Famous Firsts & New Music Discovery #Happens

July 28th, 2025

Happy Monday! Hope you had an amazin’ weekend! We kickoff the first day of the week with Mo! from KDKB (ALT AZ 93.3)/Phoenix sharing her fun stories on #HAPPENS Famous Firsts

Sublime continues buzzing at Alternative. For the second straight week, “Ensenada” is the #1 Most Picked song. Find out the latest on Alternative Picks. 

Sublime “Ensenada” is also the highest chart debut at 19* this week on the Mediabase Alternative Chart. There are two other chart debuts this week: Nine Inch Nails “As Alive As You Need Me To Be” debuts at 35* and  Matt Maeson “Downstairs” debuts at 39*. 

Twenty One Pilots “The Contract” is #1 on the Mediabase Alternative Chart this week. It’s the band’s 14th #1 single. Congrats to Atlantic’s Greg Dorfman & the Twenty One Pilots team!

New music that needs to be on your radar: Waterparks “RED GUITAR,” Kenzo Cregan “Talk Tonight,” Sunrise In Jupiter “TAKE ME HOME,” and SkyDxddy “Choker.” Your New Music Discovery below has Download/Song Info for the newest songs now available for you on the #HAPPENS Alternative Downloads page.

Tame Impala released “End of Summer” last Friday. It’s the first new music on Columbia Records. “End Of Summer” arrives with a short form visual narrative directed by multi-disciplinary artist Julian Klincewicz. Watch it HERE.

Skratch N’ Sniff has launched a new weekly spin-off feature called the “Friday Fix Mix” hosted by Malcolm Ryker and programmed/mixed by the show’s producer Corey Irwin. Find out more below on Alternative News.

Our Lady Peace has released a new version of “Whatever” as part of their 30th Anniversary OLP30 to benefit mental health  Find out more on Alternative Artist Info.

Jonah Kagen announced his debut album, Sunflowers And Leather, will be released on September 5th. Stay updated on upcoming release dates on Alternative Albums HERE

Dave Barbis from Big Loud Rock checks in with Christen Limon from the Severance/Big Loud Rock Wednesday night Rocknite.LA Showcase. Greg Glover from KNRK (94/7FM)/Portland, OR shares a photo from last week’s Ax And The Hatchetmen Session. Check out the smiles on Alternative Photos

ALTERNATIVE NEW MUSIC DISCOVERY  

Waterparks “RED GUITAR” (BMG) 

Listen & Download HERE.

Houston 3-piece Waterparks released “RED GUITAR” on July 23rd. It’s the first new music for the band after signing to BMG. Waterparks have released five studio albums. Their last release was Intellectual Property in 2023 on Fueled by Ramen. It was #1 on Billboard’s Alternative Album chart in the US. 

“This is the first song back from the best band in the world, Waterparks,” quips frontman Awsten Knight. “After a year of trials and tribulations, we have arisen from the smoke, like Captain America — maybe Iron Man instead. I haven’t seen most of those movies. However Infinity War ended, probably. RIP Ant Man. This is the best song from a band in the last 10 years, ask anyone. Either this song or the next one will be our biggest one, again, ask anyone. RIP Iron Man. Stream the song until we make physicals and then go buy one of those. It’s a plaque attack, baby. I love you. God help us all. Thanks!”

On the new single, Awsten sings: “If I could check back in on me as a kid / be a crystal ball / he can see how we did / knowing what I know. And remembering him, it’d probably go something like this…” 

Waterparks will play the main stage at the UK’s Reading and Leeds Festivals in August and begin The Prowler Tour on November 6th in San Antonio through December 18th in Los Angeles. Find the tour dates HERE

Kenzo Cregan “Talk Tonight” (Independent/CO5 Music) 

Listen & Download HERE.

LA’s Kenzo Cregan released “Talk Tonight” on July 25th. The song was co-produced and written by Cameron Olsen of Weathers and co-produced by Etienne Bowler of Misterwives. 

Kenzo had recently dealt with a bit of heartbreak when he arrived at Cameron’s studio for a writing session. Having been iced out by a woman who meant a lot to him, he wanted to channel that feeling of being constantly ignored, not being able to get a hold of her. Cameron loved the imagery of what it feels like to be up all night thinking of someone you’re crazy about, who clearly doesn’t feel the same way. They decided to make the song musically upbeat and uplifting, with lyrics that are utterly heartbreaking. 

Kenzo is LA born and bred, but has British roots thanks to his father. He released LP #1 in 2023 and a 4-song EP in 2024.

Sunrise In Jupiter “TAKE ME HOME” (Self Released) 

Listen & Download HERE.

London-based quintet Sunrise In Jupiter released “TAKE ME HOME” on July 28th via The Syndicate. It’s from their upcoming double album Mission To Mars. 

Sunrise In Jupiter says, “‘TAKE ME HOME’ is the emotional breaking point of Mission to Mars Vol. 1. It’s a desperate cry for reconnection—a final plea not to be left behind. It’s not just a track—it’s the turning point in the story. When the signal fades, this is the moment we ask… is anyone still out there?”

Frontman Sonny adds, “This isn’t just about space…It’s about trying to return to something real. Fly to space if you’re a fan of alt-rock with some sci-fi edge.”

SkyDxddy “Choker” (SkyDxddy Music / It Goes Up Entertainment / Compound Interest) 

Listen & Download HERE.

Virginia’s SkyDxddy released her new single “Choker” on July 28th via The Syndicate. SkyDxddy is the stage name of Skylar DeMarino, who describes her music as “Traumacore.” Her music blends genres and speaks out about mental health and trauma. Her debut album, TRAUMACORE (RAW & UNCUT) was released on May 16th.

SkyDxddy says, “I wrote ‘Choker’ about what it feels like to live in survival mode and still smile through it. It’s about looking fine but barely breathing. People with anxiety get really good at hiding it. ‘Choker’ is my way of saying ‘I see you’ to the ones who are struggling silently.” 

SkyDxddy will embark on a headline tour beginning August 23rd in Chicago. Find the tour dates HERE.  

ALTERNATIVE IMPACTING SONGS

Impacting July 29, 2025

Inhaler “Billy (Yeah Yeah Yeah)” (Interscope/ICLG)

Nine Inch Nails “As Alive As You Need Me To Be” (Interscope/ICLG)

Rainbow Kitten Surprise “Dang” (Atlantic)