One of the fundamental factors in shaping my summer is the music I listen to during the season. Consequently, I am always excited to find out how new music releases will fit into my summer soundtrack. This summer, there are several upcoming music releases that have caught my attention, both from some of my longtime favorite musicians as well as artists I have newly discovered; here, I have rounded up the three summer 2025 album releases that I am the most eager to dive into.
“Virgin” by Lorde
Lorde’s album releases have all occurred in four-year intervals, which makes her public reemergence all the more enthralling each time she returns. Nearly four years after the release of her third record “Solar Power,” she is back to her typical release schedule with her upcoming album, “Virgin,” scheduled to release on June 27.
“Solar Power” was met with heavy criticism, with many claiming its content felt forced and out-of-touch. Four years later, Lorde has made it a point to veer into new territory. So far, this record’s two singles succeed in sounding classically Lorde but also new and fresh. “What Was That” is a pulsing, up-tempo track that reflects on carefree youthfulness, and “Man of the Year” is a ballad that explores changing and outgrowing identities.
Although Lorde has been a frequent collaborator of producer Jack Antonoff in the past, she worked on “Virgin” with a new team of producers, including Dev Hynes of Blood Orange and Dan Nigro. She has described the record as “clear—like bathwater, windows, ice, spit.” She has also spoken at length about this record being an exploration of identity, gender and self-perception. I am beyond excited to hear how these lyrical themes will mesh with the production style of its stacked team of producers.
“Addison” by Addison Rae
Addison Rae is most widely known for being a viral TikTok dancer, but this summer, she is establishing herself as a musical act to watch, releasing her full-length musical debut. Ahead of its release, she has already dropped several promising singles including “Diet Pepsi,” “Aquamarine,” “High Fashion,” “Headphones On” and most recently “Fame is a Gun.” The LP is titled “Addison” and will be released on June 6.
Rae is far from a “Gen-Z Britney Spears” as some chronically online fans ambitiously claim. However, she seems to be carving out a unique space for herself to exist within today’s landscape of pop girls – one for the internet pop star. Rae’s pop persona is much like her Tik Tok persona – whimsical, campy, seemingly clueless – but fused with a sense of irony and esotericism that sets her apart from the modern pop star model. The visuals and singles for this record cycle have been auspicious and enchanting, sparking public critical interest in Rae’s artistic potential.
While her recent string of singles may not have been mainstream global hits, they have certainly struck a chord of success with a niche online audience, with songs such as “Diet Pepsi” scoring a viral TikTok moment last August. As an observant spectator of pop music and culture and a fan of the singles from this album campaign, I am eager to see how Rae’s artistic output will take shape with the release of her debut record.
“Precipice” by Indigo De Souza
Indie musician Indigo De Souza will release her fourth studio album, “Precipice,” on July 25. The record succeeds De Souza’s 2023 album “All of This Will End,” over two years later.
The record cycle for “Precipice” only features one single so far — “Heartthrob,” an up-tempo track expressing De Souza’s anger at past experiences of being taken advantage of physically. She said that the album is inspired by the personal tragedy she endured when Hurricane Helene caused her home to flood and many of her belongings to be destroyed, and that the album’s title comes from feeling “constantly on the precipice, of something horrible, or something beautiful” after her own experiences of personal tragedy.
De Souza’s music is characteristically raw, unrestrained and so fatally human. With its relatable lyrics and often danceable melodies, listening to it can be cathartic. I am looking forward to discovering what new lyrical content De Souza will explore on this record and how the music will fit into my summer.
