October is the music industry’s gift that keeps on giving. It’s the time when artists are ready to release their “most personal project yet” and jet all over North America before the winter season freezes the tour routes. Well, this notion would exclude Blackpink’s ROSÈ as her debut album, “ROSIE”, is out December 6 following her new distribution deal between THEBLACKLABEL and Atlantic Records. With the incoming releases of LISA (“Moonlit Floor”) and JENNIE (“Mantra”), the solo activities of all Blackpink members are pretty much known now, except for JISOO, who penned a deal before everyone else.
While JENNIE’s “pretty girl” comeback is a canon It girl event in the making, Shawn Mendes’ return to music after a four-year mental health break is flying too under the radar for comfort, especially when album excerpt “Why Why Why” sounds that good. Machine Girl’s comeback was expected as the New York City duo steadily released deconstructed rave bangers over the years, but the first listens of “Until I Die” and “Motherfather” allude to a cleverly dark melodic comeback unlike their past work. Similarly, Charli XCX takes to the hyperpop stage for one last hurrah for her long-awaited remix project for “Brat”, with Bon Iver, Bladee, Tinashe and Shygirl as the recently announced A-list features thus far.
This season, Bree Runway and GloRilla are holding down the hip-hop front with bar-for-bar double and triple entendres that will get the hot girls feeling like it’s summer all over again. October is also a big time for indie acts, with MUNA’s Katie Gavin leading the pack with her stripped-back, back to basics masterpieces on “What A Relief”. However, Lizzy McAlpine‘s breathtaking acoustic honesty will always be a close second place. Halsey’s genre-shifting album, “The Great Impersonator”, and Country superstar Jelly Roll’s “Beautifully Broken” are also projected to be huge wins for the culture.
Ahead, explore other buzzing music releases coming this October and get to know a few rising stars in the process.
“Shawn” by Shawn Mendes
Releases on October 18
The “Señorita” singer makes his long-awaited return to music after nearly five years and one canceled tour, now to release his self-titled fifth album. With Zach Lowe, Mendes said, “2 years ago, I felt like I had absolutely no idea who I was. A year ago I couldn’t step into a studio without falling into complete panic. So to be here right now with 12 beautiful finished songs feels like such a gift.”
“Every Night Fantasy” by Omar Rudberg
Releases on October 18
After signing with Elektra, the Venezuelan-Swedish “Young Royals” star has released music worthy of the “pop’s next It boy” title. Stepping into a more mature image following 2022’s debut album, Redberg prepares for his debut EP, with an accompanying sold-out tour thanks to candy-lacquered tracks like “Red Light” and “Talk” released earlier this year.
“The Epilogue” by Dean Lewis
Releases on October 18
I feel like it’s the culmination of a sound I’ve tried to create over the last seven years”, the “Be Alright” singer-songwriter says about his junior effort, an intimate treasure trove of stand-still confessionals and acoustic-driven romance.
“Music For People Who Believe In Love” by Joe Jonas
Releases on October 18
Fifteen years after his debut solo record, “Fastlife”, Joe Jonas is now a father and ready to birth his sophomore album. During his episode of “Therapuss with Jake Shane”, Jonas shared that this album is “the most personal music [he’s] ever put out” and is both sonically and lyrically “all over the place”, featuring “real beautiful ballads” and songs about fatherhood, love, and self-betterment.
“Fantasy” by JADE
Releases on October 18
Out of her contemporaries, Jade of Little Mix has been accepted by the “brats” of the world, with “Angel of My Dreams” sounding like the long-lost sister to Addison Rae’s “Diet Pepsi”. Since releasing “Midnight Cowboy”, co-written by RAYE, Jade’s next single continues her glittery foray into house music.
“MG Ultra” by Machine Girl
Releases on October 18
The New York City electronic hardcore duo have announced their sixth studio album and their first in half a decade, and share the “sad” news that it’s a bit more polished compared to their apocalyptic and cathartic punk work seen on the gritty 2014 debut “Wlfgrl”.
“The Gift Of Love” by Jennifer Hudson
Releases on October 18
Gospel-singer-turned-TV-host Jennifer Hudson is gearing up for her first album in 10 years, which happens to be her first-ever holiday album, which features seasonal classics like “O Holy Night” and “Winter Wonderland,” along with original songs such as “Almost Christmas,” featuring Grammy Award-winning rapper Common. The album was executive produced by Ryan Tedder, and it includes collaborations with notable producers like David Foster and Kirk Franklin.
“Tension II” by Kylie Minogue
Releases on October 18
The iconic Grammy-winning Aussie’s sequel to her chart-topping sixteenth album features nine fresh dance-ready anthems with features from The Blessed Madonna, Orville Peck, Bebe Rexha, Tove Lo, and Sia.
“Assembling Symbols Into My Own Poetry” by Alice Longyu Gao
Releases on October 23
“I have a fountain inside of my heart, and that’s where my art is coming from. It was blooming for many years until it had a drought,” the Chinese-born visionary storyboards the end of her debut trilogy. Her recent tastemaker with Danny Brown, “Bird W/O Nest”, is a tame version of Gao’s trademark neon Harajuku-styled hyperpop, but the tender ballad slowly unfurls with explosive mood-shifting feelings.
“The Great Impersonator” by Halsey
Releases on October 25
Described as a “confessional concept album,” Halsey’s fifth effort delves into themes of time and fate, posing intriguing questions about identity and how Halsey would navigate different decades as an artist. Beyond her recent genre-bending singles like modernizing Britney Spears’ “Lucky” with the harsh realities of Halsey’s recent Lupus diagnosis, filibustered by the sharp-tongued rocker “Ego”, she took to Instagram to say she made the record “in a space between life and death”.
“What A Relief” by Katie Gavin
Releases on October 25
After 11 years exclusively with indie-pop band MUNA, frontwoman Katie Gavin will release her debut solo record via Phoebe Bridgers’ music label, Saddest Factory Records. Gavin described the bluegrass lead single, “Aftertaste”, as“Lilith Fair-core,” while viewing predecessors like Alanis Morissette, Fiona Apple, and Ani DiFranco as a “North Star” for the album as it journals the obstacles that come with finding meaningful connection, even patterns of boredom and isolation.
“Mirror Starts Moving Without Me” by Pom Pom Squad
Releases on October 25
Frontwoman Mia Berrin introduces fans to “mirror world”, the next evolution of the Brooklyn-based indie rock band. Featured singles “Downhill” and “Spinning” zero in on the band’s signature edgy grunge with introspective conversations about identity, ambition, and self-destruction.
Leave a Reply