By Maddie Levans
Following in the footsteps of February’s wealth of new music, more and more artists are beginning to release new hits as March gets into full swing.
Atlanta based rapper Future dropped two albums back to back at the end of last month, which both reached number one on Billboard’s 200 Albums chart. According to Billboard journalist Keith Caulfield, Future is “the first act in the nearly 61-year history of the chart to achieve back-to-back No. 1 debuts in successive weeks. The rapper is also the first artist to succeed himself at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 at all (counting not only debuts) since 1968. His albums, FUTURE and HNDRXX, are available for purchase now.
On March 3, Ed Sheeran released his long-awaited third album ÷ (Divide), which yielded chart-topping singles, including “Shape of You” and “Castle on the Hill”. The album is following his 2014 album, X, which boasted smash hits such as “Thinking Out Loud” and “Sing”. In the past week, nine of Sheeran’s new tracks have earned a place on the U.K’s Top 10 list, while the other two spots are held by EDM duo The Chainsmokers and alt-rock group Coldplay.
Indie rock group The Shins have released a new album called Heartworms, a follow-up to their 2012 album Port of Morrow. The group is currently on tour in the states, soon to be followed by an abbreviated European tour and ultimately another U.S. tour.
March is beginning to look like the month of singles, kicked off by Coldplay’s dreamy hit, “Hypnotised.” The single is from their upcoming EP Kaleidoscope, planned to be released this June.
After going four years without releasing any singles, art-pop soloist Lorde has finally released two new singles, “Green Light” and “Liability”. They are to be featured on her upcoming album Melodrama coming out this June. “Green Light”’s upbeat, light-hearted beats are contrasted by the heavy, emotion filled melodies in “Liability”, providing a perfect preview of the anticipated diversity of the album as a whole.