Melissa Kacar

"To Love Somebody" is a song rooted in heartbreak, but it approaches the feeling from a completely different angle than a typical breakup track. Instead of framing sensitivity and feeling all-encompassing deep emotions as weaknesses, Holly Humberstone instead writes from the place of these being the distinct traits that make us human. The bittersweet message is that the moments in life that leave you feeling the most exposed and emotionally vulnerable ultimately allow us to gain clarity and experience life in the fullest sense of the word. "They tell you that you feel too much, euphoria right down to the crush, it all breaks down, it always does, it all works out, it always does," Holly sings in the first pre-chorus. "And the shit they say in the songs you love, the greatest hits and the deepest cuts, it all breaks down, it always does, it all works out, it always does". At the heart of it, this song carries the age old message that it is better to have ...

"Never Felt So Alone" // Labrinth & Billie Eilish Labrinth's new song, "Never Felt So Alone" was previewed in the second season of Euphoria and was now officially released as a single leading up to his newest album. It also has an uncredited Billie Eilish feature, which made such a powerful addition to the second half of the song. Labrinth and Billie are both immensely talented and creative geniuses when it comes to their music innovations, so this collaboration is the perfect match. I also loved their Coachella performance , the live version elevated all of the emotions of this song to a new level - Billie's vocals were particularly some of the best I have ever heard from her. "Chemical" // Post Malone I always love hearing Post Malone 's growth and evolution as an artist, "Chemical" is an upbeat pop song that I can see being a big hit this summer. His vocals are so strong and the chorus is infectious. It reminds me of some of...

"Relationships" served as the lead single off of HAIM 's 2025 album I quit and in many ways embodies the ethos of what the entire project represents. The song basks in the rush of leaving behind what - and who - no longer serves you or benefits your life - finally having the ability to fully live in the independence and freedom that comes with letting go of everything you once felt was holding you back.  As this song progresses, it feels like all of the baggage starts to fall to the wayside and the realization sets in that you're the one in control of your own life, the people that you allow to take space in it, and the energy you give to it. Throughout this song, Danielle continuously circles back to the blunt and necessary question that shapes it all - "Why am I in this relationship?" It largely feels aligned with the new version of yourself you're becoming in that process of self-discovery, with the all-encompassing and often bittersweet feelings o...

"What Was That" by Lorde Lorde summer is officially here! The lead single from her forthcoming album, "What Was That", feels like a true rebirth for Lorde as an artist. Collaborating with Jim-E Stack and Dan Nigro for the first time, she's brought a fresh yet deeply emotional energy with this new song, and I couldn’t be happier that she's back. Listening to this gave me the same joy and euphoria I felt when I first heard Melodrama at 17 years old. It's hard to put into words right now, but this is such an exciting time for pop music and Lorde is one of the key voices that are really shaping this transformative and exciting new era for the culture.  "Egg" by Djo An early contender for my favorite album of the year is absolutely The Crux by Djo . Every song is incredible, and I can't recommend checking out the entire album enough, but one that really struck me is "Egg". It is such a profound and thought-provoking exploration of ide...

"Dead of Night" is a song Orville Peck so vividly wrote about a fleeting romantic encounter in the middle of the night. It is evocative and nostalgic all at once, showcasing the depth of his voice in a way that immediately draws the listener into the universe he was setting forth with his debut album Pony .  The song in many ways carries a very sparse, classic country sound, but also a distinctly modern, psychedelic cowboy melancholy that has become synonymous with his music through the years. Through his music, he is able to simultaneously blend familiarity with an elusive tone in such a unique way. There is a very distinct sense of isolation and loneliness embedded throughout this song. "This is a song about unrequited love. It's about being with somebody you know ultimately cannot give you what you want, and is only going to break your heart," he said in an interview with Apple Music. "But even just that is better than being without them, so you torture...