Melissa Kacar

"Camera" by Charli xcx Charli xcx has officially released not one, but two of my very favorite albums of the year - first with the stunning Wuthering Heights concept album / soundtrack, and now with the all‑time career highlight Music Fashion Film . It was also impossible to highlight just one song from this album ("2007" and the closer "No One Lasts Forever" being very close contenders as my monthly favorites too), but "Camera" felt like the most indicative of the entire ethos of what this music represents as a whole. It is such a deeply thought‑provoking examination of what it means to pursue a life of art and stardom in the modern age; while framing the question of legacy and what an artist leaves behind (or doesn't). Closing out the trifecta of singles for music ( "Rock Music" ), fashion ( "SS26" ), and film ("Camera"), it is fully representative of who she is as an artist and what her mission is with this ...

"drop dead" by Olivia Rodrigo I already know this is going to end up being one of, if not the , top songs of my entire year. It's only been a few days and I'm already completely obsessed. "drop dead" is such a cute, sweet love song, and she captures that initial spark and breathlessness of meeting someone and falling in love for the first time in a way truly only Olivia can. It's so sharply written - especially that second verse, which I haven't been able to get out of my head since the moment I first heard it - and so earnest in the way she depicts herself falling so hard and so fast. you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love is absolutely my most anticipated album of the year, I have been waiting so long for new music from her and "drop dead" is such a strong introduction into what I'm sure is going to be an incredible record to come!  "Living Room" by Not For Radio To usher in this new season of growth and renewal, María ...

"serena joy" by Olivia Rodrigo As the theme song for her inaugural all‑female music festival, Daisy Chains Fields, Olivia released the incredible "serena joy", which is a cautionary anthem meant to inspire action and change for women around the world. All proceeds from the song, and from the festival itself, are going to numerous charities focused on advocation for and funding women's causes globally. She's already raised over $20 million, which is such an extraordinary feat. There aren't many artists with the guts, conviction, or foresight to pull off something this massive, especially something rooted entirely in helping people around the world on such a massive scale, but Olivia has always stood firmly on her morals and used her platform to make a difference. I've always admired her for that. Named after a character from The Handmaid's Tale , the song carries the mantra "if they do it to them, they'll do it to you", which is a re...

"Carla's Song" by Harry Styles Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally  is here and it is such an incredible return to one of the defining artists of our time. One undeniable career highlight for Harry is the album's final track, "Carla's Song" . It's hard to even put into words how special this song is. It feels like a celebration of the music that shapes us and the people who enter our lives and change the way we listen, share, and connect. There's something so moving about the way he captures that exchange; how you show someone the songs you love, and they show you theirs, and suddenly your world is bigger because of it. It also feels like a beautiful reflection of the relationship between artist and listener, and the way he understands what his music represents to so many people right now in the moment, and also the ways in which this art will outlive all of us. As a closing track, it's powerful, emotional, and unlike anything I've hear...