Week of April 10th, 2026
Credit: Billboard
Weekly New Music Friday Reviews – longtime no see! If I could give one piece of advice to any high-achiever, it’s to make sure your schedule is not overly booked, or to make sure you can keep fulfilling your schedule’s needs (not much rest for me – LOL!) But, on a serious note, after taking a brief sabbatical from music article writing, I’m back, better than ever, and excited to share with you this week’s newest songs directly on a plane from London. This week, I’ve been able to experience some music that felt like a meditative sanctuary to a stressful junior year for me, and in seeing my selections, I hope you, too, can find some kind of inner peace. Also, check out this week’s other phenomenal songs: Bottom of Your Boots by Ella Langley, Back and Forth by Kehlani, Mr.Know It All by Teddy Swims, Madwoman by Laufey, Going Shopping by The Strokes, and kiss goodbye by The Two Lips.
1. Most Streamed Song of the Week – “RUNWAY” by Lady Gaga and Doechii (8/10)
Straight off the runway (no pun intended) comes RUNWAY by Lady Gaga and Doechii, a unique but exciting collaboration promised to be featured on The Devil Wears Prada’s sequel movie coming out this May 1st. With much excitement from long-time fans of fashion-enthusiasts, Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, and Stanley Tucci, an anticipated movie comes with elevating music; and Lady Gaga and Doechii delivers the expectation with ease. Beyond the fun lyrics like “I can turn a dancefloor into a runway,” “Click Click Click,” and Doechii’s infectious repetition of “Beetch~” though, the song provides lights, camera, action, and moments for fashionable poses–all perfectly curated for the movie’s target audience. With inspiration from 80s atelier-style music featured in recent songs such as Yes, and? by Ariana Grande, with a merging of production from Madonna’s Vogue or Britney Manson’s FASHION, the song is a good time, and while somewhat lacking in originality (production and lyrics-wise), the unique combination of Doechii and Lady Gaga is an ‘iconic’ song.
2. Lyrical Standout – “Beauty Pageant” by Holly Humberstone (8.75/10)
The finale to her third album, Holly Humberstone’s Beauty Pageant off of Cruel World, serves as an essential conclusion to her album, which focuses on the singer’s bedroom-pop interpretations of sadness. Tailored with modern lyrics showing how admired beauty of figures such as Beauty Queens fall into phone addictions, the song explores how sometimes life is unfair and doesn’t provide the things we seek to obtain. In a word, the album is idealistic and shows Holly’s ability to swallow the reality of the ‘Cruel World’ even if it’s a painful needle to digest. But beyond the tragic understanding of systems and livelihood, Humberstone shares throughout the album, the final track’s portrayal of understanding and accepting a corrupt world truly highlights the artist’s songwriting skills. With simple but haunting lyrics such as “Come on and make me pretty,” Humberstone finalizes her comprehension of how beauty needs to be faked at times, and having a pretend version of external beauty is at least enough in a world that doesn’t always grant interminable beauty. It’s a compelling song that truly deserves flowers for its lyrical skills.
3. Sonic Standout – “idea 1” by Kelela (8.5/10)
Riding on her own pure talent as a composer, lyricist, and producer, Kelela is underrated but comes with a need for deserving appreciation. She’s had many niche hits and is not particularly unknown, but is brilliant in her stubbornness to stay consistent to her own procured and authentic sound. While it may not always fall into mainstream bubbles, idea 1 is no exception to her angelic and high-value discography. If an orchestra of harp and electric guitar riffs doesn’t sound compelling enough, it’s the song’s classical but modern atmosphere that shows us listeners a glimpse into the brilliance that comes with this track. The song is not lyric-centric or heavy and feels more purposefully attentive to the instrumentals, but feels enchanting and even in line with songs from the movie, Call Me by Your Name.
4. Hidden Gem – “EVEYRTHING I’VE EVER WANTED / DOIT4ME” by Tiffany Day (9.5/10)
If anyone is creating conversation around the music industry, many fingers can be pointed directly at Tiffany Day. While her second self-produced and lyricized sophomore album, HALO, came out last Friday, April 3rd, and unfortunately did not receive a spot on the New Music Friday playlist, as is the purpose of this section, “Hidden Gem,” I felt it necessary to provide a spotlight to Day’s music and, timing-wise, not let my schedule hinder her deserved recognition. In fact, her music is so special and genre-pushing that I’ve even selected two songs that transition perfectly into one another, which feel incomplete without the other. Here’s why.
EVERYTHING I’VE EVER WANTED (EIEW) and DOIT4ME are the first two tracks on the album and start with a grave question that feels underdiscussed: what if I’m not good enough to be a respectable artist? The hyperpop-medley of mixes of EDM and 2hollis’ music style starts stripped back on EIEW and features paradoxical lyrics that strongly represent the hardships that come with achieving your dreams (of being a musician in this case), yet still feeling that you’re not enough. But if EIEW was a stripped-back version of this challenge that Tiffany verbalizes, DOIT4ME revitalizes this theme from a newer and angsty perspective. Throughout the song, she asks the audience if she’s good enough to be the musician they console to, party to, and fall in love with. While many insecurities can be visible, Tiffany’s lyrics and choice of production clearly show her ability to make an artist-specific struggle into an audible piece of visual art. For anyone who wants relatability, empathy, or a fun time at the club, Tiffany Day’s new music is a ‘run don’t walk to’ experience.
