{"id":2378054,"date":"2026-04-17T19:41:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T19:41:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2378054"},"modified":"2026-04-17T19:41:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T19:41:17","slug":"new-music-friday-april-17-2026-the-weeks-best-releases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/new-music-friday-april-17-2026-the-weeks-best-releases\/","title":{"rendered":"New Music Friday April 17, 2026: The Week&#8217;s Best Releases"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>As we head into the second weekend of <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetyhigh.com\/tag\/coachella\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Coachella<\/a> 2026, we\u2019re stunned to say that this is somehow an even bigger <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetyhigh.com\/tag\/music\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New Music Friday<\/a> than the one that preceded it.<\/p>\n<p>ZAYN\u2019s latest album is definitely a highlight, but with a new James Bond theme from Lana Del Rey, new music from Johnny Huynh and so much more, there\u2019s almost too much hot new music out this week than we can even handle. If you can\u2019t wait to jump in and listen ASAP, keep scrolling to discover the 10 biggest things that happened in music the week of April 17, 2026.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h5>(Photo credit: Nabil Elderkin)<\/h5>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/player.mediadelivery.net\/embed\/570913\/218a6870-aaa4-4fc7-80e0-9a4fe23581d5?autoplay=false\" style=\"border: none; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;\" allow=\"accelerometer; gyroscope; autoplay; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>1. Widowspeak Wonder When Someone Will Take the Wheel With \u2018No Driver\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>Indie duo Widowspeak is made up of Molly Hamilton and Robert Earl Thomas, who started the band 16 years ago and are now a married couple, and their seventh album,\u00a0<em>Roses<\/em>, is out on June 5. If you\u2019re not yet familiar, we suggest you get acquainted with their atmospheric new single, \u201cNo Driver.\u201d The indie-pop track is about waiting around for someone who\u2019s not fully engaged with life, aimlessly moving through it, and hoping they can come out stronger on the other side.<\/p>\n<p>In a press release, singer Molly Hamilton shared the song \u201cis about knowing and loving people who seem to thrive being on autopilot, at least for a while. It\u2019s written from the perspective of trying to be supportive, and knowing it can be kind of magic when you\u2019re in it, but also just waiting patiently for whenever they\u2019re ready to move on from destructive behavior \u2026 I also kind of wrote it to my younger self. I\u2019m 1000% on the other side of my wilder years (quit drinking almost seven years ago and now have a baby) but I definitely felt aimless for a long time. I care now, and caring about things and people and having a reason\u2026 is the whole point.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>2. Kevian Kraemer Can\u2019t Stop Going Back in \u2018i just get worse\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>Breakout indie-pop artist <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetyhigh.com\/tag\/kevian-kraemer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kevian Kraemer<\/a> is gearing up to release his next EP, <em>only if it matters,<\/em> on May 22, and his newest single, \u201ci just got worse,\u201d will have you as excited as we are for the big drop. It\u2019s a bombastic, high-energy rock track about self-destruction, going back to someone who\u2019s exactly wrong for you and feeling completely helpless to the situation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe wrote \u2018i just get worse\u2019 in the basement of an Airbnb while on a writing trip this winter,\u201d Kevian shared in a press release. \u201cThe trip was for my friend Knox, so it honestly blows my mind that the only song of mine that week turned out to be such a ripper. It\u2019s about running back to someone that you know isn\u2019t good for you, and it feels like the main track of a sports video game hahaha.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Also read about: <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetyhigh.com\/read\/kevian-kraemer-trivia-mcm-103023\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Everything You Wanted to Know About \u2018Teenagers\u2019 Singer Kevian Kraemer<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>3. Jenevieve Delivers \u201990s Vibes on \u2018Flight Risqu\u00e9\u2019 Remixed With Freddie Gibbs and SALIMATA<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cFlight Risqu\u00e9\u201d was one of our favorite tracks on\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetyhigh.com\/tag\/jenevieve\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jenevieve<\/a>\u2018s stunning 2025 album\u00a0<em>CRYSALIS<\/em>, and with the deluxe edition of the album, subtitled (<em>CODA)<\/em>, releasing on May 1, the remixed version of the song has us fully obsessed. This time around, she\u2019s turned it into a powerful collab featuring Freddie Gibbs and SALIMATA, further bringing out the effortless \u201990s vibes with their hip-hop prowess.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Also read about: <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetyhigh.com\/read\/best-jenevieve-lyrics-as-captions-101425\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">40 Passionate Jenevieve Lyrics to Use as Your Next Caption<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>4. Sam Tompkins Focuses on Gratitude With Comeback Single, \u2018BEAUTY QUEEN\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>After a long absence, English singer-songwriter <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetyhigh.com\/tag\/sam-tompkins\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" style=\"cursor: pointer !important; user-select: none !important;\">Sam Tompkins<\/a> is back with\u00a0his first new music since summer of 2024. The new single, \u201cBEAUTY QUEEN,\u201d feels more than worth the wait as the pop-R&amp;B star focuses on love and gratitude, with a laidback acoustic guitar vibe that pulls us right into the sweetness of their romance. It\u2019s vulnerable as he balances insecurity with affection, unsure he\u2019s deserving of her love while refusing to let it go.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s inspired by my partner and the way I don\u2019t always feel like I measure up to her,\u201d Sam explained in a press release. \u201cThere\u2019s a little bit of insecurity in there, but mostly it\u2019s about how grateful I am that I get to spend time with her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Also read about: <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetyhigh.com\/read\/sam-tompkins-trivia-bio-fun-facts-mcm-032122\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" style=\"cursor: pointer !important; user-select: none !important;\">Everything You Wanted to Know About <em>who do you pray to?<\/em> Singer-Songwriter Sam Tompkins<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>5. Cameron Whitcomb Falls Back in Love With Songwriting With His <i>Deep Water<\/i> EP<\/h2>\n<p>Canadian folk-rock artist <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetyhigh.com\/tag\/cameron-whitcomb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cameron Whitcomb<\/a> has had a pretty spectacular 2026, and it\u2019s only getting better with the release of his new EP, <em>Deep Water<\/em>. Last month, we won Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Country Album of the Year at the JUNO Awards, and with a coupe of big tours as well as festivals lined up, the new five-track collection feels like the cherry on top. Featuring \u201cKingdom of Fear,\u201d \u201cYou and Me\u201d and the spirited title track, Cameron feels more at home than ever as he bares his soul with gritty vocals and jangly guitars.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis EP is honestly just me excited to get some new music out,\u201d Cameron shared in a press release. \u201c2026 has been the best year of my life. It\u2019s a mix of some more light-hearted, sappy love songs mixed with some very personal and vulnerable ideas. I think people are really gonna hear how much I\u2019ve fallen back in love with songwriting. As always, please listen and take what you need. I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Also read about: <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetyhigh.com\/read\/cameron-whitcomb-mcm-trivia-052024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Everything You Wanted to Know About \u2018Shoot Me Dead\u2019 Artist Cameron Whitcomb<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>6. Max McNown Celebrates the Ones Who Love the Real Him With \u2018Heart You Didn\u2019t Break\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>24-year-old country singer-songwriter <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetyhigh.com\/tag\/max-mcnown\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Max McNown<\/a> has been one of the most rapidly rising artists in the genre, and his latest single, \u201cHeart That Didn\u2019t Break,\u201d is all about appreciating those who know and love the real him. It\u2019s about recognition of the human being he is beyond the artist, and how his loved ones manage to support and lift him up when he\u2019s struggling with the darker sides of game.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt touches on the common truth: A man is only as strong as the woman and family who lift him up,\u201d Max shared in a press release. \u201cThe song is a plea that no matter what this life brings, someone will prioritize who I am beneath the artistic brand, a prayer that those I love will \u2018protect my soul\u2019 in the midst of chaos.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Also read about: <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetyhigh.com\/read\/max-mcnown-mcm-trivia-101424\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Everything You Wanted to Know About \u2018A Lot More Free\u2019 Singer-Songwriter Max McNown<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>7. Ava Max Is Unapologetically Defiant With \u2018Out of Your Mind\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>Pop superstar <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetyhigh.com\/tag\/ava-max\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ava Max<\/a> is no stranger to viral, billion-stream hits, and her newest single, \u201cOut of Your Mind,\u201d feels like it has everything it takes to also reach that milestone. It\u2019s a pulse-pounding and upbeat pop-rock anthem that\u2019s bound to get stuck in your head for days on end as Ava refuses to let others define her, instead striking out and playing by her own set of rules. The beat is irresistible, creating the perfect backdrop for Ava\u2019s stellar vocals and signature falsetto.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2018Out Of Your Mind\u2019 is my personal F U to people who want me to change and fit in a box to make someone comfortable and forget about my own dreams entirely,\u201d Ava said in a press release. \u201cUnfortunately, to everyone wondering, you have to be crazy in order to achieve something extraordinary. The theme reminds me of \u2018Sweet But Psycho.\u2019 I feel how I felt right before that song blew up. The need for change, and I felt like I didn\u2019t want to just give up because of a few failures. I\u2019m back at that place in my life where I not only want to prove people wrong, I am embodying who I truly am again. And that is a lil bit psycho\u2026 and outta my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Also read about: <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetyhigh.com\/read\/best-ava-max-dont-click-play-and-more-lyrics-as-captions-082525\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">60 Unforgettable Lyrics From Ava Max\u2019s <em>Don\u2019t Click Play<\/em> and More to Use as Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>8. Johnny Huynh Needs His Love to Breathe With \u2018OXYGEN\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>Viral artist <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetyhigh.com\/tag\/johnny-huynh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Johnny Huynh<\/a> has long enchanted us with his dark pop sound and smooth yet raw vocals, and he\u2019s at the top of his game with his new single, \u201cOXYGEN.\u201d Johnny\u2019s ready to embrace something wholly new with the track, feeling like a desperate plea as he tells his love just how badly he needs them, comparing their presence to the oxygen he needs to stay alive.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have been working on \u2018OXYGEN\u2019 for the past six months,\u201d <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DXN_SvpFCU2\/?img_index=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Johnny wrote in a post on Instagram<\/a>. \u201cSo much love and passion has been put behind this one and I dedicate this one to YOU all. Thank you for riding with me \ud83d\udc99\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Also read about: <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetyhigh.com\/read\/johnny-huynh-red-rose-song-meaning-interview-050925\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Johnny Huynh on Exploring the Lightness and Darkness of All-Consuming Love in \u2018RED ROSE\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>9. Lana Del Rey Brings New James Bond Theme, \u2018First Light,\u2019 to Life<\/h2>\n<p>As lifelong lovers of the James Bond films and their iconic theme songs, we couldn\u2019t be more excited to hear that\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetyhigh.com\/tag\/lana-del-rey\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lana Del Rey<\/a> would be bringing the latest theme to life, and the song has exceeded all of our expectations. \u201cFirst Light\u201d is the title track for\u00a0<em>007 First Light<\/em>, a new video game retelling Bond\u2019s origin story, and releasing on May 27, and it\u2019s fully worthy of the franchise with its dramatic and moody ambiance. It was also co-written by legendary Bond franchise composer David Arnold, <span style=\"font-size: inherit; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol';\">backed with stirring strings and stinging horns, allowing Lana\u2019s voice to soar as the tale unwinds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201cHaving been part of that musical lineage, I understand how important it is to honor its heritage while allowing it to evolve. Lana brought an elegance and atmosphere to the song that felt perfectly suited to continuing that tradition while introducing something fresh for a new era.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Also read about: <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetyhigh.com\/read\/lana-del-rey-lyrics-as-instagram-captions-022723\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">32 of the Best Lana Del Rey Lyrics As Instagram Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>10. ZAYN Gets Inspired by His Heritage With New Album, <i>KONNAKOL<\/i><\/h2>\n<p>Singer-songwriter and producer <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetyhigh.com\/tag\/zayn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ZAYN<\/a> is constantly reinventing himself as an artist, and it shows with the release of his fifth solo album, <em>KONNAKOL.\u00a0<\/em>Taking its name from a South Indian vocal percussion technique, its 15 songs are more culturally influenced than Zayn\u2019s past released, drawing from South Asian vocals and rhythms to add new layers to his heartfelt brand of pop-R&amp;B. Including \u201cSideways\u201d and \u201cDie For Me,\u201d it\u2019s more nuanced and rich than ever, and we can\u2019t wait to hear these bold new tracks live when he kicks off his biggest-ever world tour on May 12.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Missed our favorite tracks last week? Click <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetyhigh.com\/read\/new-music-friday-best-songs-april-10-2026-041027\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE to check out our top 10 favorite releases for the week of April 10, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.sweetyhigh.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As we head into the second weekend of Coachella 2026, we\u2019re stunned to say that this is somehow an even bigger New Music Friday than the one that preceded it. ZAYN\u2019s latest album is definitely a highlight, but with a new James Bond theme from Lana Del Rey, new music from Johnny Huynh and so [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2378055,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2378054","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/New-Music-Friday-April-17-2026-The-Weeks-Best-Releases.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2378054","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2378054"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2378054\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2378056,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2378054\/revisions\/2378056"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2378055"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2378054"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2378054"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2378054"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}