The second week of August is ushering in new eras and closing out old ones. Artists like Olivia Rodrigo, UMI, and Fred again.. are in the process of beginning new musical chapters, while Kelsea Ballerini and Tove Lo are putting the finishing touches on old ones as they prepare to close their respective chapters with extended additions of their most recent projects. “Rolling Up The Welcome Mat (For Good)” and “Dirt Femme (Extended Cut)” both include brand-new tracks as well as re-imagined and extended original songs in order to embark on their new paths. Meanwhile, Olivia Rodrigo is preparing to unveil her sophomore album “GUTS” as she releases her second single. But there’s one thing all of these songs have in common – you’ll race to add them to your playlist as soon as you hear them.

Olivia Rodrigo, “bad idea right?”

In stark contrast to the intense ballad “vampire,” Olivia Rodrigo’s second single from her forthcoming sophomore effort “GUTS” feels like it’s straight from a 90’s teen rom-com soundtrack. Sonically reminiscent of her 2021 hit “brutal,” the fun, upbeat track details Rodrigo’s internal monologue as she debates seeing an ex again – “Yes I know that he’s my ex / But can’t two people reconnect?” The playful music video directed by Petra Collins features Rodrigo’s best friends Madison Hu, Iris Apatow, and Tate McRae. With less than a month to go until the release of “GUTS,” excitement is building for the full tracklist.

Kelsea Ballerini, “Rolling Up The Welcome Mat (For Good)”

When Kelsea Ballerini released her soul-bearing EP “Rolling Up The Welcome Mat” earlier this year, she never intended to even perform the songs live. But after an unprecedented and incredible fan response, Ballerini used her live performances as a way to connect with her audience and move through the difficult divorce detailed on the project. Now, she’s closing the chapter “For Good” with an updated version – including the extended fan favorite “Interlude,” a version of “Blindsided” featuring additional lyrics from her SNL performance, and a live version of “Penthouse” with a four letter, yet extremely significant lyric change (“Now I don’t care where you’re sleeping, baby”). Ballerini ends the EP with a brand-new song about navigating the world of dating as a newly-divorced woman. The fun and playful track closes out the chapter officially, showcasing her growth as an artist and a person over the last year.

Tove Lo, “Elevator Eyes”

Multi-platinum Grammy-nominated artist Tove Lo has officially brought her “Dirt Femme” era to a close with the release of the “Dirt Femme (Extended Cut)” album. The 19-track deluxe edition features 6 new tracks and remixes including the extended version of “No One Dies From Love” and the brand-new track “Elevator Eyes” which arrives with stunning accompanying visuals. The catchy, sensual track is an instant classic that will be stuck in your head all week. The full-circle extended cut is the optimal way to close out an incredible era for Tove Lo – and needless to say, we can’t wait to see what comes next.

UMI, “happy im”

R&B singer-songwriter UMI is back with her optimistic new single and music video “happy im” – an ode to self love as well as romantic love. The soft acoustic guitar layered over her gorgeous vocals as she flows between English and Japanese lyrics evokes the fluttering feeling of butterflies in listeners during the refrain – “Happy I’m Falling for you / Happy I love myself too.” The infectiously uplifting track is enough to cheer audiences up instantaneously.

Sofía Valdés, “Silvia”

23-year-old Panama-born singer-songwriter Sofía Valdés is back with her third and latest EP – “Silvia” – named after her great-grandmother Silvia De Grasse, a famed Panamanian singer. The project – in collaboration with producers Michael Uzowuru (Rosalía), Tyler Johnson (Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus), Carter Lang (SZA), and John Hill (Florence + the Machine, Tinashe) – seamlessly flows between English and Spanish and is a testament to Sofía’s songwriting chops as well as her storytelling abilities.

Fred again.., “adore u”

Following his electrifying Lollapalooza set, Fred again.. is teaming up with Obongjayar on his latest single and first new music drop of the summer – “adore u” – which the duo first performed last weekend in Chicago. The euphoric track is dedicated to Fred’s sister and samples lyrics from Obongjayar’s 2022 debut album. As one of the defining artists in the current electronic music space, Fred again.. is breaking barriers and records left and right.

siiickbrain, “die quietly”

Siiickbrain is back! After a rising year with collaborations from powerhouses Skrillex, Willow, and Maggie Lindemann, the artist is ready to release her debut album next month. She teases this new body of music with a new single, out today.