New Music Friday – January 23, 2026

January 23, 2026 Ben Pagani

This New Music Friday is filled with releases from several top artists. Scroll down to see a list of exciting new songs and albums out now. First, here’s a look at the biggest single from this week.

The Best of New Music Friday:

Harry Styles – “Aperture”

It’s time to talk about Harry Styles. He’s the quintessential pop icon. He returned to the modern music landscape by delivering a five-minute song this week. He announced a 30-date New York City residency at Madison Square Garden. To many people, he is everything.

“Aperture,” Styles’ first single in nearly three years, is everything fans have expected and then some. Styles’ songs have a clean and unique mix that help them sound powerful. Think of how “Golden” opened his record Fine Line or how “Music For a Sushi Restaurant” put listeners’ ears into a groove at the beginning of Harry’s House. “Aperture” is made with that Styles sound.

“Aperture” starts softly with a humming rhythm and a gentle beat. Styles’ vocals are slightly padded with effects. Imagine the lights shining increasingly brighter on a mirrorball in the center of the dancehall when Styles roaringly declares, “We belong together!” Like the title of his upcoming album, this song is like one constant kiss, while the disco shows up for the chorus.

Harry Styles is in a new era. It’s sure to be a classic one. This is just scratching the surface. More will be known when his fourth solo album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally is released on March 6.

New Music Friday Top Picks:

Arctic Monkeys – “Opening Night” [War Child Records]

Cat Power – Redux EP [Domino]

Lucinda Williams – World’s Gone Wrong [Highway 20]

Megadeth – Megadeth [Tradecraft]

Which of these tracks from New Music Friday will you add to your favorite playlists today? Any we missed? Let us know in the comments or on Instagram!

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Ben Pagani

Music Projects Manager at Beyond The Stage Magazine

Ben is a music journalist living and working in Chicago. They joined Beyond The Stage as an intern and have stayed on the staff for several years. Now serving on the editorial board, Ben is proud to be BTS' Music Projects Manager, coordinating coverage between international record labels and our staff. Ben has interviewed, photographed and written about bands from across the world. Ben has lived all over the United States working in television and media. They are an Emmy Award-winning writer. Ben can be found spinning records as 'DJ Wearing Sunglasses' in clubs and basements across the US.