Fresh from the debut of her new single, “drop dead,” and an appearance on the Coachella stage, Olivia Rodrigo made her way to our Los Angeles studios for an Audacy Check In conversation with Bru.

Rodrigo's third studio album, 'you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love,' is set to arrive on June 12, packed with freedom, fun, and a personal challenge to herself as a songwriter.

"I just love writing songs so much and I hope that my love for writing and music comes through in these songs,” she says. “I just had a blast and I felt really free and happy and I hope that that's, you know, palpable on the record."

“So many of the songs are about joy, which is really fun to write about for the first time,” Olivia adds. “There's obviously a lot of sadness and longing and whatever I injected into it, but, yeah, I feel really free and I feel like more myself than ever and, I'm just really, really excited for people to hear the whole album.”

Being in what she calls her first “big girl relationship,” Rodrigo took up the challenge of writing something meaningful. “Writing a song about happiness is a lot harder than writing a song about heartbreak, I think.”

“It was sort of challenging myself to make a love song and also sort of talk about some of the more negative feelings that go along with being in romantic relationships, like, longing and yearning and jealousy and missing your partner while they're away, and that was kind of the the challenge for me is to try to marry those two worlds.”

It all fits within the title, which Rodrigo says came from talk with her producer, Dan Nigro. "I was having a conversation with my producer Dan about something and he was like, ‘oh, you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love,’ just in conversation. I was like ‘that's it. That's gonna be the album title.’ I'm really happy with it. It really captures, I think, the entire thesis statement of what I was trying to do."

The next chapter for Olivia began earlier this month with “drop dead,” and a visual of her running through the Palace of Versailles. “It's so stunning and we were lucky enough to be able to film there basically alone for like a night, which was so rad,” she reveals. “I felt like I was in ‘Night at the Museum.’ I felt like the statues were gonna like come alive and start jousting or something."

"It was so special and, I think that that song, ‘drop dead,’ is sort of about like falling for someone and dreaming so big and having all these high hopes, and so I think the Palace of Versailles is such a great backdrop for it because there's so much opulence and so much like glitz and glamour and when you're like falling in love with someone for the first time I think that that's sort of what it feels like, or that's what you're hoping for, and so I'm really happy with it.”

For more from Olivia Rodrigo, check out the full conversation above. 'you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love' is out everywhere on June 12.

Fresh off the release of “Who Will You Follow,” Evanescence have revealed plans for their upcoming album, 'Sanctuary,' due out June 5. Amy Lee joined Abe Kanan for an Audacy Check In to talk touring, the inspiration for the album, and what it means to balance motherhood and music.

The album has been a work in progress for "3 years solid," with Amy sharing that the new song, "Who Will You Follow," was the second-to-last track written for the project. “I felt very fueled, by the state of the world creatively,” she says of the song and album. “I feel like I have a ton to get off my chest. This music is a sanctuary for me.".

"I've been kind of underground for the beginning of this year. I just sort of had to disappear and finish all the lyrics, which seemed more important than ever, and finally pulled my head up and we just finished the album.”.

Lee views the music, and the new album 'Sanctuary,' as a personal haven and a space for self-expression without censorship. She also notes that she is now less "precious and insecure" about collaboration than earlier in her career, working with 3 producers on the new project. “It's just like, here it is,” says Amy. “I'm not afraid of rejection. I want to open my heart to hear what somebody else has to say.”.

“I feel like, when we were making our first music, when we were making our first album, I was just shy. It was hard to share with anybody and also, you know, really trying to prove myself in those first couple of albums, especially like as a writer. Everybody knows I'm a singer, but like let me do my s*** all myself, a lot of the time, when it just doesn't have to be that way.” .

“Music is from the universe, like all these things that we share, this is spiritual, this is deeper than one person's journey, but at the same time it's all very, very specifically personal to me in my life.”.

For more from Amy Lee of Evanescence, check out the full conversation above.

Evanescence have offered up the first official sample of their upcoming album, 'Sanctuary,' and Amy Lee stopped by our Los Angeles studios to unpack their latest effort during an Audacy Check In with Kevin Ryder.

Set to arrive on June 5, 'Sanctuary' finds the band in a “huge creative burst,” thanks in part to collaboration with producers Nick Raskulinecz, Zakk Cervini, and Jordan Fish. “We've worked with some incredible people this time around, Three producers actually,” Amy explains. “So as a team, being in there with them and creating these songs, and we just had a huge creative burst. It has been, just a, I don't know, like a new energy. It's hard to really explain, but it feels really special.”

It starts now with the new single, “Who Will You Follow,” which Amy reveals is about breaking through the lies to what’s real. “I feel like we're just inundated with so much information now, with people that have a stake in what we believe,” Lee says. “It feels like truth is for sale. So this for me is about breaking through that into the real world and, the album, you know, it's called ‘Sanctuary,’ it's like that. It's a sanctuary, not an escape from this chaotic, surreal, violent time, but escape from the lies, saying that we're not living in that crazy time.”

“It is a sanctuary of truth and community,” she adds. “Moving from the song to album, I just feel like this music is a sanctuary for me. It has been. It is every time, you know, last time we made an album, it was the pandemic hitting all around us at the same time and kind of wondering what's next and how do we go on tour and will things ever be normal again. I think when we're in these big, in my life, powerful and painful and difficult moments, and also in the outside world going through these wild moments where we feel like we don't have control and things are slipping through our fingers, the music is a place for me to be able to say anything. No censorship, no holding back. Nobody's telling me I can't, anything. It's our world, and it just feels so beautiful also to give somebody else something that gives them joy.”

For much more from Amy Lee of Evanescence, check out the full conversation above.

Just days after the release of their triumphant return to music, 'ARIRANG,' the members of BTS gathered inside the Rockstar Suite at Hard Rock Hotel New York to talk with Bru about the emotions surrounding their return, the lessons they learned while they were away, the making of their chart-topping album, and so much more.

Starting with the lead single, “SWIM,” BTS unpacked their now-number one album, 'ARIRANG,' saying that the track is one they connected with the most when recording in the states. “This was the track we connected with the most,” shares Jimin, “which is why we chose it as our lead single.

“What personally resonated with me was the idea that BTS is a team with room for continuous growth, one that keeps moving forward toward better music That message really stuck with me and felt just right for the lead single.”

“We felt like we have to come back with a big project,” RM reveals, when asked why the group went all out with a full album for their return. “With fresh new songs.”

Even when away from the spotlight, BTS would connect in the group chat about what the next chapter might look like, sending each other links of inspiration and ideas, according to V. The result is an album packed with collaboration and purpose, with each member quick to shout out a different track that they were most proud of.

There were a lot of emotions for both fans and the members of BTS during their time away, but the overwhelming lead of it all was imagining how it would feel to reunite with each other. “I think the first emotion or the first thought that came to mind was just curiosity about what it would be like when we get back together, and what kind of music would we do as a group?” shares j-hope. “So we just wanted to get back together as soon as possible and just get on to it.”

There were also moments of missing out along the way, wondering what would be if they were together.

“So I was the first one who got discharged from the group,” says Jin. “I went to the Paris Olympics for the torch relay. That's when Jimin's album was released when he was in the military, and I felt like it would've been really nice if Jimin got out to enjoy this and celebrate this together.”

It’s a rarity that a group the magnitude of BTS gets to experiment with solo projects as much as the members have, each bringing something new to the mix when it was time to come back. “I felt a lot of that while working on this album,” Jung Kook says. “Like j-hope mentioned earlier, that was why I have been looking forward to working together again as a group, because we couldn't be there to witness each other growing through all those experiences and time. So I was very much looking forward to this song session and then this project.”

“We just want to have a good time with the ARMY and the people that love us and listen to us,” RM reveals about the group’s legacy, something he says they have collectively discussed quite a bit.

“We just want to claim ourselves again, we started rooted in Korea, and now we're here.We're in New York, we're in Europe, we're everywhere, but still, we just wanna make it clear, we all born in Korea, started everything in Korea. We just wanted our new album and our sound from now on could be universal and eternal like the Korean traditional song.”

The group also took time to talk about what’s left on their bucket list, their Netflix special, and the role that fashion plays in the group. “Honestly, back when we first debuted, I don't think I had much room to think about things like matching the outfits to the music,” smiles j-hope. “But now it just goes shoulder to shoulder. Fashion inspires our music and I definitely think that fashion is a way to express our music in a better way.”

For much more from BTS, check out the full conversation above.

As Young The Giant prepares to reveal their sixth studio album, 'Victory Garden,' the band stopped by the Hard Rock Hotel New York to talk about their evolution over the past 15 years, and the lens from which they created their latest project.

“There's always more that we want to say,” admits Sameer Gadhia, “and we don't feel anywhere close to having said all of it. So I think there's this inevitability of an inspiration for a record and music.”

“When creating this particular record, we're really yearning to kind of come together and get back to our roots as like brothers,” adds Eric Cannata, “and kind of build community within each other, and check in with all of us where we're at, and I think our yearning to kind of be together in a room writing, recording everything, sort of echoes, at least from what you know we discussed with our family and friends and communities, what a lot of people are feeling right now is, the desire to get back to our humanity.”

“Being together and viewing the world through the eyes of our children, of all of these guys have young children, and so with that the idea of viewing the world through the lens of a child, it comes like the idea of being present with one another and having empathy for one another so we're really trying to channel that and going forward into our new writing, future writing, I think it's almost become a little bit of like what Young the Giant at its core is about, is viewing the world through the eyes of a of a child.”

“It's difficult what's going on right now in the world and I think that if we can bring that sense of humanity that we were searching for within each other that we're still searching for with each other, that hopefully people can feel at home at our shows.”

For much more from Young The Giant, check out the full conversation above. 'Victory Garden' is out everywhere on May 1.

The Pussycat Dolls are back, bringing their unshakable hits to a new generation and starting a new chapter with a massive tour and the new single, “Club Song.” The trio recently joined Mike Adam inside the Hard Rock Hotel New York for an Audacy Check In, talking about the differences between now and their 2005 success, and so much more.

When asked if there are any new fears or concerns about hitting the road today compared to 20 years ago, Nicole Scherzinger was quick to joke, “when you say fear I think of my knees, my neck, my lower back."

“I am just so excited to get back out there and the excitement is overrunning everything at the minute,” adds Kimberly Wyatt. “But the fear comes in place of just trying to get the balance right, trying to keep the mindfulness strong, trying to make sure I'm there for the kids, and they know that that mommy's still in their lives and taking them with me as much as possible, just getting that balance.”

“I think enjoying it a bit more,” Ashley Roberts chimes in. “20 years ago, you know, everything was happening so fast and our schedule was nuts and it will be so nice this time around to share the stage with these gorgeous, fabulous women and then also just soak up every moment, be present, and enjoy it a bit more.”

These fierce women might need “reminding a little bit” when it comes to the lyrics, but they noted that TikTok and the younger generation have kept PCD current. “The great thing about TikTok and this younger generation is they're still recreating fun things to our songs, but sometimes things will come up and I'm like, ‘wait, was that us? Did we say that? What was it?’” laughs Ashley. “I feel like I need reminding a little bit.”

So much has changed across the musical landscape in the past two decades, but also in the way the members of The Pussycat Dolls approach their mental health. “There's so much more awareness and I felt so I was a little lost soul back then,” admits Kimberly. “Looking for the dream and doing anything and sacrificing to just make that dream come true. But man, when your dreams come true and you realize there's a lot of inner work that still needs to be done, that is an endeavor worth taking.”

“I think we've all been on such a journey to finally arrive here, and what makes this so special is to have those experiences, be women, know our value, own our power and be able to show up. It's like, I know these girls, but we're showing up with so much work that has been done, and that is a much different showing up.”

To hear much more from The Pussycat Dolls about their return and the new track, “Club Song,” listen to the full interview above.

There’s music videos and then there is The Pretty Reckless’ visuals for “When I Wake Up.” The group revealed the clip earlier this month, feature a POV romp through sex, drugs, cigarettes, more sex, drinking, photo booths, more cigarettes, and even more sex. Even in 2026, it left us saying, “is this allowed?”

The Pretty Reckless singer Taylor Momsen recently joined us for an Audacy Check In to talk about the video, and the band’s upcoming album, 'Dear God,' set to arrive everywhere on June 26.

“I think my first thought when we put it out was, really all I thought for the first day was, ‘at what point is this going to get taken down?’” Momsen tells Abe Kanan. “It was an undertaking on my part. We shot for two days, I'm directing it with Chris Acosta. I filmed most of it, like physically. It's the visual representation of, to me, what ‘When I Wake Up’ is about.”

“It's like the song. It's a lot of fun to watch, but it takes a dark turn. It's what ‘When I Wake Up’ is saying. We all know the story, you know, we've all heard it before. Some of us have lived it. I'm one of those people. It's where you live a life of excess and debauchery and chasing things outside of yourself to escape your demons and whatever's tormenting you, and that only goes one way at the end of the day, that only goes down. So that's what the song is, and that's what I really wanted the video to feel like, to really take you on that journey with me of something that I lived and survived.”

The song is set to be a part of 'Dear God,' due out everywhere on June 26. “It's very exciting to have new music out. It's even more exciting to have a release date for the full album. It's even more exciting to know there's a headline tour on the way because it cannot wait to be headlining again. It's been amazing. I feel like we're in a really good place and everything that's about to come is just incredibly exciting.”

To hear for the full conversation with Taylor Momsen, check out the Audacy Check In above.

Shinedown is "everyone's band," as they say, and boy are we all busy this year. The multi-genre, chart-topping, non-stop group is set to release their eighth studio album on May 29, titled, 'EI8HT,' and embark on their 'Dance, Kid, Dance Act II Tour' as well.

Brent Smith recently joined Abe Kanan for an Audacy Check In to talk about the making of their latest project, and share tour plans for this year and beyond.

"I'm excited for everybody to hear the entire record," shares Smith. "One of the things about this album that is different than the last two is that this isn't a conceptual piece, so it's more of a traditional record where all of these songs belong on the same body of work, but every song is its own story."

"It is considered an album, but it's essentially a double record," Brent adds. "This album took about a year and a half years to make. When I'm looking at like when we started it and how we were putting everything together, and obviously last year, releasing 4 singles, then doing the 'Dance Kid Dance Tour,' that's now parlaying into this year with Act 2. That was all by design, but the thing about the record is that there's not one ounce of filler on this particular project. Not that we ever look at making a record and we put filler on the other albums in our catalog, but you can hear it in the way that we've structured this and that it is very much an emotional ride."

To hear more about the band's setlist plans for their upcoming tour, and the possibility of a "Deep Dive" tour where the band digs into their b-sides, listen to the full conversation with Brent Smith of Shinedown above.