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New Music April 2023: Local Boston Concerts, New Album Releases | BU Today

New Music April 2023: Local Boston Concerts, New Album Releases | BU Today

Photos by (from left): Dawn Fletcher-Park/SOPA Images/Sipa USA, Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Sipa USA, and Richard Shotwell/Invision, all via AP.

New Music

Hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd’s long-awaited return and Polo G is coming to campus

Welcome back, Terriers, to our monthly column “What’s Hot in Music This Month.”

Spring is here, and there’s no better way to enjoy the nice weather than jamming to some new music on your walks around campus and Boston. Rae Sremmurd returns with their highly anticipated fourth album, and Linkin Park is releasing an anniversary edition of their 2003 classic Meteora. Looking for something to do at night? Check out BU Student Government’s Spring Concert featuring Polo G at Agganis Arena.

New releases

Album cover for Rae Sremmurd's Sremm 4 Life album. Two Black men one crouched showing off the tattoos on his hand and the other lying on his back with both hands in the air, pose on a white backdrop. They both wear funky printed blue themed clothes.
Album cover courtesy of Eardruma Records/Interscope Records

It’s been nearly five years since their last album, but the chart-topping duo Rae Sremmurd is back April 7 with Sremm 4 Life. Brothers Slim Jxmmi and Swae Lee have proven their gift for crafting exceptional hip-hop music, with three previous studio albums, all of which reached the top 10. The world literally stopped with the Mannequin Challenge video trend featuring their 2016 smash “Black Beatles,” and their new album is sure to usher in more hits. Sremm 4 Life boasts production credits from industry heavyweights Mike WiLL Made-It and Pharrell Williams.


Album cover for Linkin Park's Meteora (20th Anniversary Edition). Cover shows  picture of a graffiti artist wearing a heavy duty gas mask as they arrange a large array of spray paint cans and get ready to spray one.
Album cover courtesy of Warner Records

Linkin Park released their second studio album Meteora back in 2003, and they are celebrating its 20th anniversary with a new edition out April 7. The album features all the songs fans know and love, plus extra goodies, including recordings of live performances and “rarities,” or previously unreleased tracks. Also included on the new edition is “Lost,” a gritty rock song from deep in the Linkin Park archives with vocals by Chester Bennington, the band’s lead vocalist who sadly passed away in 2017. Meteora (20th Anniversary Edition) serves as a fitting tribute to one of the band’s most beloved records.


Album cover for The National's "First Two Pages of Frankenstein". Artwork shows a static image of a young child holding up a mannequin head with a sticker that reads "Hi, my name is Paul". The light tan border of the cover has text that reads "The National" and "First Two Pages of Frankenstein".
Album Cover courtesy of Long Pond Studio

The Grammy Award–winning rock band The National is returning with their first album in four years. First Two Pages of Frankenstein, which drops April 28, features the upbeat heartbreaker “Tropic Morning News,” which multi-instrumentalist Aaron Dessner said marks a “turning point” for the band. The album, which includes guest appearances from Sufjan Stevens, Phoebe Bridgers, and Taylor Swift, highlights a band at the top of their game after more than two decades in the industry.


Album cover of Jessie Ware's "That! Feels Good!". Art shows Jessie Ware posing in front of a peachy background. Her hair is styled high in an elaborate bun. She's topless with her back turned to the camera as a large strong of pearls hangs from her neck and back in multiple layers.
Album cover courtesy of PMR and EMI Records

Jessie Ware’s 2020 disco-inspired record What’s Your Pleasure? was an escapist dream in the midst of COVID lockdown. Now, the British singer-songwriter is back with her fifth album, That! Feels Good!, which features the ultra-danceable track “Pearls.” Ware’s voice soars over pulsing beats, beckoning the listener to “shake it till the pearls fall off.” It’s a fun, infectious earworm that definitely lives up to the album’s name. Coming April 28, That! Feels Good! is sure to be packed with dance floor–ready hits.


Album cover for Joy Oladokun's "Proof of Life". Artwork shows a painting of a Black woman peeking out from a surrounding of greenery and flowers.
Album cover courtesy of Verve Records

Americana singer-songwriter Joy Oladokun has made a name for herself as a musician with a talent for raw confessionalism that has earned her legions of fans and even attracted attention from the Biden administration. This past December, Oladokun performed on the White House’s South Lawn at the Respect for Marriage Act signing ceremony, alongside Cyndi Lauper and Sam Smith. On April 28, she returns with her third album, Proof of Life. Featuring collaborations with Chris Stapleton, Manchester Orchestra, Noah Kahan, and others, the album offers further proof that Oladokun is one of the most exciting voices in music today.


Upcoming concerts

Ella Mai

Grammy Award–winning R&B singer-songwriter Ella Mai is coming to Boston on April 6 on her Heart On My Sleeve Tour. Mai’s 2018 hit “Boo’d Up” features the dreamy vocals and sparkly production she is known for, deservedly reaching the top 10 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart. Mai has only gotten better since then, refining her vocal and lyrical skills to create her 2022 album, Heart On My Sleeve, which is even better when heard live.

Chase Rice

Chase Rice has lived many lives: from being a runner-up on Survivor: Nicaragua in 2010 to cowriting the 2012 smash single “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line. Now, he’s a country music star in his own right with four top-10 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. A seasoned performer who’s played to sold-out stadiums as an opener for Kenny Chesney and Garth Brooks, Rice is bringing good times to Boston April 14 on his Way Down Yonder Tour. 

Polo G

BU Student Government has a treat for us: Polo G is not only coming to Boston, he’s coming to campus. His 2021 album Hall of Fame topped the charts and received critical acclaim, featuring the number-one hit “Rapstar.” Now, the artist known for his unique trap and melodic rap style, is coming to Agganis Arena where he’ll headline BU’s Spring Concert. You don’t want to miss this concert: Polo G is sure to bring all the energy and excitement that shot him to popularity. 

Chlöe

Fresh off the release of her debut album In Pieces, R&B singer, songwriter, and producer Chlöe is coming to Citizens House of Blues Boston for her first solo tour. After releasing two studio albums with her sister, Halle, as part of the duo Chloe x Halle, the singer-songwriter is stepping out on her own, delivering earworms and powerful anthems. Her angelic voice and danceable music are sure to make for a fun and memorable night.

Aly & AJ

Sister duo Aly & AJ are coming to rock MGM Music Hall at Fenway on their With Love From Tour. The pair are no newbies to the music scene, having released their debut album in 2005 and the Platinum smash “Potential Breakup Song” in 2007. Now, they’re coming to Boston on April 21 for a fun-filled night celebrating their new album, With Love From.

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