Summary of Western Music Releases [May 2025]

Recitatif (feat. Teller Bank$)McKinley Dixon

McKinley Dixon – Recitatif (feat. Teller Bank$) (Official Lyric Video)

McKinley Dixon, a Richmond, Virginia–based artist, is a rapper who develops a distinctive hip-hop style infused with jazz, soul, and gospel.

The lead single from his upcoming album “Magic, Alive!”—scheduled for release on June 6—is an ambitious three-part track where dreams and reality intersect.

Featuring Teller Bank$ (Teller Banks), the experimental song shifts from elegant harp and piano melodies to spacey hip-hop and ultimately to industrial sounds.

In 2021, he won the Newlin Music Prize for his album “For My Mama And Anyone Who Look Like Her,” and he is highly regarded in the Richmond music scene.

Take your time and savor Dixon’s latest bold endeavor.

AnimaruMei Semones

Mei Semones – Animaru (Official Video)

An impressive lead tune selected from indie pop artist Mei Semones’s debut album “Animaru,” released in May 2025, by the Brooklyn-based musician.

Showcasing a radiant arrangement that blends a diverse instrumental palette with jazz elements, the track exudes a refined sophistication that also hints at the influence of bossa nova master João Gilberto.

Recorded in the summer of 2024 at a farm studio in Connecticut, it further evolves the experimental sound explored on her previous work “Kabutomushi,” which earned praise from Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Its comforting chain of harmonies and deft guitar work create a soundscape perfect for a quiet night drive or as a companion to reading.

Mind ReaderMimi Webb & Meghan Trainor

Mimi Webb, Meghan Trainor – Mind Reader (Official Audio)

An energetic disco-pop duet by UK artist Mimi Webb and American singer Meghan Trainor was released in May 2025.

Blending retro rhythms with contemporary production, the track stands out for its strongly empowering, self-affirming lyrics.

Although it’s Webb’s first collaboration, it achieves a perfect fusion with Trainor’s signature powerful vocals.

Following her participation in the Jonas Brothers’ UK tour in 2024 and the buzz around “One Eye Open,” the song showcases Webb’s musical growth.

With an anthemic vibe tailor-made for summer dance floors, it’s the perfect track for anyone looking to dance with a positive mood.

More!Nxdia

Nxdia – More! (visualiser)

Nadia is a non-binary artist of Egyptian-Sudanese heritage based in Manchester, UK.

Having grown up writing poetry and studying African drumming, they channel delicate emotional nuances through a tender singing voice.

After gaining attention on TikTok, they debuted in 2020 and have since released a string of tracks including “Eyes on Me” and “She Likes a Boy.” This new release is a gem of pop music that captures the thrill of romance with a melody that’s both delicate and catchy, and lyrics that weave together English and Arabic.

A European tour is set for summer 2025, kicking off at The Great Escape in Brighton.

It’s a perfect pick for anyone seeking pop music that resonates, especially among LGBTQIA+ fans.

Little Lord FentanylPrimus & Puscifer

Little Lord Fentanyl

An experimental track that exquisitely blends funk metal and alternative rock has emerged from a collaboration between two quintessential American bands, Primus and Puscifer.

This release marks the first since the arrival of Primus’s new drummer, John Hoffman—selected from over 6,100 candidates—and features a uniquely crafted soundscape highlighted by Maynard James Keenan’s falsetto and Les Claypool’s slap bass.

Its title, a play on 19th-century children’s literature, carries satire aimed at contemporary society, while the music unfolds a dark, fantastical world reminiscent of a Tim Burton film.

It’s a must-listen not only for fans of both bands but also for music lovers seeking boundary-pushing, genre-defying sounds.

Dope Boy PhoneQuavo & Takeoff

Dope Boy Phone

A new duo project by Quavo—who helped lead the American hip-hop scene as a member of Migos—with the late Takeoff will be released in May 2025.

This posthumous work features previously unreleased recordings from Takeoff, who was shot and killed in November 2022, and brings in producer Badda Bl$ for a sound that embodies the essence of trap music.

It’s a significant release that elevates their enduring bond through refined beats and razor-sharp raps.

Following Quavo’s 2023 album Rocket Power, the project selects from what’s said to be over 1,000 unreleased Takeoff tracks.

Recommended for those who want to feel the rightful evolution of hip-hop through their flows and the powerful connection between the two.

BUTTERFLY KISSES x CAN’T WIN EM ALLRico Nasty

Rico Nasty – BUTTERFLY KISSES x CAN’T WIN EM ALL (Official Music Video)

Rico Nasty, an artist from Maryland known for her unique sound that fuses punk and hip-hop, has released two advance tracks from her third album, LETHAL, both of which showcase the full range of her multifaceted musicality.

The first track blends hard synths with trap beats to deliver assertive hyperpop rap, while the second contrasts it by laying bare introspective emotions over filtered, reverb-drenched production.

LETHAL is slated for release on May 16, 2025, and features 15 tracks.

She’s also set to make her acting debut in the Apple TV+ and A24 drama series Margo’s Got Money Troubles.

It’s an ambitious work recommended not only for punk and hip-hop fans, but for anyone seeking a boundary-pushing new listening experience.