This post was updated Oct. 15 at 10:18 p.m.

This fall, several veteran musicians are set to expand their discographies with new albums.

As summer becomes a sunny memory and fall brings brisk breezes and pumpkin-flavored treats, listeners are sure to find new songs to suit them this season. With several pop stars returning after extended absences and a few modern legends offering up the latest project in their decades-long discographies, audiences are likely to find compelling tunes to soundtrack their lives as the leaves change.

Read on for the albums the Daily Bruin will be listening to this season.

“Tension II” by Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue is building the tension again ahead of her next release.

The Australian pop icon’s 17th studio album, “Tension II,” will be out Oct. 18, just over a year after her previous LP “Tension.” The record will feature several collaborations Minogue has released throughout 2024, including the Sia pairing “Dance Alone” and her song with The Blessed Madonna “Edge of Saturday Night.” Likewise, singles “Midnight Ride” with Orville Peck and Diplo and “My Oh My” with Bebe Rexha and Tove Lo were both dropped over the summer and will each be found on the new LP’s 13-song track list.

Although the two-time Grammy winner only has two top-10 hits in the United States, Minogue has sold more than 80 million records worldwide and became the most successful Australian soloist in history. Judging by her latest single, “Lights Camera Action,” “Tension II” will likely continue the dance-forward sound that has marked the majority of Minogue’s discography since her 1988 debut. In an interview with Billboard last month, Minogue said the new album will resemble the energy of its predecessor.

If Minogue’s past hits are any indication, “Tension II” will be another project listeners can’t get out of their heads.

– Reid Sperisen

[Related: Album review: Coldplay’s new release ‘Moon Music’ fails to live up to its rock legacy]

“Shawn” by Shawn Mendes

Shawn Mendes is stripping down his music to its core this fall.

The pop star is returning with his self-titled album, “Shawn” on Nov. 15. Four years after his previous album, “Wonder,” Mendes’ fifth studio album presents a sensitive and vulnerable man grappling with his internal traumas. The earthy vocals and indie guitar strums in the August single “Isn’t That Enough” set a gentle, acoustic tone for the upcoming LP. The song’s music video captured Mendes and his friends harmonizing around a campfire, foreshadowing the intimacy promised by “Shawn” compared to Mendes’ more upbeat hits.

Divulging the experiences that informed his new album, Mendes took to Instagram to tell audiences about his creative and personal struggles, equating music to medicine. The album also draws from his travels after his tour’s cancellation in 2022. As such, Mendes will soon be at his most sonically and lyrically naked on “Shawn,” weaving a courageously raw inner monologue for his fans.

By showing a new side of Mendes, “Shawn” will surely be enough for the Mendes Army.

– Puja Anand

“The Great Impersonator” by Halsey

Halsey is making her comeback as an impersonator by immersing herself in different genres.

Set to release Oct. 25, Halsey’s fifth studio album “The Great Impersonator” will include 18 original tracks. Coming three years after the release of their previous album, “If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power,” this new LP marks Halsey’s first release through Columbia Records. “The Great Impersonator” will feature songs that transcend time as the 30-year-old singer-songwriter draws musical influences from previous decades.

Last month, Halsey released the EP “Ego” to package the album’s four prereleased singles into a sneak peek for listeners. With the tracks “The End” and “Lonely is the Muse,” Halsey shared pieces of her personal life with the audience, such as her challenges battling multiple health conditions – including a rare type of lymphoid tumors – and the emotional impacts of her previous romantic relationships. With songs like “Lucky,” Halsey’s upcoming project will include tracks reminiscent of influential musicians such as Britney Spears while adding a personal twist with introspective lyrics.

By bridging influences from past and present, Halsey is sure to be a great impersonator.

– Jeannie Kim

[Related: Second Take: The declining popularity of girl groups in Western music harms sonic diversity]

“Last Leaf On The Tree” by Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson may be known as a country star, but in his new project, set to debut Nov. 1, he proves he can do it all.

Across his seven-decade career, Nelson has released not only original material but creative renditions of songs from a wide variety of genres. For this album, “Last Leaf On The Tree,” Nelson will cover songs across rock, alternative and indie folk genres.

The upcoming project was curated and produced by Nelson’s son, Micah, and features covers from artists such as The Flaming Lips, Neil Young and Nina Simone. Additionally, the LP will feature a new rendition of Nelson’s 1967 song “The Ghost” and an original song co-written by Nelson and his son. Nelson is also set to be joined by a variety of musicians, including producer Daniel Lanois, The Doors’ member John Densmore and harmonica player Mickey Raphael.

With “Last Leaf On The Tree,” Nelson is showing fans a more intimate side of himself and his musical relationship with his son.

– Samantha Reavis