The start of spooky season may be upon us, but there's nothing terrifying about the sheer plethora of releases on the first New Music Friday of October.

On the new project front, Leon Bridges drops his self-titled LP Leon, Ariana Grande celebrates seven months of her latest era with Eternal Sunshine Slightly Deluxe and Also Live, Tucker Wetmore makes his official debut with his Waves On a Sunset EP, and Brooke Alexx unveils her first full-length, Big Mouth. 

Plus, Joe Jonas offers Jonatics a second taste of his upcoming solo album Music For People Who Believe in Love with new single "What This Could Be," BLACKPINK's LISA channels Sixpence None The Richer's '90s-era classic "Kiss Me" on her latest solo offering "Moonlit Floor," and Nate Smith duets with Avril Lavigne on "Can You Die From a Broken Heart."

Below, dive into 10 more new releases ranging from pop-rock, R&B and electronica to soul, country and contemporary Christian music.

Coldplay are back among the stars for their tenth album, Moon Music. A sequel to 2021's Music of the Spheres, the new LP was executive produced by Max Martin, who also helmed production on its predecessor.

Moon Music also marks a new benchmark in the band's commitment to sustainability, with each vinyl LP being made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles.

"I think what this album is about is a response to struggling with all the conflict within oneself, within myself, and also all the conflict outside, and working out what the best response is," frontman Chris Martin said in a recent video on social media. "And I think what Moon Music is trying to say is maybe love is the best response."

Victoria Monét expounds on her GRAMMY-winning 2023 album JAGUAR II with not just a few bonus tracks for its deluxe edition, but an entire second disc of new music.

The reigning Best New Artist GRAMMY winner takes a well-deserved victory lap on the musical addendum, with help from the likes of Bryson Tiller ("We Might Even Be Falling in Love (Duet)") and Thundercat ("Don't Sleep"). The result is a sensual, melodic thrill ride that's sure to keep fans enthralled as Monét dreams up the long-promised third act of her JAGUAR trilogy.

After two full-length albums filled with personal introspection, Dan Snaith is ready to hit the dance floor with Honey, his sixth album as Caribou and eleventh overall.

On the LP, the Canadian producer shows off his flair for sonic experimentation while simultaneously channeling his dance-driven alter ego Daphni. He embraced technological advances by using artificial intelligence to change his voice ("Once I tried it, it was impossible to look away," he said in a statement), resulting in the high-pitched pep of opener "Broke My Heart," the hollow echoes on "Come Find Me" and everything in between.

Fresh off earning a stamp of approval from none other than Beyoncé in her recent GQ cover story, Thee Sacred Souls have unveiled their sophomore studio album, Got A Story To Tell.

The rising R&B trio — made up of members Alejandro Garcia, Salvador Samano and Josh Lane — meld disparate influences from Jamaican rocksteady to girl groups of the 1960s into their 12-track collection of modern, shiver-inducing soul, including pre-release singles like "Lucid Girl," "Waiting on the Right Time" and "My Heart is Drowning."

In the wake of the destruction Hurricane Helene caused across North Carolina, Granite Falls native Eric Church isn't just dedicating his latest single to his home state — he's giving them all of the publishing royalties to help relief efforts.

"Darkest Hour," Church's first new release in over three years, is a heartfelt ode to, as the country star put it himself, "the people who show up when the world's falling apart." Over soulful, stripped-back instrumentation, Church tenderly sings, "Baby don't give up/ I'll do everything in my power/ To take even a minute off your darkest hour."

It's also a serendipitous release for the singer, who had the song written long before the tragedy. "The line that struck me in light of the recent devastation was 'I'll come running,' because there are a lot of people out there right now who are in their darkest hour and they need people to come running. We were going to wait to release music until next year, but it just didn't feel right to wait with this song. Sometimes you give songs their moment and sometimes they find their own moment."

Two decades after rocketing up the charts with 2004's Trouble, Akon is back and feeling blissed out on his single "Akon's Beautiful Day" — his first new song in a decade.

"God thank you for sunshine, thank you for rain/ Thank you for joy, thank you for pain/ It's a beautiful day-ay-ay-ay," the Senegalese-American artist sings on the track. But lest you think Akon has traded the bananzas and belly dancers that made him famous for nothing but inspiration and platitudes, never fear: he still manages to winkingly reference his 2006 smash "Smack That" in the song's verses.

James Bay returns with his fourth studio set, Changes All The Time. Along with co-production from Gabe Simon, the English troubadour's latest full-length also features heavyweight co-writers throughout its liner notes, from Brandon Flowers and Natalie Hemby to Holly Humberstone and Kevin Garrett.

Standout tracks on the album include the smoldering love song "Speed Limit" and anthemic, emotionally raw closer "Dogfight." For the three-time GRAMMY nominee, the album served as creative liberation. "I really felt some true musical freedom making this music," he wrote in an Instagram post, adding that Simon helped him find "the courage to make what I wanted to make in ways I never have before."

Toosii continues his string of annual album releases with JADED, a follow-up to the rapper's sprawling 2023 effort NAUJOUR and its viral single "Favorite Song."

The latest project from the Raleigh, North Carolina MC was preceded by singles "Fuk U Mean" and the Gunna-assisted "Champs Elysee." In addition to the "one of wun" rapper, Toosii also links up with Kehlani (woozy confessional "Ok… Whatever") and Muni Long (the sparklingly romantic "I Do") on the album in between solo tracks like "She Doesn't Mind," "New Corvette" and closer "Sticks and Stones."

Andy Grammer — 'Monster'

Throughout the 2010s, Andy Grammer made a name for himself thanks to bright, optimistic ditties like "Honey, I'm Good" and "Keep Your Head Up," and his fifth album, Monster, continues that streak of delivering sunny, emotional anthems — though this time, with a few more shades of gray.

The follow-up to 2019's Naive finds the singer/songwriter showing off his impressive skills on the mandolin while also venturing into new sonic territory. He digs deeper into his vulnerable side, too, particularly on the booming ode to self-awareness "Blind Spots," on which he admits, "I played the hero/ Wore a smile and wore a cape/ When all along I was the one/ That needed to be saved."

Don't Stop Praying is both the title and overarching message of Matthew West's new album. The contemporary Christian stalwart's latest body of work uplifts throughout its 12 tracks, courtesy of collaborations with Christian country singer Anne Wilson ("Last Page of the Bible") and Stephen McWhirter ("Breakthrough's Coming"), as well as testimonial solo cuts like "Chosen," "Unashamed," "Goodbye Yesterday," and "God's Hand."

"Each song in its own way is inspired by the different types of prayers we find ourselves praying throughout our lives," West wrote on Instagram upon the LP's release. "I hope these songs inspire you to discover for the first time or maybe rediscover the power of prayer."