The Best New Songs We Heard in March 2025

“Lady Gaga’s influences on Mayhem are deep in the ’80s, with references to Bowie and Prince, but on ‘Shadow of a Man,’ she’s moonwalking in Michael Jackson’s footsteps. With rapid-fire lyrics and an infectious energy, it’s one of the high points of her latest album.”—Erica Gonzales, deputy editor, culture

“The yeehaw agenda is alive and well with Best New Artist Chappell Roan. Tapping into her Midwestern and Southern roots, the singer released a country single that’s a campy, queer anthem about treating a woman right. The Shania Twain influences in her sound do impress me much.”—EG

“Miley, where are you going? The first bite of her upcoming album, Something Beautiful, stood as a shocker, especially after the success of pop hit ‘Flowers.’ Rife with jazz and rock influences, the title track is a completely different sound for the star. It’s electric and exciting, and it has us leaning in.”—Samuel Maude, content strategy manager

“Who wanna rock with Jennie, you ask? ME. Especially after hearing this bombastic, addictive track from her impressive debut studio album, Ruby. The K-pop idol and Blackpink member already has millions of fans around the globe, but this song serves as the perfect (re)introduction.”—EG

“For those in need of another dose of Brat, Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco, and Charli xcx have you covered with ‘Bluest Flame,’ the standout track off Gomez and Blanco’s collaborative album, I Said I Love You First. The song is an absolute smash with its pounding synths, driving beat, and Charli’s signature production. Perhaps Brat summer isn’t quite over yet.”—SM

“On eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead, Ariana Grande dives deeper into the world she began creating last year. All six additional tracks scratch a different Grande itch. The strings on ‘past lives’ make it a particularly enticing song, quickly propelling the track into this editor’s Ariana top five. She’s done it again.”—SM

“‘Baby that’s the million dollars in the mirror’ is exactly the energy we’re bringing into this Aries season. Ari Lennox celebrated her March 26 birthday by dropping this luscious yet playful single, perfect for treating yourself and embracing the soft life. You know you deserve it.”—EG

“Currently on tour with Sabrina Carpenter, Rachel Chinouriri is a star to watch. On this new track, the singer continues to define her exciting, drum-filled sound. In just a few years, there’s no doubt Chinouriri could be a household name.”—SM

“JADE hasn’t missed with the singles from what we’re assuming is an upcoming album. After a huge win at the BRITs for Best British Pop Act, she just keeps rising. Our fingers and toes are crossed for a summer record.”—SM

“On Lucy Dacus’s lovely new album, Forever Is a Feeling, ‘Talk’ stands out. Its hypnotizing chorus is punctuated by staccato silences, making you bang your head to the rhythm when the drums and guitars kick back in. Topped with dreamy harmonies, this one has echoed in my head for days.”—EG

“It’s so fitting that Haim recreated the Nicole Kidman post-divorce photo for this single’s cover art because it sums up what listening to this song feels like: exasperation and exhilaration at the same time. The sister trio sing about the complexities of ‘fuckin’ relationships’ on this irresistible new song.”—EG

“While Mayhem may not be my favorite Lady Gaga album, ‘How Bad Do U Want Me?’ could be in the running for a top-five track. The late-’80s influence on the song is an exciting choice, and Gaga saying in her signature spoken word, ‘That girl in your head ain’t real, how bad do you want me for real?’ will live in infamy as one of the best lyrics of 2025. Let me answer the titular question: Lady Gaga, I want you real bad!”—SM

“Despite its sweet, inviting sound—perhaps even reminiscent of Japanese Breakfast’s Jubilee—the mesmerizing ‘Picture Window’ comes from an anxious, even dark place. Frontwoman Michelle Zauner explained in a statement, ‘When someone is running late or they’ve neglected a text or even if they’re just looking over a balcony, my mind has a tendency to run to the worst case scenario, a reflex only exacerbated by my experience of many real deaths. It can be both a relief and a struggle to love someone who doesn’t share this same proclivity for anxiety.’ The song explores that dynamic, underlined by its video (which Zauner directed) featuring a couple pulling in two opposite directions. It’s somber yet complex feelings like these that Zauner portrays with gorgeous songwriting on her latest album.”—EG

“Even though Lil Nas X had a confusing release schedule for his newest string of songs, the star finds a hit with ‘HOTBOX’ from his upcoming album, Dreamboy. It feels like a horny return to the rapper’s roots, one where he’s truly spitting.”—SM

“On the first single from her next album, Kali Uchis shares an epiphany she had about love: ‘Through sunshine and rain, as seasons change / We all need somebody thats makes the Earth feel heavenly.’ Uchis says she’s found that person—and she wants to do the same for them in return. It’s a much-needed romantic reminder.”—EG

“Lexie Liu is right: This gay is all in for ‘POP GIRL.’ Almost as if it were straight from a R-rated version of Barbie, the track has elements of bubblegum and hyper pop, making you feel like you’re cruising down the highway in a hot pink Bentley on your way to the club. The Chinese singer is my pop girl of the month.”—SM

“I’m still riding on the high from Coco Jones’s never-ending riff, but I was delighted to hear a new release from her, too. With a honey-sweet R&B melody, ‘You’ is yet another enticing taste of her upcoming debut album, Why Not More?”—EG

“Kesha remains the queen of fun. On her newest song from her upcoming album, ., the star heads straight to the country with cowboy boots and a T-Pain collaboration. She was doing country-pop before it was cool (see her album Rainbow), so the Western influences feel right at home.”—SM

“If you, like me, were floored by Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso’s thrilling Tiny Desk last fall, then their new, genre-bending album, Papota, is a must-listen. This opening track keeps you on your toes, with flickery piano chords, a jazzy feel, and an intoxicating, woozy chorus. I’m excited to see what else they have up their sleeves.”—EG

“While Maren Morris has stated that she’s not completely country anymore, ‘carry me through,’ the newest single off her upcoming album, Dreamsicle, shows that she’ll always have spurs in her boots. The piano and gospel choir perfectly accentuate Morris’s voice and prove that the star is just getting started.”—SM