[January 2026] Summary of the Latest Western Music Releases

Big GuyIce Spice

Ice Spice – Big Guy from (“The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants”)

Ice Spice, a drill rapper from the Bronx, New York, made a striking debut in 2022 with “Munch (Feelin’ U)” and swiftly rose to pop-icon status through collaborations with Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift.

Her original track for the soundtrack of the film The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, released in November 2025, was crafted to symbolize the moment of growth in the movie when SpongeBob finally gets to ride a roller coaster.

Clocking in at around two and a half minutes, the compact track blends self-love lyrics that declare confidence from the moment you wake up with a bouncy, cartoonish pop beat, produced by her longtime collaborator RIOTUSA.

Ice Spice also appears in the film as a voice actor, making this another major franchise collaboration following Barbie and an important work that further expands her career.

Packed with catchy hooks perfect for sharing on social media, this song is recommended for listeners of all ages.

Past Won’t Leave My BedJoji

Joji – Past Won’t Leave My Bed (Official Video)

This is a piano-led ballad that portrays the aching feeling of being unable to escape a past love that clings relentlessly.

George is a Japan-born singer and producer signed to the Asia-based label 88rising, and has released albums such as Nectar and SMITHEREENS.

This work was unveiled in November 2025 and was released ahead of the album Piss In The Wind, scheduled for February 2026.

The visionary image of an ex-lover’s face sticking to the wall—both in sleep and after waking—is delicately expressed through his wistful vocals and the piano’s lingering resonance.

Though it runs a brief 2 minutes and 46 seconds, the pain of being unable to break free from memory slowly sinks in.

Recommended for moments when you want to quietly face your own emotions.

PalacesLouis Tomlinson

Palaces

Louis Tomlinson, who rose to fame as the oldest member of the global boy band One Direction.

His new song, released in November 2025, is the second single from the upcoming album “How Did I Get Here?” due in January 2026, and it’s crafted as bright, effervescent guitar pop.

Centered on a romantic relationship, the lyrics liken a sanctuary built in one’s heart to a “palace,” marking a shift from the loss and inner turmoil of past works to a sense of happiness—so much so that his girlfriend has praised it on social media.

With an anthemic sound made for live performance, it’s likely to be a major highlight of his 2026 world tour.

Recommended for anyone who wants to feel his renewed confidence and positive energy following his previous UK chart-topping release.

DopamineRobyn

Robyn – Dopamine (Official Music Video)

In November 2025, Robyn released her first completely solo single in seven years, following her 2018 album Honey.

Titled after a neurotransmitter in the brain, the song portrays the human fragility and strength of surrendering to feelings—while questioning whether the rush of romance is merely a chemical reaction or true love.

Built on an electro-disco palette of house beats and synthesizers, and topped with clear, emotionally rich vocals, it’s crafted to resonate both on the dance floor and at home.

Distilling a challenge to today’s impulse to explain emotion through science into a three-minute pop song, it’s a remarkable track.

MERCY KILLAlice Glass

MERCY KILL (Official Video)

Alice Glass, the electro-punk icon from Toronto, Canada.

After her work with Crystal Castles, she has forged a singularly dark aesthetic with releases like the album PREY//IV.

The track she released in November 2025 is a ferocious piece where noise and beats rage uncontrollably.

Within the destructive shimmer of electronic sound, vocals that slip between whispers and screams melt into the mix, evoking a visceral catharsis—as if a survivor were severing ties with past trauma.

The music video, which became a hot topic, uses 16mm film corroded with chemicals, strikingly visualizing “destruction and rebirth.” It’s a perfect recommendation for blowing away pent-up gloom or for solitary, late-night immersion.

Do Itunderscores

underscores — Do It

underscores is the solo project of April Harper Grey, born in 2000.

Pivoting around hyperpop while freely moving through indie rock and electropop, she has steadily built her career with her debut album fishmonger (2021) and Wallsocket (2023).

Released in November 2025, this track serves as a lead single that bridges to her next album.

It’s a fully self-made song, with Grey handling everything from songwriting and production to mixing, mastering, and even directing the music video.

A dance track woven from sharp four-on-the-floor kicks and energetic synth stabs, it stands out for its cool, first-person reflections on self-determination and boundaries.

Dropped right before the start of her North American tour—including a joint run with Danny Brown—it’s a release poised to ignite live crowds.

Arms070 Shake

Arms

070 Shake, who is signed to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D.

Music and has garnered attention for her distinctive husky voice and genre-blurring sound, released a stunning new track in late November 2025 in collaboration with Swedish contemporary composer Jacob Mühlrad.

The piece is a cinematic ballad layered with serene piano and strings, standing out among her work for its strikingly introspective beauty.

The lyrics are moving, portraying a heart that seeks solace in love yet can’t escape past wounds and fears, drifting like a wanderer.

With an immersive, filmic quality, it’s a perfect song for a quiet night when you want to turn inward and reflect.