By now, I've expected almost everyone to have streamed Taylor Swift's new album: The Tortured Poet's Department. Thanks to Swifties, and those curious to see if the album was about ex Joe Alwyn or ex Matty Healy (hint: both). TTPD broke Spotify's streaming record in less than 12 hours. And then, two hours after the album released, she dropped a second installment...The girl never sleeps.
With 14 total albums, The Tortured Poet's Department is a bit of a stylistic shift from her previous release, Midnights. We're introduced to a heartbroken Swift, one who embodies vengeance and yearning through synth beats and biting lyrics. Her two features include Post Malone, on "Fortnight", and Florence and The Machine, on "Florida!!!" You can listen to the album here:
Produced alongside her go-to squad, Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dressner, Swift continues to challenge herself as an artist despite having conquered every accolade. While some songs lay flat (and maybe this has something to do with Antonoff's production methods), others shine as instantaneous classics amongst Swift's already impressive, groundbreaking discography.
The key takeaways from Taylor's insight on her past few years is that Matty Healy had a much bigger impact on Swift's story than we thought. We learn that Joe Alwyn cheated on Taylor in Orlando, Florida, and that's why the state is mentioned so often throughout. And, furthermore, we learn that she still hates Kim Kardashian.
While this may not be the best album in her extensive collection, there are a handful of gems that stand out. With 31 songs total, The Tortured Poet's Department can seem a bit redundant at times...and other times, Swift's voice is often drowned out by stylistic beat choices and synths that don't make much sense.
The fire for Swift burns bright throughout the world, but it's important to note that she's constantly churning out music. To be in creator-mode 24/7 means that not every song is going to be their best work...It's statistically impossible, but Taylor will fare well nonetheless.
This isn't your average album review, so I won't delve into every song and lyric that may mean something...but here's your essential rundown:
Popdust Hits: "Florida!!!", "But Daddy I Love Him", "Who's Afraid Of Little Old Me", "My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys"
Popdust Misses: "Down Bad", "The Tortured Poets Department", "I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)", "loml"
Songs About Joe Alwyn: "Florida!!!", "So Long, London", "loml", "I Can Do It With A Broken Heart", "How Did It End?"
Songs About Matty Healy: "The Tortured Poets Department", "Guilty As Sin?", "Down Bad", "Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus", "The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived", "I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)"
Songs About Travis Kelce: "So High School", "The Alchemy"
Whether she's remixing classic club hits like Mary J. Blidge's "Family Affair" or creating fresh beats of her own, fans can't help but dance to Amal Nemer's music. Debuting a sensational music career only three years ago, Amal Nemer quickly became highly sought after thanks to her natural ability to create house music that is entirely refreshing and her own.
Miami is no stranger to house music...Home of mega events like Miami Music Week and Ultra, where the best-of-the-best flock to perform on one of the biggest stages of their career. The city buzzes with electronic music weekend after weekend, so the crowds aren't impressed by just any performer. Amal Nemer is different.
She can seamlessly make any type of house music- from Afro house to melodic house to techno - Amal leaves people wondering if she really can do it all. Previously a computer hacker in another life, Amal Nemer's technological prowess helps her make flawless beats. Winning over the hearts of Miami may have looked easy for her, but she's gaining recognition all over the world for her music.
With her latest single, "Yo Tengo Los Poderes", Amal Nemer is gearing up for a new era of dominance. The single leans heavily into the drum and bass factor that's popular amongst house icons like John Summit but has Amal's flare and personality that makes it an absolute hit. You can listen to "Yo Tengo Los Poderes" here:
Her latest single, "Get In" has every bit the energy and excitement as her classic work. It goes beyond the usual house song, and it's hot from the very start. With a slew of singles and a new album potentially on the horizon, Amal Nemer is the one to watch moving forward.
I got the opportunity to speak with Amal about her new era. Check it out below!
PD: Your recent single, “Yo Tengo Los Poderes”, is the start of a new era for you. What inspired this new era and what can fans expect?
AN: The song is about no matter if I'm in love or not, I still have the power, and this was inspired by a past relationship I had. I think fans can expect me to continue to pull inspiration from moments in my life.
PD: Since moving to Miami in 2020, have you learned anything about the music industry or your style that surprised you?
AN: I learned everything about the industry from Miami and the people I've met and connected with, this city gave me everything I stand on today as I discovered this amazing world of beautiful music and people who love to dance.
PD: What’s your advice for someone looking to break into the dance community and create music like you do?
AN: To go out party first and take in all the different experiences of this scene, you need to become a true fan to be able to succeed, at the end of the day if you can’t enjoy this culture, then what’s the point?
PD: You didn’t always want to make music as a career. What got you into the scene and who has influenced your sound the most?
AN: It started with me just playing music that I liked for friends at our house parties off my phone, and then a friend told me I should try DJing. When I touched the mixer for the first time, I couldn’t think of doing anything else, I was in love and i’ve been obsessed ever since.
A bunch of artists across many genres initially inspired me from Chus+Ceballos, The Martinez Brothers, Solomun, Karol G, Dua Lipa, and the list goes on. I love to pull inspiration from a variety of genres.
C/O Listen Up Biz
PD: If you could pick three words to describe your music, what would they be?
AN: Authentic, Powerful, Addictive
PD: What’s inspiring you while writing and creating music right now?
AN: It comes to me randomly, i could be training, out at a party, with friends or family. Once an idea comes to me, I write a few notes on my phone then all I can think about is getting back home to work on it.
PD: What’s next for you this year?
AN: My true goal is to make sure everything I work on is slightly better than the last, so I continue to learn and push myself. I hope when people hear my music or see me play live, it brings smiles to their faces.
I hate to say it, but all good people admit when they’re wrong. After attending
Coachella in 2022, I saw a dying franchise desperately trying to retain its grasp on relevancy. With lackluster Californian crowds who only go for the festival name and not the names headlining, outsiders often wonder why artists treat this as a Mecca for music.
Long gone are the days when girls’ outfits were chosen with Tumblr shots in mind. The bohemian chic style that Vanessa Hudgens, Miley Cyrus, and other attendees made famous began as “Coachella style.”
And when I got a taste of the coveted festival, I was beyond underwhelmed. Sure, the rich and famous were within reach…but I couldn’t have felt further away from them. I ended up with dust in my lungs and a week’s worth of exhaustion.
Celebs stopped attending
en masse, the non-festival influencer events like Revolve Festival rose in popularity, and it became abundantly clear that no one cared about the music…it was all about their Instagram posts.
But what I’ve learned from live-streaming Coachella 2024 — and pouring over my social media and consuming every single piece of Coachella content there is — is that Coachella is back in a major way.
Sure, the festival is designed to give you an intense bout of FOMO…but all I kept hearing was how bad everyone thought the lineup was. How no one of note would be in attendance this year. How Coachella was surely done for…until it wasn’t.
It’s been every bit as star-studded and shocking as earlier years. We’ve had earth-shattering performances, surprises left and right, and even reunions…not to mention the iconic
American Royal Couple sighting.
We had 5-star performances from headliners like Tyler, The Creator and Doja Cat. Chris Lake and Chris Lorenzo via their supergroup, Anti Up, confirmed rumors of a joint album.
After spending the weekend across the country on the wrong coast sobbing to my friends that I opted not to go this year, I put together my must-see lineup.
Here are the five performances I would’ve attended at 2024 Coachella Weekend One.
Chappell Roan
Chappell Roan’s sheer star power has truly been surprising me. With a devout fanbase (just watch her set), you’ll immediately realize that we’re dealing with someone who is about to break through to a different level of stardom.
During her set, you’ll hear essential songs like “Good Luck, Babe!”, “HOT TO GO!”, and “My Kink is Karma.” But what’s more impressive is her stage presence, the way she commands the crowd in avant-garde makeup, big hair, and a bigger personality.
Songs like "Good Hurt" saw a 160% increase on Spotify...Don’t sleep on Chappell Roan. Before you know it, she’ll be performing at a much bigger stage.
Not enough is said about a house music set at a festival. Sure, the headliners are great and deliver us our fix of rock, pop, or soul. But it’s always been the DJ’s who have my heart at the end of the night. They know how to get you dancing, to feel the beat down to your soul, and forget for a while.
We saw a lot of technical difficulties and underwhelming sets from various artists this weekend…but John Summit and Dom Dolla delivered a borderline flawless collaboration that perfectly exhibited both their greatest hits and EDM essentials.
There’s nothing better than watching an artist truly having fun on stage…so when two friends, Dolla and Summit, come together to display some of the best techno house out there, they do not disappoint.
Soon to be the pregame track for many, Dom Dolla and John Summit are two of the biggest names in house for a reason.
No Doubt
Two words: jaw dropped. Coachella’s Main Stage has reunited long lost bands and supergroups like Blink-182 and Swedish House Mafia…but few have No Doubt’s impact.
After a year of music domination on TikTok, Gwen Stefani, Tom Dumont, Tony Kanal, and Adrian Young took the stage to bring punk rock back in all its glory. In their first performance since 2015, this band has the exact same 1995 energy when they released “Just a Girl.”
Bringing out Gen Z’s very own punk pop princess, Olivia Rodrigo, was a passing of the torch in many ways. Stefani and Rodrigo belted “Bathwater” side by side as Rodrigo sported low rise cargos and an “I <3 ND” tank. "Bathwater" saw a 430% increase in streams on Spotify following the performance.
Perhaps the most impressive performance comes from Stefani, who at 54 years of age pranced and throttled around the stage full force. Stefani embodied a whirlwind tornado that gave more stage presence and energy than a 19-year-old. She went full punk rocker mode, and it was gorgeous.
Sabrina Carpenter
I keep reminding my readers that Sabrina Carpenter is the one to watch this year. She’s got all the ingredients of your classic popstar: proven vocal talent (even a stint on Broadway with Renee Rapp in Mean Girls), the opener for Taylor Swift’s legendary Era’s Tour, a past love triangle scandal with aforementioned Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Bassett, and the latest It Boy, Barry Keoghan, falling over his feet for her.
Her Coachella performance only solidified that I’m right. Carpenter understands her audience, and knows how to bring in more fans. She’s candidly witty, overtly sexual in her euphemisms, and yet exudes an innocence and honesty in her music.
For the first time on a Coachella stage, Carpenter was able to belt out her emails i can’t send album. This tell-all set of songs details her relationship with Bassett, her perspective on the backlash, and shares refreshing insights into her life.
She had the cinema, the vocal ability, the wow-factor. No notes.
Lana Del Rey
And while many prominent publications and, most notably, the Recording Academy will continue to turn their noses towards the genius of Lana Del Rey, the world watched anyway. Del Rey’s music has inspired the careers of thousands of budding artists, and it’s rare that she gets such a massive platform to perform it.
Arriving via motorcade, Lana Del Rey took the stage to perform hits like “Summertime Sadness”, “Ride”, and “West Coast” while dancers twirled from poles and swirled around Del Rey.
With guests like Jack Antonoff, Jon Batiste, and the one-and-only Billie Eilish, Del Rey flawlessly integrated tracks like “Ocean Eyes” and her own “Video Games” into her set.
Many will criticize the microphone issues or the lack of energy from the crowd (all factors that were out of the headliner’s control)...but it’s overwhelmingly clear from Lana Del Rey’s performance that her star far outshines any technical difficulties.
Breaking news: it's Friday. So that means we have a whole week's worth of new music. After Billie Eilish basically broke the internet by announcing a new album this week, everyone's wondering who else is gearing up to release some future Grammy nominees. My guess? Harry Styles. (Or is that just a wish?)
Either way, we have to focus on the present. While I'm overly ecstatic for it to be the weekend, I'm also equally excited to be listening to all these songs on Spotify. Plus, Coachella starts today, and I know a lot of you are going to need to add some songs to your pregame playlists.
As always, I've combed through every New Music Friday playlist, I've read all the press releases, and I've done my own research. Here are some of the best new songs to listen to that were released today. Let's get listening!
Sabrina Carpenter- "Espresso"
Sabrina Carpenter is having herself a year. Ahead of her first Coachella performance this weekend, she releases "Espresso", a fun-loving hit single that makes you want to lose all your worries and just move. Carpenter is having fun with her life, and it reflects her music. Written in Paris, she was in her traveler mindset just appreciating what the world had to offer. One of my favorite releases today, "Espresso" is a certified banger.
Sabrina told Zane Lowe,
"I don't think I've ever gone into writing an upbeat, confident record being like, "I really want to write an upbeat, confident record." I have to be in that headspace and I have to be in that mood. And this was one of those times in my life where it was just like, I just thought I was the shit in the moment."
Perrie- "Forget About Us"
Perrie Edwards may not be a familiar name by any means...formerly a leading member of Little Mix, Edwards' vocal power set her apart from the crowd early on. "Forget About Us" is Perrie's debut single as a solo artist, a pivotal song that's both upbeat in melody and melancholic in lyricism.
Written alongside Ed Sheeran, she reminds us in the same track that although relationships don't always last, they're still dynamic moments in our lives that shape who we are. Edwards says,
“I look back on past relationships and do think happily about those times. Do I want to be there now? No. It didn’t work out that way and if it was supposed to be it would have happened. Relationships have been a huge part of my life and they've made me who I am now. I think it’s a nice sentiment to be honest about and it’s super relatable.”
Peter McPoland- "Speed of the Sound (of you)"
Peter McPoland is a one-of-a-kind talent in the music industry. A special force who can write, produce, and record a record by himself and have it sound flawless, McPoland has an ear for a hit track. As his prowess grows, the songs get better...which is exactly the case with "Speed of the Sound (of you)."
McPoland's first song of 2024 doesn't disappoint by any means. It's a bop that's worthy of playing over and over. Unique in its own way, Peter McPoland delivers yet another earworm-y song.
Dua Lipa- "Illusion"
I'm getting a bit upset with Dua Lipa for not releasing any sort of ballad and declaring that her album would sound different than the rest...however, I can't deny that her disco-pop style is great for partying. Although she hasn't strayed far from her usual style, Lipa shows us she knows what it takes for a chart-topping record...and she's sticking with what works.
"Illusion" is every bit the 80's workout sound you know and love.
Future, Metro Boomin- "We Still Don't Trust You"
Metro Boomin is the Jack Antonoff of rap, if that makes sense. A highly regarded producer and creator who can work with the best-of-the best and create a Grammy-nominated album every single time. Every time you hear that iconic "Metro Boomin want some more" intro, you know you're getting a banger.
"We Still Don't Trust You" is an absolute vibe. A song I could see myself driving on the highway to at midnight, it's more beat-heavy than about lyricism. Plus, a few melodies from The Weeknd make this even more of a brooding, moody tune that just works.
Maggie Rogers- "The Kill"
Maggie Rogers has gone for the kill with her new album, Don't Forget Me. A songwriter to her core, Maggie Rogers is highly regarded as one of the best indie alt stars of our generation. This album deserves its own separate article, but "The Kill" is one of her best submissions.
About a relationship that has gone sour, Maggie Rogers reflects on how things used to be good...but now they're just going for the kill.
Chlöe- "Boy Bye"
Chlöe delivers an electric breakup anthem with "Boy Bye." I immediately added this to my playlist because the song encapsulates being so done with a partner, needing to leave them because they don't treat you right. She bids her boy bye with this upbeat R&B track, telling him to go back to his mother because she won't even cry.
It makes me even more excited for her debut album, In Pieces. The world is in desperate need of an R&B diva who isn't afraid to tell it like it is...and I think we've found her.
Suki Waterhouse- "Fun"
New mother, Suki Waterhouse, is wasting no time getting back to her music. In "My Fun", she yearns for a partner who loves her like she loves having her fun. A folksy rock track that is reminiscent of classic greats like The Beatles, "My Fun" is the perfect ending to this playlist.
Fun loving, scream worthy, "My Fun" is an easy listen. Suki Waterhouse makes no mistakes with her music.
At the end of the workday, I like to shut my laptop screen and transition to my other screen times. Yes, as embarrassing as it is to say that, we all do it. You spend all day staring hard at your computer, just to end up looking at your phone and TV all night.
It’s not the healthiest way of living, but if I’m being honest it’s what we do. While we should aim to minimize our screen time as much as humanly possible, it’s tough when the entire planet is run by Apple. Suddenly, we’ve all developed an emotional attachment to our screens.
During the pandemic, documentaries soared in popularity. We’d run out of shows to watch, tired of the endless reality television loop, and turned to true crime. Podcasts like Serial, Morbid, and Crime Junkie all followed famous cases of serial killers, thieves, and grotesque examples of inhumanity.
And, as someone with FOMO who’s fallen victim to the grip of pop culture and constantly needs to stay in the know, I’ve done my due diligence, my field research. I’ve combed through days worth of documentaries searching for the best of the best.
A good documentary contains at least one of these elements: shock factor, eye-witness testimony, and at least one moment worthy of a viral clip. Take Netflix’s Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened…which became an overnight meme thanks to Fyre Fest producer Andy King detailing how he was willing to offer oral sex in exchange for Evian Water to save the festival.
What’s The Best Streaming Service For Documentaries?
It’s about getting the people talking, and no streaming service makes a better documentary than HBO Max (more recently known as just “Max.”). Max somehow knows exactly what the people want to see and that’s…drama.
Since there are so many documentaries out there, you’ve got to find a way to keep people interested. We already know many of the infamous serial killers like Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer, so it takes true storytelling to get our attention.
HBO Max does something special: finding lesser known stories, nabbing exclusive interviews, and catching the story at the right time. Sure, Netflix shows you what’s already happened, but somehow Max gets ahead of the story every time.
The most shocking and relevant docus are on HBO Max, so if you’re ready to binge watch something that will have your jaw on the floor…I’ve got you covered.
Here are my top 4 documentaries on HBO Max that you can stream right now!
Love Has Won: The Cult Of Mother God
Have you ever witnessed such ludicrous, outlandish behavior that it almost makes you laugh? Welcome to Love Has Won, a cult led by the late Amy Carlson known as “Mother God,” “Mother” for short.
Mother claimed she’d been reincarnated 534 times as notable figures like Jesus, Marilyn Monroe, and Cleopatra. She promised to lead 144,000 people into the 5th dimension. Not only that, but Donald Trump was her father in a past life and she frequently speaks to Robin Williams…who’s no longer present in the “physical.”
In May 2021 Amy Carlson died due to: anorexia, chronic colloidal silver ingestion, and acute alcohol abuse. But the cult believed she had finally ascended. Even pushing colloidal silver as the magic elixir, this documentary truly has everything.
BS High
This documentary answers the question: “What if you went to high school and it wasn’t real?” From 2019-2021, Bishop Sycamore High School advertised themselves as a sports training academy that would forge young men into 5-star D1 recruits for football.
The team went on to play some of the best high school football teams. But after mounting hype around their players…people soon realized that these boys were far from D1 recruits. During the 2021 season, they somehow landed the fourth toughest schedule in the nation…and none of the teams they played were in Ohio.
Led by coach and BS High founder Roy Johnson, BS High was slated to play the best: IMG Academy. After facing odd scheduling and huge blowouts, IMG romped BS, 58-0. From there, Roy Johnson was exposed for hundreds of lies: essentially creating a fake high school and none of the players received even a GED.
Featuring first-hand interviews from Roy Johnson and the players themselves, this docu is both crazy and sad.
The Jinx: The Life and Deaths Of Robert Durst
If you’re going to watch one documentary on this list, make it this one. Robert Durst is a real estate heir who had never cooperated with a journalist before. Durst was so enamored with director of The Jinx Andrew Jarecki’s work that he offered to sit down and do an interview with Andrew.
Durst’s story is intriguing because he was surrounded by death. His wife, Kathie, had been missing since 1982. His friend, writer Susan Berman, was killed execution-style in 2000. His neighbor, Morris Black, was found dismembered in 2001. The one common denominator? Robert Durst.
As Durst is interviewed over the years, you see the conniving mega-millionaire evade any consequence as evidence piles up against him. Clearly this guy is guilty…which was solidified when he was arrested a day before the finale came out. But the final twist will have shocked to the core.
Plus, The Jinx part two comes out April 21.
Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV
One of the most recent viral documentaries hits close to home. Growing up, I was a devout Nickelodeon viewer. My nights ended with The Amanda Show, Drake & Josh, iCarly, and more. Over the years, fans have closely watched as many former beloved child actors have had very public breakdowns. And it’s all being explained now by HBO.
Quiet On Set exposes Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider’s treatment of employees and cast members throughout his tenure at the network. It includes horrifying accounts from cast members such as Drake Bell, who details the sexual abuse he encountered from dialogue coach, Brian Peck.
Dan Schneider’s downfall has been building since the glory days of Nickelodeon, and it all peaks with this documentary.
Welcome to the weekend! Each week, Friday breathes new life into me for a few reasons. First, it means I won't have to think about work for a few days (and I know you all feel the same). And then there's the promise of a whole host of new music flooding our Spotify apps.
Yes, New Music Friday is celebrated by listeners everywhere. It means we get fresh hits for our playlists, songs to share with our friends before anyone else does. For me, it indicates a new Weekend Playlist article that ensures everyone gets a taste of the best songs released today.
It's been a treacherously rainy week in New York...and why did we just endure a brief earthquake? The vibes are most definitely off following spring break.
So while you're getting ready to sign out of work and get ready for your weekend plans, why not play some new tunes? If you're looking for new music released today, you've come to the right place. As always, let's get listening!
Badger - "These Words"
Sometimes, all you need is a really good remix of a hit early-2000's track. Natasha Bedingfield's "Unwritten" went viral again recently because of Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell's Anyone But You rom-com...but what about her other hit single "These Words"??
Well, @bager_music_maker on TikTok has been remixing some of our favorite tracks. Melding artists like Robyn and Ethel Cain, Badger is quickly becoming one of the app's favorite DJ's. He's remixed "These Words" in a way that morphs the song into a club hit.
Lizzy McAlpine- "Drunk, Running"
Lizzy McAlpine has the same devastating impact on a song as Phoebe Bridgers. She can make you cry, smile, and laugh all in one track. "Drunk, Running" is another installment in McAlpine's fast-growing, impressive discography. Delicate in the beginning, the song grows into a cinematic flow of rhythm.
The song is soft, evoking nostalgia and yearning. It's a melancholic ballad, where McAlpine can transport us into another world...one where we're drunk, running.
Good Neighbors- "Keep It Up"
One of the most exciting emerging bands in the music industry right now is Good Neighbors. Their hit debut, "Home", went viral on TikTok and the charts for good reason. They encapsulate indie pop, reminiscent of Tumblr-era favorites like Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.
Now, they're following up the hype with yet another banger, "Keep It Up". If you want a song that feels like a bonfire during the summer with your friends, may I introduce you to this one. Good Neighbors has a bright future ahead with earwormy hooks, harmonies, and an acoustic feel.
Diplo, Riva Starr, Kareen Lomax- "Heaven Or Not"
I didn't love all of the new electronic dance tracks this week, so my hopes were low going into this Diplo track. However, I was pleasantly surprised to hear such an upbeat, catchy song from none other than resident favorite: Diplo. Combining pop vocals with Diplo's proven ability to make an instant hit makes for a successful record.
Anti Up- "The Weekend"
"The Weekend" is a tale of two powerhouses in the dance community: Chris Lake and Chris Lorenzo have teamed up to form the supergroup: Anti Up. You know Chris Lake to be one of the biggest names in electronic music right now. With hits like "In The Yuma" and "Beggin'", Lake knows a thing or two about creating an unforgettable song.
When paired with Chris Lorenzo, you get the perfect example of two artists who know how to complement one another. "The Weekend" is a party starter.
Glass Animals- "Creatures in Heaven"
Glass Animals create one of the hottest chart-topping songs quite literally ever with "Heat Waves." A consistent favorite that never gets old, the pressure to follow up such success is nerve wracking. For fans of the band, you want them to always succeed. For critiques, their next release is a chance to watch them squirm.
But "Creatures in Heaven" is true to the Glass Animals indie pop sound that we know and love. It's introspective and honest, which proves something the band never really had to prove: they're hitmakers, and they aren't going anywhere.
C/O Listen Up Biz
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