The Best Music Releases We Couldn’t Get Enough of in May 2026

We may be saying hello to June, but that doesn’t mean we’re bidding farewell to these songs released in May. Ahead, find out what our favourite needle drops from the month were and the best music releases you should add to your playlist now.

Ariana Grande – ‘hate that i made you love me’

Ariana Grande officially kicks off her new era with the release of her new single, ‘hate that i made you love me’. Starring Justin Long in a horror-inspired music video, the moody track marks the first release from her highly anticipated eighth studio album, petal, arriving on 31 July—and we have to say, we’re loving the sound of it already.

Aespa – Lemonade

Leading K-pop girl group, Aespa, returns with the sour-sweet Lemonade, their second studio album since 2024’s Armageddon. Diving deeper into Aespa’s lore of ae doubles and AI deepfakes, all 11 songs on the album cement the quintet’s futuristic sound in their most sonically cohesive record yet. With the pre-release single ‘WDA (Whole Different Animal)’ featuring G-Dragon and title track ‘Lemonade’, Aespa explores what it means to live unapologetically in this digital world.

Anderson .Paak – K-POPS!

Nine-time Grammy Award-winning artist Anderson .Paak has been deep in his K-pop era, and he has an album to show for it. Inspired by the genre and Paak’s directorial debut of the same name, K-POPS! is an original album consisting of 17 tracks that brings multiple K-pop idols, South Korean artists, and other star performers from various genres and nationalities together. Some of our standouts include the infectious new single ‘Aftertaste’ featuring South Korean alt-R&B artist DEAN, which reunites the duo more than a decade after their last collaboration, and the fiery focus track ‘Caution’ with K-pop powerhouse NMIXX.

Henry Lau – ‘Enjoy the Show’

He’s back! Multi-talented artist Henry Lau brings ‘Enjoy the Show’, an energetic pop anthem packed with bright melodies, explosive hooks, and uplifting singalong moments. Blending his signature violin sound with subtle country-inspired influences, the track is a banger that will have you up on your feet!

Daniel Seavey – ‘Love’s a Gun’

Singer-songwriter and producer Daniel Seavey (who previously co-founded Why Don’t We) unveiled his newest single, ‘Love’s a Gun’—a shimmering burst of maximalist pop. The catchy track is reminiscent of other great songs such as Phil Collins’ ‘Another Day in Paradise’ and Gotye’s ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’, which just calls for an automatic download to our playlist.

Olivia Rodrigo – ‘the cure’ 

Olivia Rodrigo is seriously whetting our appetite for her upcoming third studio album with ‘the cure’. Directed by Cat Solen and Jaime Gerin, the official music video for the pop star’s latest single finds Rodrigo in the cold, sterile hallways of a handmade, cardboard hospital in a desperate search to find the antidote for a broken heart. A far cry from the singer’s previously released sappy single, ‘drop dead’, it sounds like Rodrigo is going to serve up real girlhood heartbreak (bad for her, but good for us) for you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, out 12 June.

Taeyang – Quintessence

With new artists cropping up every month, Taeyang, the iconic member of K-pop royalty Big Bang, shows that he’s not going anywhere. On 18 May, the singer returned with his highly anticipated fourth studio album, Quintessence, and it’s everything we could have wanted. With 10 tracks, the album showcases Taeyang’s versatility from dance anthems to pop ballads, alongside exciting collaborations with The Kid Laroi and All Day Project’s Woochan and Tarzzan.

Lola Young – ‘From Down Here’ 

Capturing the strange space between joy and pain, longing and clarity, Grammy and BRIT award-winning singer-songwriter Lola Young’s new single ‘From Down Here’ turns the page on her last album while pointing toward a more sonically expansive and emotionally unguarded phase of her artistry.

Zerobaseone – Ascend

In what might just be one of the greatest rebrands in K-pop, Zerobaseone made a triumphant comeback with their EP, Ascend, as a quintet after promoting as a nine-member group for the past two years. Their title track, ‘Top 5’, a sensual and groovy R&B track, sets the tone for Zerobaseone’s new era as the group departs from their youthful concept and ventures into a darker, more mature sound with full confidence.

Gracie Abrams – ‘Hit the Wall’

We’ve got another Gracie Abrams song we’ll be singing at the top of our lungs in the shower. With ‘Hit The Wall’, Abrams explores the raw emotions of self-sabotage and the fear of being loved when you’re struggling to love yourself. With its honest yet heartbreaking message, we have a feeling her forthcoming third studio album, Daughter from Hell, is going to cut deep, and we’re ready!

FLO – ‘Therapy at the Club’ 

In the title track of the same name, ‘Therapy at the Club’ features catchy hooks, smooth vocals, and feel-good energy that will give you the pick-me-up you need. Because, sometimes, going for a night out is a form of self-care. Grab your girlfriends, put your best dress on, and put this anthem on blast! Keep an eye out for their album drop on 23 July.

Wasia Project- ‘Bleeding Gold’

If you’re wondering what nostalgia sounds like, this song comes close. Wasia Project, the alt-pop musical duo formed by siblings Will Gao and Olivia Hardy, unveiled ‘Bleeding Gold’, a wistful ode to growing up, and it’s got us all in our feels. The song is a bittersweet reflection on the transience of youth and the fleeting connections made and lost. ‘Bleeding Gold’ is the second entry to the duo’s debut album, ‘Nocturned’, out 18 September.

Stephen Sanchez – LOVE, LOVE, LOVE 

There’s love in the air as multi-platinum singer-songwriter Stephen Sanchez dropped his sophomore album, Love, Love, Love. Across its 11 tracks, Sanchez gives an incredibly timely and very much needed reminder of the importance of loving one another—not just your romantic partner, but your family, friends, and even strangers.

The Devil Wears Prada 2: Music From The Motion Picture

We’ve already raved about our love for the film’s soundtracks, so naturally, The Devil Wears Prada 2 album has to have a spot on this list. With 13 songs, including three original works by Lady Gaga, and a lineup of artists including Sienna Spiro, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa, Olivia Dean, SZA, Laufey, and more, this album is one we will be spinning for a long time.

Elyn – ‘Call 911’ 

Our very own Malaysian pop artist Elyn Leong officially stepped into her solo era with the release of her debut single, ‘Call 911’, and it’s a bop! Following her time in the girl group Gen1es, the track marks a defining moment in her career as she introduces her individual sound, identity, and creative direction.

Matthew Ifield – ‘Thinking’ 

Sydney-based singer-songwriter Matthew Ifield returned with his new single ‘Thinking’—a tender, emotionally conflicted track exploring overthinking in love and the quiet tension between feeling and expression. For the quiet days when your thoughts get too loud.

CORTIS – GreenGreen

Cortis is fast becoming one of our favourite new-gen K-pop groups, and it’s hard not to see why. After making a splash with their debut album, Colour Outside the Lines, the quintet returned with another equally confident, chaotic, and most importantly, fun EP with GreenGreen. Channelling their youthful energy, tracks such as ‘RedRed’, ‘Acai’, and ‘TNT’ prove that Cortis are powerhouse performers in the making, and pushing the boundaries for what it means to be a K-pop boy group right now.

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