When a road trip is on the cards, its prime time to give our go-to playlists a good old shake-up, and given how difficult it can be to wade through the multitude of new content in search of the best, we’ve decided to do it for you. From Lady Gaga’s return to Bon Iver’s luminous new album, to a raft of new podcasts that run the gamut of captivating content, we have rounded up a curation of everything to listen to now.
New Albums
Mayhem
Lady Gaga
One of the most highly anticipated releases of 2025, Lady Gaga’s eighth studio album, Mayhem, is a genre-blending exploration of her musical influences and life experiences. Created “from a place of happiness”, the album fuses diverse styles into an electrifying, transgressive pop journey. Featuring the Grammy-winning ‘Die with a Smile’ with Bruno Mars, along with singles ‘Disease’ and ‘Abracadabra’, it showcases Gaga’s signature boldness, embodying her creative evolution.
Song to start with: Disease
Who Believes in Angels?
Elton John & Brandi Carlile
Elton John and American signer-songwriter Brandi Carlile have joined forces on a deeply personal, genre-defying album, Who Believes in Angels? With lyrics by Bernie Taupin and production by Andrew Watt, the record explores new creative territory for both artists, marking a fresh chapter in Elton’s legendary, ever-evolving career.
Song to start with: Who Believes in Angels?
Jennie
Ruby
Inviting listeners on a deeply personal journey, Ruby marks Blackpink’s Jennie’s foray into solo artistry. Covering her time as a student in New Zealand to K-pop superstardom, the album blends genres and is brimming with emotion. Featuring the likes of Childish Gambino and Dua Lipa, and FKJ, its 15 tracks champion self-expression, confidence, and artistic freedom.
Song to start with: Mantra
Sable, Fable
Bon Iver
Marking a luminous new chapter for indie folk band Bon Iver, Sable, Fable blends radiant pop with raw introspection. Depicting a personal journey from solitude to love, the album juxtaposes past pain with newfound joy, embracing vulnerability and transformation through Justin Vernon’s most open, unguarded sound yet.
Song to start with: Awards Season
new Podcasts
The Spy Who
Taking listeners deep into the world of espionage, The Spy Who reveals the hidden stories of spies who risked everything. Hosted by Indira Varma and Raza Jaffrey, this gripping podcast blends immersive storytelling with real-life intelligence operations.
Human Intelligence
Naomi Alderman’s podcast challenges the notion that great minds think alike. This compelling series delves into the ideas of history’s most influential disruptors and teachers, offering sharp analysis and immersive storytelling that brings their brilliance to life.
Fashion Neurosis
Bella Freud invites cultural icons to explore the deep connection between fashion and identity. Through candid, intimate conversations, guests reveal how style shapes self-expression, relationships, and society — proving fashion is far more than just superficial.
Middlebrow
In this pseudo-intellectual podcast, comedians Dan Rosen and Brian Park dissect modern culture, dating norms, and the status symbols of millennial pretension. Witty and self-aware, it’s for those who find quiet joy in the mid-point of high- and low-brow culture.
