Serving as a sequel to her 2014 chart-topping album Partners, Barbra Streisand's The Secret Of Life features a new collection of duets with artists including Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, and a trio performance with Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande.

Cultural impact

• The album includes a rare duet from Bob Dylan, who has seldom recorded collaborations throughout his career.

• Features a trio performance with Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande, described as a "diva summit" uniting three generations of vocalists.

• Bridged generational gaps by including a collaboration with contemporary artist Laufey on a new version of her song "Letter to My 13-Year-Old Self."

Critical response

• The New York Times praised Streisand’s enduring vocal quality on the album, noting her "voice of dewy-eyed purity, long-breathed grace and tremulous anticipation," and described her duet with Hozier as "earnest charm." Read full review

• Rolling Stone highlighted the album’s historic collaborations, emphasizing the long-awaited duet with Bob Dylan and the "all-star" nature of the project. Read full review

• Billboard underscored the album’s significance as a "star-studded all-collaborations project" and noted Streisand’s continued ability to attract major artists across generations. Read full review

Elton John and Brandi Carlile's vibrant, collaborative studio album, Who Believes In Angels?, was written and recorded over 20 days, with the artists and producer Andrew Watt at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles. The project also included contributions from lyricist Bernie Taupin.

Cultural impact

• Elton John and Brandi Carlile hosted "An Evening With Elton John & Brandi Carlile" at the London Palladium.

• A 30-minute film series, "Who Believes In Angels? Stories From The Edge Of Creation," documented the album's creation, marking the first time Elton John allowed cameras during his writing and recording sessions.

• The collaboration is a testament to the duo's longstanding relationship, which first manifested with a 2021 song that was recorded and released during the global pandemic.

Critical response

• Mojo described Who Believes In Angels? as "a collaboration of equals: a career highlight for Carlile and a rejuvenation for John." Read full review

• UMusic.co.nz noted that the collaboration "delivers a refreshing sound that diverges from what a typical solo Elton John album might offer today." Read full review

• The Archer Oracle observed that the album "beautifully deals with themes of mortality, loss and the mysteries of life and death." Read full review

Laila Biali's Wintersongs is her first holiday album, marking a return to her classical music roots after primarily working in jazz. Much of the album, three years in the making, was written at the Banff Centre in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Cultural impact

• Laila Biali supported the album with an international tour, including a sold-out show at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London, two shows at Tyndale University in Toronto, and performances at major Canadian venues such as BlueShore at CapU and Koerner Hall.

• Wintersongs was performed with a variety of ensembles, from string quartets to chamber orchestras, and featured collaborations with GRAMMY-winning arranger Rob Mathes and guest artists including Jane Bunnett, further cementing its reputation as an ambitious and collaborative project.

Critical response

• All About Jazz praised the album as “an immersive journey into the delicate beauty and serene power of winter all through the lens of her jazz and classical roots,” noting the thematic cohesion and lush arrangements. Read full review

• Vita Magazine described Wintersongs as “a sweeping, cinematic tribute to snow-drenched mornings, mountain silhouettes, and the quiet magic found between frost and stillness,” highlighting its atmospheric and genre-bridging qualities. Read full review