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With RuPaul’s Drag Race bringing back their Rate-a-Queen system for season 17, Billboard decided to rate each of the new queens every week based on their performance. Below, we look at the final main stage challenge of the season to see who made the cut for the finale. Spoilers ahead for episode 14. Fourteen episodes […]
From the final Dreamville Fest to a beautiful, memory lane-traversing headlining set from J. Cole, this weekend belonged to North Carolina. And after Duke’s devastating loss on Saturday (April 5), that’s the least the universe could do.
In addition to Cole, Dreamville Fest 2025 headliners included Lil Wayne (with Hot Boys and Big Tymers), 21 Savage and Erykah Badu. Tems, Coco Jones, Wale, and GloRilla all delivered stellar sets, while Dreamville stars Ari Lennox, JID, Earthgang, Omen, Cozz, Lute and Bas paid tribute to the label’s history and legacy with each of their performances. Although Cole did not drop new music from his highly anticipated The Fall Off album, two other stars confirmed forthcoming LPs. DJ Swamp Izzo revealed that Playboi Carti’s Baby Boi album is finished, and Ab-Soul spoke to Billboard about Soul Burger: The Odyssey, a separate project from his 2022 LP that continues his tribute to the late Doaeburger.
On the charts, Drake is up to No. 3 on the Hot 100 with “Nokia” following the release of its official IMAX music video. On the Billboard 200, Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine: Brighter Days Ahead deluxe album returned to No. 1, besting Carti’s Music (No. 2) and Lil Durk’s newly released Deep Thoughts (No. 3).
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With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from a poignant gospel-infused duet to Jai’Len Josey’s bouncy new single. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: Eric Roberson feat. BJ the Chicago Kid, “Where You Gonna Go”
Grammy-nominated crooners Eric Roberson and BJ the Chicago Kid for a gorgeous, soulful new single. Produced by Rodney Jones, the Detroit hip-hop-inflected and gospel-infused track explores moving with life when you’re supposed to instead of forcing harmony where there is only dissonance. “Sometimes you gotta go where love will find you/ I’m not saying leave what you love behind you/ But listen to life and move when it’s time to/ ‘Cause you don’t know nothing of who you were yesterday, but everything of who you are today,” he preaches in the first verse. Marking his first musical release of 2025, “Where You Gonna Go” is a promising start to Roberson’s year. — KYLE DENIS
Ray Vaughn, “DOLLAR Menu”
Ray Vaughn has boldly compared his upcoming album to being his version of good kid, m.A.A.d city, and Kendrick Lamar’s influence can be felt on gripping singles like “DOLLAR Menu.” The TDE rapper recalls the days of starving because “last night I had sleep for dinner.” Vaughn narrates his come-up and reflects on navigating the stresses of his relationships with his parents. He even uses a threatening voice note from his mom to close out the track as she urges her son to pay back some cash he owes. Look for the Long Beach native to paint a picture of his life’s story with The Good The Bad The Dollar Menu when it arrives on April 18. — MICHAEL SAPONARA
Ab-Soul, “Untitled”
Produced by none other than Roc Marciano, Soulo couldn’t wait to share this song dedicated to his late friend Armon “Doeburger” Stringer that will more than likely be appearing on his upcoming project Soulburger: The Odyssey. It’s not available on streaming yet, so the only way to listen to it is on his Instagram account and YouTube for now. Soul’s fans like the track so much, they’re in the comments clamoring for an entire tape from the Carson wordsmith and the Long Island producer on some West meets East sh—t. RIP Doe Burger. — ANGEL DIAZ
Destin Conrad & Teezo Touchdown, “The Last Time”
Destin Conrad & Teezo Touchdown was an unexpected collaboration but based on this new track this won’t be “the last time” they link up. The duo lay their emotions bare with their slow-burning reflection on love that just won’t let go. Over a moody beat, they trace the highs and lows of a relationship stuck on repeat, where every ending feels like déjà vu. The chorus’ aching “D–n, d–n, d–n” says it all —frustration, regret and the weight of knowing things won’t change. Even as they acknowledge the cycle, the pull remains too strong to resist. Their voices glide effortlessly, blending pain with melody in a way that lingers long after the song fades — a sad effect of a relationship gone sour. — CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON
Jai’Len Josey, “New Girl”
To introduce her Tricky Stewart-helmed debut studio album, Serial Romantic, rising R&B star Jai’Len Josey has unleashed its lead single, “New Girl.” Produced by Josey, Herothaproducer, Madness & Michael Barney, “New Girl” blends the bouncy piano chords of ballroom and house with flashes of U.K. garage to decorate the track’s R&B foundation. “Don’t be afraid of my loving, boy/ Giving all of my might / You’re liking what you’re seeing/ So come on, baby, put the fire deep in,” she sings, expertly curating a vibe for the thrill of a new connection this summer. — K.D.
PinkPantheress, “Tonight”
PinkPantheress launches into her next era with an addictive bop. The singer’s first attempt at using a U.K. bassline is a successful one. She even takes a more mature approach while talking about her carnal desires and exploring more explicit themes surrounding romance. “Tonight” boasts a sly Panic at the Disco sample and PinkPantheress takes it back to Bridgerton for a royal party in the visual, which features everything from sweaty makeouts to pillow fights and more. Her upcoming Fancy That mixtape drops on May 9. — M.S.
Sauce Walka & That Mexican OT, “Samsung Screenz”
Produced by Big Duke, Sauce Walka and That Mexican OT deliver another great song that makes me wonder what a collab project from them would sound like. “Samsung Screenz” features that signature smooth Texas sound along with a catchy hook with Sauce and OT in rare form as they continue to show off their chemistry like they did on songs like “Now & Later” and “Check Please.” — A.D.
SAILORR, “Down Bad”
SAILORR dives deep into emotional uncertainty on “Down Bad,” a raw and intimate take on unreciprocated love. She paints a picture of late-night calls, fleeting intimacy, and the lingering ache of being someone’s second choice. The verses mix frustration with longing, capturing the push-and-pull of a relationship that never quite feels secure. All SAILORR wants is matching tattoos, stolen moments, and rides with no destination. Her list of “something that can last” adds weight to the heartbreak, making each lyric hit even harder. “Down Bad” is a bittersweet anthem for anyone caught between holding on and letting go. — C.C.
Joe Kay, Arin Ray & Blackway, “Frontin & Crushin”
Joe Kay, DJ and founder of Soulection, unveiled his debut EP — If Not Now, Then When? — last week (April 4), and it’s stacked with collaborations with several ascendant voices in R&B. Cincinnati singer Arin Ray and Ghanian-American rapper Blackway team up with Kay for “Frontin & Crushin,” a sonic encapsulation of the beginning stages of a crush. Not quite infatuation or obsession, the feeling these three artists sing of is something a bit more innocent, surprising and fleeting. “I saw you comin’/ She got an aura ’bout her something I respect/ We was frontin’, then crushin’ bad/ It was a feeling that I never would forget,” they sing in the intro over Kenzo Slice, Koko and UNKWN’s Afrobeats-indebted production. — K.D.
BigXthaPlug & Bailey Zimmerman, “All the Way”
In a time of division, BigXthaPlug wants to bring us all together. The Dallas native gives fans a taste of country trap with the arrival of his Bailey Zimmerman-assisted “All the Way” single. BigX and Zimmerman might seem like an unlikely duo, but it’s a clean mesh as they ruminate about fractured relationships over guitar strings and kicking drums. BigX has long teased his foray into country and the upcoming EP is set to feature some of his superstar friends, like Morgan Wallen, Post Malone, Shaboozey and Luke Combs. — M.S.
SiR & Maeta, “Out of My Hands”
SiR and Maeta explore love, regret, and the weight of fate on “Out of My Hands,” a soulful duet about a relationship slipping through their fingers. SiR is wrestling with emotional uncertainty, admitting, “maybe one day or someday, [he] won’t wanna run.” Maeta’s perspective adds to the heartbreak, reflecting on love that once felt limitless but now feels out of reach. With dreamy production and emotionally rich vocals, “Out of My Hands” is a stirring ballad about the struggle to hold on when the relationship becomes just a series of chances, and love alone isn’t enough. — C.C.
Billboard’s Dance Moves roundup serves as a guide to the biggest movers and shakers across Billboard’s many dance charts — new No. 1s, new top 10s, first-timers and more.
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This week, on charts dated April 12, Will Sass and kamille, John Summit, Skrillex and others achieve new milestones. Check out key movers below.
Will Sass & kamille
Will Sass and kamille are both chart-topping artists for the first time thanks to their collaboration “Into the Blue,” which jumps from No. 5 to No. 1 on Dance/Mix Show Airplay. Released in November on Song Vault, the track surged by 34% in plays (among 24/7 dance reporters and pop stations’ mix show hours), according to Luminate. The song became each act’s first chart entry when it debuted in February. It also drew 23,000 official U.S. streams in the latest tracking week, boosted by several remixes, including one by Baltra, plus a “2am Mix” and a “5am Mix.”
Sass was born and raised in New York City and has already performed at some of the city’s premier venues, including Elsewhere and Brooklyn Mirage. He released his debut EP, Insert EP Title Here, in January and its extended edition in March. The collection includes collaborations with Nina Nesbitt, Alvin Risk and Catching Cairo, among others.
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As for kamille, the U.K.-based singer-songwriter released her debut album, K1, in September 2023. While “Into the Blue” marks her first appearance on Billboard’s charts under an artist billing, she has been credited as a songwriter on many other chart hits. Five songs she’s written or co-written have charted on the Billboard Hot 100: “Little Mix’s “Black Magic” (No. 67 peak in 2015) and “Shout Out to My Ex” (No. 69, 2016); Clean Bandit’s “Solo,” featuring Demi Lovato (No. 58, 2018); Mabel’s “Don’t Call Me Up” (No. 66, 2019); and David Guetta and Bebe Rexha’s “I’m Good (Blue)” (No. 4, 2023).
On Hot Dance/Electronic Songs, kamille has charted 13 songs as a songwriter, including four top 10s: “Solo” (No. 4, 2018); Clean Bandit and Mabel’s “Tick Tock,” featuring 24kGoldn (No. 10, 2020); Joel Corry, Jax Jones, Charli XCX and Saweetie’s “Out Out” (No. 9, 2021); and “I’m Good (Blue)” (No. 1 for 55 weeks; 2022-23). She has also collaborated on songs with other artists including Fred again.., Kylie Minogue, Nile Rodgers, SG Lewis and Tiësto. Kamille has earned three additional No. 1s on Dance/Mix Show Airplay as a writer: Jax Jones, Martin Solveig and Madison Beer’s “All Day and Night,” “Out Out” and “I’m Good (Blue).”
On April 4, Sass and kamille released their second collaboration, “Happiness.”
John Summit & Inéz
John Summit’s “Light Years,” featuring Inéz, debuts at No. 4 on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, thanks to 1.9 million streams earned in its first full week of tracking. Released March 26 via Experts Only/Darkroom/ICLG, the song earns Summit his 19th career entry — and highest charting hit. It’s his fourth top 10, after “Where You Are,” with HAYLA (No. 8 peak in 2023); “Shiver,” with HAYLA (No. 8, 2024); and “Focus,” featuring Cloves (No. 5, this February).
“Light Years” also becomes Inéz’s first entry on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs. The German singer-songwriter has appeared on Billboard’s charts once before, as featured on Peter Fox’s “Zukunft Pink” (No. 118 peak on the Global Excl. U.S. chart in November 2022). The track also spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Germany Songs chart. Inéz is also half of German pop duo ÄTNA.
Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris’ latest single, “Smoke the Pain Away,” debuts at No. 36 on Dance/Mix Show Airplay. It’s his 35th career entry, tying him with KASKADE for the fourth-most in the chart’s 22-year history, after David Guetta (67), Tiësto (39) and Rihanna (36). The song also rises 24-19 on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs in its third week — it debuted at No. 8, becoming his 24th top 10. It also totaled 723,000 U.S. streams (up 17%).
Skrillex
Skrillex released his fourth studio album, F*CK U SKRILLEX YOU THINK UR ANDY WARHOL BUT UR NOT!!
In a new video, LISA, Natasha Rothwell and more of The White Lotus cast danced to the most fitting song following the show’s nail-biting season three finale: Doechii‘s “Anxiety.”
Posted to Rothwell’s TikTok account, the clip starts out with the actress — who plays Belinda — standing alone outside on a balcony, jamming out to the Swamp Princess’ hit. “Anxiety, keep on trying me/ Feel it quietly, tryna silence me,” she sings along.
The video then cuts to the BLACKPINK star and castmates Tayme Thapthimthong, Walton Goggins, Michelle Monaghan and Jonathan Gries joining in a line behind Rothwell, smiling and laughing as they all do their own variations of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air-inspired dance trend that has been blowing up alongside “Anxiety” on the app in recent weeks. “It’s giving anxiety,” Rothwell wrote in her caption. “It’s giving suspense. It’s giving @The White Lotus finale.”
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The video comes shortly after the April 6 finale of The White Lotus‘ third season, which, without spoiling anything, ended with quite the bang. LISA and Thapthimthong played Mook and Gaitok, employees of the titular fictional hotel chain’s Thailand location, while the other actors in the TikTok portrayed guests.
In a recent Instagram post, LISA emotionally reflected on making her acting debut on the hit program. “What a ride,” she wrote. “It was the greatest honor to be part of this show as my first acting gig alongside such incredible actors.”
Originally posted in a YouTube video in 2019, Doechii finally officially released the Gotye-sampling “Anxiety” on streaming services in March. The track reached its current peak of No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 that month, marking the Florida rapper’s first top 10 hit on the chart.
Helping boost the tune has been its corresponding TikTok dance, which pairs the song’s chorus with moves inspired by one of Will Smith and Tatyana Ali’s scenes in the pilot episode of Fresh Prince. The two actors recently reunited to recreate the scene and take part in the “Anxiety” trend, filming a video –featuring a surprise cameo from Doechii — set to the track in March.
Watch The White Lotus cast do Doechii’s “Anxiety” dance trend below.
Benson Boone will receive the BMI Champion Award at the 2025 BMI Pop Awards on May 13 at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, Calif. Previous recipients include Peso Pluma, SZA, Jonathan McReynolds, Khalid, Mark Ronson, Residente, Sebastian Krys and Keith Urban.
The annual, private event will be hosted by Mike O’Neill, BMI president & CEO, Barbara Cane, VP, Worldwide Creative; Samantha Cox, VP, Creative, NY; and Tracie Verlinde, VP, Creative, LA. BMI’s pop song of the year, songwriter of the year, publisher of the year and BMI’s 50 most-performed pop songs in the U.S. of the previous year will also be named.
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“Benson Boone has reshaped the global soundscape of culture and music with an indomitable spirit and love of craft, artistry, and performance,” Cane said in a statement. “As one of today’s most exciting hitmakers, Benson inspires through his honest storytelling which is ignited by his passion and authenticity.”
Boone’s Warner Records debut album, Fireworks & Rollerblades, this week marks its one-year anniversary on the Billboard 200. The album debuted and peaked at No. 6. It spawned the smash “Beautiful Things” (No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100) and hit follow-up “Slow It Down” (No. 32). Boone’s current single, “Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else” which has so far reached No. 44, will be featured on Boone’s sophomore album, due this summer.
Boone, now 22, won his first BMI Pop Award in 2023 for “Ghost Town.”
On Feb. 2, Boone performed “Beautiful Things” on the Grammy Awards, where he was a best new artist nominee – and inadvertently went viral when he adjusted his tight and restricting jumpsuit on camera. On March 1, he was nominated for international artist of the year and best international song at the Brit Awards.
Boone’s awards wins in recent months include best alternative at MTV’s Video Music Awards, best new at the MTV Europe Music Awards, top Billboard Global 200 song and top Billboard Global 200 (excl. U.S.) song at the Billboard Music Awards and song of the year at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.
Tragedy struck in the Dominican Republic after the roof of the Jet Set nightclub collapsed during a concert, leaving nearly 30 dead and 120 injured in the early morning hours of Tuesday (April 8), according to multiple reports.
The club’s roof collapsed during a live performance of renowned merengue star Rubby Pérez, known for Billboard hits such as “Tu Vas a Volar,” “Enamorado de Ella,” and “15,500 Noches” in collaboration with Romeo Santos, Toño Rosario, Fernandito Villalona and Raman Orlando. The singer has been transferred to the Plaza de la Salud hospital, according to medical director Nepomuceno Mejia.
As news broke, Dominican and other Latin music stars have expressed their condolences and solidarity on social media.
“My prayers for everyone affected by this big tragedy that happened at the nightclub in Santo Domingo. Peace and much strength,” bachata sensation Prince Royce wrote on his Instagram stories.
In a collaborative Instagram post with her label and manager, Pina Records and Raphy Pina, Natti Natasha wrote: “My beloved land, the Dominican Republic. Today we all woke up with broken hearts. A tragedy that mourns our country and leaves a deep void in many families. We woke up with tears in our eyes, in silence, in prayer. May God give strength to every mother, father, child, and friend who today suffers the loss of a loved one.From the depths of my soul, I share your pain. I am with you. We are in mourning.”
“Praying for all those rescued and for the families of the more than 15 people who lost their lives! Rubby Pérez, maestro, with all my heart, praying for your safety,” merengue powerhouse Olga Tañon reacted on Instagram.
Meanwhile, Latin hitmaker Emilio Estefan Jr. shared on Instagram: “All united with the Dominican Republic in this moment of sorrow. We share the sadness of a great country that we love so much. Our prayers are with all the affected families. Emilio, Gloria, and the Estefan family.”
Dominican producer Maffio said on social media: “Wow, God, what sad news. May God put your hand on those affected and their families. What a tragedy, I’m speechless.”
Los Toros Band, helmed by vocalist Héctor Acosta and who has performed at the Jet Set club before, also shared its condolences via a statement on Instagram. “On behalf of our office and our team, we want to express our solidarity with all the Dominican people for the tragedy that occurred this morning at the nightclub in Santo Domingo,” the group wrote. “We send our condolences to the family of our colleague Rubby Pérez. May God help and give strength and comfort to the families of those affected.”
The AP reported that Pérez’s manager, Enrique Paulino, spoke to journalists at the scene about the collapse that happened about an hour after the show’s midnight start, sharing that the vocalist’s saxophone player was killed in the incident.
It is not yet known what caused the Jet Set’s roof to collapse.
See some of the other artist reactions below:
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EarthGang, the potent duo out of Atlanta, were among the dozens of performers at this past weekend’s Dreamville Festival, concluding J. Cole’s leading role as its organizer. Olu (Johnny Venus) and WowGr8 (Doctur Dot) graciously spoke with Hip Hop Wired for a quick backstage chat.
EarthGang delivered yet another electrifying performance at Dreamville Festival over the weekend, performing tracks from celebrated albums such as Mirrorland and select tracks from their latest full-length, PERFECT FANTASY.
We asked Olu and WowGr8 about their new sonic direction and where they intend to take the music from here, especially on the heels of PERFECT FANTASY.
“I think PERFECT FANTASY was just us using all the abilities we have started from our early days until now and putting it in that package,” WowGr8/Doctur Dot shared. “You can hear our whole journey. We got songs on there with The Gorillaz (Damon Albarn), Little Dragon, Pharrell, and Snoop. These were people we met along the way, and it just happened to work out.”Olu added, “We weren’t setting out to make an acclaimed album or try to impress anyone. We just wanted a chance to be ourselves and stick to a vibe instead of chasing something that’s not us.”
Both Olu and WowGr8 have returned to using their original stage names and haven’t abandoned the personas, and they said that this kinetic flow that they’re on currently was the point of the latest project.
“We did what the music called for at the time because again, we’re not chasing anything but the right feeling,” Olu explained. WowGr8 supported his partner, adding, “Once you start trying to say an artist is doing one thing or another, [i] feels like a trap. We did what the beat called us to do and it feels more real, more organic that way.”
The pair said that there are some new EarthGang albums on deck, along with solo projects, so that they can explore their artistry on individual terms. However, we were told to expect the same level of quality despite the slight change.
We asked the brothers about the pressures of fame, being creative, and how to turn those moments into gratitude when you can.
“First off, you gotta give that weight to God, you a fool if you think you carry all of that on your own,” Olu said, with WowGr8 providing harmonizing gospel stylings in the back.
WowGr8 said that the pair’s solo records will be coming later in the year and that they have at least one EarthGang project on deck. They were mum on release dates but emphasized that by the end of the year, fans will have plenty to cheer for.
Olu and WowGr8 were among the most fashionable rappers we saw over the weekend, and we asked if they had any aspirations to enter that world.
“We would love to do that, because it’s in us but it has to be fun and not pretentious,” Olu said, with WowGr8 chiming in with his partner adding, “It’s the same thing with our music, bro, it’s just about taste and if it ain’t got the taste, we won’t be involved in it. When you curate things with a particular taste, the people can connect with it.”
Olu and WowGr8 concluded our chat by alerting their fans that they will hit the road this summer, including a European run, and to prepare for more of the music at the pace fans have come to expect.
Learn more about EarthGang here.
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Photo: Astrida Valigorsky / Getty
Activist Artist Management has named climate activist Wawa Gatheru its 2025-2027 Foundation Fellow.
As part of the fellowship, Gatheru will receive a $20,000 grant and access to a professional team of pro-bono representatives — including management, publicity, legal, business management, agency representation, partnerships and strategic alliances, digital marketing, and content creation representatives — to further her environment-focused work. Activist will also appoint a pro-bono Fellowship Advisory Council of specialists in relevant areas to support Gatheru’s work.
Funding for the grant comes from Activist Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established by Activist Artists Management to fund advocates and initiatives that protect vulnerable communities and the environment. The announcement comes via Activist founding partners Bernie Cahill and Greg Suess, who serve as co-chairs of Activist Foundation, along with Caitlin Stone Jasper, partner/head of activism for Activist Artists Management. Stone Jasper will also oversee Gatheru’s fellowship.
A Rhodes Scholar and longtime youth climate activist, Gatheru is the founder of Black Girl Environmentalist, a national organization dedicated to empowering Black girls, women and gender expansive people across the climate sector. She sits on boards and advisory councils for organizations including Greenpeace USA, EarthJustice, Climate Power, the National Parks Conservation Association, Good Energy and Sound Future. She was also recently named as a 2025 Sierra Club Trail Blazer Award recipient alongside Quannah Chasinghorse, Bill Nye, William Shatner and Dr. Jane Goodall.
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“I am honored and excited to receive this fellowship from the Activist Foundation,” said Gatheru in a statement. “This support is invaluable. It will allow me to expand my work at the intersection of environmental justice and youth empowerment. I am grateful for their belief in my vision, and I look forward to collaborating with the team at Activist to drive meaningful progress toward a more sustainable and just future for all.”
“Wawa is one of the most impressive young leaders I’ve ever encountered,” added Stone Jasper. “Her vision, her voice and her commitment to building an inclusive climate movement are exactly what the world needs right now. Our whole team is thrilled to welcome her to the Activist family and support the powerful work she’s doing.”
The Activist Foundation created the Activist Artists Fellowship in 2020 to support young activists working to create real change on the world’s most pressing issues. Activist Artists clients include The Lumineers, Bobby Weir, Dwight Yoakam, the Grateful Dead, Dead & Company (co-managed by Irving Azoff and Steve Moir), Leif Vollebekk, The Pretty Reckless, Young the Giant, and Michael Franti & Spearhead.
When they relocated to New York in 2023, Pierre and Henry Beasley of alt-pop duo Balu Brigada certainly didn’t expect they’d end up sounding like a Big Apple band from 20 years earlier.
“I used to be kind of cynical of that idea,” Henry says of the notion of a band’s music sounding like the place where it’s made. But as the brothers — originally from Auckland, New Zealand — started to record their new album in Harlem, they had to acknowledge that it didn’t sound like the music they had been making seven time zones over.
“You can hear the difference between [how the] aggression and tension and grit comes out in New York — and then New Zealand’s rolling hills kind of giving you a little more space to breathe,” Henry explains. (“More beachy vibes,” Pierre adds.)
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Ashley Markle
It is one of those more aggressive, tense and gritty songs that has taken Balu Brigada from a cult act trying to find its major-label footing stateside — the brothers signed to both Warner Music Australasia and Atlantic Records simultaneously in 2022 — to chart-topping radio hitmakers. “So Cold,” a spiky, slinky and above all Strokes-y single the duo released in June 2024, reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart in March — a ranking more often dominated by legacy acts than a breakout outfit like Balu Brigada.
“So Cold” slotting in so easily in retro-dominated alt-rock radio playlists hardly happened by accident. Pierre recalls he and Henry (both multi-instrumentalists who share singing duties) loading up their YouTube accounts with videos of bands like The Strokes and Franz Ferdinand for inspiration while creating the song, which Pierre says originally had more of a The Police feel. “[We were watching] those guys playing big festivals, and having these big guitar riffs that people chant,” he recalls. “We leaned into that.”
Still, it took more than the spirits of such frontmen as Julian Casablancas and Alex Kapranos to turn the song into a No. 1 hit. First, the band posted an Instagram reel of “So Cold” in spring 2024, with a red jumpsuit-clad Pierre playing the bass while sitting in his Auckland bedroom. The clip caught fire on social media and attracted a ton of industry attention.
“We got so many crazy calls just from this one reel,” says Goldie Management’s Amy Goldsmith, who’s been with the band since seeing them play at a New Zealand barbecue in the late 2010s. “[Recording Academy CEO] Harvey Mason jr even rung [about] the boys and was like, ‘What is this band? I’m so excited about them.’ ”
Henry (left) and Pierre Beasley of Balu Brigada photographed March 19, 2025 in New York.
Ashley Markle
The reel also soon got the attention of Chris Woltman, longtime manager of alt-pop superstars Twenty One Pilots. “It was pretty obvious that [‘So Cold’ was] a smash,” he says of his first impression. That inspired him to dig deeper into the band’s streaming catalog — which includes a steady run of singles dating back to 2016, along with 2019’s Almost Feel Good Mixtape and EPs I Should Be Home (2021) and Find a Way (2013).
“I quickly found out over the next couple of days that it wasn’t just one song — they’d been writing these amazing tracks,” recalls Woltman. “It raised this question of, ‘This is an amazing song, and there’s all these other amazing songs. How can this band not be getting noticed?’ ”
From there, Woltman not only signed the band to his and Twenty One Pilots frontman Tyler Joseph’s newly launched ARRO label, but hitched Balu Brigada to the Pilots’ then-upcoming Clancy worldwide arena tour. (ARRO has an artist venture with Atlantic for Balu Brigada, but Woltman says the label is otherwise independent.)
“We all came together and said, “There is something really compelling going on: They’re making great music. They have a vision that we think can be driven with discovery with our fanbase; they have a song in ‘So Cold’ that is the tip of the spear. If we come in and are their greatest advocate [and introduce] them to the Twenty One Pilots fanbase… we thought, ‘You know what, let’s give this a shot.’ ”
Despite the risk of attaching a relatively unproven band to such a major tour, they quickly demonstrated themselves to Woltman as highly capable: “I think what they just needed is a little bit of time on the field,” he says.
They got that playing time in the form of 66 shows, taking them all over North America, Latin America, Oceania and Europe, and putting them in front of over a million total Twenty One Pilots fans — known as Clikkies — who quickly took to the junior alt-pop duo. “There’s something special about the way that the fanbase has adopted Henry and Pierre,” Goldsmith says. “I think with the passion that the Clikkies have, they’ve [taken to Balu Brigada as] kind of like, ‘These are our new baby-band boys.’”
In the meantime, “So Cold” was starting to catch on at streaming services — helped by a music video with some winkingly White Stripes-influenced fashion and camera zooms, and a September synch in soccer video game EA Sports FC 25, after which the song’s weekly streams doubled. (To date, it has 12.2 million on-demand official U.S. streams through April 3, according to Luminate.) And Woltman and the team started pushing the song to alternative radio, sensing an opportunity to expand its success there. “In the alternative mix today, I think that radio still plays a role,” he says. “ ‘So Cold’ felt like it could be a big alternative radio track.”
Ashley Markle
A few weeks after Balu Brigada brought “So Cold” to Jimmy Kimmel Live! — the duo’s first appearance on American television — the song topped the Alternative Airplay chart dated March 29, in its 24th week on the listing. Woltman sees its success as validation of a long-term strategy that was nearly a year in the making.
“None of this is about an overnight moment,” he says, “as is always the case when you’re trying to build a legitimate alternative rock band. It’s not about a song; it’s not about a TikTok moment; it’s not about an influencer moment — it’s about the everything else.”
Currently, Pierre and Henry are putting the finishing touches on their debut album, expected later this year, which takes the band to new territory — including “some real emotional sensitive jams” and “some real obnoxious like pseudo-EDM stompers,” Henry says. But even though they’re nearly a year removed from the release of “So Cold,” and getting a step closer to their Strokes and White Stripes fantasies with their own upcoming headlining U.S. tour, they’re still enjoying following their breakout hit on its way up.
“Every day, it’s hitting a new peak,” Pierre says. “We’re both proud to watch our baby continue to be recognized.”
A version of this story appears in the April 19, 2025, issue of Billboard.
Sombr appears on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time (on the chart dated April 12) with his breakthrough single, “Back to Friends.”
Released Dec. 27 on SMB/Warner Records, the track debuts at No. 90 largely from its streaming sum: 6 million official U.S. streams (up 15%) in the March 28-April 3 tracking week, according to Luminate. It also raked in 304,000 radio airplay audience impressions (up 13%).
The song concurrently climbs 10-8 on Hot Alternative Songs, 10-9 on Hot Rock Songs and 13-11 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs. It opens at No. 38 on Alternative Airplay with a 33% gain in format spins, earning Sombr his first appearance on a radio chart.
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The streaming gains for the song can partly be attributed to attention on TikTok, as it has soundtracked more than 240,000 videos on the platform to date.
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Sombr has another song building on TikTok: “Undressed” has been used in more than 110,000 clips. Released March 21, it pushes 13-11 on Hot Alternative Songs, 12-11 on Hot Rock Songs and 16-14 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs.
Sombr (real name Shane Boose) is the sole credited writer and producer on “Back to Friends.” On “Undressed,” he’s listed as the only writer, and as a co-producer with veteran producer/A&R executive Tony Berg. Berg has previously appeared on Billboard’s charts as a writer or producer on hits by Phoebe Bridgers (“Kyoto,” “Garden Song”) and, in the late 1980s/early 1990s, Michael Penn (“No Myth,” “This & That”). He has also worked on charted projects by Boygenius, Andrew Bird, Phantom Planet, Aimee Mann, Edie Brickell & New Bohemians and others. In 2023, he served as a producer on the Daisy Jones & The Six soundtrack, Aurora.
Sombr releaed his debut eight-track EP, in another life, in 2023. He’s currently on the road as the opening act for Daniel Seavey’s Second Wind Tour. In May, he’ll join Nessa Barrett on the European leg of her Aftercare tour, which runs through June.