10 Cool New Pop Songs to Get You Through The Week: Jimin, Aly & AJ, Phoenix, Clairo & More

Looking for some motivation to help power you through the start of another work week? We feel you, and with some stellar new pop tunes, we’ve got you covered.

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These 10 tracks from artists including BTS’ Jimin, Phoenix with Clairo, Hozier, Aly & AJ and more will get you energized to take on the week.

Pop any of these gems into your personal playlists — or scroll to the end of the post for a custom playlist of all 10.

Joy Oladokun & Noah Kahan, “We’re All Gonna Die”

The stately strings that open “We’re All Gonna Die” belie the impish charm of this delightfully dark duet between Joy Oladokun and fellow singer-songwriter Noah Kahan. Hard to argue with the message of this song, or its charming sing-song chorus. – Joe Lynch

Fred again.., Skrillex & Four Tet, “Baby again..”

Coming a month after the three dance artists played a pop-up concert at Madison Square Garden, the collaborative “Baby again..” finds the rather unlikely trio reimagining 2019’s “Baby” from Quality Control, DaBaby and Lil Baby as an insistent slice of rave that will carry you away. – J. Lynch

Jimin, “Set Me Free Pt.2”

Are ominous gospel choirs having a moment? Arriving on the sequined high heels of Sam Smith & Kim Petras’ “Unholy,” “Set Me Free Pt.2” opens with a dramatic choral section, before Jimin takes over and shifts it into an anthemic banger augmented by regal horns and an Auto-Tune breakdown.  – J. Lynch

Kyle, “Movin’”

In a repetitive, almost obsessive cadence, Kyle sings about “Movin’” over a skittering beat and an 8-bit-flavored hook, dropping a few lyrical gems along the way: “Whenever my heart’s broken, girl, I write the best lines / So thank you in advance when you hear this in Best Buy.” – J. Lynch

Phoenix feat. Clairo, “After Midnight”

“After Midnight,” a cut from the top half of Phoenix’s 2022 album Alpha Zulu, sees the group tapping into a euphoria that leaves the listener hyper and energized. But now, with the addition of Clairo’s breathy and weightless vocals, the song gains an additional layer of depth that serves as a serene contrast to the jittering synth instrumentals. Phoenix lead singer Thomas Mars and Clairo harmonize effortlessly, allowing for the 2023 update to stand firmly apart from its original version. – Starr Bowenbank

Melanie Martinez, “DEATH”

After a long waiting period following 2020’s After School EP, singer Melanie Martinez finally says a farewell to her Cry Baby persona and formally declares that she is “back from the dead” on new track “DEATH.” The clever track sees the star embracing a rebirth and electronic, synth-driven sound for her Portals album cycle, which — based on the alien-like visuals and various song teasers — promises to be one of her most sonically ambitious yet. – S. Bowenbank

Mitsume, “Chocolate”

Japanese indie band Mitsume – which consists of members Yojiro Suda, Moto Kawabe, Mao Otake and Nakayaan – embraces guitar-driven funk on its new single, “Chocolate.” The wistful track likens the sweet, bitter taste of quality chocolate to the experience of meeting someone exciting, only to have that feeling fade away. The accompanying instrumentals are just as sweet. – S. Bowenbank

Hozier, “Eat Your Young” 

“Eat Your Young” arrives as the title track off a three-song EP, the first bit of new music from Hozier since his 2019 second album Wasteland, Baby! The single, though lush, is even more apocalyptic as Hozier describes a frenzied feast, exploring the idea of gluttony. “I’m starving, darling … Let me wrap my teeth around the world,” he sings, as if anything less would never satisfy. — Lyndsey Havens 

Tash Sultana, “James Dean”

The glimmering production and crisp vocals from Aussie singer-songwriter Tash Sultana contrast with the picture that “James Dean” paints. The opening line offers a vivid image: “You burnt out all the cigarettes / Watching James Dean films on a monochrome screen.” As the artist continues to describe a dud, the song grows stronger and more layered — as if proving just how full her life already is without the extra weight. — L. Havens

Aly & AJ, “Blue Dress” 

Sister duo Aly & AJ recently released its folk-leaning pop-rock album, With Love From, which includes standout single “Blue Dress.” Through chilling harmonies, the pair describe the feeling of buying a new outfit solely for a partner — but with the intent of forgiving and forgetting past mistakes. Sure, it’s asking a lot of one blue dress, but it soon becomes clear only one thing really matters: “I just care that you get here,” they sing in a way that’s not quite pleading but more so at peace with whatever is to come. — L. Havens

The Smile, Big Thief and Bon Iver to Headline 2023 Pitchfork Music Festival

Chicago’s Pitchfork Music Festival announced this summer’s lineup on Monday (March 20), with a roster of headliners that includes Radiohead side project The Smile, Big Thief and Bon Iver. The three-day event (July 21-23) in Union Park will find the Smile’s Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood and Tom Skinner joined on night one by Alvvays, Perfume Genius, Leikeli47, Nation of Language, Roc Marciano & The Alchemist, Youth Lagoon, Ric Wilson, Grace Ives, Jlin, Axel Boman (Live), Mavi, Sen Morimoto and Contour.

Saturday night’s lineup — topped by the Adrianne Lenker-led Big Thief — also includes Weyes Blood, King Krule, Snail Mail, Panda Bear + Sonic Boom, Julia Jacklin, Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul, Vagabon, MJ Lenderman, Yaya Bey, Black Belt Eagle Scout, 700 Bliss, Palm and Deeper.

The final night will feature Justin Vernon’s Bon Iver sharing the stage with: Kelela, Koffee, Killer Mike, JPEGMafia, Hurray For the Riff Raff, Mdou Moctar, ILLUMINATI HOTTIES, Jockstrap, Soul Glo, Florist, Lucrecia Dalt, Rachika Nayar, and Ariel Zetina.

“We’re excited to be back at Union Park with a lineup of artists responsible for some of the very best music of the past year — Alvvays, Kelela, Yaya Bey, Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupil, Grace Ives, 700 Bliss, and more — alongside a few special moments with indie icons,” said Pitchfork editor in chief Puja Patel in a statement. “For one, this year will mark the very first time that Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood (as The Smile) and Bon Iver will perform at the Chicago festival. And Big Thief will complete their tour of the fest’s stages over the years with a headlining set, their first at a festival this size.”

Tickets for the festival are on sale now, with three-day passes ($219) and single-day passes ($109) available along with a Pitchfork PLUS ($419 for three-day, $209 for single-day) upgrade with a number of extras; click here for ticket information.

See the full 2023 Pitchfork Festival lineup below.

Def Leppard Drummer Rick Allen’s Statement on Florida Attack: ‘Together With Love, We Can All Get Through These Difficult Times’

Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen has spoken out about an incident last week in which he was allegedly assaulted by a man outside a Fort Lauderdale, Florida hotel. In a statement first issued to ABC News on Sunday (March 19), Allen, 59, thanked fans for their “overwhelming support” in the wake of the attack in which Ohio native Max Edward Hartley, 19, allegedly rushed the drummer at full speed and knocked him to the ground last weekend.

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“Your love and prayers are truly helping. My wife Lauren [Monroe] was thankfully not with me at the time of the incident,” Allen said. “We are together now, and working on recovering in a safe space. We are focusing on healing for everyone involved. We ask you to join us in our effort to move from confusion and shock to compassion and empathy. We understand this act of violence can be triggering for so many people.”

Police arrested Hartley after the teen allegedly attacked Allen outside the Four Seasons Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale on March 13, a day after the veteran British band played a show at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel with Mötley Crüe.

A police report noted that Hartley hid behind a pillar outside the hotel entrance while Allen smoked and then allegedly rushed at the drummer at full speed and knocked him to the ground. The report said that Allen “hit his head on the ground causing injury” and that when a woman ran out to help Allen Hartley allegedly attacked her as well.

Hartley was arrested a short time later after police found him at another hotel allegedly breaking car windows and then charged him with two counts of battery, four counts of criminal mischief and abusing an elderly or disabled adult; Allen lost his left arm after a 1984 car accident.

“To all of the fans, veterans, and first responders in our global community we are thinking of you all,” Allen said in his first official statement on the attack. “Together with love, we can all get through these difficult times.”

The Florida show came just before a break in the band’s touring schedule, with the next date scheduled for May 22 in Sheffield, England.

Read Allen’s statement below.

Small Town Singer Mariah Faith Delivers ‘World Class’ Performance on ‘Idol’: Watch

Mariah Faith comes from a small town, but she’s on her way to LaLa Land and it won’t be as a tourist.

The 21-year-old hairstylist stepped onto the American Idol stage on Sunday night (March 19), for an audition that couldn’t have gone any better.

Born in Baltimore, Faith relocated at a young age to Conway, South Carolina, a town so small, she claims you could traverse it on foot in ten minutes.

The relocation was at the behest of her late step-dad, Faith’s inspiration, her “No. 1 supporter and best friend,” she explained in the intro. He died from a heart attack in 2019, leaving a hole in the family.

When Faith entered the lion’s den that is an Idol audition, she carried the spirit of her step-dad, to whom she dedicated a rendition of Vince Gill’s “Whenever You Come Around.”

Wearing blonde dreads and a nose-ring, Faith looked and sounded at ease. Her performance, grounded, earthy and pretty special, the judges agreed.  

“I had chills the whole time. You are on just the edge of greatness,” noted judge Luke Bryan. “You’ve just got it all. It doesn’t matter if you hit a wrong note, it’s still right.”

It was more of the same from Katy Perry. “World class,” she piped up. “There’s so many subtleties in your voice. I’m hanging onto every syllable.” Perry added, “You have this natural cry-slash-gospel vocal,” at which point the contestant remarked, I was “raised in the church.”

Perry spotted it. “Well, we can hear it. You are a star,” she enthused. “You’ve got it. One of the most interesting voices” of this 21st season.

Lionel Richie was singing from the same hymn sheet. “What we just heard is the tip of the iceberg, but your potential could take you seriously all the way,” he stated.

When the judges cast their votes, it was three yeses and a ticket to Hollywood. Faith also landed the opportunity to open a Nashville concert for last season’s respective Idol winner and runner-up, Noah Thompson and HunterGirl.

Watch below.