déjà vu when she’s with you?” She’s clearly still peeved about her former flame.
By the bridge part of the track, it felt like a firecracker of emotions splattered onto a canvas. This is a perfect way to hype up even more relationship based songs about her ex down the line on what’s going to be her debut album! Yup, you heard that right. She’s planning on releasing a whole album on May 21st! It’s titled *O*R and will be released through Geffen Records/Interscope. Pre-order/pre-save it, right here.
What an amazing year she’s having so far and it’s only April! I predict she will get booked to perform this song on Saturday Night Live next month just in time for her album promotional cycle.
This fast track to superstardom has already caught attention from other artists including rapper Cardi B. She shared on her Twitter: “Such a sweetie pie. I can’t wait to see what she have coming next!”
Rodrigo QT-ed her back saying: “love u cardi!!!!!”
Do you see the two collaborating one day? I think if they do they’ll blow everyone’s mind!
In the meantime, check out the “deja vu” merch collection and more, right here!
“Skinny” by KALEO
Icelandic rock band, KALEO dropped their latest single that’s sure to please their fans! Just a heads up, the lyrics are quite raw, heavy and deep for the heart and soul. I was caught a bit off guard by lead singer JJ Julius Son’s swearing. Cursing on the track really packs a punch when you’re dealing with verses that talks about the pressures of looking or acting a certain way in society.
I feel people currently battling or had battled with an eating disorder or have or have had body dysmorphia will really resonate with this track the most. The quintet are set to release their third studio album called Surface Sounds on April 23rd. This track plus their previously released singles “I Want More,” “Break My Baby,” “Alter Ego,” & “Backbone” will all be a part of that new body of work.
What are your thoughts on this new one? Do you agree that KALEO makes solid records? Comment below.
Check out their official website and upcoming 2022 tour dates, here.
“love on you” by Olivia Holt
If you love artists like Victoria Justice or Hailee Steinfeld, then I think you’ll dig the latest track from actress/musician, Olivia Holt. I think she has a similar style to them. In “love on you.,” she delves into experiencing heartbreak but overcoming it pretty quick. You are confident moving on and can call yourself a stronger person than you was before dating that person. You however still want to point out that you’ve wasted all your love, time and energy on your ex.
The whole song is very catchy especially the chorus section where she sings: “I wasted all my love on you/Yeah, I wasted a couple years at school/’Cause I’m young and that’s just what we do/Wasted all my love, wasted, wasted all my love.”
I’m not sure if this will be a part of a bigger body of work later down the line but I’m certainly eager to hear more from her. This is the second single she’s dropped this year which follows the inquisitive and equally catchy track, “Do You Miss Me.”
I hope she makes a music video for this song. How about you?
You can catch Miss Holt in the upcoming Freeform thriller series, Cruel Summer from producer/actress Jessica Biel. The show will be premiering on April 20th and the 21st for those who want to view it on Hulu.
Visit her official website, right here.
“Beautiful Disaster” by Chord Overstreet
For this final pick of the week, we have the first song out in 2021 from actor/singer-songwriter, Chord Overstreet. I feel this song could pass as a OneRepublic ballad. It’s very impassioned and carefully crafted from a sonic standpoint. The lyrics go into a relationship that’s on-again, off-again or one that’s currently on the rocks. In either situation, both can be deemed a “beautiful disaster.”
If you’re experiencing more rough days than good days in a relationship lately, then this song is for you! If you just want to vibe out to a vulnerable song in general, then this song is for you too!
The official lyric video seen above shows Overstreet driving in a convertible alone and deep in thought with shades on. Play it in your vehicle if you want to contemplate your own past, present or future!
This track follows a series of released singles he dropped last year namely, “Water Into Wine,” “Cold Feet,” “What You Need,” & the fan favorite “Hold On” just to name a few.
Not sure what the 32-year-old musician has in store for this year, but it would be cool to see him release and promote a full-length album. Share your predictions and your thoughts about this new song in the comments box down below.
That concludes this week’s post! Thank you all for reading this edition of New Music Friday here at Philip’s Music Corner. If you liked what you read, kindly click on the follow button down below. Also if you like, please support my work by donating to my Paypal. I truly appreciate your time reading my posts!
As always, stay safe, happy listening and I’ll see you again next week!
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