Gainesville students’ favorite musicians are dropping their new albums just in time for summer. Whether the new music will accompany upcoming Depot Park picnics, trips to the pool or stadium workouts, prepare to be plugged in to new music.
Olivia Rodrigo “SOUR”
The Disney+ star Olivia Rodrigo is releasing her debut album “SOUR” Friday.
Rodrigo rose to stardom as the leading actress on the series “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series',' and after breaking records with her first released songs, she is now one of the biggest names in pop culture. As of January, the then 17-year-old was the youngest artist to debut her first single, “drivers license” at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Today, the ballad has over 744 million plays on Spotify. Shortly after, two singles “deja vu” and “good 4 u” followed. According to Billboard, “deja vu” debuted at No. 8 making her the first musician in history to debut her first two singles in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. Her most recent single “good 4 u,” which dropped on May 14, is currently No. 1 on Spotify’s “Top 50 - USA” playlist.
Lauren Garelick, a third-year public relations student at UF, said she’s excited about Rodrigo’s release this summer.
Garelick said she usually isn’t into slow tracks like “drivers license” because she prefers upbeat tunes, but she said the song is “great to belt in the car.” She said the song “good 4 u” is a “banger” and makes her wonder what the album will sound like.
Carolyn Lightsey, a senior art history student at UF, said she also enjoys “good 4 u” because of its fast paced, upbeat energy.
“It reminds me a lot of Paramore vibes and early Avril Lavigne,” she said.
Lightsey said she’s optimistic about Rodrigo’s debut album and looks forward to hearing it.
Lana Del Rey “Rock Candy Sweet”
Lana Del Rey, the indie-alternative artist, released the sentimental song of summer 2012 with her hit “Summertime Sadness,” which currently has over 406 million streams on Spotify.
Can she do it again this summer? On June 1, her album “Rock Candy Sweet” may sweeten some students’ summer.
Mabel Pérerz, a soon-to-be zookeeping graduate from Sante Fe, has been a fan of Del Rey since she was 13 years old and is anticipating Del Rey’s newest release.
She said her favorite track from Lana’s most recent album “Chemtrails Over The Country Club” is “Dark But Just A Game.” She said her second favorite song, as of now, is “White Dress” because of its storyline and angelic high notes.
Maroon 5 “Jordi”
Maroon 5 has been creating hits since the early 2000s. From the dreamy love song “Sunday Morning” to their feisty No. 1 hit “Makes Me Wonder,” a range of emotions are covered in their storytelling.
Maroon 5’s new album “Jordi,” will be released on June 11.
Garelick exclaimed her love for Maroon 5’s 2012 album “Overexposed.” She said songs from the album like “One More Night” and “Daylight” were a part of her middle school experience.
She hopes Maroon 5 will pull inspiration from their old sounds for the new album.
Billie Eilish “Happier Than Ever”
Billie Eilish, another influential young artist in the music scene, writes and produces with her brother FINNEAS in their home studio. At only 19 years old, Eilish has numerous breaking records. Most recently, she broke the record for most No. 1 songs on Billboard’s alternative songs chart with her 2020 single “Therefore I Am,” according to Insider.
Her debut album “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?” won five Grammys. Students are excited to hear Eilish’s second album “Happier Than Ever,” releasing July 30.
Carly Swanson, a third-year sports and business management major at UF, said Eilish is incredibly powerful and influential. She said although she’s stuck in the 70s rock era, listening to artists like Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles, she finds herself listening to Eilish and respecting her work.
Swanson said she believes we have entered a new era of music that “promotes being entirely yourself and to actually go against the grain.” She said artists like Eilish and Rodrigo promote individuality.
“While they are two very different artists that have their own brand, they both contribute to this idea of putting yourself out there emotionally and being yourself,” she said.
She is particularly excited to see what Eilish has in store for this new album.
“Truthfully, you never know what you're going to get and you're never really disappointed. She is definitely going to be taking over our radios for the third summer in a row and i'm excited to see what she's gonna bring.”
More to Come
Whether looking for melodies to chill out like Lana’s trip-hop cover of Sublime’s “Doin’ Time,” or songs to pump up a drive to the beach like “What Lovers Do (feat. SZA)” by Maroon 5, these popular artists have something for every mood.
You can stream these selections and more on a mix curated by The Avenue. Also included are songs from artists like Harry Styles, Frank Ocean and Bad Suns that, as Childish Gambino would sing, “Feels Like Summer.” Listen here.
Contact and follow Karter Nancy @writtenbykarter.
