Pop

Camila Cabello’s new album era is upon us.

The pop star took to Instagram on Monday (May 6) to announce her fourth solo album, C,XOXO, alongside the cover art which features a close-up shot of the “Havana” singer with her recently dyed blonde hair, licking a blue lollipop and looking into the camera. In the caption, she reveals that the project arrives on June 28. See the post here.

The former Fifth Harmony member’s new project will be the follow-up to her April 2022 LP Familia, which reached No. 10 on the Billboard 200 upon its release. The record featured singles “Don’t Go Yet” and “Bam Bam” with Ed Sheeran, which peaked at Nos. 42 and No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively.

She also collaborated on the Trolls Band Together soundtrack in support of her role as Viva in the animated film. On “It Takes Two,” Cabello sings along with Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake.

Earlier this year, Cabello introduced her new album era with the Playboi Carti-assisted “I Luv It,” which samples Gucci Mane’s “Lemonade” and finds her interpolating Rihanna.

“Certain things in our human realm do make me feel like I’m in outer space, and the very rare few times where I’ve had incredible chemistry with someone is one of them,” she said in a statement about the track’s inspiration. “Part of that cocktail is also the emotional drama between you and that person, and the chaos and butterflies and nerves and passion. It’s unsustainable and not peaceful and exhausting, but also, I LUV IT.”

Dua Lipa took one more big bite of the apple before leaving New York. After playing double duty as musical guest and host on Saturday Night Live, the singer brought her Radical Optimism vibe to Times Square for a surprise pop-up gig on Sunday night (May 5).

Playing to a packed crowd from rectangular stage set up in the heart of the city, Dua took the stage with her band and busted right into her new album single “Training Season.” Wearing a long black leather duster over a black and white patterned maxi dress, the singer showcased her new collection on the rainy evening, sliding right into pop burner “Houdini” as giant images of the show were projected onto the digital screens behind her.

“Wow, you guys are amazing, thank you so much, what an unbelievable evening,” she told the crowd. “Thank you for showing up. Thank you for braving the rain and the cold. I even saw you take your top off! It’s getting hot in here, innit?” The singer gushed about her “unbelievable” week, which included the release of the album and, not for nothing, a visit that she dubbed “the most New York experience of all-time.”

She kept things Radical by playing the LP’s closing track, the bouncy “Happy for You,” followed by her final selection, the album’s current single, “Illusion.”

Just 24 hours before, Dua became the latest musician to do a double-up on SNL, explaining the meaning behind the title of her third studio album in a monologue bit and then performing “Illusion” and “Happy for You” on the show.

Watch Dua Lipa’s surprise New York set below.

Dua Lipa‘s Radical Optimism has topped this week’s new music poll that features artists in various genres of music.

Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (May 3) on Billboard, choosing the pop star’s third studio album as their favorite new music release of the past week.

The new set from Lipa brought in 35% of the vote on the poll, securing a notable edge ahead of new releases from Imagine Dragons featuring J Balvin (“Eyes Closed”), Kendrick Lamar (“6:16 in LA” and “Euphoria”), Willow (“Empathogen”), Kane Brown and Marshmello (“Miles on It”), and others.

Lipa’s 11-track Radical Optimism — her first proper album since 2020’s Future Nostalgia — features previously released singles “Houdini,” “Training Season” and “Illusion.”

“[Releasing the album] feels good. It feels for lack of a better word — radically optimistic,” she previously told Billboard, before explaining the idea behind the album cover, which features the singer floating in a wide open ocean facing a shark fin. “Throughout the whole record, there’s this idea of chaos happening around and me trying to push through it in a way that feels authentic and honest to me.”

The British artist also pulled double duty as host and music guest during Saturday Night Live on May 4, where she performed Radical Optimism tracks “Illusion” and “Happy For You.”

Trailing behind Radical Optimism on this week’s poll is the “other” category, with nearly 23% of the vote. Placing third is Imagine Dragons featuring J Balvin’s “Eyes Closed,” which brought in 21% of the vote.

See the final results of this week’s poll below. Check out Billboard‘s Friday Music Guide to catch up with more must-hear releases from this week.