Melissa Kacar

"Walk of Fame" by Miley Cyrus & Brittany Howard Miley Cyrus ' latest album Something Beautiful is such an electrifying embodiment of everything that makes her one of the best performers of our time. Her undeniable star power and unwavering confidence shines through in every single song, but most especially in "Walk of Fame", which also features the incredible Brittany Howard. It is so glam and really feels like such a celebration of her decades long journey as an artist. This album truly is her most authentic and boldest artistic statement yet!  "CPR" by Wet Leg Wet Leg ’s latest single, "CPR" is irresistibly fun, catchy and addictive to listen to. It's one of my favorite songs I have heard from them yet, it is just bursting with the band's signature infectious energy and effortlessly cool, deadpan delivery. "Fame is a Gun" by Addison Rae Out of all the singles Addison has released so far, "Fame is a Gun" migh...

Initially inspired by a friend's breakup, "All I Ever Asked" by Rachel Chinouriri later became a reflection of her own experiences as well. The song captures the quiet devastation of realizing that the simplest forms of commitment in a relationship was never truly there. "When I've gone through a lot emotionally, it's easier to get a song out for me," Rachel said in an interview with Apple Music. "Friends tell me their heartbreak and stories, and I guess I just feel a lot when things happen, in proportions which I don't really understand sometimes. I'm a heavy feeler." In another interview with DORK , she explained, "'All I Ever Asked' was inspired by a breakup my friend was going through, and it made me reflect on a similar situation I was going through too. The feeling of asking someone you love to respect you in the simplest form and realizing it's the bare minimum. It's also about realizing your own worth and n...

Olivia Rodrigo 's "deja vu", the second single she ever released in 2021 , solidified her as one of the defining voices of a new generation in pop music, proving she was far from another one-hit wonder. It served as the follow-up to her debut single, "drivers license" , which was a massive cultural moment and one of the biggest songs released that year. "deja vu" felt like a natural progression for her as an artist, while still carrying through some of the same themes of yearning and nostalgia of a past relationship, she also introduced a more expansive and textured sound, signaling her potential for evolution and growth that was to come with future releases.  The song was co-written and produced by Dan Nigro , her core collaborator on all of her music up to this point. The storytelling is so layered and specific lyrically, in a way that is so personal to her own life, while also maintaining a universal relatability to the experiences she shares. Thro...

"BIRDS OF A FEATHER" by Billie Eilish is a sweet and simple love song, one unlike anything she has ever made before. Nearly left off the tracklist of HIT ME HARD AND SOFT due to how much she and Finneas overthought it, the song ultimately went on to quickly become one of the most beloved in her entire discography. This is also pretty much the first love song Billie ever wrote, and easily the poppiest up to this point in her career too with such a bright, soaring melody. At the same time, it still carries a morbid edge, infused with her signature dark humor, while still remaining undeniably heartfelt.  The song radiates so much joy, yet its lyrics lean into themes of death and devotion in a way that feels both intense and endearing. "I want you to stay 'til I'm in the grave, 'til I rot away, dead and buried, 'til I'm in the casket you carry," she sings in the opening verse. "If you go, I'm goin' too, 'cause it was always you an...

While the pandemic era saw a wave of music born from isolation and uncertainty, Charli xcx 's how i'm feeling now remains one of the most innovative, immersive and deeply personal projects to emerge from that time. Charli embraced a fully DIY approach over the course of five weeks, turning this forced isolation into a unique opportunity to produce an album entirely from home while documenting every step of the process in real time through social media. "The nature of this album is going to be very indicative of the times just because I'm only going to be able to use the tools I have at my fingertips to create all music, artwork, videos everything," Charli revealed in a public Zoom call with fans in 2020.  From pitching the idea to her label, to writing, producing, conceptualizing, filming music videos and creating album artwork, Charli shared all of the ups and downs through social media, offering fans a unique look into the process behind making an album. This a...