Foolin’ Around the Jukebox

Vol. 27 | This Week’s Surprising Soundscapes

Author

Valerie S.
April 01, 2025

Happy April Fools’! 🎉🎈

It’s that one day a year where pulling pranks is socially acceptable. Just don’t go too hard, okay? 😂

In the spirit of surprises, I’ve rounded up some unexpected music finds that might just catch you off guard. Some will make you laugh, some will throw you off guard with unexpected beats. Either way, prepare for a musical plot twist.

Moving on to other news, I’ve stumbled upon a ton of fresh tunes this year so far, and I’m finally putting them all together in my quarterly mixtape. Check them out below!

And of course, I’d love to know all of the new music that’s you’ve come across lately. My DMs are always open to chat — let’s swap tracks and talk music. 🎧💬

Peace out,

Val ♫

(P.S If you are reading this in your email, please click “Read Online” at the top-right corner next to the date for a better reading experience!)

In this week's setlist:

😆🥲 Well, Ain’t It Fun

Do you sometimes feel like April Fools' doesn’t hit the same as it used to? Maybe it's just part of growing up — but as Paramore once said, “Ain’t it fun living in the real world?” I guess we just find new, more ironic ways to have fun.

Here are some tracks that capture life’s twists and turns with a comedic spin:

🤯😬 Beats that will Bamboozle you

I love a good surprise, which is why one of my favorite ways to explore music is by listening to a song, expecting it to go one way, only for it to take a completely unexpected turn. And the music still slaps!

Ever heard a song that had you in the first half? Here are some tracks that left me stunned:

🎸 Artist of the Week: Alexander Stewart

You’ve heard Bleeding Love, but have you ever heard of bleeding heart?

Meet Alexander Stewart, a Canadian singer-songwriter gaining traction for his soulful ballads and his latest album, which bleeds and screams heartbreak through both slow and fast-paced tracks.

I first came across him through Wrong Way, which has a totally different, more upbeat vibe. But after listening into his slower tracks, I really got to see how his emotive storytelling comes to life.

If you’re a big fan of Jamie Miller and Cody Simpson, you might want to add him to your go-to playlists 😉

Here are my top faves:

💡 This Week’s Disc-Coveries

Lately I’ve been vibing to this really good French rap song, so I went ahead to watch the music video. One of the strangest music videos I’ve watched, I think I just got my eyes fried. You have to see it for yourself.

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LOL JUST KIDDING. Here’s the real music video! 😆

🎶 New Music This Week

Magic by HER NAME IS LOU: I can’t get enough of this flow — it’s got that passionate yearning, smooth guitar riffs, and perfectly timed beats.

drifting by Night Tapes: Teleport back to ’90s underground house music with this track — it’s got the soul of late ’80s emo rock bands like The Cure and Tears for Fears, infused with the edge of a grunge gal.

still feel. by half-alive: Looking for an Imagine Dragons spinoff? This track features a surprising electronic bass drop in the chorus, reminiscent of Believer.

📼 Your Go-To Mixtape: Quarterly Rewind (Q1’2025)

Here’s a rewind of the grooviest tracks I’ve had on repeat over the past 3 months – save this to your playlists and take your much-needed sound trip away from life’s bustle 🎧

Inspired by this week’s music picks?

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