Days before headlining her inaugural Daisy Chain Fields festival in Irvine, California, superstar Olivia Rodrigo dropped a new song titled “Serena Joy.” The track was originally cut from her third album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, released in June. Named after the antagonist in Margaret Atwood’s novel The Handmaid’s Tale, the dystopian-sounding song explores the character’s complexities and concludes with Rodrigo repeating that everything is fine.
Olivia Rodrigo Drops Serena Joy Ahead of Daisy Chain Fields Festival
With her inaugural Daisy Chain Fields just around the corner, Rodrigo unleashed “Serena Joy” — poignantly named after the Handmaid’s Tale character — earlier in the week. The fiery standalone track calls out those who turn a blind eye to injustice and fittingly arrives in time for the pop star’s all-women festival in Irvine, Calif., which will raise money for organizations supporting women and girls with a lineup that includes Chappell Roan, Doechii, Mitski, The Breeders, Stevie Nicks, Karen O, Sarah McLachlan and more.
The release follows an exclusive physical debut on CD at Analog Records in Orange County. A portion of the net proceeds from the song will be donated to the Daisy Chain Fields Fund. The festival itself aims to support and uplift women and girls, featuring a lineup boasting Chappell Roan, Doechii, Mitski, The Breeders, Stevie Nicks, Karen O, Sarah McLachlan, and more.
JENNIE Launches Fallen Angel Following Solo Debut Ruby
JENNIE leads the pop side of the release calendar with Fallen Angel, her first EP and the follow-up to her solo debut with last year’s full-length Ruby. The digital version features three tracks: “FALLEN ANGEL,” “HEAVEN,” and Less than a Lover. The latter track built early momentum after opening with 2.261 million Spotify streams and reaching the top spot on iTunes in at least 27 countries.
The BLACKPINK star announced the project on August 20, just eight days prior to its release, following a summer festival run that included stops at Governors Ball, Roskilde, Open’er, Mad Cool, Lollapalooza, and Summer Sonic. Fans seeking the complete six-song version can access physical editions containing the additional tracks “Sweettooth,” “Lockitdown,” and “Face.” Meanwhile, bandmates JISOO and LISA are also preparing new solo endeavors. JENNIE enters her next solo era with EP Fallen Angel. The BLACKPINK star’s latest set comes as two of her bandmates — JISOO and LISA — are also gearing up for new solo endeavors, as recently announced. Imagine the bite of “like JENNIE” only stripped down and ethereal — that’s “Heaven.” JENNIE sounds entirely self-assur. Fans who want the complete six-song version will need the physical edition. In addition to the three digital tracks, the CD contains “Sweettooth,” “Lockitdown” and “Face,” which were announced as physical-exclusive songs.
Alex Warren and Rod Wave Lead Major Album Releases
Alex Warren returns with his second full-length album, WILDCHILD, following last year’s You’ll Be Alright, Kid, which included his breakout hit and Hot 100 No. 1 “Ordinary.” The new 13-track project features downtempo ballads alongside uptempo songs like Fever Dream” and “Emerald Eyes.” The rollout began in February with singles capturing both the rush of falling for someone and the dizzying experience of sudden fame. Building on the momentum of his 2025 album You’ll Be Aright, Kid, Warren returns with a new full-length titled WILDCHILD. Alex Warren’s second album swiftly follows last year’s You’ll Be Alright, Kid that included his breakout hit and Hot 100 No. 1 “Ordinary.” And while WILDCHILD does include some downtempo pop ballads (Fine Place To Die,
I Miss You More
), his signature soaring vocals are best highlighted on the album’s more punchy uptempo songs (“Fever Dream,” “Emerald Eyes”). As the project’s title implies, Warren is living it up a bit more this time around — or should I say, getting a bit wild by his standards — and as a result, sneaks in a final few summer smashes. Wildchild was formally announced in early June through an Instagram sketch featuring Kevin James as a director watching a production collapse around him. The finished album contains 13 tracks. On the hip-hop front, Rod Wave drops his mega 24-track seventh album, Don’t Look Down. The project features guest appearances from R&B singer-songwriter Summer Joy, R&B artist Luv Von, Irish singer-songwriter Aimee Carty, and Australian indie-folk artist Hazlett. Rod Wave drops his mega 24-track seventh album, Don’t Look Down… plus much more. Young Thug rounds out the week with Slime Language 3, the latest YSL Records compilation and the sequel to 2021’s Slime Language 2.”
Additional Standouts Across New Music Friday
The busy release calendar also features indie-pop singer flowerovlove sharing her debut album, Mini Skirt Warrior, led by focus track girls will be girls
with the project’s sole feature Willow. Other new projects include Rod Wave’s Don’t Look Down, Billy Strings’ So Much for Goodbyes, Alabama Shakes’ I Must Be Dreaming, Natanael Cano’s self-titled album, Ladrones’ Arriba La L, Erykah Badu and The Alchemist’s Before The World Blows, Ky-Mani Marley’s Love and Energy and Carly Pearce’s Honest Woman. Plus, new singles from flowerovlove and Willow, Angèle and Chase & Status featuring Debbie — girls will be girls,
“Une seule vie” and “Gone Too Far,” respectively — are out now for fans to dive into.
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