Guess who’s back, back again! What’s Going On is back for 2025 and we’re kicking things off with a roundup of some seriously hot new tracks to jump-start your year. Whether you’re looking for fresh beats, bold collaborations, or exciting new sounds, we’ve got the tunes you need to keep your playlists thriving. As always, if you dig what you hear, be sure to stream and follow the artists.
XIXA – Tucson’s XIXA return with their highly anticipated full-length album XOLO, due out on March 21st via Jullian Records. Building on the mystic, psychedelic rock sound of their 2021 album Genesis, the album delves into folklore and Latin influences, telling the story of Arcoiris and her cosmic guide El Xolo as they journey through the underworld of Mictlán. The first single “Xolo De Galáxia” is a celebratory cumbia ballad featuring Mona Chambers, with vocals from lead members Brian López and Gabriel Sullivan. The album also includes a collaboration with Modern English’s Robbie Gray and Mick Conroy, adding new layers to XIXA’s evolving sound.
Listen to XIXA’s new single “Xolo De Galáxia” below.
Aysanabee – Rising Indigenous artist Aysanabee kicks off 2025 with his epic new single “Edge of the Earth,” ahead of his first headline tour across Ontario and Atlantic Canada. The track explores the liberation of forgetting and moving on, a message that will resonate at the top of a new year. Sonically, the song kicks off with Aysanabee’s signature fingerstyle guitar before building to a swirling, expansive emotional release. “Edge of the Earth” is also a taste of what listeners can expect from Aysanabee’s upcoming album. We’ll definitely be keeping you posted on what’s going on with Aysanabee in 2025.
Listen to Aysanabee’s new single “Edge of the Earth” below.
Mayday Parade – If you’re a millennial like me, you were probably jamming out to Mayday Parade in high school. The beloved Tallahassee band celebrates their 20th anniversary in 2025 with an ambitious new project: a three-part album, starting with Sweet on April 18. The first entry showcases their signature blend of tender piano-driven melodies and soaring guitars as displayed on the band’s new single “By The Way.” Recorded with longtime producers Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount, Sweet marks the band’s most ambitious release yet, drawing on two decades of evolution in both sound and songwriting. Pretty exciting stuff, eh?
Listen to Mayday Parade’s new single “By The Way” below.
Spark of Life – Southern California’s post-hardcore band Spark of Life just dropped “In Pursuit Of,” the latest single from their upcoming sophomore album Plagued By The Human Condition*, due out soon on New Age Records. The track takes a traditional-sounding heartland rock riff and expands out into an emotionally charged exploration of regret and longing. Spark of Life’s frontman Steve Jennings explains: “Matters of the heart are always risky. ‘In Pursuit Of’ is about knowing those risks and deciding to chase the love your heart wants anyway…even though it might break in the end.” Gosh, that’s deep. The album also features a cover of ’90s cult favourite That Dog’s “Never Say Never,” with Fred Armisen on drums. Something to look out for!
Listen to Spark of Life’s new single “In Pursuit Of” below.
Jazzy & KILIMANJARO – Irish dance phenomenon Jazzy teams up with Zambian-Scottish producer/DJ KILIMANJARO and Canadian DJ/producer Jayda G for a hot new version of “No Bad Vibes.” Talk about a global affair! Released via Polydor’s Chaos imprint, the track blends Jayda G’s smooth vocals with KILIMANJARO’s moody afro house beats and Jazzy’s uplifting tones, a recipe for a true dance floor smash. With the original version already racking up over half a million streams daily, this new version of “No Bad Vibes” cements Jazzy’s place as a force to be reckoned with in the dance music space. Let’s go.
Listen to Jazzy & KILIMANJARO’s new version of “No Bad Vibes” with Jayda G below.
