It happens every week, with its influx of new releases, artists dancing to their songs hoping to break into your algorithm, and your friends constantly asking you, “Hey have you heard the new so-and-so album yet?” It’s New Music Friday (aka Global Release Day), that weekly occasion the music industry—thanks to Beyonce—decides to drop every new album all at once.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed on NMF. There are countless albums across countless genres to keep up with, and it feels like no matter how much time you dedicate to listening to them all, there’s always another to queue up. Sifting through the wave of LPs and EPs can be tiring — so much so that you may find yourself giving up, reverting back to your old habits and listening to the same old, same old.
Never fret, I, Annie Harrigan, your Ampersand co-editor-in-chief and resident music obsessive, am here to help you. Introducing “New Music Friday: Ampersand edition.” Every week, I will share my picks for the newest albums (and, occasionally, incredible singles) that you should check out on Global Release Day.
For this first iteration of New Music Friday, we have a former Disney girl’s highly anticipated comeback, a raunchy Gen-Xer’s sex-positive triumph, and more.
Petal Rock Black – WILLOW
In the conversation on “nepo babies” who haven’t earned their success, you will never hear me utter Willow Smith’s name. For over a decade now, WILLOW has been releasing complex, alt-leaning, genre-bending bodies of work both as a solo artist and as half of the duo Anxiety. In 2024, she introduced to the world her jazz sensibilities with her album Empathogen. On this new release, her seventh studio album, the singer continues to exhibit her musical prowess, range, and depth of knowledge. Tracks like “play (feat. Kamasi Washington)” and “omnipresent (feat. Tune-Yards)” display her ability to also introduce people into her musical world and incorporate their styles effortlessly. Petal Rock Black exemplifies WILLOW’s growth from the aspiring pre-teen pop star who once sang about whipping her hair back and forth into a fully formed, mutli-talented musical force to be reckoned with.
Standout track: “not a fantasy”
Waves – Moonchild
USC is no stranger to churning out extremely talented artists, and R&B jazz trio Moonchild is no exception. Alums of the Thornton School of Music’s Jazz Studies program, the group released their sixth studio album, Waves, today. The collaboration-heavy LP is a collection of genre-bending tracks perfect for a drive down the coast with the windows down or a good ol’ fashioned smoke sesh with friends in a park. Tracks like “When You Know” and “Advice” are funky easy-listening moments with groovy basslines, smooth-as-honey vocals, and the right amount of whimsy. With features from legends like Jill Scott, PJ Morton and Robert Glasper, Moonchild crafted the perfect chill vibes soundtrack on Waves.
Standout track: “Ride the Wave”
Luck…or Something – Hillary Duff
The Duffaissance is among us. Disney Channel icon, mom group drama participant, and forever it girl Hillary Duff is back with her first album in eleven years. Written in collaboration with Duff’s singer-songwriter husband Matthew Koma, Luck…or Something exhibits some serious introspection set across a backdrop of upbeat and airy pop production. Tracks like “Mature” and “The Optimist“ are vulnerable explorations of what it’s like to deal with heartbreak, self-doubt, and toxic relationships. On Luck…or Something, Duff reclaims her power and her voice as an artist whose career has been controlled by others for so long. Without a doubt, Hillary Duff just made one of the biggest musical comebacks of 2026.
Standout track: “Adult Size Medium”
No Lube So Rude – Peaches
It’s been over a decade since Peaches, the Canadian singer and rapper best known for her song “Fuck the Pain Away” and bold, raunchy lyricism, dropped an album. On her brand new LP, No Lube So Rude, Peaches declares, loudly and provocatively, “I’m back bitches.” This album, with tracks like “Hanging Titties” and “Fuck How You Wanna Fuck,” is a big middle finger to ageist naysyers who think there’s an age limit, especially for woman, to being horny and having the types of sex you want to have. It’s also a refreshing body of work to receive in an era of rising conservatism and trad wife lifestyles. With upbeat electronic dance production, horny lyrics, and the right amount of “what did she just say?” moments, Peaches might just save us all.
Standout track: “Not In Your Mouth None of Your Business”
My Ego Told Me To – Leigh-Anne
Mixers rejoice! The long awaited solo debut album My Ego Told Me To by Leigh-Anne, formerly of British girl group Little Mix, is finally (finally!) here. My Ego Told Me To has been a long time coming — and it was worth the wait. Leigh-Anne’s Caribbean roots are strong on My Ego Told Me To. The album traverses dance-pop, R&B, and soul, while incorporating heavy soca, dancehall, and reggae influences throughout. Jamaican riddims and inspired instrumentation can be heard on most songs such as in “Revival” and “FREE,” “Been a Minute” samples soca classic “Put Your Back in It,” and the album’s only features are Jamaican artists Valiant and Rvssian. My Ego Told Me To will simultaneously please long-time followers of Little Mix who’ve been waiting for Leigh-Anne’s solo music and bring in new fans looking for island-inspired pop and R&B.
Standout track: “Tight Up Skirt”