Pressure makes diamonds. Amy Shark’s soft pop (via Wonderlick/Sony Music) might just be one of those rare gems.

The Australian singer and songwriter’s fourth studio album, out today (July 24) and featuring the previously-released singles “The Biggest Dick,” “Our Last Fight,” “Child of Divorce” and “It’s Kinda Hot,” was shaped by isolation, with strict time constraints, in a foreign land.

Pressure, all of it.

Shark, a proud Queenslander, born and raised on the Gold Coast, decamped to the Welsh town of Barry, where she cut the LP in the studio of longtime producer Dann Hume (Matt Corby, Tash Sultana, Troye Sivan), in an old, converted church.

The project, a sink-or-swim adventure, was thrust upon Shark by her husband and manager Shane Billings.

“I hadn’t written a song in a hot minute and I wasn’t even interested,” she recounts in a chat over Zoom. “I was just super-exhausted. Everyone goes through those moments, but I really hit a bit of a low and I found it really hard to get back up. He knew I was in this weird cycle, where what makes me happy is writing the song, but I don’t want to write the song. He knew I really want my happy places in the studio and making music.”

So, gentle pressure was applied. The studio was booked, with a hard start date. “I’m like, ‘yeah, but I’ve got no songs. So whatever. Just cancel, like, that’s embarrassing.’ I was just getting so mad at him. He said, ‘you’ve got a month. You just write it yourself.’”

There was no ducking out. With time ticking away, Amy committed, focused, got to work. The cone of silence descended for one month of writing, followed by that stretch in Wales where a local café was the only getaway. The magic returned. “It was such a rollercoaster, but I’m just so proud of myself. I really went for it,” she continues. While in Hume’s sessions, Shark set her phone to “do not disturb” for the entire month.

“I needed that project. I needed something to sink my teeth into.” And bite down she did, building a collection of 11 intimate songs, with no co-writes, no guest features, no drums.

Shark is coming in hot off three consecutive No. 1 albums, most recently 2024’s Sunday Sadness. Across her career, Shark has collected eight ARIA Awards and four APRA APRAs, including the coveted song of the year, and landed multi-platinum singles including “I Said Hi,” “Everybody Rise” and “Adore,” which established her as one of Australia’s outstanding pop artists.

The physical challenge that was the creation of soft pop hasn’t been her only pressure test of late. Shark made her feature film debut this year in the fight flick Beast, cast in a central role alongside Russell Crowe, Dan Macpherson and Luke Hemsworth. “I’m stoked that I’m a part of this amazing movie,” she enthuses. “Not every actress gets to experience their first role with an a-lister,” she says of Crowe, “let alone an a-lister that gave me the time of day, and really helped me so much.”

Whether soft pop flies to the top of the chart leaderboard like its predecessors, isn’t the point. “It would be great, because it feels special to get the No. 1, but I don’t think I’m gonna be as devastated as I might have been in the past,” she explains. “Another thing I’ve kind of learned over the years is to just, like, really enjoy the process and not rely so much on outcomes.” Also, Charli xcx is “coming in hot on the same day,” Shark says with a laugh.

Stream soft pop below.

Charli xcx‘s next era is here. The British pop star released her Music, Fashion, Film album on Friday (July 24), which follows Charli helming the Wuthering Heights soundtrack in February.

Charli’s new LP boasts 11 songs in total, including her four previously released singles: “Camera,” “SS26,” “Rock Music” and “Wink Wink.”

The album’s closer, “No One Lasts Forever,” features the project’s lone guest, a conversation with director David Cronenberg. Charli told Triple J that she paid him a visit in Toronto.

“We spoke for an hour,” she explained. “We kind of chose the parts that felt most related to the song. The entire conversation is just so interesting. He’s such an interesting person, and smart and kind. I could listen to him talk forever… I think he has a really interesting perspective on legacy and art and artists.”

Charli gave fans an early taste of the album when performing select tracks from the LP during her underplay shows in NYC and London earlier in July.

Following the arrival of Music, Fashion, Film, Charli will hit the road for a North American arena tour. The trek is slated to kick off in Philadelphia on Sept. 11 and will make stops in Brooklyn, Toronto, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Charli xcx leveled up in the pop zeitgeist with her Brat album in June 2024, which reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and won three Grammys. The project marks her highest-charting LP to date.

Stream Music, Fashion, Film below.

Nivea revealed an unfortunate health update during a recent drive around Atlanta with CadillacChroniclesTV.

After she performed a couple of her classic hits plus a new track from an upcoming project, host Mr. Brian Freeman asked the R&B singer what she was thankful for and that when she broke the news that she’s been battling leukemia.

“Well, first of all, I was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year, and I’m so grateful to God,” she told Freeman. “I’ve been going through treatment, and everything is going great, so far. And I expect it to continue. Amen, amen, amen. Very grateful for life. It’s so cliché to say you don’t know the time nor the hour, but it’s true and it just helped me put a lot of things in perspective, and I live in gratitude, like, religiously, and I’m just grateful for everything.”

She’s staying positive, though, as she’s back focusing on her music and is currently enrolled in audio engineering school. “I’m doing things I wanna do,” the 44-year-old mother of four said. “I’m definitely back into my music, and I’m going to school for audio engineering. I’ve always wanted to learn how to engineer, and mixing engineering in particular.” 

Nivea then said that she’s trying to be “more present in the the moment” as she continues to love her kids while also being grateful and taking every opportunity that comes her way.

The Grammy-nominated artist did not specify which form of the blood cancer that she’s currently fighting.

Grace Abrams is definitely an Arianator. In a clip from her recent interview with BBC Radio 1 posted Wednesday (July 22), the singer/songwriter praised Ariana Grande up and down for her artistry and devotion to fans.

Calling the pop powerhouse an “unmatched voice and presence,” Abrams said, “I do think her connection with her fanbase … it’s remained so intimate despite the fact that she’s the biggest star.”

“I’m really in awe that despite the scale she’s at, there is still such a close attention to detail and wanting to give her fans the best possible version of the show,” she continued, calling herself a “big fan and deep admirer” of Grande’s.

In June, Abrams showed her love for the Wicked actress by covering “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love),” which is one of Grande’s 10 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits, at the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge.

Grande is currently on her Eternal Sunshine Tour, her first proper trek in about seven years. At the end of the month, she’ll release her eighth studio album, Petal, which was led by single “Hate That I Made You Love Me.”

Abrams, meanwhile, is fresh off the release of her own new album, Daughter From Hell — two bonus tracks from which, “Out of Nowhere” and “Love Letter,” she dropped Sunday. In December, she’ll launch her Look at My Life Tour in support of the project, kicking off Dec. 2 in Denver and spanning dates in North America and Europe.

Watch Abrams gush about Grande below.

It may drive him crazy just how fast the night changes, but One Direction‘s music will always live on in Louis Tomlinson‘s heart.

This Thursday (July 23) marks the 16-year anniversary of 1D’s formation on X Factor, kicking off what was arguably the biggest boy-band revival of the 2010s. In celebration of the milestone, the British singer-songwriter posted a number of songs from the group’s hit-filled discography on his Instagram Story and shared how he really feels about them, starting with 2012’s “Moments.”

“So many special memories with this one,” Tomlinson wrote of the Up All Night cut, which Ed Sheeran helped write.” Absolutely classic @teddysphotos Melody. First time I ever felt really proud of my own vocal on track.”

Of “Na Na Na,” Tomlinson said, “Peak lyricism,” and of “Kiss You,” he said: “Always loved this one.”

“Not my fav but huge pop song,” he added of “Live While We’re Young,” which reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Still remember shooting the video clearly, some amazing memories that day!”

The musician shouted out a couple of tracks that he associates with individual bandmates in particular as well, noting that “Over Again” always “reminds me of Niall for some reason.”

“Pretty Sure this was when Liam first discovered his falsetto, I remember how proud we all were,” he added of “More Than This,” giving his late bandmate props. “He sounds incredible!”

After originating on X Factor, Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Zayn Malik would go on to achieve four-sold out world tours, four No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 and six top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. It all started on July 23, 2010, when Simon Cowell invited the boys — each of whom had been cut as soloists from the competition show — to return as a band.

It’s now been a decade since 1D split up in 2016, throughout which all five of the members forged successful solo careers. Tomlinson is currently in the midst of touring in support of his most recent solo album, How Did I Get Here?, which debuted at No. 16 on the Billboard 200 in February.

“Coming out of a band the size of One Direction, eyes are on you, and you’re expected to succeed instantly,” he told Billboard‘s Jason Lipshutz in his January cover story. Those things are normal to feel, but if you let it, it’ll steer you [toward] the wrong decisions. I’ve tried to come at this record with a bit more of a bird’s eye view.”

Selena Gomez celebrated another trip around the sun with plenty of love and a homemade Italian feast.

On Wednesday (July 22), Benny Blanco posted an intimate Reel documenting the couple cooking Gomez’s birthday dinner together, opening the video with a simple statement from Blanco: “Let’s make an Italian feast for my wife’s birthday.”

The newlyweds spend the video in the kitchen, preparing each course. They began by making fresh pasta dough, mixing together the ingredients before rolling, cutting and cooking the noodles. Once the meal was ready, Gomez tried a forkful of pasta and smiled with an unmistakable look of pleasure and approval. From there, the pair moved on to roasted squash blossoms stuffed with an herbed ricotta filling. Gomez helped pipe the cheese mixture into each blossom before the couple arranged them for roasting with olive oil, lemon and fresh herbs.

The centerpiece of the meal was a homemade eggplant parmesan, with Blanco and Gomez layering fried eggplant, tomato sauce and cheese before baking the Italian dish until bubbly and golden. Blanco noted that the eggplant parmesan is best served atop a slice of bread.

The birthday cooking took place the day of Gomez celebrating turning 34 on July 22. The singer and actress and Blanco, who collaborated on their joint album I Said I Love You First earlier this year (which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200), have continued giving fans peeks into their lovely life together since tying the knot, with their latest kitchen video diary proving to be equally affectionate and delicious.

Watch the two cook their romantic dinner together below.

Haters, look away now. The Black Eyed Peas “My Humps” is officially a stone-cold hit.

The 2005 track this week enters YouTube’s Billion Views Club as it passes one billion streams.

Lifted from the hip-hop act’s fourth studio album Monkey Business, “My Humps” is their third music video to reach the milestone after “Where Is the Love?” and “RITMO,” their collaboration with J Balvin for the Bad Boys for Life soundtrack.

The track was written by the act’s will.i.am and samples lines from Sexual Harassment’s 1983 single, “I Need a Freak,” penned by Lynn Tolliver (real name: David Payton).

Its intended target was initially meant to be the Pussycat Dolls, but the Black Eyed Peas made it their own, with Fergie and will.i.am as the main vocalists.

“My Humps” was the group’s second single to reach the top three on the Billboard Hot 100, after “Don’t Phunk with My Heart” (both peaked at No. 3), and nabbed a Grammy Award for best pop performance by a duo or group with vocals.

Although a massive commercial success, “My Humps” was as polarizing as it was popular. Its lyrics, which include the repeated line, “my lovely lady lumps,” was the subject of countless column inches, many of them harsh. In one analysis published by Slate under the title “Notes on ‘Humps’. A song so awful it hurts the mind,” Hua Hsu writes, “This is what makes ‘My Humps’ such an inscrutable pop moment. It’s not Awesomely Bad; it’s Horrifically Bad.” Other journalist were less kind.

Whatever, “My Humps” was a winner.

Its music video, directed by Fatima Robinson and Malik Hassan Sayeed, and featuring Fergie dancing with backup dancers amongst the luxury items apparently gifted by her many suitors, went on to scoop best hip-hop video at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards.

In May of this year, the Black Eyed Peas reunited publicly onstage for the first time since Fergie split in 2018, for a surprise appearance at the American Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena while accepting the best throwback song award for “Rock That Body.”

Watch the music video for The Black Eyed Peas “My Humps” below.

Budjerah is a fair dinkum Australian triple-threat: a young man with the voice of an angel, the patience of a saint, and the style of a gentleman.

Hailing from Fingal Head, a popular surf spot in northern New South Wales, Budjerah (full name: Budjerah Julum Slabb) is one of the most promising artists of his generation, boasting a trophy cabinet stacked with ARIA and APRA Awards, and bragging rights. Among them, a collaboration with Ed Sheeran on “2step,” and a spot on the Englishman’s 2023 stadium tour of these parts.

What he doesn’t have in his resume is a full-length album. That all changes on Friday, July 24 with the release of Gentleman. Led by the singles “Even At Worst”, “Could I Be”, “Want You Back” and the title track, the 11-track collection is his debut full-length LP through a deal with Warner Music Australia, partnering with Warner Records in the United States.

Almost five years have passed since he collected best newcomer honors at the 2021 ARIA Awards, becoming the first winner of an award renamed after the late impresario Michael Gudinski, presented during a lockdown edition of the industry ceremony. At the time, he was already part of the WMA stable.

“Yeah, it did take a long time. There were definitely moments where I was like, ‘oh, oh, come on,’” Budjerah says of the lost-gestating project. “I think it all turned out how it was supposed to.”

Budjerah is the gentleman of the project. The 24-year-old artist is softly spoken, and dapper in a grey suit, for his interview with Billboard at Warner Music Australia’s offices in Sydney. “I like to dress up, so I thought it would be fun,” he says of the album’s title and artwork. Ahead of the release, his team secured another essential piece for his wardrobe by striking an alliance with Akubra, the iconic Australian hat-maker which this year celebrates its 150th anniversary (Budjerah wears a Slim Dusty design, a nod to the late, great country artist, for a new campaign.)

The proud Coodjinburra man was raised singing gospel music in the church band. He counts Michael Jackson, Usher, Beyonce and, more recently, Puerto Rican artist Rauw Alejandro among his sources of inspiration, but points to Stevie Wonder and gospel music as “the foundation of my technique and my musical understanding.”

Gentleman is the work of a perfectionist, getting at it with studio-sharpened pros. Produced by Om’Mas Keith (Frank Ocean, Jay-Z), the collection also features the songwriting talents of Diane Warren on album closer “Even At My Worst,” and songwriters Autumn Rowe (Alexis Jordan, Kylie Minogue), Kizzo Keaz (Jon Batiste, Ne-Yo), and Philip Lawrence (Bruno Mars).

The result, a collection of up-tempo, performance-ready works with a nostalgic flavor.

“I learned a lot,” Budjerah says of his time with Keith, and the late-night sessions that sort the real talent from the rest. “I really enjoy having a producer or collaborators that are way better than me so I can learn.” The Australian more-than kept up. Keith “held me to a standard of, like, a lot of older singers,” he admits.

Much has happened since the Gentleman project began simmering almost four years ago. Budjerah kept his growing fanbase connected and ready with a string of singles and EPs, and tours. Ands he recently got married to his high school sweetheart, Sophie. Australian Vogue shared the official photos.

He’s all grown up. A Gentleman.

The album is “inspired by who I wanted to be when I was growing up,” he explains in a statement. “Between my life at home and life on the road, I experienced so much change and growth. Chasing my dreams I faced new challenges which helped me understand who I wanted to be. Every song on this album holds a piece of me. I hope little Budjerah is proud.”

He’ll support the record in his homeland with a five-date national tour this October and November, a new-look production with high-energy dancers and a slick, full band featuring several members of his extended family. Before that, three acoustic performances and album signings in the final days of July.

In time, Budjerah hopes to bring his new music to audiences in North America. “I guess time will tell,” he says. Patience, as we know, is part of his skillset.

Almost 40 years after its release, Roxette’s “It Must Have Been Love” has finally been granted entry to YouTube’s Billion Views Club.

The official music video crosses the threshold this week, and is the Swedish pop duo’s first to do so. Originally issued in 1987, “It Must Have Been Love” features clips from the romcom Pretty Woman, after a version of the song appeared on its official soundtrack and was heard in a pivotal emotional moment near the end of the movie.

When Pretty Woman opened in cinemas in 1990, movie-goers fans fell hard for Roxette’s power ballad, and for late singer Marie Fredriksson’s powerhouse vocals. It’s a transcendent performance from Fredriksson, one that that strikes the perfect balance of melodrama and restraint.

In the United States, the single logged two weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 in 1990, and logged 25 weeks on the chart. It’s one of four Roxette leaders in the United States, and the only cut to land multiple weeks at No. 1. Across the Atlantic, the single peaked at No. 3 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, and stayed in the frame for 14 weeks.

During her lifetime, Fredriksson enjoyed 12 appearances on the Hot 100 with Roxette, and three titles on the Billboard 200. Fredriksson was diagnosed with a severe brain tumor in 2002, and received aggressive treatment that took its toll, reportedly leaving her nearly blind in one eye and with limited hearing. She returned to the stage for a Roxette comeback tour in 2009, but called time on live performances in 2016, on doctors’ advice. The talented artist died in 2019 following a 17-year long battle with cancer.

Roxette is currently touring Europe for the Live – Back Again! 2026 tour, celebrating the 40th anniversary of their debut album, with a lineup featuring founder and main songwriter Per Gessle and Swedish star Lena Philipsson taking on female lead vocals.

Watch the official music video for “It Must Have Been Love” below.