This week’s New Music Friday offers a collection of songs that push boundaries, challenge norms, and invite listeners to explore new emotional depths. Teddy Swims teams up with GIVEON for a soulful duet that questions love’s reality, while Stephen Wilson Jr. delves into identity and legacy with his striking deluxe release. Julia Michaels and Maren Morris team up once again on a powerful pop release, Blondshell adds a fearless, rebellious edge, and Jordana Bryant, Kip Moore, Vincent Mason, Zach John King and other Nashville favorites weave stories of reflection, anticipation, and raw emotion. 

"Scissors" - Maren Morris, Julia Michaels

“Scissors” pulses with an understated urgency as Julia Michaels and Maren Morris intertwine their voices in a powerful yet restrained narrative of cutting free. The song doesn’t beg for attention — it commands it. Michaels’ trademark vulnerability meets Morris’ clear-eyed strength, and together, they create a dialogue about the messy process of emotional liberation. Every lyric is deliberate, shaped by the sharp tension of a relationship’s end. The production is equally intentional, leaving space for both voices to hold the weight of every word. With “Scissors,” Michaels and Morris don’t just sing; they carve their own paths toward autonomy, wrapping the listener in a bittersweet celebration of self-empowerment.

"Remembering It Wrong" - Jordana Bryant

In "Remembering It Wrong," Jordana Bryant delivers a poignant reflection on how memories shift with time, blending nostalgia and heartbreak into a lyrical meditation. The song grapples with the human tendency to idealize the past, creating a narrative both deeply personal and widely resonant. Her voice rises with clarity and purpose, turning the abstract pain of misremembered love into something achingly tangible. It’s a track that invites introspection, holding a mirror to the listener's own evolving recollections.

'søn of dad' (Deluxe) - Stephen Wilson Jr.

Stephen Wilson Jr.'s 'søn of dad (Deluxe)' transcends mere storytelling to become a vivid chronicle of identity, legacy, and resilience. Through richly layered lyrics, Wilson crafts a raw and unflinching exploration of what it means to inherit the complexities of one’s lineage. Every note feels like a deliberate step forward, balancing vulnerability with defiance. This expanded edition deepens the emotional heft of the original with stunning acoustic and live renditions of fan favorites, transforming an already compelling collection into a profound statement of selfhood.

"Bad Spot" - Kip Moore

Kip Moore’s "Bad Spot" cuts to the core of emotional endurance, exploring the intersections of self-doubt and unyielding love. The track resonates with a quiet intensity, balancing moments of raw confession with a defiant undercurrent of hope. Moore’s delivery, grounded yet impassioned, transforms the song into a rallying cry for those navigating life’s inevitable lows. It’s a song that doesn’t just sit with pain but wrestles with it, creating a cathartic and redemptive listening experience.

"Waiting Ain’t Easy" ft. Michal Leah - Evan Honer

In "Waiting Ain’t Easy," Evan Honer and Michal Leah offer a deeply affecting meditation on patience and the ache of anticipation. Their voices intertwine in a delicate yet powerful duet, capturing the complexity of longing with remarkable precision. The song’s emotional depth is matched by its lyrical subtlety, making it a rare exploration of the quiet strength required to endure uncertainty. 

"Are You Even Real" (feat. GIVEON) - Teddy Swims

Teddy Swims and GIVEON’s collaboration on "Are You Even Real" is a masterclass in emotional storytelling. The song questions the boundaries between reality and illusion in love, turning vulnerability into a sonic tapestry of longing and uncertainty. Swims’ soulful delivery complements GIVEON’s rich, resonant tones, creating a dynamic interplay that feels like a dialogue between two halves of the same heart. 

"5 Dollar Pony Rides" - Mac Miller

Mac Miller’s “5 Dollar Pony Rides” offers a posthumous glimpse into his unguarded genius, blending whimsy with a poignant undercurrent of introspection. The track juxtaposes the simplicity of its imagery with the depth of its emotional resonance, capturing Miller’s uncanny ability to turn the mundane into the profound. It feels less like a traditional song and more like an unspoken conversation, a posthumous reminder of his unparalleled knack for human connection through art.

"Orlando in Love" - Japanese Breakfast

“Orlando in Love” by Japanese Breakfast unfolds as a lush, poetic narrative, blurring the lines between time and space to explore the weight of love’s persistence. Michelle Zauner’s voice glides through the track like a stream carving its path, evoking both timeless beauty and inevitable transformation. The song’s layered intricacies reward repeated listens, each revealing new depths and textures, making it an experience as much as it is a composition.

"Waitin' On You To Wear Off" - Vincent Mason

“Waitin' On You To Wear Off” drifts through the spaces between nostalgia and regret, with Vincent Mason capturing the essence of a love that lingers long after it’s gone. His voice is a study in quiet yearning, each note hanging with the weight of a truth we’d rather not face. The production is unhurried, allowing every instrument to breathe, just as Mason lets each word unfold at its own pace. This is not a song about healing but about the discomfort of transition — the in-between place where the past refuses to release its grip. It’s the sound of being caught in a moment you can’t shake, of waiting for something to fade when you don’t have the strength to make it stop. A quiet ache that lingers long after the last note.

"Slow Down" - Zach John King

In “Slow Down,” Zach John King takes his time, crafting a song that demands patience both from itself and the listener. There’s no rush here— just a steady flow of thoughts and sounds, each one deliberate and unhurried. King’s vocals glide through the track, never hurried, never forced. The lyrics reflect a delicate tension between urgency and peace, between the desire to move forward from lost love and the need to pause and relfect on what could have been. The minimalist production allows King’s voice to take center stage while the melody gently nudges the song forward. “Slow Down” is a clever way to intertwine memory with lyrics, painting an image of someone never slowing down i in your mind. "Slow Down" is another standout track from King to kick off his 2025 discography.

"What It Feels Like" - Aly & AJ

Aly & AJ’s "What It Feels Like" is a cinematic exploration of emotional resonance, encapsulating the beauty and pain of fleeting connections. Their harmonies are luminous, carrying a sense of urgency that underscores the fragility of the moment. The song’s subtle, evocative lyricism mirrors the quiet complexities of human relationships, making it feel like it’s reaching out to grasp the intangible. This track is a reminder of music’s unique power to hold space for what words alone cannot express.

"T&A" - Blondshell

Blondshell’s "T&A" is a defiant anthem of autonomy, cutting through societal expectations with incisive wit and raw power. The track boldly questions societal norms around female identity and expression, confronting them with lyrics as sharp as glass and a delivery that dares you to look away. Blondshell channels her message through a whirlwind of grunge-tinged guitar riffs and hauntingly deliberate vocals, creating a visceral, unflinching piece of artistry. This is not just a song; it’s a rallying cry for those who have ever felt confined by the weight of expectation.

Photo Credit: @juliamichaelsbr.