January 2025 marks nearly five years since streaming services and the music industry at large initiated widespread support for Dolby Atmos music. Since then, thousands of albums and singles have been remixed in the immersive format and become available to stream on Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon Music. In the article below, we break down ten recently-released Dolby Atmos singles worthy of your attention.
Melissa Etheridge - “Like The Way I Do”
At the very end of 2024, two of the American singer/songwriter’s most popular albums–1988’s self-titled debut and 1993’s Yes I Am–quietly became available to stream in Dolby Atmos. Produced by Niko Bolas (Neil Young, Kiss, Warren Zevon, etc), the first album was an underground success–reaching #22 on the US Billboard 200 chart and earning her a Grammy nomination for the hit single “Bring Me Some Water.” The Dolby Atmos mix–credited to Dustin Richardson–is more of a quad experience, focusing most of the instrumentation to the front stage and side surround speakers.
“Like The Way I Do” kicks off with Etheridge’s acoustic rhythm guitar floating mostly over your left shoulder, while Johnny Lee Schell’s electric guitar sits between the side right and rear right surround speakers. The rhythm section of Craig Krampf on drums and Kevin McCormick on bass thunders across the front stage, with Etheridge’s vocal using the front ‘phantom’ center rather than the center speaker. The height speakers are mostly silent, save for the occasional bit of percussion.
Gary Kemp - “This Destination”
British singer/songwriter and Spandau Ballet founding member Gary Kemp is set to release his third solo album, This Destination, on January 31 through East West Records. In addition to the usual CD and vinyl editions, a Dolby Atmos mix–created by none other than Steven Wilson–is set to become available via streaming services. Three pre-release singles, "Keep Your Head Up" "This Destination,” and “I Know Where I’m Going” are already streaming on Apple Music in spatial audio.
The spatial mix of the title track quickly fills up the entire room, placing the soulful harmony vocals primarily in the overhead speakers. Gary Kemp’s voice extends from the center speaker out into the side surrounds, with the rhythm section filling up all seven speakers at ear level. Keyboards percolate from the rear left surround speaker, while percussion extends from the rear surrounds up into the height array.
Holly Cole - “The Exciting Life”
Award-winning Canadian jazz vocalist Holly Cole just released her 13th and latest studio album, Dark Moon, via Rumpus Room Records on January 24. On Dark Moon, Cole is backed by an ensemble of longtime collaborators including pianist Aaron Davis, bassist George Koller, drummer Davide Direnzo, and saxophonist John Johnson. The album is available to stream in both stereo and spatial audio, a first for Holly Cole.
Johnson’s sax wails from the rear height speakers for “The Exciting Life,” emitting its reverb all around the listener. Davis’ piano sits between the front right and side right speakers, balanced out by Koller’s bass hovering between the front left and side left channels. Cole’s voice stays locked to the front stage, with ‘you-are-there’ ambience filling up the rear speakers.
Jethro Tull - “Curious Ruminant”
After two consecutive new album releases–2022’s The Zealot Gene and 2023’s RökFlöte–Jethro Tull unexpectedly announced yet another studio outing, Curious Ruminant, due out this coming March. Amongst the musicians featured are keyboardist Andrew Giddings, drummer James Duncan, bassist David Goodier, percussionist John O'Hara, drummer Scott Hammond and–making his recording debut with the band–guitarist Jack Clark. The title track is already available to stream in Dolby Atmos, mixed by The Pineapple Thief’s Bruce Soord.
The track opens with Giddings’ piano upfront, quickly answered by Ian Anderson’s acoustic guitar from directly behind. Anderson’s flute appears primarily from the front heights, with Clark’s electric guitar bursting from the side surrounds. Anderson’s vocal projects out into the room, filling up the front, side, and front height speakers.
Björk - “It’s Oh So Quiet”
Perhaps the biggest surprise of 2025 thus far has been the sudden appearance of Björk’s entire catalog in spatial audio. Fossora had been out in immersive audio since its original release in September 2022, but brand-new Dolby Atmos remixes of 1993’s Debut through 2017’s Utopia quietly appeared on Apple Music earlier this month. As many fans already know, several of these albums were already remixed in 5.1 surround sound for 2006’s Surrounded box set.
A standout amongst the collection would have to be “It’s Oh So Quiet” from 1995’s Post, one of her best-known songs. The orchestration throughout hovers between the front and front height speakers, with Björk’s vocal extending from the front stage out into the side surrounds. The rear and rear height channels are used sparingly, mostly for ‘you-are-there’ ambience.
Low Roar - “Field Of Dreams”
Low Roar is the creation of Ryan Karazija, an incredibly talented songwriter, singer and instrumentalist. Originally teaming up with award-winning producer/engineer Andrew Scheps for the first record (2011's Low Roar) and then adding Mike Lindsay to the production team for the second full length album (2014's 0), the catalog has grown to include 6 studio albums, 2 EPs, a live album and a remix album. House In The Woods–the sixth full-length release from Low Roar–is due out in full on February 7, though the singles "Field of Dreams" and "Just How It Goes" are already available to stream in Dolby Atmos.
The first single, “Field of Dreams,” is a showcase for immersive audio. It starts with just Karazija’s vocal and piano upfront, gradually adding acoustic guitars from the side surrounds and harmonies from the rear. For the second half of the track, ambient sound fills the entire soundstage–including the height array.
Snarky Puppy - “Shofukan”
2014’s We Like It Here is the third Snarky Puppy release to get the immersive treatment, following 2015’s Sylva and 2022’s Empire Central. As with the prior two releases, the new Dolby Atmos mixes were created by the band’s longtime engineer Nic Hard and overseen by leader Michael League. Originally recorded live with a studio audience over four concerts in the Netherlands, We Like It Here captured the band at one of the most explorative points in their career.
“Shofukan” opens the album with a single electric guitar protruding from the center channel, quickly joined by a second guitar part from the right side surround. The horn section completely surrounds the listener, with solos elevated towards the height array. Larnell Lewis’ drum kit takes up the entire front wall, with toms and other percussive elements favoring the front height speakers to very cool effect.
Pearl Jam - “Immortality”
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Pearl Jam’s classic third studio album received a brand-new Dolby Atmos mix from longtime collaborators Josh Evans and Nick Rives. The album's sound was more diverse than previous releases, mixing harder rock songs with ballads and other styles. In addition to immersive streaming, Vitalogy is also available in a limited Blu-Ray Audio edition sold exclusively via the band’s online shop.
The opening riff to “Immortality” appears suspended between the front right and side right channels, later accompanied by an acoustic guitar completely confined to the sides and the rhythm section upfront. Eddie Vedder’s distinctive vocals appear in the front ‘phantom’ center, while Mike McCready’s lead guitar drifts out towards the front right height speaker. At the very end, McCready’s part moves completely into the height array while Stone Gossard’s guitar migrates over to the rear surrounds.
Bryan Ferry - “Sign of the Times”
Bryan Ferry's Retrospective collects all the biggest hits from the Roxy Music frontman’s solo catalog, including classics like "Let's Stick Together" (1976), "Slave To Love" (1985), and "Kiss and Tell" (1987). Retrospective is set to be released on Blu-Ray Audio later this month, featuring brand-new Dolby Atmos remixes of 20 classic tracks from Bob Clearmountain and Rhett Davies. However, the spatial mixes are already available to stream on Apple Music.
“Sign of the Times” (from 1978’s The Bride Stripped Bare) places the crunchy rhythm guitars in the rear surround speakers, with keyboards over in side left and Ferry’s voice completely isolated in the center channel. Handclaps later emerge from the side surrounds, while a guitar part amusingly moves between all four height speakers. The center speaker is utilized not only for vocals, but also the bulk of the rhythm section.
Billy Joel - “That’s Not Her Style”
1989’s Storm Front is the latest Billy Joel album to receive a brand-new Dolby Atmos remix from Brad Leigh, following the classic 8-album from 1973’s Piano Man to 1983’s Glass Houses. Storm Front saw longtime Joel collaborator Phil Ramone vacate the producer’s chair in favor of Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones, infusing the album with a harder-rocking edge. The album is perhaps best remembered for the hit single “We Didn’t Start The Fire,” which cataloged major world events from the early 1950s up until then-present day.
Billy Joel’s piano takes the front stage for “That’s Not Her Style,” with his harmonica floating up in the front right height speaker. Liberty DeVitto’s massive drum kit fills up the front and rear speakers, with keyboards and rhythm guitars blasting from the side surrounds. During the chorus, backing vocals from percussionist Crystal Taliefero appear completely isolated in the rear speakers.
Revisit our past Spatial Audio Highlights articles!
Spatial Audio Highlights: Fall 2024
Spatial Audio Highlights: June 2024
Spatial Audio Highlights: November/December 2023
Spatial Audio Highlights: September/October 2023
Spatial Audio Highlights: July/August 2023
Spatial Audio Highlights: June 2023
Spatial Audio Highlights: May 2023
The Top 10 Immersive Singles On Apple Music (Round 3) (May 2023)
The Top 10 Immersive Singles On Apple Music (Round 2) (July 2022)
Dolby Audio On Apple Music: 5 Standout Albums (June 2022)
Apple Music's Spatial Audio Singles: 5 Winners & 4 Duds (August 2021)
