Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to New Music Friday’s most essential releases each week — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond.
Last week, we featured Noah Kahan, Kacey Musgraves, The Pussycat Dolls and more.
This week, BTS is back! The K-Pop sensation returns with with its latest studio album, Arirang. Also: Niall Horan releases the much-teased lead single, “Dinner Party,” from his forthcoming album, and Lizzo kicks off her new music era with “Don’t Make Me Love U”… plus much more. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
BTS, Arirang
ARMY can rejoice, because the Bangtan Boys are back in a big way. After the members of BTS (RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook) stepped away from the group to fulfill government-mandated time in the South Korean military and pursue solo endeavors, the seven members have reunited for the first BTS full-length in six years: Arirang. The 14-track project features an impressive roster of superstar producers, including Diplo, Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, Mike WiLL Made-It and Ryan Tedder. Led by “Swim,” a track that fuses dance-pop production with the group’s signature blend of singing and rapped vocals, it’s clear that BTS have not missed a step; the group not only sounds ready to meet this moment, but eager to dominate the world once more.
Niall Horan, “Dinner Party”
After politely picking up the tabs for various dinner guests across Los Angeles and New York restaurants, it’s now clear Niall’s intention may have had some hidden meaning, too. The former One Direction member has shared a new single, which happens to be the title track for his forthcoming new album, Dinner Party, out June 5. He previously revealed that his longtime girlfriend, whom he met at a dinner party, inspired the song — and much of his new project. Fittingly, “Dinner Party” is a mid-tempo pop song perfect for swaying to with a smitten smile, complete with swoon-worthy lyrics: “One kiss on your neck, it was so concrete/ I’m done looking for somebody.”
Lizzo, “Don’t Make Me Love U”
The latest from Lizzo balances vocals fit for a ballad with assertive lyrics — aimed at herself — all united by funky and glimmering pop production. The video for “Don’t Make Me Love U” offers more insight into the single’s inspiration, as it shows Lizzo confronting and embracing a past version of herself. For anyone following along, Lizzo has been in her healing era — and now, as a press release for the single shares, she’s kicking off her “new musical era” to match.
Paris Paloma, Miyazaki
“I have something to say/ As has anyone who’s ever made anything worth enjoying/ Nobody can destroy it,” sings British singer-songwriter Paris Paloma on her latest single. It’s an immediately grabbing opening, forcing casual listeners to perk up and pay attention. And she makes it worthwhile, continuing to sing in defense of human creativity — especially with the rise of AI. Fittingly, the track is named after Hayao Miyazaki, the Studio Ghibli director who famously called AI-generated art “an insult to life itself.” In turn, Paloma sings: “I’d do it unpaid, unseen, unthanked/ It’s worth more than anything that I have…I won’t let you take it from me.”
Dermot Kennedy, “Honest”
Ahead of his upcoming third album, The Weight of the Woods, out next week (March 27), Dermot Kennedy has shared another preview in “Honest.” The surging song balances his signature rasp with an urgency that feels less familiar for the Irish singer-songwriter. Throughout the near four-minute song, Kennedy struggles with love lost, admitting: My heart’s too honest/ All my colours spilling out/ Cause I know you’re all I want/ Have we missed our moment? How could fate be so unfair?” And in a compelling twist, the song doesn’t boast a happy ending but rather acceptance of what is, with Kennedy speak-singing: “I can change my path, I can learn his heart but I cannot change his will.”
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