Melissa Kacar

"APT." by ROSÉ stands out as a major highlight from her debut solo album, rosie , which was released in late 2024. As a member of the K-pop girl group BLACKPINK , ROSÉ embraced a bold and experimental approach for the start of her solo journey, as the rest of her bandmates have as well. This was the lead single of rosie, released alongside the announcement of her solo album, which went on to become one of the biggest global hits of all time.  It has a strong pop punk vibe to it, which is mostly an outlier compared to the rest of the album, but serves as the perfect introduction to ROSÉ as a solo artist. With her solo debut, she experimented with so many new styles of music that showcased her versatility as an artist. Much of the album feels like a culmination of influences such as Olivia Rodrigo , Katy Perry , Selena Gomez and Avril Lavigne . I have really enjoyed hearing all of the new music each member of BLACKPINK has released over the past few months, and the unique ap...

"Aperture" by Harry Styles He's baaaaack! The lead single off of Harry Styles ' long-awaited new album,  Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally ,  introduces a new sound and direction for him. It leans into a more electronic house sound than ever before, a clear vantage point for "Aperture" being Robyn's "Dancing On My Own" , with hints of LCD Soundsystem as well. It is a long and sprawling five minute confessional, almost feeling like a status update for where he's been for the past few years. He always writes from his own distinct perspective, shaping a narrative built around living in the moment, loving and embracing togetherness. There are so many ways for this song to be interpreted, it largely connects to "Lights Up" in the way it is a thesis statement for who he is as an artist and the encouraging environment he creates with his music, inviting the listener to just let the light in and spread love. The repeated phrase of ...

After a few months of delays, the 64th annual Grammy Awards were finally held in Las Vegas over the weekend. This year's show celebrated so much of the amazing music that has been released in the past year. Each category was really stacked with great releases, making it impossible to predict who would've ultimately won. The show overall didn't feel like it had as many memorable moments like it has in the past, especially in comparison to last year's show , but there were still some highlights that were worth sharing, both from the red carpet and the show itself.  The show opened with a performance by Silk Sonic, which is made up of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, with their song "777". They were some of the most notable winners of the night, winning both Song of the Year and Record of the Year for "Leave The Door Open". In their acceptance speech, Anderson said, "We are really trying to remain humble at this point, but in the industry we call th...

"Lonely is the Muse" // Halsey I am continuously blown away by Halsey 's stunning artistry and vivid world-building in their music. "Lonely is the Muse" is so powerful and sharply written, sonically drawing from rock and grunge aesthetics of the 1990's. That is a style that I always felt suited her best, especially after the incredible  If I Can't Have Love I Want Power   in 2021 . The song is about the way she always falls in love with artists and creative types, only to realize that time and time again she ends up feeling commodified and put on a pedestal as a means of inspiration for that person's art. I never heard this described before in a song and it truly gives me chills every single time I listen. Dare I say "Lonely is the Muse" is her best song yet?  It is so poignantly written, so many lyrics stand out to me as among their greatest ever. "I will exist in every second just to decorate your life and when you're done, you c...