4 albums you need to hear this week

In the age of streaming, it’s never been easier to listen to new music — but with over 60,000 new songs added to Spotify every day, it’s also never been harder to know what to put on. Every week, the team at Rolling Stone UK will run down some of the best new releases that have been added to streaming services.

This week, we’ve highlighted records by Anna Calvi , Naomi Scott, BTS and Avalon Emerson.

Anna Calvi – Is This All There Is?

A who’s who of great modern American songwriters appear on Anna Calvi’s new EP. Iggy Pop, Laurie Anderson, Matt Berninger and Perfume Genius are all present on a record that sees Calvi as a flexible and generous collaborator. Alongside her collaborators, this record – the first in a trilogy – sees her grappling with motherhood and tackling the fundamentals of existence: “I didn’t want to take anything for granted any more. I want to exist in the best way for my child. I wanted to ask the most basic human question – is this all there is?”

Listen on: Spotify | ‎Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music

Naomi Scott – F.I.G

On her debut album, Smile 2 and Aladdin star Naomi Scott proves she’s a brilliant music artist in her own right too. 80s-esque soundscapes and alt-pop moments collide with massive hooks and admirable honesty to deliver a record that will live long in the memory. That’s particularly true of her latest single ‘Losing You’, a solemn ode to the reality of long distance relationships. I’m really proud of how meticulous it is but also how completely free I’ve been with the creative process,” she says of the record. “This has been years ofhoning, craft, and detail and getting it exactly how I want it to be, working people I love, creating a soundscape that feels unique to our world, but also nostalgic and familiar.

Listen on: Spotify | ‎Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music

BTS – Arirang

It’s been a long time waiting for fans, but on their tenth album, band members RM, Suga, J-Hope, Jin, Jung Kook, V and Jimin have delivered a record which more than makes up for the time they’ve been away on mandatory national service. Over 14 genre-splicing tracks, BTS prove they’re still a huge global force to be reckoned with…

Listen on: Spotify | ‎Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music

Avalon Emerson & The Charm – Written Into Changes

Listen on: Spotify | ‎Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music

When she released her album & the Charm in 2023, Avalon Emerson – one of the best and most exciting dance producers and DJs of the 21st century – surprised many with a soft and dreamy alt-pop side project. Its welcome return on new album Written Into Changes sees the Charm project spread its wings, both closer to her dance productions and further away towards stark, minimalist pop music. “That’s the dream scenario for any artist, where you feel like you have an open green field and it doesn’t feel stagnant or pigeonholed or like you’re in a box,” she told Rolling Stone UK of the ongoing impact of the Charm on her creative process. “I try to follow the threads that lead me towards that open-ended excitement.”