Melissa Kacar

"Don't Smile" closes out Sabrina Carpenter 's Short n' Sweet on a lush, understated note, which beautifully contrasts some of the more playful energy that made up so much of the rest of the album. It's a glittery, jazzy slow burn that is so full of emotion. This is such a refreshing sound for Sabrina to be experimenting with, especially as it allows her vocal range to shine so effortlessly.  I often think of it as if it were the song rolling at the ending credits of this album, fading out as the metaphorical party ends. On this song she takes the common phrase "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened" and reverses it to "Don't smile because it happened, baby, cry because it's over".  In an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, she opened up about the inspiration behind the song; "That title is so... it's on every Pinterest board, on every sewn pillow, but the opposite; don't cry because it...

"Espresso" was the first introduction we got into Sabrina Carpenter 's now iconic Short n' Sweet , initially just supposed to be a "little song" for her to perform at Coachella back in April 2024. It actually ended up transforming her entire career and became one of the biggest songs of the entire year. Is it that sweet? I guess so! This song quickly took off and became a phenomenon that I don't think anyone could have expected. It perfectly blends pop, funk and even a little bit of a disco influence. It's truly the definition of a perfect pop song. Sabrina describes the rush of a new relationship in such a cute way, with super fun word-play throughout the song. "That's that me espresso" is probably the most iconic line from the song, but "I'm working late, cause I'm a singer", "I know I Mountain Dew it for ya" and "Switch it up like Nintendo" are just a few more of the most quotable phrases from t...

"Sold Out" by Gracie Abrams, Bon Iver & Aaron Dessner Gracie Abrams , Justin Vernon , and Aaron Dessner came together to create a deeply special song honoring the lives lost to gun violence. It's a heavy and important piece of music, written with such clarity and emotional weight. "Sold Out" captures not only the grief of where the world is right now, but the tragedies that continue to happen far too often, in the US and beyond. Alongside the release of the song, they shared; "We made this song last year in the wake of a school shooting. I was reminded of it this week as our hearts were broken yet again. It's a sad one to share during the holidays, but the world is hurting and we shouldn't look away." The song isn't available on streaming services currently, but you can purchase it through Gracie's Bandcamp . All proceeds are going to Everytown, which is an organization committed to reducing gun violence.   Buy the song here + fin...

"Vertigo" dives into all of the conflicting feelings that come after a breakup and the disorienting process of trying to make sense of an emotionally unavailable partner. Griff released it as the title track of her debut album in 2024, which shaped the direction the rest of the record went in. This song, and the rest of Vertigo , features some of the most infectious synth pop production, paired beautifully with her distinctive heartfelt lyricism that brings so much depth to the music she releases.  "You're scared of heights, that's vertigo, you wanted lights, go see a show, you ran away, that's touch and go, you're scared of love, well, aren't we all?" she sings in the chorus of the song.  "When someone leaves your life, you spend a lot of time asking if it was your fault. This song lists all those reasons why it could be, but it's also about trying to reassure yourself that there was nothing you could have done to make it better," ...

Following the release of her Grammy winning album   Short n' Sweet last summer, Sabrina Carpenter is giving us a taste of something even sweeter - five new deluxe tracks! Every single song on the standard edition of  Short n' Sweet   is pure pop perfection, the deluxe tracks only further enhance the original album. Of course, all five additions also carry through so much of Sabrina's signature charm and humor that is very present throughout all of the music she makes.  Across these five songs, she worked with all of the same collaborators as the rest of the standard edition, Amy Allen , Julian Bunetta, John Ryan, and Jack Antonoff . Short n' Sweet  was one of my favorite albums of 2024 and I've been continuously obsessed with every single song on it since it was released.  "15 Minutes" is the first of five new songs on the deluxe edition of the album, which gives the listener a glimpse into her life following the release of Short n' Sweet   and the...

"Sue me" is an unapologetically fun and carefree pop song that captures the chaotic rush of going back to someone you know you shouldn't. It's endlessly catchy and filled with so much of Audrey Hobert 's personality. She writes and performs from such a self-aware place, one that is also a little bit awkward in the most charming way.  This was Audrey's 2025 breakthrough debut single, coming off the success of her collaborations with her close friend Gracie Abrams , co‑writing some of Gracie's biggest songs to date, including "That's So True" and six other tracks from The Secret of Us . Hearing Audrey's solo music now, it's clear how singular her voice is as a writer, with a distinctiveness comes through in everything she's apart of.  "Broke up with you in November, sorry, I know you remember, are you depressed or are you feeling better? 'Cause you're looking like it's the latter," she sings in the opening ve...