The sun is shining, the patio beers are flowing, and the scent of SPF is in the air. It’s a holiday long weekend, and What’s Going On has got your soundtrack sorted. This week’s instalment has the perfect songs for road-tripping, park-lounging, or just vibing in your kitchen with something fizzy. As always, if you dig what you hear, be sure to stream and follow these artists.
SunYears – Peter Morén (of Peter Bjorn and John fame, hello!) returns with his SunYears project, announcing his richly woven sophomore album The Song Forlorn, due out August 21st via Villa. Following the acclaimed debut project Come Fetch My Soul!, SunYears continues to explore tender, harmony-soaked alt-folk with collaborators like Lisa Hannigan, Sam Genders, Nicole Atkins, Madison Cunningham, and more. New single “Last Night On the Mountain” captures quiet resilience in waltz time, showcasing Morén’s knack for emotional nuance. While on tour with PB&J for Writer’s Block’s 19th anniversary, and producing Robert Forster’s “Strawberries,” Morén’s SunYears is poised to be some of his best work yet.
Listen to SunYears’ new single “Last Night On the Mountain” featuring Lisa Hannigan & Sam Genders below.
Lindsay Ell – Lindsay Ell bares her soul on “unloving you,” a powerful new single out now via Universal Music Canada. Co-produced with Doug Schadt, the piano-driven ballad builds from quiet heartbreak to a bold reclaiming of self, showcasing Ell’s vulnerable lyricism and soaring vocals. Lines like “Unloving you takes unlearning you” hit listeners right in the feels as Ell captures the emotional untangling of lost love. Following her alt-pop collaboration “i shouldn’t call you” with Nightly and her acclaimed love myself EP, this release marks a bold chapter for the Platinum-selling artist. Up next: performances across North America, including GLAAD’s Concert for Love and Acceptance and continuing her dates as lead guitarist for Shania Twain. Let’s go, girls!
Listen to Lindsay Ell’s new single “unloving you” below.
DJ Snake – Global dance icon DJ Snake returns with “Paradise,” his flip of Phil Collins’ classic “Another Day in Paradise.” Blending lo-fi house, R&B vibes, and nostalgic textures, Snake transforms the 1989 hit into an anthem for the day party crowd. Dropping just after his historic sold-out Stade de France show, “Paradise” kicks off the road to his upcoming album Nomad. Is “Paradise” good? That’s debatable, but one thing’s for sure. This track is undeniably catchy, proof that DJ Snake still knows how to craft an earworm.
Watch the live edit of DJ Snake’s new single “Paradise” below.
DE’WAYNE – Houston-born, L.A.-based rocker DE’WAYNE has announced his third studio album june, set to drop July 30th via Fearless Records. Alongside the big news, he released the bold and electrifying title track, a genre-defying anthem celebrating divine femininity, vulnerability, and transformative love. Channelling the spirit of Talking Heads and Prince, “june” is raw, sexy, and soulful. Produced with Dylan Bauld, the album promises to be DE’WAYNE’s most personal yet. That’s a cliche, but in this case, it’s definitely true. Catch this alluring rocker on tour this summer with Red Leather and at Warped Tour.
Listen to DE’WAYNE’s new single “june” below.
World’s First Cinema – World’s First Cinema unveils the final single from their debut album Something of Wonder (out July 11th via Fearless Records). John Sinclair and Fil Thorpe of the Los Angeles-based duo teamed up with London-based rapper JD Cliffe on the introspective and emotionally charged “Broken.” A cinematic, electronic-leaning anthem, “Broken” explores perseverance in the face of burnout and disillusionment, casting a critical eye on a seeming lack of authenticity in the industry. Raw, urgent, and defiantly hopeful, it sets the tone for an ambitious record.
Listen to World’s First Cinema’s new single “Broken” featuring JD Cliffe below.
