new Taylor Swift album, new song from an old middle school favorite, and new artist in my rotation--which is worth a listen?

There’s something about this time of year that always turns me into a playlist hoarder. Maybe it’s the weather, maybe it’s the delusion that I’m entering a “new era,” or maybe it’s just the way every artist suddenly decides to release their most emotionally disruptive songs at the exact same moment. Whatever the reason, my queue has been overflowing—dramatically, unapologetically, and in a way that makes me feel like I’m living inside my own movie trailer.

And in the middle of all that chaos, three releases have completely taken over my AirPods: Taylor Swift’s Life of a Showgirl, “12:34” by The Band Camino, and “Man I Need” by Olivia Dean. They’re different in genre, tone, and emotional fallout, but they all hit in that very specific “I am the main character but also deeply tired” way that young adulthood seems to specialize in.

Of course, the honorable mentions are stacking up (as they always do), but these three have risen to the top not just for me, but for a lot of the people I’ve talked to lately—the girls journaling on their Notes app at midnight, the guys pretending they don’t cry to indie heartbreak songs, and everyone in between who needs something new to soundtrack their week.

Let’s get into it.

Taylor Swift — Life of a Showgirl

Being a Taylor Swift fan is basically a long-term relationship at this point. You love her, but she also keeps you guessing, decoding, and spiraling over hidden clues you never asked for. With Life of a Showgirl, she’s once again delivered an album that makes you feel like you’ve stumbled onto her dressing room floor—glitter, eyeliner smudges, diary entries, and all.

I’ll be honest: on first listen, I wasn’t obsessed. I think a lot of Swifties felt that way. But then the second listen happened. And the third. And suddenly I was twelve tracks deep, aggressively texting my friends about metaphors I didn’t understand an hour earlier. It’s the kind of album that sneaks up on you and then refuses to leave.

Some instant fan favorites are Opalite, The Fate of Ophelia, and Elizabeth Taylor. I generally don't love the chart toppers from her albums, but Elizabeth Taylor is maybe my top song right now, and Actually Romantic isn't far behind. Actually Romantic has left me yearning for a Taylor Swift rock album... but who knows if it'll ever happen.

Learn more at taylorswift.com

The Band Camino — “12:34”

If you’ve ever looked at the clock at exactly 12:34 and felt like it should be special, but you don't really know why, this song is for you.

“12:34” by The Band Camino pretty much overtook my Apple Music in November, even making the band my top artist for the month. I literally think they put an addictive substance in the song, easily my favorite I mention in this entire post (hearing it live probably helped)

.The song has this frantic, hopeful energy—like someone bottled the feeling of believing your life might change if you just catch the right moment.

The chorus is the part everyone talks about, but it’s the bridge (you know the one) that makes you want to dramatically stare out the window while reconsidering every life choice you’ve ever made. Fan favorites are the obvious moments, but my personal soft spot is for the electric, heartbeat-like pacing that makes it feel like the soundtrack to a coming-of-age montage.

Bottom line: if I had a playlist called “the world is definitely trying to tell me something,” this song is track one.

Learn more at thebandcamino.com

Olivia Dean — “Man I Need”

If Taylor is the glitz and chaos, and Camino is the cosmic adrenaline rush, then Olivia Dean is the quiet punch to the gut.

“Man I Need” has this gentle, aching quality that hits you before you realize you’re emotionally compromised. It’s been floating all over Instagram reels—usually with captions like “accidentally felt something today,” which is honestly the perfect summary.

The song isn’t dramatic; it’s honest. Warm. Soft in a way that sneaks under your guard. After listening, I swear people start talking slower, as if Olivia rewired something inside them. The chorus feels like a confession, and the outro catches you in that vulnerable space between nostalgia and hope. I love this song because it's not begging, it's not demanding, it's bubbly and fun and makes you want to dance, but also has majorly relatable lyrics.

Aside from this single, her other tracks absolutely belong on your reflective-day playlist. Mine is affectionately titled “feelings are inconvenient,” which should tell you everything.

Learn more at oliviadean.com