If you want new music, you’re in the right place! In this week’s instalment of What’s Going On, we’ve got fresh drops, big feelings, and some splashy new music videos. What more could you want? As always, if you dig what you hear, be sure to stream and follow these artists.
Kid Sistr – LA trio Kid Sistr hit hard on “American Teenage Prophecy,” a feral queer love anthem that feels like a riot disguised as a journal entry. Messy, impulsive, and very now, the track imagines a world where queer teenage love gets the same softness, messy chaos, and myth-making straight romance always claims. It packs a lot of heart and is sure to resonate with everyone who left their love didn’t belong. This self-proclaimed “girl band” has something to say!
Listen to Kid Sistr’s new single “American Teenage Prophecy” below.
Raf-Sappera – Punjabi powerhouse Raf-Sappera steals the show on Ahadadream’s new single “Bass Dhol,” turning the track into a full-blown cultural takeover. His commanding vocals demand your attention and cut straight through the hypercharged production, grounding the Skrillex-fueled chaos in tradition, pride, and power. This isn’t just a certified club banger, it’s a South Asian sonic statement.
Listen to Ahadadream’s new single “Bass Dhol” featuring Skrillex and Raf-Sappera below.
American Vanity – Rising PA rockers American Vanity just dropped a new music video for their single, “Lifeline.” The track pairs pop-punk hooks with raw, high-stakes urgency. Fittingly, the accompanying visuals are grungy, kinetic, and wired with desperation. If you’re a longtime pop-punk fan, you’ll find the video to be nostalgic, chaotic, and uncomfortably honest. Check it out!
Watch the new music video for American Vanity’s “Lifeline” below.
Cure For Paranoia – If you’re building your 2026 watchlist, start with Cure For Paranoia. The buzzworthy Dallas collective led by Cameron McCloud is gaining momentum fast with a new EP, major festival slots, national tour dates, and nods from all the tastemaker outlets. Blending live instrumentation, rap, funk, jazz, and soul with a keenly aware political slant and raw personal storytelling, they feel less like a breakout act and more like a movement taking their rightful place in the mainstream.
Watch Cure For Paranoia’s NPR Tiny Desk Submission performance video of “No Brainer” below.
Krooked Kings – Salt Lake City outfit Krooked Kings lean into emotional mess on “Ugly Love,” a raw, melodic new single from the band’s upcoming album In Another Life. The vulnerable track, which dropped right before Valentine’s Day, romanticizes the imperfect, the scarred, and the less glamorous aspects of love. Krooked Kings will be hitting the East Coast on tour this spring. Stay tuned for more info on that and an interview with the guys soon!
Listen to Krooked Kings’ new single “Ugly Love” below.
Lawrence Kim – Look out for NYC songwriter Lawrence Kim and his forthcoming debut solo album. The Hours And The Times is out May 15 and is led by the dreamy new single, “Madeleine.” Intimate, lo-fi, and emotionally bare, the track’s Super 8 video just adds to the soft-focus diary feel. It’s lonely without being sad, DIY without being small, and beautifully self-possessed in its stillness. Mission accomplished, Lawrence.
Listen to Lawrence Kim’s new single “Madeleine” below.
