Latest Reviews

Two artists I will forever love, no matter what anyone says, are T-Pain and Kesha. So when Kesha teamed up with T-Pain for her new track “YIPPEE-KI-YAY,” I knew I had to check it out. I enjoyed both versions—with and without T-Pain—but let’s be real, he never stops delivering vocals, so his version is the one I’ll be playing on repeat.

Ari Lennox has released a new track titled “Soft Girl Era.” At first glance, the cover art led me to expect something in the realm of Ariana Grande—a light, bubbly pop sound. While the track does have fun, airy vocals, it also carries a deep, gritty melodic foundation that caught me off guard in the best way. The production is warm and layered, featuring cowbells, trap claps, heavy bass, and a subtle funk influence that shines through in both the vocals and instrumentation. There are even some unexpected details, like a choir adding richness to the sound—and if you listen closely around 1:50, you can even hear a cat meowing in the background.

As part of her Eternal Sunshine Deluxe album, Ariana Grande has released a track titled “Hampstead.” This review focuses solely on this song, but I highly encourage you to check out the other tracks from the deluxe edition as well—they're great!

Jacob Alon has just released a new song called Don’t Fall Asleep. And to be honest, I almost did—not out of boredom, but because the song is so soothing it naturally invites relaxation. Don’t Fall Asleep is an indie/folk/pop track with a classic set of instruments, complemented by an atmospheric pad that lingers in the background. The guitar plucks through slightly unusual chord progressions, strings add warmth, and the drums propel the song forward like a steady steam locomotive.

The indie rock trio HAIM has just released a new song titled “Relationships.” The track has an innocent, nostalgic feel that reminds me a bit of an old John Mayer love song—not a specific one, but more in the way HAIM phrases their melodies. As a longtime listener, I think this song is a great representation of the band. HAIM often experiments with sounds, song structures, and vocal melodies, yet they always manage to make their music feel familiar and inviting.

Frankie Grande has recently dropped an EDM banger called “Rhythm of Love.” The music video is dark and moody, featuring exactly what the title suggests—rhythm, love, and a whole lot of energy. From the very first beat, the song grabs you with its high-energy production. But what really sets it apart is a major switch-up that completely transforms the track from what you initially expect. The visuals follow suit, shifting from a murky dance club to a gymnastics/disco set, then to a dressing room, and finally, a full-blown theater performance.

The artist Aminé has just released a new song titled “Familiar.” I’ve been a big fan of his since ONEPOINTFIVE and Good For You, and he continues to impress with his ability to create music that’s both fresh and experimental while still making its way into the mainstream. It’s one thing to make something that sounds new—but making something that feels fresh and resonates with a wide audience is extraordinarily difficult.

The magic lantern of television beamed out news, sports, and an endless parade of talking heads dissecting the world in real time. But sometimes, amid the static and the chatter, a giant yellow “M” would materialize, trembling under a graffiti-scrawled “TV.” What followed was a sensory overload—neon-drenched, hyper-saturated, a chaotic broadcast of a revolution led by variegated characters.

Calvin Harris, the mastermind behind some of our favorite EDM anthems, is back with a new track, “SMOKE THE PAIN AWAY.” Right from the start, it’s impossible to predict where this song will go—has Harris pivoted to acoustic folk? Let’s find out.

Just by chance, while scrolling through a Discord community for composers, I came across the Hong Kongese composer, singer, and producer Lam Terence. The video featured a conventionally attractive singer with the usual aesthetics and look of Korean and Chinese pop. However, the person who shared the video wrote: