{"id":69258,"date":"2025-09-17T08:43:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T08:43:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/69258\/"},"modified":"2025-09-17T08:43:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T08:43:09","slug":"chaeyoung-on-how-lil-fantasy-vol-1-was-inspired-by-female-solidarity-artistic-experimentation-her-healing-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/69258\/","title":{"rendered":"CHAEYOUNG On How ‘LIL FANTASY vol. 1’ Was Inspired By Female Solidarity, Artistic Experimentation & Her Healing Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"

As 2025 approaches its final quarter, artists are showing no signs of slowing down. September arrives packed with releases from heavy-hitters and rising stars alike, kicking off with Twenty One Pilots<\/a>\u2019 lore finale Breach and jazz master Kassa Overall<\/a>\u2019s CREAM.<\/p>\n

The first weeks of September will also bring forth Ty Dolla $ign<\/a>\u2019s long-awaited Tycoon, TWICE Chaeyoung\u2019s solo debut Lil Fantasy vol.1, and Ed Sheeran<\/a>\u2019s Play. Parcels will release their third LP, Loved, and Rob Thomas<\/a> will drop All Night Days. Plus, there will be new projects from El Michels Affair<\/a>, SG Lewis, and Curtis Harding.<\/p>\n

As the month rolls on, things will get even more intense with Cardi B<\/a>\u2019s Am I the Drama?, country breakout Josh Ross\u2019 Later Tonight, and Dream, the debut LP from FINNEAS<\/a> and Ashe (performing as The Favors). “Messy” singer Lola Young will get even more raw and real in I\u2019m Only F\u2013king Myself, Sarah McLachlan<\/a> will make a return after nine years with Better Broken, and Doja Cat<\/a> will bring forward bold pop music on Vie.<\/p>\n

Rounding it out, brand new releases from legends Jeff Tweedy<\/a>, Mariah Carey<\/a>, and Robert Plant<\/a> promise to make this final stretch of summer anything but forgettable. Below, GRAMMY.com spotlights 15 standout albums coming out in September 2025 that you won\u2019t want to miss.<\/p>\n

David Byrne \u2014 Who Is the Sky? (Sept. 5)<\/p>\n

Former Talking Heads<\/a> frontman David Byrne <\/a>will release his first original LP since 2018\u2019s American Utopia. Who Is the Sky? finds Byrne collaborating with Ghost Train Orchestra under production by Kid Harpoon<\/a> (a.k.a. Tom Hull).**<\/p>\n

“I suspected that intimate orchestral arrangements would bring out the emotion I sense is there in these songs,” the singer shared in a statement. “At the same time, I also see myself as someone who aspires to be accessible. I imagined that Kid Harpoon would help with that.” Lead single “Everybody Laughs” showcases the fruits of this collaboration in a summer-y, uplifting melody.<\/p>\n

In addition to Ghost Train Orchestra and Kid Harpoon, Who Is the Sky? features guests like Paramore<\/a>\u2019s Hayley Williams<\/a>, St. Vincent<\/a>, drummer Tom Skinner, and percussionist Mauro Refosco. After the release, Byrne will embark on a lengthy world tour with stops across North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.<\/p>\n

Twenty One Pilots \u2014 Breach (Sept. 12)<\/p>\n

“Hello Clancy. Hello Blurryface. Let\u2019s finish this,” Twenty One Pilots shared on Instagram<\/a>. The alt-rock duo has announced their upcoming album, Breach, as a conclusion to the extensive narratives permeating their discography.<\/p>\n

Characters Clancy and Blurryface first appeared in the band\u2019s 2024 and 2015 namesake albums, respectively, with the story unfolding further in 2018\u2019s Trench and 2021\u2019s Scaled and Icy. According to Tyler Joseph, the music video for Breach opener “City Walls” will conclude “the story of Dema and Clancy and Torchbearer,” while the closer track “Intentions” is his attempt at understanding that ending.\u00a0<\/p>\n

To celebrate, the band is hosting exclusive listening parties ahead of the release at record stores around the world. The North American Clancy Tour: Breach 2025 will kick off Sept. 18 at Cincinnati\u2019s sold-out TQL Stadium. “I\u2019m not saying it\u2019s our last tour ever,” Joseph shared on his Instagram account<\/a>.\u00a0 “I\u2019m just saying, other than maybe some festivals next year, it will be the first time in our career we won\u2019t know when we will tour again.”<\/p>\n

Kassa Overall \u2014 CREAM (Sept. 12)<\/p>\n

Jazz visionary and GRAMMY-nominated musician Kassa Overall has a bold new release incoming. CREAM isn\u2019t just made of covers, but “a full-on reimagining of hip-hop through jazz, digging into the musical guts and soul of both,” per a release. “It\u2019s a fresh take on how these genres talk to each other \u2014 not just a collision, but a conversation that\u2019s been brewing since the ’90s.”<\/p>\n

The album features eight reinterpretations of classics by the Notorious B.I.G.<\/a>, Dr. Dre<\/a>, A Tribe Called Quest<\/a>, OutKast<\/a>, Digable Planets<\/a>, and Juvenile, including the title track, “C.R.E.A.M.” by\u00a0 Wu-Tang Clan<\/a>. “Their whole energy was an alternative to the get-the-money-shiny-suit mentality,” added Overall. “For me, the original \u2018C.R.E.A.M.\u2019 was a commentary on \u2018Get Money.\u2019 It was realism. It pointed out everyone\u2019s scrambling and striving to get ahead, but it also nodded at something beyond that. You could transcend and even control the material world through a higher divine nature.”<\/p>\n

Overall and his band will hit the road for a North American tour starting Sept. 3 in Philadelphia, PA. They will follow with a three night residency at Blue Night Tokyo in Japan, and then head to Europe for a handful of shows in November.<\/p>\n

Ty Dolla $ign \u2014 Tycoon (Sept. 12)<\/p>\n

Ty Dolla $ign\u2019s long-awaited fourth album, Tycoon, marks a return to solo activities for the rapper. In the past few years, he released a number of collaborative albums, such as 2021\u2019s Cheers to the Best Memories with R&B group dvsn, and Vultures 1 and 2 alongside Ye<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“Tycoon, I put my all into this,” Ty said in a recent interview with<\/a> Billboard<\/a>. “It\u2019s a crazy body of work. I\u2019m at the top of my game. I\u2019m going to that next level. You\u2019ll see the growth, the musicality, and it\u2019s going to be better than anything that\u2019s coming out.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

While further details about the album are yet to be disclosed, Ty previewed track “I Wish” and another untitled song at his Coachella set in April, and shared lead single “All In” in June. He also revealed that his EZMNY label signee Leon Thomas<\/a> and Chloe Bailey<\/a> will feature on the set.<\/p>\n

Chaeyoung \u2014 Lil Fantasy vol.1 (Sept. 12)<\/p>\n

Following her bandmates Jihyo, Nayeon and Tzuyu, TWICE\u2019s Chaeyoung will make her solo debut with Lil Fantasy vol. 1. The album comprises nine tracks and will come in versions titled Glimmer\/Murmur, Sparkle, and Canvas (which comes with colored pencils to decorate the album). There is also a vinyl version available for pre-order.<\/p>\n

The rapper, singer and songwriter has been known for her quirky, artsy style. In press materials, her agency JYP Entertainment stated that Chaeyoung\u2019s “unique character” and “solo potential” will be on full display for the release \u2014 a preview of which can be seen via a behind-the-scenes video on YouTube.<\/p>\n

2025 has been a big year for Chaeyoung and TWICE, with the release of their fourth Korean LP, This Is For, their sixth Japanese LP, Enemy, a new Asia tour, and a headliner set at Lollapalooza Chicago. Together with Jihyo and Jeongyeon, Chaeyoung is also featured on “Takedown” from the soundtrack to Netflix\u2019s viral movie KPop Demon Hunters.<\/p>\n

Ed Sheeran \u2014 Play (Sep. 12)<\/p>\n

After concluding his Mathematics album series, Ed Sheeran is ready to jump into his Symbols era \u2014 beginning with forthcoming LP Play. The record is said to be the first of five inspired by media buttons, such as “Pause” and “Fast Forward.”<\/p>\n

According to a press release, Play finds Sheeran “exploring new musical ground through collaboration with producers and musicians from around the world,” and highlights his exposure to Indian and Persian music, as well as the surprising similarities to Irish folk tradition. To preview this new sound, Sheeran shared singles “Azizam,” “Old Phone,” “Sapphire,” and “A Little More.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong> How Indian Artists, Beats & Collabs Are Taking Over Mainstream Music, From Coldplay To Coachella<\/a><\/p>\n

“Play was an album that was made as a direct response to the darkest period of my life,” he added. “Coming out of all of that I just wanted to create joy and technicolor, and explore cultures in the countries I was touring. I made this record all over the world, finished it in Goa, India, and had some of the most fun, explorative creative days of my life. It\u2019s a real rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish, it encapsulates everything that I love about music, and the fun in it, but also where I am in life as a human, a partner, a father.”<\/p>\n

Silverstein \u2014 Pink Moon (Sept. 12)<\/p>\n

Following February\u2019s Antibloom, post-hardcore band Silverstein will release Pink Moon, the second part of their ambitious double album. The project was conceived and recorded during what the band called “a transformative period in the high desert of Joshua Tree” in press materials.<\/p>\n

While the songs on Pink Moon come from the same writing and recording sessions as those on Antibloom, the band structured the albums so that they could stand alone while telling a larger story arc. Pink Moon also features Cassadee Pope<\/a> on single “Autopilot” and Rory Rodriguez of Dayseeker in “Drain the Blood” as the project\u2019s only guest appearances, resulting in a work that “expands Silverstein’s dynamic range while remaining true to their emotional core.” In addition to the aforementioned tracks, the Canadian group also shared “Negative Space” as the lead single.<\/p>\n

Silverstein have been on their 25 Years Of Noise Tour throughout the year, and are set to launch its third and final leg in October with concerts across North and South America.<\/p>\n

Cardi B \u2014 Am I the Drama? (Sept. 19)<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s like, \u2018Damn, does drama chase me? Or am I the drama?'” said Cardi B during an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music 1<\/a>. “I just really think I was born with an anointed light. Sometimes the light is great, but it also disturbs people\u2019s peace.” Those reflections were the inspiration behind Cardi\u2019s much-anticipated sophomore LP, Am I the Drama?**<\/p>\n

The Bronx native explained that these feuds have followed her from high school to the recording studio. “Even in the industry, there is a lot of different female rappers, but for some reason, it\u2019s something about me that these bitches can\u2019t stand. They can\u2019t f\u2014 with me.”<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong> A Guide To New York Hip-Hop: Unpacking The Sound Of Rap’s Birthplace From The Bronx To Staten Island<\/a><\/p>\n

Whether or not the album will expand on these themes, Cardi gave a glimpse of her new sounds through the atmospheric single “Imaginary Playerz,” which samples Jay-Z<\/a>\u2019s 1997 song “Imaginary Players.”<\/p>\n

Josh Ross \u2014 Later Tonight (Sept. 19)<\/p>\n

Following his breakout success with “Single Again,” country newcomer Josh Ross will release his debut LP, Later Tonight. The 15-track collection was produced by his longtime collaborator Matt Geroux, and will include “Single Again” as well as the title track, “Hate How You Look,” “Leave Me Too,” and “Drunk Right Now (Na Na Na)” with Akon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“The title of this record, and the title track, became the thread that tied this project together over the last couple of years,” said Ross in a press statement. “Every single we put out, every show we\u2019ve played has led to this. We dug deep writing for this album, leaning into getting caught in your feelings, breaking up, making up. No matter what, all roads led back to Later Tonight.”<\/p>\n

Recently, Ross racked up six CCMA nominations, tying with Cameron Whitcomb as this year\u2019s most-nominated artist. He also recently concluded a support stint at Jelly Roll<\/a>\u2019s The Beautifully Broken Great Northern Tour across Canada, and will play on a number of fairs and festivals through summer.<\/p>\n

The Favors, FINNEAS & Ashe \u2014 The Dream (Sept. 19)<\/p>\n

Rebranded as The Favors, longtime friends and collaborators FINNEAS and Ashe will release their debut LP, The Dream, on Sept. 19. The duo, who first captivated audiences with 2019\u2019s hit “Moral of the Story” and followed it up with 2021\u2019s “Till Forever Falls Apart,” reunite for a “no-rules project” inspired by the golden era of the Laurel Canyon, per a release.<\/p>\n

“This is the way every artist dreams of making an album,” said Ashe. “People don\u2019t sing together anymore when they\u2019re recording, but it was so romantic and fun.” FINNEAS added, “It\u2019s a true \u2018long-play album\u2019 in its real intended meaning. Hopefully, you can have friends over, cook a meal, and play this on vinyl front-to-back.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

To amp up the excitement, they shared the heartwarming singles “The Little Mess You Made,” “The Hudson,” and “Times Square Jesus.” The Favors will mark this era with a run of shows at iconic venues Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, and Summerstage in New York City. They will also play a special set at Stubb\u2019s ACL Fest Nights in Austin, Texas.<\/p>\n

Lola Young \u2014 I\u2019m Only F\u2013king Myself (Sept. 19)<\/p>\n

With her viral 2024 hit “Messy,” Lola Young became one of pop\u2019s most promising new voices, also scooping this year\u2019s Ivor Novello Rising Star award. Riding on that high, the South London singer will drop a new full-length record, I\u2019m Only F\u2013king Myself.<\/p>\n

Produced by frequent collaborators Manuka and SOLOMONOPHONIC, Young described the album as “my ode to self sabotage, my chance to claw myself back from the edge of defeat” on Instagram<\/a>. She has also previewed the rebellious single “Not Like That Anymore,” the flirty “One Thing,” and the escapist anthem “d\u00a3aler.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

Young will be busy through fall with a headlining tour across North America and Europe. It will kick off Oct. 6 in Manchester, UK, and wrap up on Dec. 6 in Los Angeles, CA.<\/p>\n

Doja Cat \u2014 Vie (Sept. 26)<\/p>\n

**With the release of ’80s-tinged track “Jealous Type,” Doja Cat announced a new album, Vie. The LP will follow the singer\u2019s predominantly rap album, 2023\u2019s Scarlet, and was recorded during the past three years at Miraval Studios in France.**<\/p>\n

“I do want to be self-aware enough to admit the fact that this is a pop-driven project,” said Doja in her cover story for <\/a>V Magazine<\/a>. “I know that I can make pop music, and pop is just that it\u2019s popular\u2026There are some people who don\u2019t see it as music. They see it as if this is some kind of football for girls and gays.” She also shared that the concept is “very pointed towards love, romance and sex \u2014 and discourse in relationships.”<\/p>\n

Additionally, Doja announced her first-ever tour across New Zealand, Australia, and Asia beginning Nov. 18 in Auckland at Spark Arena. The tour will include shows in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Manila, Tokyo, and more.<\/p>\n

Jeff Tweedy \u2014 Twilight Override (Sept. 26)<\/p>\n

Five years after releasing Love Is the King, Wilco<\/a> frontman Jeff Tweedy is preparing a bountiful return with Twilight Override \u2014 a triple album featuring 30 new songs. Recorded at his Chicago studio, the LP includes contributions from James Elkington, Finom’s Sima Cunningham and Macie Stewart, and Liam Kazar, along with Tweedy’s sons, Spencer and Sammy.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the creative process, Tweedy said in a statement that the current times resemble “a bottomless basket of rock bottom” where a “sense of decline is hard to ignore.” But not all is darkness: “When you choose to do creative things, you align yourself with something that other people call God. And when you align yourself with creation, you inherently take a side against destruction. You\u2019re on the side of creation. And that does a lot to quell the impulse to destroy. Creativity eats darkness.”<\/p>\n

He added: “[In Twilight Override] are the songs and sounds and voices and guitars and words that are an effort to let go of some of the heaviness and up the wattage on my own light. My effort to engulf this encroaching nighttime (nightmare) of the soul.” To support the release, Tweedy will tour North America in October and Europe in February 2026.<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong> Wilco’s ‘A Ghost Is Born’ Turns 20: A Track-By-Track Retrospective<\/a><\/p>\n

Mariah Carey \u2014 Here for It All (Sept. 26)<\/p>\n

**After years of teasing, the elusive chanteuse and Global Impact Award honoree<\/a> Mariah Carey will finally release her 16th album, Here for It All. The LP will come out through her own imprint Mariah and media company, Gamma.**<\/p>\n

In an interview with Apple Music\u2019s Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden<\/a>, Carey revealed that Here for It All would have either 11 or 12 songs, and that it would feature some “Mariah ballads.” The legendary singer also said that the album has “a lot of who I am today, and the last 10 years, the last 14 years [in it],” referring to her teenage twins, Monroe and Moroccan. “It\u2019s an interesting situation when you have kids, and it\u2019s a whole \u2018nother paint job. It\u2019s a whole different thing.”<\/p>\n

Increasing the expectation from fans, Carey shared the single “Type Dangerous” in June, followed by July\u2019s “Sugar Sweet” with Shenseea<\/a> and Kehlani<\/a>. The new album will follow up 2018’s Caution, which featured songs like “GTFO,” “With You” and “A No No.”<\/p>\n

Learn more:<\/strong> Songbook: How Mariah Carey Became The Songbird Supreme, From Her Unmistakable Range To Genre-Melding Prowess<\/a><\/p>\n

Robert Plant \u2014 Saving Grace (Sept. 26)<\/p>\n

For his upcoming LP, Saving Grace, former Led Zeppelin<\/a> frontman Robert Plant and his band (vocalist Suzi Dian, drummer Oli Jefferson, guitarist Tony Kelsey, banjo and string player Matt Worley, and cellist Barney Morse-Brown) to create what he called “a song book for the lost and found” in a press statement.<\/p>\n

Six years in the making, the 10-track collection aims to explore “the evolution of roots music both vintage and modern.” It primarily features reinterpretations of songs by Memphis Minnie, Moby Grape, Blind Willie Johnson, Martha Scanlan and Low \u2014 with the latter\u2019s “Everybody\u2019s Song” serving as a lead single. The second single, “Gospel Plough,” transforms the classic Black spiritual into a “hypnotic and alluring m\u00e9lange of vocals, steel banjo, acoustic guitar and percussion.”<\/p>\n

Plant and his band are set to perform for the first time in the U.S. this fall, including shows at\u00a0 NYC’s Brooklyn Paramount, Port Chester’s Capitol Theatre, Chicago’s The Vic, Los Angeles’ United Theater and others, with support from Rosie Flores.<\/p>\n

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