June 2

grentperez – ‘When We Were Younger’

We’re starting off the month with the sappiest album on our list. Hopeful romantic grentperez is releasing his album When We Were Younger and it just might make us believe love isn’t dead. grentperez got his start by posting covers to YouTube, similar to other Filipino predecessors like AJ Rafael and Jeremy Passion. It wasn’t until 2021 that grentperez started releasing original music with “Confusing Girl”. However, this new album touches on more than just sappy love songs. In reference to one of the songs off the album, he said “I wrote ‘When The Day Is Done’ trying to create a timeless classic that the whole family can listen to, or as my dad would say ‘The song I can dance to’ This track embodies the line ‘there’s no place like home’ stating that when all is said and done, I just want to get back home and that feeling of family having your back no matter where you are lingers throughout the song.”

Beach Fossils – ‘Bunny’

After six years, Beach Fossils are returning with their album Bunny. The band announced the new album alongside their single “Don’t Fade Away”. In regards to the new song, frontman Dustin Payseur said “‘Don’t Fade Away’ is about missing old friends, being on tour, self-medicating, longing, anxiety, love, being an idiot, having fun, embracing your mistakes and keeping your spark.” The song is reminiscent of their 2010 indie-rock era, while still showing how the band has grown sonically over the years.

Bully – ‘Lucky For You’

Don’t worry, we won’t bully you into listening to Bully’s new album Lucky For You (but you really should). Bully has released four tracks ahead of the album’s release with one of the more notable tracks being “Lose You” featuring Soccer Mommy. It combines Bully’s typical high intensity with Soccer Mommy’s old-school indie-rock vibes. Bully said “Writing ‘Lose You’ was a way for me to work through the pain and reality of impermanence. It doesn’t make it any easier but reflection is often followed by growth and to me that’s what life is all about.”

Big Time Rush – ‘Another Life’

My inner child screaming when I saw that Big Time Rush was releasing a new album. And before you ask, yes it is the same Big Time Rush you know from the Nickelodeon show that went by the same name. The group formed in 2009 and made music until 2014 when they eventually went on hiatus. They came back in full force in 2021 announcing new music and tour dates. The timing of this band’s comeback couldn’t have been better, with the resurgence of other iconic boybands like the Jonas Brothers coinciding. The album still holds onto that 2000’s classic boyband sound while showcasing their growth over the years, mirroring the growth of their fanbase and making it an album worth getting excited about.

June 9

Chief Keef – ‘Almighty So 2’

It’s been a long wait, but we’re finally going to get Chief Keef’s new album Almighty So 2 after being postponed multiple times. The best things are worth waiting for? The album is meant to be a sequel to 2013’s Almighty So, dating back almost a decade. “Tony Montana Flow” and “Rack Stuffed Inna Couch” are two tracks on the forthcoming album, and they drip with steel-cut synth and chilling drills, and we can expect the rest of the project will likely continue the prolific run of aggressive production and diverse vocal intonations. With the initial Almighty So coming to be a decade old, the sequel is worth waiting another few weeks.

Janelle Monáe – ‘The Age of Pleasure’

After 2018’s Dirty Computer, Janelle Monáe returns with her new album The Age of Pleasure releasing early June. Talking about “Lipstick Lover”, the latest release from the album, Monáe said “As we enter into The Age Of Pleasure, ‘Lipstick Lover’ is our freeassmothafucka anthem inspired by f.a.m. for f.a.m. This is our oasis made with love, rooted in self acceptance, throbbing in self discovery, and signed with cherry red kisses from me to you.” This record is anticipated to be her most sumptuous and decadent yet, and we’re counting down the days.

King Krule – ‘Space Heavy’

Riding the bus might seem like a mundane part of everyday life, but for King Krule it gave birth to his new album Space Heavy. The album follows his 2020 LP Man Alive! And has been in the works from 2020 to 2022 in London and Liverpool and is comprised of 15 tracks. It’s set to explore the idea of the “space between” the two locations, developing the lyrics and tracks on commutes between the two places he considers to be home. Pretty poetic stuff considering I listen to Dungeons & Dragon podcasts on my commute to the office.

Milky Chance – ‘Living In A Haze’

If you were an indie-pop-loving wannabe hipster back in 2014 then you’ll definitely know Milky Chance from their hit song “Stolen Dance”. The band has seemingly gone back to their roots with this latest album Living in a Haze featuring classic catchy guitar riffs overtop of danceable drum beats. If you’re looking to transport yourself to a simpler time when all you were worried about is what cool “underground” song to play to impress your crush in fourth-period math, look no further than Living in a Haze.

Niall Horan – ‘The Show’

Niall Horan is ready to put on The Show, but fans will surely be surprised by the more mature sound. What’s even more surprising? “There’s no heartbreak on this one,” Horan said in an interview with EW. “If you’re coming for a heartbreak love song, I don’t think you’ll get it here.” In regards to “Heaven”, a new track from the album, Horan said “One thing I’ve learned over the years is that society loves to pressure us into reaching certain milestones by a certain age. Whether that’s getting married or anything else that really should be based on our own instincts. As I’ve gotten older I’ve tried to let go of those expectations and just follow my heart. The chorus of this song is saying that what I have in my life currently is amazing. So it would be crazy to ruin that by giving in to outside pressures.” “Heaven” was said to be chosen as the album’s single because it captures the essence of The Show both sonically and conceptually, so if it’s doing it for you, you’ll be pleasantly satiated by the full album. Niall Horan is showing all the signs of deep maturity and growth as an artist and we can expect big things from this album.

Youth Lagoon – ‘Heaven Is a Junkyard’

After retiring Youth Lagoon in 2015, Trevor Powers has announced their return with Heaven Is a Junkyard. It comes after Powers experienced a health scare. “I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be able to speak again, let alone sing,” Powers said in a statement. “It all felt symbolic in a way. I’d been swallowing fear all my life and now here it was coming back up.” Songs like “Idaho Alien” shows the group drifting away from their more electronic-sounding music to softer and acoustic instruments like the piano. The instruments blend with Powers’ vocals to create something almost dreamlike. This is the chill album you need this summer for those late-night drive-homes.

June 23

Maisie Peters – ‘The Good Witch’

For those who aren’t quite ready for hot girl summer and are still hung up over their ex, this is the album for you. Maisie Peters’ The Good Witch is an album filled to the brim with heartbreak. It features songs like “Body Better” which deals with realizing an ex has found someone else and how difficult it can be to compare yourself to their new fling. Maisie Peters recently blew up on TikTok after her performance of “Lost the Breakup” on Jimmy Fallon. If that performance was any insight into how the rest of the album sounds, The Good Witch is worth setting up a release notification for.

Wallice – ‘Mr Big Shot’

To end off our list, we have none other than Gen-Z superstar Wallice with her EP Mr Big Shot. She has released two songs of the project, “Loser at Best” and “Best Friend”—which funny enough can describe most people’s last two exes. Wallice has shared, “​A recurrent theme in my music has been friendship. I think this song can easily relate to both friendship and the friendship within a romantic relationship. I’ve had a couple falling outs with various friends throughout my life, I think it’s just part of life and growing up. Even though that friendship might not serve you anymore it’s still so easy to reminisce on it and miss it.” Wallice is currently on a headline tour after finishing as support for The 1975 and it’s not too late to get yourself a ticket.