Photo credit: Jack Morgan (IG: @jackmorgan07 ) Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt Photos by Jack Morgan Independent pop singer-songwriter...

Ed Sheeran’s Play is the first in his new “media control” series (Play, Pause, Rewind, Fast Forward, Stop), and it’s the most sonically adventurous he’s been in years. Recorded partly in Goa, the album fuses Ed’s classic singer-songwriter core with Indian percussion, Punjabi and Persian influences, and a heavy dose of dance-floor energy.

Hilary Duff has officially signed with Atlantic Records, marking her first major label deal in a decade. The announcement comes with the promise of a docuseries directed by The Eras Tour’s Sam Wrench, which will document her creative rebirth. After nearly ten years of musical silence, she’s stepping back into the spotlight with a rollout designed to surprise rather than over-explain.

From sultry slow-burners to high-energy bangers, we’ve gathered the best of the best that deserve a spot in your rotation ASAP.