Editor's Note: This article was edited on April 21, 2025 to reflect that the release date was Roddy Ricch's The Navy Album was pushed to July.
Spring blossoms with a bevy of new musical releases, and April is shaping up to be a particularly standout month.
Coming in like a lion are albums from Elton John and Brandi Carlile, as well as Ken Carson's More Chaos, the aptly titled follow-up to 2023's A Great Chaos. Other notable drops include Wu-Tang & Mathematics with Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman, Melvins with Thunderball, and the reunion of Carolina Chocolate Drops members Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson on What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow. Fans can also look forward to Röyksopp’s True Electric and Willie Nelson’s 77th (!) solo LP, Oh What A Beautiful World.
April also brings exciting debuts with Coco Jones’ Why Not More?, Tucker Wetmore’s What Not To, and d4vd’s WITHERED. Meanwhile, new works by Djo, Valerie June, Grace VanderWaal, Bon Iver, Beirut, Jon Pardi, and Femi Kuti ensure that this will be a month for the books.
To guide you through this busy schedule, GRAMMY.com compiled a guide of the 15 must-hear albums dropping in April 2025.
While Joe Keery is best known for his acting in TV shows like "Stranger Things" and "Fargo," he’s also a skilled musician and producer. Under the moniker Djo, Keery released his first album, Twenty, Twenty in 2019, and followed with his 2022 breakout, DECIDE.
Co-produced by Keery and long-time collaborator Adam Thein, Djo's forthcoming album is The Crux. A press release describes it as a work of "impeccable craftsmanship," highlighting "lush guitars and instrumentation reminiscent of late '60s and '70s pop." Written during a "particularly fertile" creative period for Keery, the 12-track collection is full of "loss and yearning," but also of "wit and gratitude."
A first taste of the new album can be heard on singles "Basic Being Basic" and "Delete Ya." Upon release, Keery will kickstart the North American and European legs of his 2025 world tour, Back On You.
Elton John and Brandi Carlile will celebrate their talents and their friendship with the release of Who Believes In Angels?, their first collaborative studio album. Along with GRAMMY-winning producer and songwriter Andrew Watt and lyricist Bernie Taupin, the project came along from scratch in October 2023, and took only 20 days to record.
"This record was one of the toughest I’ve ever made, but it was also one of the greatest musical experiences of my life," said John in a press release. "It has given me a place where I know I can move forward. Carlile added: "I think all ships rise with Elton John’s standards for songwriting, and it was an incredibly challenging and inspiring environment to work in, everybody throwing in ideas, everybody listening to everybody else’s ideas. It felt like a family."
The duo has released two teaser tracks so far — the title track and "Swing for the Fences" — and the tracklist also includes the recently Oscar-nominated "Never Too Late," from the Elton John documentary of the same name. Among other collaborators, the new LP features an all-star lineup of musicians, including Chad Smith, Pino Palladino, and Josh Klinghoffer.
A one-hour special of the duo's March London Palladium Theatre concert, titled "An Evening With Elton John and Brandi Carlile," will air on CBS and Paramount+ on April 6.
Following the departure of lead vocalist Isaac Wood, British band Black Country, New Road will release their first studio album as a sextet. Forever Howlong comes three years after 2022’s acclaimed Ants from Up There.
The album was produced by James Ford, and the three women in the group — Tyler Hyde, Georgia Ellery, and May Kershaw — took over vocals and major songwriting. "It created a real through line for the album, having three girls singing," said Ellery in a statement. "It’s definitely very different to Ants From Up There, because of the female perspective — and the music we’ve made also compliments that."
Forever Howlong is described as "ambitious" and "meticulously detailed," gathering influences from folk to prog, baroque pop to alt-rock, Joanna Newsom to Fiona Apple. The result can be seen in singles "Besties" and "Happy Birthday." Starting May, BCNR will kick off a North America, Europe, and U.K. tour that will last through October.
Grace VanderWaal — 'CHILDSTAR' (April 4)
Grace VanderWaal rose to stardom when she was only 12 years old, after winning "America’s Got Talent" in 2016. Now 21, VanderWaal is preparing to launch a new chapter of her story — one that addresses how this early success shaped her, for better and worse.
VanderWaal’s sophomore album, CHILDSTAR, explores her growth and dealings with fame, silencing her feelings, and more. "There’s the validation theme, and then what really had to do with fame was my relationship with my sexuality and being sexualized as a young girl," she told NYLON in a recent interview. "I don't want to leave that girl behind because I'm still her."
Led by singles "Proud," "Call It What You Want," "What’s Left of Me," and "Babydoll (feat. Aliyah’s Interlude)," CHILDSTAR aims to give listeners a nuanced look into VanderWaal’s "seemingly-perfect" life. The Kansas-born singer has also announced a six-stop May tour throughout North America.
Jon Pardi — 'Honkytonk Hollywood' (April 11)
"All my albums have been rock and roll with a country flare — this one keeps on rockin’," singer Jon Pardi said in a statement about his upcoming fifth LP. "It’s also the most grown-up record I’ve ever made, all my soul basically. Honkytonk Hollywood is for the Nashville that’s in my blood and it’s also a nod to my California roots."
For the project, Pardi enlisted his touring band and producer Jay Joyce, and together they crafted a collection of 17 diverse tracks — from the grungy "Rush" to the San Antonio swing of "Bar Room Blue." "It was like your high school dream of what it would be like to make a record in Nashville, without knowing the business," the singer continued.
"We did what we wanted, and it stands out because of it," he added. "Taking the chance paid off, and I kind of want to keep it that way." To support the release, Pardi will embark on a North American tour, kicking off on April 25 in Lubbock, Texas, and concluding on June 21 in Bend, Oregon.
Punk rock band Magnolia Park will make their return in April with the ambitious VAMP. Following 2023’s Halloween Mixtape II, the upcoming album was co-produced by the band’s producers alongside Andrew Wade, Hiram Hernandez, Andy Karpovck, and mixed by Zakk Cervini.
VAMP is a neo-gothic concept album that follows Aurora X1, a half-human, half-cyborg warrior, through the dystopian city of Nocturne Nexus. According to press materials, the story is reminiscent of Star Wars and Dracula, where "rulers and rebels clash in a fight for the future." Alongside the announcement of the new album, the band shared "Cult," a track about "gaining back your power from an oppressor, made to inspire people to stick up for what is right and not let themselves be taken advantage of."
"This reflects in our story where Aurora and the Vampires have to stand up to a towering oppressive group called the ‘Shadow Cult,’" the group continued.
In July last year, Magnolia Park released the nu-metal inspired "Shallow," which is also on the tracklist. The band will embark on The Vamp Tour through North America starting April 16 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Read more: 11 Pop-Punk Artists To Watch: Taylor Acorn, American Teeth & More
Ken Carson — 'More Chaos' (April 11)
There’s a lot of mystery surrounding Ken Carson’s upcoming album, More Chaos. Despite several rumors about its 2025 release date, the rapper’s socials and official website are empty.
The only confirmed information has come through YouTuber, online streamer, and Carson fan, Kai Cenat. Back on Jan. 13, during a livestream, Cenat showed his phone screen to viewers and revealed texts from Carson, which read "I’M WRAPPING THIS ALBUM UP," "APRIL 11" and "TELL THE WORLD F—CK IT."
More Chaos is the follow-up and sequel to 2023’s A Great Chaos, and is set to drop on Carson's birthday (April 11). The Opium rapper has also teased the tracklist of the album, which is said to comprise 20 songs.
Wu-Tang & Mathematics — 'Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman' (April 12)
This year, Record Store Daywill be marked by a stellar collaboration: Wu-Tang Clan will join producer and group DJ Mathematics to release Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman: Wu-Tang, The Saga Continues Collection.
"Wu-Tang has always been about pushing boundaries — musically, artistically, and culturally. With Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman, I’m giving fans not just an album, but a piece of history — something truly one of a kind," Mathematics explained in a statement. "This is more than music; it’s innovation, storytelling, and legacy all in one."
Learn more: Nothing To F With: How 'Enter The Wu-Tang' Established One Of The Greatest Rap Groups Of All Time
Black Samson follows Mathematics and Wu-Tang’s last joint effort, 2017’s The Saga Continues, and features all nine living members of the group. Additional guest spots from Kurupt, Kool G Rap, Benny the Butcher, and more, are also confirmed throughout the LP’s 12 tracks.
A total of 5,000 copies of the album will be available for release day, each featuring a "unique ‘1 of 1’ cover art," according to the RSD website. A digital release is also planned, although the final track, "Charleston Blue, Legend of a Fighter," will be exclusive to the vinyl edition.
The third studio album by Melvins 1983 (an alternate lineup of the Buzz Osborne-led band) will arrive on April 18. Titled Thunderball, it was recorded by Osborne and original Melvins drummer Mike Dillard, as well as electronic artists Void Manes and Ni Maîtres.
"I wanted it to be bombastic — I think we achieved that," said Osborne via a press release. "I also wanted to do something with electronic artists Void Manes and Ni Maîtres for a long time. Both of them are exceptional talents. Their out-of-the-box use of electronics pushed Thunderball beyond my expectations."
Just weeks before the album drops, Melvins will kick off a 52-date tour across the U.S. with Napalm Death. For the shows, the regular Melvins’ lineup of Osborne, bassist Steven McDonald, and drummers Dale Crover and Coady Willis will join forces, delivering their signature sonic punch.
Former Carolina Chocolate Drops members Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson are reuniting for a new album, What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow. Featuring 18 traditional North Carolina tunes, the record blends rich string band traditions with nature’s sounds — wind, birds, rustling leaves, and even two rare cicada broods.
Produced by Giddens and Joseph "joebass" DeJarnette, the album honors legendary North Carolina Piedmont musician Joe Thompson, the duo’s late mentor and one of the last keepers of the southern Black string band tradition in his time.
Following the album’s release, Giddens will host the sold-out Biscuits & Banjos Festival in Durham, North Carolina, from April 25-27. Celebrating Black music, art, and culture, it will also feature the first Carolina Chocolate Drops reunion in over a decade.
Read more: Who Is Rhiannon Giddens? 3 Things To Know About The Banjoist & Violist
"Journey Through Life is basically a summary of my life from my childhood to adulthood," said Afrobeat legend Femi Kuti in a statement about his forthcoming album. Journey Through Life balances Kuti’s "sweet music with a bitter message" with introspections on life, love, and growth.
For the first time, Kuti took full creative control, producing the album entirely on his own in his home country of Nigeria. "Throughout my life, family has been my foundation," the singer, who is the eldest son of Fela Kuti and Remilekun Ransome-Kuti and the grandson of activist Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, shared. "From my parents and grandparents to my children, nieces, nephews, and soon my grandchildren. At the end of the day, for me, family is all that matters." He added that while life’s challenges can create distance, "the essence is to manage such events and let love prevail."
Leading the release are singles "Politics Don Expose Them," "After 24 Years," and "Oga Doctor," with a North American tour set to follow this summer.
Beach Bunny — 'Tunnel Vision' (April 25)
Indie band Beach Bunny is taking a new focus on their upcoming third studio album, Tunnel Vision. Following the departure of guitarist Matt Henkels, the band reorganized themselves as a trio and took a "back-to-basics" approach for the release.
"I was just experiencing life, and so many of those feelings are what made it into the record: self-doubt, uncertainty dealing with the aftermath of the pandemic and the world," said vocalist Lili Trifilio in an interview with Rolling Stone. Moving away from usual themes of love and heartbreak, Tunnel Vision deals with mental health, anxiety over aging, climate change, and more — as can be seen in the title track and in singles "Vertigo" and "Clueless."
Beach Bunny will embark on a North American tour starting April 11 in Columbus, Ohio with stops in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Nashville, Montreal, Seattle, and elsewhere.
"I’ve spent my whole life learning what not to do, and thanks to you, I’ve had the opportunity to turn some of those experiences into my debut album," Tucker Wetmore shared on Instagram. The rising country star will release What Not To via UMG Nashville in partnership with Back Blocks Music.
What Not To captures the highs and lows of Wetmore’s first 25 years of life. Lessons on love, maturity, and faith are intertwined "like red yarn connecting a bunch of pins on a wall," he explained in a statement. Led by the single "3, 2, 1," the 19-track album paints a compelling portrait of Wetmore’s introspections and growth, as well as his musical versatility.
Wetmore will make his headline debut at the Ryman Auditorium on May 21, alongside close friend Jacob Hackworth. To continue the celebrations, he will conclude last year’s Waves on a Sunset Tour and join Thomas Rhett on the 33-city Better In Boots Tour across North America.
Nineteen-year-old sensation d4vd has announced his debut studio album, WITHERED. A continuation of his first two EPs, Petals to Thorns and The Lost Petals, WITHERED is "a brilliant amalgamation of disparate influences shaped into one visceral whole," according to a statement.
Taking the listener through the lifespan of a rose flower, each track of WITHERED is intended to be a new chapter portraying the demise of a relationship. "It is an album crackling with love found, love lost, love created, and love destroyed through every chorus and every melodic line," says the statement. The album was recorded between Houston, London, and Los Angeles — where d4vd collaborated with Ryan Tedder and Tyler Spry.
D4vd had his breakout in 2022 with tracks "Romantic Homicide" and "Here With Me," each achieving over a billion streams. In the two Fridays before the release, d4vd will make his Coachella debut, promising an "electrifying" performance.
Roddy Ricch — 'The Navy Album'
After a series of delays, Roddy Ricch was set to drop his much-awaited third LP, The Navy Album, on April 25. Unfortunately for eager fans, the wait will still continue. Though the rapper himself has yet to confirm the official release date, the pre-save links on his Instagram note a July 18 release date.
In December 2024, after announcing that the album would be postponed once again, the Compton rapper shared second single "Lonely Road," featuring Terrace Martin on the saxophone. The track joins 2024’s "Survivor’s Remorse" — which samples Kelly Clarkson’s 2023 song, "Me" — as the sole previews of the album so far. According to Apple Music, Ricch’s other 2024 single, "911," didn’t make the final track list.
Following 2021's Live Life Fast and 2022's mixtape Feed Tha Streets III, the upcoming album was produced by Terrace Martin, Turbo, Omar Grand, Evrgrn, and others, and will be released via Atlantic Records and Bird Vision Entertainment.