Summer Into Fall: Four New Albums for the New Season
Written by Daphne Bryant
Here in Los Angeles we don’t really get seasons, at least not like you do on the East Coast. While the constant good weather is a welcome change, I do miss the autumnal trees and sweet harvest celebrations. That’s why music for me is everything. When you’re lying down, headphones on, and listening to the right song, you can submerge yourself in the transition from summer to fall, even if your surroundings don’t quite match the season. Without further ado, here are my recs for brand new albums that beautifully toe the line between summer and fall (women and queer edition, OFC).
1. fawn – Rin
Rin, an indie-pop songwriter born in the Philippines and raised in the U.S., just dropped her debut album, fawn, and it’s an absolute treat! Short and sweet, the project is quote“ especially made for the introverted, soft-spoken and lonely.” fawn is honest and vulnerable, touching on everything from being a people-pleaser to complicated feelings for a crush. With pretty acoustic melodies and intimate vocals, these songs feel like apple cider, pumpkin spice, and heal memories that are not-so-nice. As someone who also grew up incredibly shy and misunderstood, this album is comforting in a way that soothes my inner child and reminds me of new beginnings, the same way that fall does. Rin even made a mini-zine to celebrate the release, so in my head she’s already a certified Dreamworldgirl!
Release Date: August 29th, 2025
Run Time: 27 Mins
Standout Tracks:“ i just figured you’d love me”,“ always, sometimes” and“ pluto”
2. A Matter of Time – Laufey
This one feels obvious! Laufey’s highly-anticipated album, A Matter of Time, is like the ultimate Disney Princess soundtrack, filled with gorgeous orchestral swells, tragically romantic lyrics, and that cozy, nostalgic feeling. As usual, Laufey expertly mixes jazz and pop elements, but in this project she tackles new topics and pushes her voice like I’ve never heard before! One of my favorite lyrics is“ My first heartbreak / Marked the end of our girlhood” which is featured in“ Castle in Hollywood”, a song all about a female friendship ending (and though it’s not outwardly homoerotic, I’m sure it will be queered). I also love“ Forget-Me-Not” as a whole; the strings are beautiful and we get to hear Laufey sing in the Icelandic language of her hometown. For me, it was actually incredibly hard to pick only three stand-out tracks from A Matter of Time, since every single one is so beautiful and sounds different. Laufey has definitely evolved as an artist, and it’s been incredible to see in real time! As the summer heat starts to subside and the magic of the holidays beckon, I can see anyone turning on this wildly cinematic album and immediately feeling heard, immediately feeling at home. I 100% recommend listening to A Matter of Time all the way through, so that you can enjoy the full, intended experience (and if anyone has tickets to see her in LA slide them my way)!
Release Date: August 22nd, 2025
Run Time: 45 Mins
Standout Tracks:“ Lover Girl”,“ Silver Lining” and“ A Cautionary Tale”
3. people stories – UMI
Earlier this year I had the honor of being in one of UMI’s music videos, which motivated me to dive back into her beloved discography and tap in when people stories was released a couple weeks ago. If you aren’t familiar, UMI is a queer singer and songwriter whose music typically blends elements of R&B and alternative pop. people stories is her second studio album, and in it UMI makes an active effort to be a vessel for other people’s experiences, while remaining true to her lovable, authentic self! I’m obsessed with how many little details there are interspersed throughout the album: candid conversations and spoken word, personal Lauryn Hill-esque mementos that ground the album in a really unique way. Due to its simultaneously transformative and ambitious nature, the project feels like the end of summer, like a collective recap of a vibrant journey that’s not yet over (because get it: fall is on the horizon)! Sonically, people stories is incredibly diverse; listeners will hear everything from reggae influences to quirky folk instrumentals, and we even get to hear UMI rap a little bit. Most of my personal favorite tracks off the album are classic R&B, but I love that she repeats “The limit doesn’t exist” over and over in the 8th track“ THE LIMIT”, because this truly is a genre-bending project devoid of limitations. Everyone (regardless of what kind of music you usually listen to, or what season it is) will be able to resonate with at least one of the songs, and I think that’s the mark of a powerful artist!
Release Date: August 22nd, 2025
Run Time: 43 Mins
Standout Tracks:“ WHAT NOW”,“ RIGHT/WRONG” and“ HARD TRUTHS”
4. In Ivy & Ink – Daphne Jane
Daphne Jane, a Michigan-based songstress and storyteller, has been featured on our blog quite a few times and is a niche fan-favorite amongst DWG lovers! In Ivy and Ink, Daphne Jane’s latest album, immortalizes her early 20s and explores feelings of love, chaos and growing up. Though I typically associate Daphne Jane and her dreamy indie pop sound with sunshine and short floral skirts, the three new songs and album’s accompanying visuals scream“ goodbye summer, hello fall”! The September release of In Ivy and Ink feels completely purposeful: heartfelt lyricism and honeyed vocals is the perfect combination for this year’s transition into autumn. While you listen, whether it’s during your evening commute home or right before a romantic reunion, I hope you can feel the profound seasonal pull towards something even better than what came before.
Release Date: September 5th, 2025
Run Time: 33 Mins
Standout Tracks:“ the next party (i’ll miss)”,“ Banisters”, and“ Locket”
