As we settle into the new year, anticipation for the releases slated for 2025 is already reaching a fever pitch. From genre-bending pop icons to indie legends experimenting with new sounds, the first quarter alone promises a feast of new music. In this special instalment of What’s Going On, we’ve got a rundown of five albums we can’t wait to hear in 2025.
The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow (XO/Republic, Jan. 24)
This week, pop superstar The Weeknd is set to drop the final chapter of his After Hours trilogy. Following the release of After Hours (2020) and Dawn FM (2022), this album will see the Canadian crooner delivering his trademark retro synth-laden maximalist pop while also experimenting with acoustic guitar sounds, traditional R&B and even dabbling in Brazilian funk. As if that wasn’t enough, Hurry Up Tomorrow arrives four months ahead of a film of the same name, starring The Weeknd, Jenna Ortega, and Barry Keoghan. Prepare for Weeknd overload!
Listen to The Weeknd’s “São Paulo” featuring Anitta below.
FKA Twigs – Eusexua (Young/Atlantic, Jan. 24)
Inspired by her time exploring Prague’s electric club scene, FKA Twigs brings a dance-driven, harder-edged club-centric sound on her new album Eusexua while retaining her signature high-concept, emotionally charged storytelling. What does Eusexua mean? According to Twigs herself, the portmanteau of euphoria and sexual represents a higher state of being. It’s okay if you’re just as confused as I am. The music is great, and the album is sure to cement Twigs further as one of pop’s most consistent creative forces.
Listen to FKA Twigs’ “Drums of Death” below.
Japanese Breakfast – For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women) (Dead Oceans, Mar. 21)
Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast is back after a dizzying few years. Japanese Breakfast’s 2021 album Jubilee was Grammy-nominated and Zauner released her memoir Crying in H Mart to much applause and critical acclaim. The new album For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women) promises a return to her dynamic, emotionally charged sound, produced by Blake Mills. The first single, “Orlando In Love,” is a lush, string-forward track that sets the stage for what we can expect: a record that blends melancholy with beauty in a way that’s sure to devastate listeners.
Listen to Japanese Breakfast’s new single “Orlando in Love” below.
Perfume Genius – Glory (Matador Records, Mar. 28)
Perfume Genius, aka Mike Hadreas, has long been one of the most innovative and emotional voices in indie music. His upcoming seventh album Glory, promises to be another introspective exploration of love, damage, and the human body. With “It’s a Mirror” as a promising lead single, Glory introduces new collaborators, including members of his own band, and signals that this project will touch on themes of vulnerability and transformation. Expect haunting melodies, lyrical depth, and the raw emotion that Perfume Genius fans have come to expect. Sad boy season is coming early.
Listen to Perfume Genius’ new single “It’s a Mirror” below.
Lady Gaga – TBA (Release Date TBD)
One of the most anticipated releases of 2025, Lady Gaga is gearing up to return to the dance floor with her latest album, though the title and official release date are still under wraps. After the success of her 2020 album Chromatica, which arrived during the pandemic, Gaga has kept busy with her role in Joker: Folie à Deux and dropped the jazz-influenced companion album Harlequin last year, all while scoring a massive hit with Bruno Mars on the chart-topping “Die with a Smile.” The lead single for this new Gaga era is the electrifying single “Disease.” Fans eagerly await what promises to be a club-ready dance-pop album from the queen of the Little Monsters.
Listen to Lady Gaga’s “Disease” below.
