Looking for new music to listen to during these upcoming spring months? Well, look no further than this list, where I’ll be breaking down the hottest new releases that are releasing from April to June.
Djo — “The Crux” (April 4, 2025)
Did someone say breakout star? Djo’s 2022 record, “DECIDE,” is an infectious indie synth-pop record — with one big hit.
“End of Beginning” is a triumph of a single, with over 1.3 billion streams on Spotify. Even if you’re not familiar with Djo, you have heard the chorus of “End of Beginning.”
Aside from Djo’s recent success, Joe Keery, the man behind the stage name Djo, is not trying to stop there. Two recent singles he released, “Basic Being Basic” and “Delete Ya,” are almost as catchy as “End of Beginning” — almost.
These two singles have more of a dry, less reverb-y mix than his earlier stuff. There are less guitars on the project and more synths and drum machines. Djo’s vocals are also as dry as the mix. Nevertheless, I appreciate his vision on these tracks: a mix of tongue-in-cheek lyrics and kitschy instrumentals.
I do not expect his efforts on “The Crux” — Djo’s newest record to be released in April — to be nearly as successful. However, if the vibes of “The Crux” sound like the two singles he has released so far, then I think he might be alright going forward.
Bon Iver — “SABLE, fABLE” (April 11, 2025)
For the 43-year-old singer-songwriter and indie folk legend, Justin Vernon, time has been moving fast — maybe too fast.
It has been almost six years since his last studio album, 2019’s “i,i.” This project is an exploration of what pop-driven folktronica can be. His newest full-length album, “SABLE, fABLE,” which will be released in mid-April of this year, is set to be one of Vernon’s most soulful and personable albums.
We’ve already reviewed the four-track EP that precedes this upcoming release, “SABLE,” — read our thoughts on it here.
I, for one, am incredibly excited to see more of what Vernon is capable of on “SABLE, fABLE.” He’s recently put out “Everything Is Peaceful Love,” a more pop-adjacent, neo-soul release. In this new track, Vernon not only reflects on his past relationships but what his future ones could hold.
“And everything is peaceful love/And right in me/And I know that we may go and change someday/I couldn’t rightly say/That’s for parting days,” Vernon sings on “Everything Is Peaceful Love,” track six on this upcoming release.
Little Simz — “Lotus” (May 9, 2025)
Simbi Ajikawo, (a.k.a. Little Simz), has been on fire recently. In the past five years, the UK hip-hop emcee has released three records, “GREY area,” “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert” and “NO THANK YOU” — all of which have been pushing what women can do within the genre of rap. 2021’s “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert” in particular is a masterclass in production, lyricism and themes.
Simz has been putting out subversive and genre-defying music for her last three studio albums, so what’s next?
“Lotus” is set to be released in early-May of this year, and by the looks of the first single, “Flood,” it seems to be picking up where her 2019 release, “GREY area,” left off. “Flood,” much like many of the tracks on “GREY area” consist of a driving drumbeat, a dizzying bass line and Simz’s fast-paced raps — accompanied by a guest chorus by Moonchild Sanelly and Obongjayar.
“Could’ve drowned but stayed with the mic/Why you n*ggas all bark, no bite?/They obsessed with my genius plan/And that’s being as free as I can/They want you to stop, then they leave you to rot/But that’s just not my frequency, man,” Simz raps on her newest single, “Flood.”
“Flood” seems to be set-up to not only exceed expectations but to break them. Simz’s release is only two months away: so, let’s see what she has in store for us until then.
