We are coming to you live from the Old Caustic Factory, and we are working overtime to bring yet another bustling week of fresh releases. Since the new year, there has been a waterfall of wildly impressive and exhilarating releases from across the musical spectrum, and this week shows no sign of that trend slowing. Our machines are burning through fuel like an oversized Hummer as we dive into triumphant returns from contemporary pop greats and Hip-hop superstars, experimental jazz, refreshing balladry, and everything in between. We are nearing the end of a devastating Winter, and as we unthaw both physically and mentally, music fans have something to rejoice about right now: yet another fantastic New Music Friday.
You can check out Glide’s picks for this week’s best new releases, and be sure to check out our Caustic Spotify playlist, as you won’t want to miss a single second of February’s releases.
Julia Cumming – “My Life”
Julia
Sunflower Bean vocalist Julia Cumming is stepping into the solo spotlight with the announcement of Julia, her proper solo debut album. The 11-song LP is set to arrive on April 24 via Partisan Records, and the lead single is a stirring, autobiographical pop piano ballad. “My Life” finds Cumming in a reflective mood, crooning over thudding pianos and soft percussion, delivering an impressive lead single from an anticipated release.
The Goldberg Sisters – “I’d Rather Go Home Alone”
When The Ships of My Dreams Return
The multi-faceted artist Adam Goldberg returns to his psych-pop moniker, The Goldberg Sisters, for an immersive, daring outing titled When The Ships of My Dreams Return. The 12-song LP is just as ethereal and experiential as the title suggests, with Goldberg stretching the limits of his imaginative sound to blur the lines between confessional folk and unapologetic, exploratory pop. “I’d Rather Go Home Alone” is a stunning example of the middle ground this artist struck, as his left-field vocal melodies fall over a twisting arrangement to emphasize the benefits of moments of isolation.
Bryce Vine – “Smoke & Mirrors”
Let’s Do Something Stupid
Pop-punk and Hip-hop fusion expert Bryce Vine emerges only one year after his acclaimed Motel California LP with another genre-bending example of his catchy hooks and personal writing. Let’s Do Something Stupid finds Vine toying with the limits of the pop-punk genre he holds so close to his heart, employing tropes subtly while manipulating them into something he can parade as his own. “Smoke & Mirrors” is a tune about betrayal and the heartbreak that comes with it, as Vine’s dark vocals deliver an emotionally heavy performance.
Altin Gün – “Gel Yanima Gel”
Garip
Turkish psych-folk revivalists Altin Gün return with their first new LP in three years, and their sonic mental journeys have picked up right where they left off. Garip is a 10-song trip through palpable melodies that bend and twist without breaking, allowing the band to reimagine the same tropes they’re looking to uphold. “Gel Yanima Gel” is an early favorite from this beautifully crafted LP, with hypnotic textures and dramatic vocals that bring the listener into the band’s world.
Baby Keem – “I am not a Lyricist”
Ca$ino
On his first album since 2021’s The Melodic Blue, vocalist/producer Baby Keem returns with an autobiographical account of his troubled upbringing and an ode to the town that raised him, Las Vegas. Ca$ino is Keem’s most personal music to date, 11 songs that effortlessly weave refreshing R&B with introspective raps, further proving the artist’s range and production prowess while immersing listeners in Keem’s story. “I am not a Lyricist” is a cheeky shot at those who tried to pigeonhole the artist far too quickly, as piano keys fall over his mind-bending, vulnerable writing and warping vocals.
The Messthetics & James Brandon Lewis – “Universal Security”
Deface The Currency
After shaking the jazz world to its core with the release of their self-titled collaboration in 2024, punk instrumental giants The Messthetics and jazz guru James Brandon Lewis return with their collaborative sophomore effort. Deface The Currency finds the supergroup exploring spiritual jazz like never before, combining the subgenre’s experimental tendencies with moments of convention. “Universal Security” lands between these two worlds, with moments of blaring brass that bleed into syncopated moments with ease.
Yeek – “Stayin’ Low”
Single
On his first release of 2026, the prolific and ever-evolving Yeek crafts electro-pop bliss. “Stayin’ Low” is a danceable single with unassuming vocals that provide infectious melodies over the distorted, groovy simplicity of the instrumentation. The single arrives after Yeek spent 2025 releasing a string of singles.
Thundercat & Mac Miller – “She Knows Too Much”
Distracted
The latest addition to Thundercat’s undeniable discography, Distracted, is inching closer by the day, but this latest single should make the time fly by. The Mac Miller-assisted “She Knows Too Much” finds the late, great Miller taking over the lead vocals, finding bouncy flows to detail the process of getting over someone. Thundercat’s signature bass tones glide alongside Miller for one of the better singles from Distracted, which is set to arrive on April 3.
Genesis Owusu – “STAMPEDE”
Single
Genesis Owusu continues to prove to be one of the more innovative and refreshing voices in the alt-music scene with his first single of 2026, “STAMPEDE.” The violent grooves of this song become more combustible as Owusu’s animated baritone pummels the punk-influenced arrangement. This single arrives after Owusu released “PIRATE RADIO” and “DEATH CULT ZOMBIE” towards the end of 2025.
Snail Mail – “My Maker”
Ricochet
Snail Mail, the vehicle for guitarist/singer/songwriter Lindsey Jordan, is preparing to release her first album since 2021. Ricochet will enter the world on March 27 via Matador Records, and this week, Jordan released the second preview of the long-awaited LP. “My Maker” combines otherworldly vocals with jangly guitars and the doom of mortality, painting vivid depictions of fear and death.
Benny Sings & Elijah Fox – “Real Person”
Single
Benny Sings continues his prolific release schedule with the emotional, lo-fi bliss of “Real People.” Along with Elijah Fox, Sings’ distorted vocals cascade around gentle piano tones to create a stunning pop ballad with soulful undertones. This single follows the 2025 release of “Castles” and the third instalment of Sings’s Beat Tape series.
Cactus Lee – “By Sunday”
Lee’s Dream
Modern troubadour and contemporary country hero Cactus Lee is wasting no time following up on his 2025 self-titled effort. Lee’s Dream, set to arrive on April 10 via Western Vinyl, is promising to be a 10-song reflection on the ups and downs of life on the road. “By Sunday,” our lead single, is a catchy, nostalgic folk tune with jumpy acoustic instrumentation that emphasizes the longing in the lyrics.
Denzel Curry & The Scythe – “The Scythe”
Strictly 4 The Scythe
The Scythe, the contemporary Hip-hop collective led by Denzel Curry and including FERG, TiaCorine, Bktherula, and Key Nyata, is gearing up for its collective debut with the release of its second single. “THE SCYTHE” is a southern Hip-hop anthem that evokes the feel of classic Memphis rap while highlighting the group’s passion for the modern scene. With impressive verses from FERG and TiaCorine, the latest single joins “LIT EFFECT” as a preview of this eight-song project, which will be released on March 6.
Dallas Good & Richard Reed Parry – “Alone Alone”
Were The Watchtowers
Arcade Fire’s Richard Reed Parry and The Sadies’ Dallas Good are combining forces on Were The Watchtowers, a collaborative LP set to be a Record Store Day exclusive on April 18. There is a mystique to this release that is simply captivating, and the duo offers a third preview with the release of their latest single, “Alone Alone.” The new single from the anticipated album explores a world without people and the possibilities of what nature can become without human interference, all while glorious vocals soar over off-kilter acoustics.
Yebba – “Yellow Eyes”
Jean
One of the most sought-after songwriters and vocalists in contemporary pop and Hip-hop, Yebba is finally ready to make her return. Jean, the sophomore effort from the artist, will be released on March 6, and the lead single is mesmerizing to say the least. “Yellow Eyes” highlights the individuality Yebba brings to modern pop. With a simple arrangement that allows her entrancing vocals to flourish, Yebba details a love lost before it had a fair chance.
