This week’s instalment of What’s Going On brings everything from disco-fuelled hip-hop and moody alt-rock to breezy poolside pop and unexpected genre collisions. Basically, your end-of-August playlist just got a serious upgrade. Let’s forget that September is right around the corner and just get lost in the tunes. As always, if you dig what you hear, follow and stream these artists.
Jack & Jack – Do you remember Jack & Jack from Vine? Well, the former comedy duo are bringing the sunshine with “Serotonin Pools,” a breezy, nostalgic pop-rap track that finds the longtime friends reflecting on growing up without losing their playful spark. The single previews what listeners can expect from SYN/ANTI, their ambitious new album arriving October 16. The album will have contrasting sides, with SYN being shinier and more upbeat and ANTI serving up moody R&B vibes. Nearly a decade after their Vine-era breakout, Jack Johnson and Jack Gilinsky are back making music together, and we’re all the better for it.
Listen to Jack & Jack’s new single “Serotonin Pools” below.
Stand Atlantic – Australian alt-pop outfit Stand Atlantic are quickly becoming a favourite act of mine. Their new single “EDGE OF VEGAS” is endlessly addictive and finds the band embracing creative freedom over chasing trends. Fronted by the charismatic Bonnie Fraser, the track balances pop sensibility with big pop-punk energy while exploring the messy space between ambition and burnout. If you can’t get enough, Stand Atlantic’s forthcoming album GODBREATH is due out October 23.
Listen to Stand Atlantic’s new single “EDGE OF VEGAS” below.
TyriqueOrDie – We’ve featured Toronto dance disruptor TyriqueOrDie in What’s Going On before. And now, the staple in the city’s rave scene is out now with his new six-track EP This Feels Electric. Built around previous singles “Chanel,” “6IXSIDE” and “Get Some,” the project is packed with hard-hitting production and sharp lyricism. New track “Outside Is Nice” stands out with its UK drum & bass influence and the most introspective bars we’ve heard from TyriqueOrDie yet. He can’t be put into a box.
Listen to TyriqueOrDie’s new track “Outside Is Nice” below.
The Haunt – Florida sibling duo The Haunt need to be on your radar! The pair recently dropped “Seasonal Depression,” a brooding, cinematic new single from their forthcoming sophomore album Ghost, arriving October 30. Just in time for Halloween. Anastasia Haunt’s soaring vocals cut through Max Haunt’s atmospheric production and driving guitars, turning familiar melancholy into something surprisingly cathartic. The alt-rock duo are going for a heavier and darker sound on this project, and honestly, it suits them.
Listen to The Haunt’s new single “Seasonal Depression” below.
Erick the Architect – Erick the Architect is bringing the late summer vibes with “No Doubt (I’m In Love).” The track sees the Brooklyn rapper and Flatbush Zombies co-founder leaning into his Jamaican roots on the disco and dub-infused jam. Lyrically, the MC takes listeners beyond the usual postcard imagery of Jamaica and instead celebrates Kingston’s community, creativity and everyday joy. Produced by Yeti Beats and Federico Vindver, it’s a warm reminder that love is universal.
Listen to Erick the Architect’s new single “No Doubt (I’m In Love)” below.
