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- Review: "Ruins" - Oliver Heldens x Julia Church
“Ruins” is a new collaboration between Oliver Heldens and Julia Church, a song about sticking by someone’s side no matter what. With Heldens as the producer of the single and Church as a singer, Church displays her impeccable vocal talent as she describes her true feelings for someone in an emotional telling. She implies that the relationship her and this person are in is not completely steady, in which they experience hardships in and/or out of their control. However, this doesn’t stop Church from loving them, stating that if their relationship continues to be rocky, she will stay with them, as they both know their love is strong and that they can handle anything. Picture this: you and your friends are off to the biggest festival of the year, super excited and overflowing with energy as you all run together in a group and weave through the massive crowds of people, finding your way to the front row. Its night, so when you hear "Ruins" begin to play, the visuals displayed on the massive screen are bright and electrify the whole festival. This is what you feel like and can imagine while listening to "Ruins", an incredible EDM and house song that incorporates pop elements. Everything about this song, from the synths to the beat drop, is so addicting and makes you want to listen to it over and over again. Oliver Heldens is a producer and DJ from the Netherlands. Over the years, he has made waves in the dubstep scene and is an important part of the genre, and he has held performances at many popular festivals and has remixed lots of popular songs. Julia Church is a music artist from South Africa and is based in the UK. She has collaborated on many different songs; in May 2019 she released her debut single "Square 1". In October 2019, she released her debut EP Take What You Want, Do As You Please . Oliver Heldens and Julia Church are both amazing and very talented artists! Written By Ashley Adams FOLLOW OLIVER HELDENS: Instagram | Spotify FOLLOW JULIA CHURCH: Instagram | Spotify
- Taylor Swift's Masters Dispute - A Lesson in Masters Ownership and the Current State of the Music Industry
If you missed the news, Taylor Swift recently bought back the masters to her first six albums. Now, she maintains full ownership of her entire catalog spanning her 20 years in the music industry. In a letter posted to her website, Swift revealed that she was gratefully given the opportunity to buy her music “outright with no strings attached, no partnerships, with full autonomy” from Shamrock Capital, among other things (I’m looking at you “I haven’t even rerecorded a quarter of Reputation (Taylor’s Version)” ). In case you forgot, let’s run through the dispute from the very beginning, and I’ll talk about some of my opinions regarding the whole situation at the end. When Swift signed her record deal with Nashville based record label in 2005, she signed over her masters rights for her first six albums. She eventually wanted out of the deal, and Swift signed a new deal with Republic Records in 2018. In this new contract with Republic Records, she would retain the masters rights to all of her work. In 2019, Big Machine Records founder Scott Borchetta sold the masters rights to Swift’s first six albums to Scooter Braun, a known nemesis of Swift, for roughly $300 million. Swift, in an interview with CBS This Morning , stated “I couldn’t believe who [Borchetta] sold it to. Because we’ve had endless conversations about Scooter Braun, and he has 300 million reasons to conveniently forget those conversations.”This outrage inspired her 2020 song, “my tears ricochet”, off of her “folklore” album. The ensuing feud between Swift and Braun will soon become well documented in the following years With the release of her 2019 album, Lover , Swift announced that she had plans to rerecord her first six albums. A year later in 2020, it was announced that Braun sold her masters rights to Shamrock Holdings for an alleged $360 million. In a post on X, Swift revealed that Braun’s team required her to sign an NDA before being able to bid on her work, which Swift’s attorneys noted was highly unusual. Braun’s team was unwilling to even give her an estimated price, which made it clear to Swift that her masters would not be for sale to her. In April 2021, Swift released Fearless (Taylor’s Version) . In addition to the rerecorded versions of the 2008 songs, she also included unreleased “vault tracks”, featuring artists such as Keith Urban and Maren Morris. She followed this same model with Red (Taylor’s Version) , a 30-track record featuring the long-awaited “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)”. The “10 Minute Version” was the longest song to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, previously held by Don McLean’s 1971 hit, “American Pie”. After releasing Midnights in 2022 and embarking on “The Eras Tour” in 2023, Swift released Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) and 1989 (Taylor’s Version) in July and October 2023, respectively. Now, Swift owns the rights to every song she’s ever recorded. How was Swift allowed to rerecord her old music, even though she does not “own” them? Despite not having the rights to the sound recordings of her first six albums, she did retain the composition rights. This allowed her to remake the originals because she wasn’t reissuing the original recordings. Does this mean any artist seeking ownership of their masters, and their contract allowing them to do so, should rerecord their songs? Probably not. In my opinion, there are very few artists who could pull this move off. Swift’s star power and sheer pull allowed her to do this, and most artists would not be able to pull listeners from the originals to the new versions like she could. Another leverage point Swift used were the “vault tracks”, aka songs that didn't make the final cut of the original album. Some of these were leaked in the past, while some were complete surprises for fans. This, evidently, drew listeners to these new versions. By drawing listeners away from the old versions to the rerecorded ones, it devalued her original albums. This proves what we’ve observed many times in the industry - if you have money, you’ll go far. Without Swift’s rather massive bank account and her business prowess (she is the first billionaire artist that made their fortune from music alone), this deal most likely would not have gone through. The amount of leverage she has, and the pushback from millions of fans, played a role in the business negotiations. Even if the deal went through, I don’t believe the buying price would have been as low as it was. Rumors are that Swift bought back her masters from Shamrock Holdings for $360 million, the same price that Shamrock bought them for in 2020. This purchase was prior to the “Taylor’s Version” project coming to fruition, so Shamrock a) probably wasn’t sure that Swift would go through with the project and b) wasn’t sure that the project would even be successful, so it seemed like a worthwhile investment. Shamrock certainly made money off of the catalog, but most likely not to the degree they were expecting and hoping for. The dispute has also raised questions about the ethics of the music industry, specifically regarding record labels. In response to the massive success of the “Taylor’s Version” project, many labels have been incorporating restrictions on rerecording in the clauses of their contracts. These restrictions can last anywhere from ten to thirty years. This may seem grim, but there are some positives. The success of the “Taylor’s Version” project has allowed musicians to make strides in contract negotiations, artist ownership, and to be more engaged with the fans. All in all, Swift’s masters dispute will certainly be written in the history books, and it will be exciting to see the long last effects it has on the music industry. Written By Lauren DiGiovanni Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube *copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.
- Review: "Immortal" - Aloe Blacc x 2ŁØT
"Immortal" by Aloe Blacc and 2ŁØT is an electrifying pop anthem about approaching life with a strong stance. The song is rooted in the philosophical concept, memento mori. This phrase, meaning “remember you must die,” serves as a reminder not to take life for granted, because nobody lives forever. The lyrics influence listeners to reflect on how they are living their lives and reevaluate their actions. Are they being their true self? Are they holding back due to fear? Is there anything they would like to change? Blacc and 2ŁØT encourage their listeners to live like they are immortal. Live life without fear and break through the anxieties that may be holding you back. Paired with the powerful production, “Immortal” is an inspiring track that instantly lifts the listener’s spirits. Blacc’s compelling voice and 2ŁØT’s infectious soundscapes blend to craft a perfect pop song. The bright production is reminiscent of EDM legends such as Avicii and Calvin Harris, while upholding both Blacc and 2ŁØT’s unique talents. The song begins with a soothing guitar riff and muffled synth sounds that set the effervescent atmosphere. After a few measures, the soft bass beats and Blacc’s incredible voice kick in, instantly impressing the listener. As the song builds, the production showcases a very rich and full dynamic, emphasizing the song’s powerful message. “Immortal” is a flawless track with impeccable instrumentation and clever lyrics, making listeners crave another collaboration from the talented duo. ABOUT ALOE BLACC Aloe Blacc is a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, rapper, and changemaker, known for being the iconic vocalist behind Avicii’s hit track, “Wake Me Up” and his lead singles “The Man” and “I Need A Dollar.” His latest full-length album, Stand Together , is not only a celebration of art and music but also a call to action for everything he believes in. He wants to remind the world that “one good song really can change everything.” ABOUT 2ŁØT 2ŁØT is a five-piece band known for the genre-blending sound, Electronic Jam Music (EJM). This unique sound blends elements of hip-hop, soul, funk, jazz, rock, and electronica. The group is comprised of Rude Love Jr. (vocals/keys), Omar Jawar (drums), Sage Judd (keys), Chase Koch (guitar), and Robert Trusko (bass). The band is dedicated to advocating for social change, with an emphasis on overcoming addiction, supporting youth, and criminal justice. Similar to Blacc, their goal is to inspire audiences through their music and their mission. Blacc and 2ŁØT plan to reunite at Somehere Festival & Conference in Wichita, Kansas, on June 13- 14th, 2025, to perform “Immortal.” This event is one of the most socially conscious festivals in the country, and features performances by big names including Deadmau5, Flying Lotus, and Suki Waterhouse. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit somewhere-fest.com . Written By Karlee Skipper FOLLOW ALOE: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube FOLLOW 2ŁØT : Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube
- Review: "Hate It When It's You" - yetep ft. Trella
When the things we had avoided turns into something we can't help but love, it's hard to admit that this new reality is everything we had needed with that special someone. Late night drinks extend to two coffees shared in the morning, and the walls we've put up have started to crumble as we have found someone we can trust. We start treading in deep waters, but the trust we have in that special someone keeps us at the surface. Yetep and Trella opens the door to what we thought we had hated turned into a reality we have started to love. When the night turns into morning, and the rules have been broken for the person we can't help but fall for, we know we'll soon have to admit the truth that we kinda don't hate this love when it's with them. An upbeat, energetic melody and Trella's smooth and rich tone immediately greets us as "Hate It When It's You" begins. A lively and catchy beat plays as Trella sings about trying to close the door on being in a serious relationship, that has ended up transforming from one night to two coffees in the morning. The chorus soars into a captivating and emotional ambience that is also reflected in Trella's tone as the kind of love she has been avoiding has started to take over. An electric and addicting melody carries us forward as the cliche that she hated has turned into something she might be ok with. The emotional chorus returns followed by an escalating and exciting build up that keeps us on the edge as we are guided towards an epic beat drop reflecting the powerful feeling love can have even if we have a hard time admiting it. Yetep and Trella's "Hate It When It's You" has us dancing at night knowing in the morning we will finally be happy to admit that we don't hate the love we had been avoiding for far too long. Based in Los Angeles, California, yetep is an EDM DJ and producer who is known for his powerful and unique music. He began producing his own songs after attending EDM festivals with his friends, and from there he continued to grow more passionate about producing and performing his music as his fanbase started to grow. Along with performing at major stages and events, he has also worked with the non-profit organization, Common Unity, to raise awareness to the nation's homeless youth and mental health with the Common Unitÿ Tour. Lindsey Sweat is a singer and songwriter known as Trella who began her music journey at 19 years old. She has shown her power and influence in the music industry since then with an Emmy nomination and over 18 million streams on Spotify. Her music can be heard across a range of networks like FOX, ABC, and Netflix, and she has performed at festivals like Lollapalooza and Wonderstruck. Together, yetep and Trella are a powerful duo in this exciting collaboration that will have everyone dancing. Written By Nini Alano FOLLOW YETEP: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube FOLLOW TRELLA: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube
- Review: "Better" - Julianna Joy
Beloved artist Julianna Joy is back again with her new single "Better," a dark pop track that feels otherworldly and engages listeners, transporting them to another reality. On "Better," Julianna Joy is really able to show off how clever her songwriting can be as she creates some beautiful illustrations with her words. With each lyric, you stay mesmerized by the character study this song portrays. The song itself really creates a haunting ambiance and it's a style that works so well with Julianna Joy's voice. "Better" has an intensity to it, both with its lyrics and instrumental, that becomes addictive as you keep listening. Click here to listen to "Better" It's interesting to learn that "Better" was a song Julianna Joy began writing when she was still in high school, a song that has been in the works for many years carries so much history and it leaves you wondering all the different versions it has taken over time. The speaker's complexity on this song definitely carries that message as we find them understanding their own flaws and processing how to manage their situation. Julianna Joy has always given us pure vulnerability in her music and "Better" is no exception to this rule. The speaker in this story doesn't shy away from their insecurities and what they often hear from others, but the music style still feels empowering, as if this they're taking a new path to their character. The guitar lead absolutely rocks and really kicks in energy and passion into "Better" and it makes the song stronger. It's so easy to fall in love with this track and the emotions it evokes in listeners. Julianna Joy continues to excite with each release as she's always able to show off how talented she is as a creative. Julianna Joy is a Chicago native, now based in LA, who has been making music since she was 17. Her debut EP, "Cherries" has now cultivated over 6 million streams and has since helped her catch the eyes of many fans and industry legends alike. In 2022, Julianna Joy released her second EP, "Garden of Eden," which featured many great writers like John Ryan, Ariza, and Mags Duval. The EP did very well and was featured on notable locations such as the Zane Lowe show, Under the Radar magazine, and Spotify's featured playlists. Then, in 2023, Julianna Joy opened for artist Xana on tour, and after she released her third EP, "Unhappy" that same year. "Better" is a single for her upcoming debut album, "SOMEBODY CALL THE FIREMAN," set to be released this summer. With every release, Julianna Joy always proves how talented of an artist she is so we will certainly be anxiously awaiting her upcoming album. Written By Chantal Charles FOLLOW JULIANNA JOY: Instagram | Spotify | YouTube *Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article. #SustainableCurator
- Review: "xox baby goodnight" - Hannah Dorman
The dating world is so hard to navigate especially in this time. There are so many mixed feelings from both sides on where it will go. It leaves you thinking about so many things from why you are doing this to how it will work. More than often we self-sabotage with new relationships because of past experiences or because the spark is just not there. It really takes a huge toll on who you are and how you think. Hannah Dorman’s latest release “xox baby goodnight” delivers us these same messages but with a feel-good twist to it. “xox baby goodnight” immediately grabs your attention with this pulsing melody. From the sound I could just tell how feel-good this track would be. While this song is about the hard truth that comes with the dating world. She adds a powerful and confident twist to the whole meaning making the mood of the entire track so fresh and relatable. With just seconds into the song, I was already hooked and adding this track to my feel-good vibe playlist. I highly recommend listening to this song! Hannah Dorman is a talented singer/songwriter from Surrey, England. She started releasing music in 2015 with her first single “Take Control” and has released ever since. Her music falls under that of the pop rock genre as she was influenced by artists like Dua Lipa and Avril Lavigne. She has so much passion for creating music and her heavy presence on social media keeps her listeners engaged every step of the way. If you haven’t already listened to her brand new single “xox baby goodnight” I definitely recommend it. As always be sure to follow her social medias below and follow along on her musical journey. Written By Julissa Garcia FOLLOW Hannah Dorman: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube *Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article. #SustainableCurator
- Review: "Mess Me Up Again" - Nick Babcock
Rising Canadian-based pop artist, Nick Babcock candidly reflects on the raw, yet untold truths, behind complex breakups in his latest single “Mess Me Up Again.” Babcock’s original, symbolic, and heart-wrenching hit voices the internal and common unspoken reality embedded in the loss of romantic connection. The song’s narrative is fiercely driven by a confession-like structure, where the struggling and opposing duality between reason and emotion is impossible to escape. While the song’s main storyline focuses on heartbreak, its speaker is not characterized to be in a healed, apathetic state, nor a devastated, grief-stricken state. Instead, Babcock captures the essence of a person who is shaped by divided emotions. There is a unique union where desire versus logic is explored through the lens of someone who seems to be fully grounded in reality. The song’s title, cleverly crafted to be “Mess Me Up Again,” is a repeated key phrase throughout the entire tune that explicitly highlights the speaker’s challenge: “I should be tired of / Falling in love and then breaking up / You’d think by now I would've had enough / It’s hard to understand why / I wanna let you mess me up again.” The catchy main chorus perfectly communicates the intertwined ideas of transparent vulnerability, never-ending longing, and a pestering sense of frustration. In my eyes, the phrase “Mess me up again” embodies a desperate plea that lingers on the verge of emotionally-driven chaos. There is an overwhelming, almost brutal honesty present in Babcock’s lyrics and sound. Because of this, you cannot help but feel the speaker’s personal experience as if it were one of your own. The layered storytelling evokes a bold and striking authenticity to be established and take center stage. This is a song that knows exactly what it is. It is a piece with a clear identity in its sound and message, and as it progresses, it thrives because of it. Babcock’s full artistic control in composition via vocal, instrumental, and to put it simply, in its overall creation as a work of art, is breathtaking. As a first time listener, I could instinctively perceive the intense care and detail in this song, and appreciate the meticulous nature it is founded on. I firmly believe Babcock’s emotionally-driven lyrics to be the standout feature of “Mess Me Up Again.” The introduction consists of clear and direct lyrics, allowing audiences to immediately understand the speaker’s narrative and his experience. To the speaker, mundane, ordinary, everyday life routines and habits suddenly hold an intensity to them. Silent tasks, such as drinking coffee, sitting at the dinner table, and leaving the house manifest themselves as extremely loud, becoming a reminder of absence. Babcock’s sound is effective in its parallel to the speaker’s emotional state. There is a slow burning momentum throughout the tune that is haunting, but extremely memorable and beautifully designed. The steady, consistent track, echoed by controlled, sharp beats over time are subtly amplified and layered to their full potential. The stimulating soundscape is composed of high brassy notes, textured electronic synths, and airy stacked vocals that compliment Babcock’s charming and dreamy voice. Babcock’s strength as a musician stems from his effortless ability to express the release of emotional buildup: “Now I'm nauseous from the things you did / This broken heart, these stimulants / I’m taking just to get through everyday that you’ve been missing / With you not in these sheets it’s just / Harder and harder to sleep.” This specific verse successfully and astutely depicts a liberating wave of authenticity, where you can feel and hear the speaker’s raw and unfiltered thoughts. There is a special artistic choice made within the bounds of structure, speed, and dynamic intensity that showcases an outpour of feeling, while simultaneously, highlighting Babcock’s credibility as an artist. Babcock’s voice shifts from flowy to sharp, and delivers an almost rap-like performance heightened by quick moving lyrics. As a performer, Babcock does not hold back. His captivating voice rings with a dazzling energy that without a doubt, enchants audiences. There is an awe-inspiring intimacy and tenderness to Babcock’s sound that is rare, one of a kind, and will leave listeners wanting to cry and dance at the same time. The Brampton Canadian-born and based artist, Nick Babcock, is a singer-songwriter known and embraced for his emotionally-charged pop music and strong versatile style. His songs vary in genre and style, shifting from modern pop, with hints of indie and alternative pop sprinkled throughout. Babcock’s connection to music stems from the age of 15, and has matured with time. His talent surpasses from solely being a performer, and has extended to the full composition of his songs. Babcock’s latest single “Mess Me Up Again,” not only explores vulnerability through its profound lyrics and intimate sound, but its creative process as well. The song’s lyrical and track production origin, was composed in his personal home and fully embodies raw honesty to a different level. Babcock’s consistency and respect for the craft has gradually built his sound to leave an emotional impact on listeners. As a listener, you can sense Babcock’s rigorous and in-depth attention towards his music. Every detail seems to have a purpose and meaningful effect to the overall product. As of now, Babcock has a total of 1,877 monthly listeners and several singles released. You can consider me a fan. Written By Galileah Sanchez FOLLOW NICK BABCOCK: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube *Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article. #SustainableCurator
- Review: "LYING WITH THE ENEMY" - Rob Eberle
Nothing feels more right than to kick off the summer with a fun pop/rock song that is catchy with just enough sour to feel relatable. Rob Eberle has dropped his new single "LYING WITH THE ENEMY," a song that preaches to the audiences about having someone keeping you on the backburner or in the friendzone to make sure that their own security is protected. He gets his point across with strong lyrics like, "Think I'm too nice" and "saving me for later" which we hear right in the first verse, capturing his vision and launching listeners right into the story. The song immediately captures the attention of the listener with an 80's synth sound before launching us into the first verse flipping the whole genre on its head bringing us to more of a mellow/acoustic sound. Where the lyrics are heavy, the music stays fun, upbeat and almost optimistic contrasting the two throughout the whole thing. The chorus is everything we want: loud, catchy and upbeat. What Rob does in this song is truly remarkable and noteworthy in terms of not being afraid of being vulnerable through the lyrics while showing off your musicality in the music portion of the song. Rob Eberle is a musician, songwriter and producer originally from New York but now resides in LA. Rob has a niche for capturing his own life experiences as well as being inclusive enough in his lyrics allowing his audience to relate to his stories. He takes influence from all sorts of artists like FINNEAS and Billie Eillish all the way to Alexander 23 allowing him to lean into music without throwing too much of a label on it as he tends to genre-bend. Although young, Rob has an immense amount of success and with this new album, he'll only be going up. Written By Breanna M. FOLLOW ROB: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube
- Review: "It's Not You" - Anacy
As individuals we struggle to see what others see about us and like about us. We think of ourselves as incapable of loving or being with a certain person. There are so many different things that can make us think this way. It may be past experiences, or it may simply be because we are scared to let something we want go as far as a relationship. Whatever the case may be in the end our own thoughts trick us into staying away. Anacy’s new single “It’s Not You” delivers us messages of these same struggles and reminds us that, although it may seem like a long journey, we can overcome it. “It’s Not You” begins with a slow and haunting melody before her stunning vocals enter. I thought the soft and delicate sounds in the background really brought this song together. Especially with how much strong emotion was in each and every lyric. You can really feel how much this song means to the artist through her lyrics. With lines like “But it’s not your fault, I was wired this way / I was born to run, it’s in my DNA” and “But don’t blame yourself, its best to believe / That it’s not you, it’s me.” Everything about this track was amazing and super relatable. I immediately added it to my playlist. Anacy is a singer/songwriter from Cape Town, South Africa. She released her first single in 2024 titled “Hot Mess” and went on to release two more singles that year. Her latest single “It’s Not You” is a pop song mixed with elements of indie and electronic pop. In all her music you can feel just how much passion and energy she puts into it from her emotive lyrics. While she started releasing music just last year, she has already accumulated over 20,000 monthly listeners. I highly recommend you give this talented artist a listen! Written By Julissa Garcia FOLLOW Anacy: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube *Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article. #SustainableCurator
- Review: "Spiral" - Luna Jones
If you’ve ever had those little moments after a breakup where you get glimpses of what the relationship once was, “Spiral” by Luna Jones is the song for you. The lyrics “I’d do it all again” suggest that maybe things that might’ve caused the relationship to end could’ve changed and are fixed now. Even though she doesn’t want to spiral into a tizzy, she can’t help but to overthink and obsess about what the relationship can be now. She wants to take the high road and move on because it will only benefit her in the long run. Her ex is bad news, she even says so, and wasn’t good for her. Just because someone isn’t good for you doesn’t mean you don’t want them in your life. Moving on is one of the most difficult experiences, especially when the person meant a lot to you. Your progress isn't linear, it takes time. Produced by Miles Camilleri, “Spiral” by Luna Jones is the perfect indie-pop anthem. The beat of the track fits perfectly with the buildup of the lyrics. The softer Luna sings, the softer the instrumentation is. As the chorus picks up, the tempo also quickens. There’s a nice blend of production elements. Luna’s voice and tone is so pretty. At points throughout the song when she sings, you can tell she’s reflecting on her relationship and talking to herself about it. She’s not just singing the lyrics, she’s telling a story. Luna Jones discovered her passion for music early on in her life. She’s crafted melodies and lyrics that reflect her truths and personal experiences. Luna represents a revolution of love and freedom, and it’s her mission to show that through her music. Her voice is captivating and ethereal. Luna is a verified artist on Spotify and has over 34,000 monthly listeners on the platform. It’s clear Luna is a star. Check out “Spiral” and give it a listen! Written By Alexa LaMalfa FOLLOW LUNA JONES: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | YouTube
- Review: "Are You Winning Now?" - EMME
We can all understand and agree how painful romantic breakups usually are. Platonic breakups between friends are just as painful, though. Or sometimes, even more painful. Getting a sense of trust, love, and laughter from a friend creates a deep and genuine connection. But when these friendships turn sour unexpectedly because of hidden animosity or bitterness, it can be hard to navigate and come back from. EMME's new song "Are You Winning Now?" conveys all of this in a heartbreakingly honest and vulnerable way. "Are You Winning Now" tells an all too familiar story that many can relate to: a close someone keeping score to see who is "winning." In any sort of relationship, there is no such thing as "winning." Thinking so only ends up with losing meaningful connections and genuine bonds, as EMME beautifully shows in "Are You Winning Now?" Right from the beginning, "Are You Winning Now?" hits you immediately with emotions that encapsulates the experience of a friendship ending. The song is somewhat reminiscent of "Drivers License" by Olivia Rodrigo . Musically, "Are You Winning Now?" feels a bit more stripped down, but shares the similar emotional weight of "Drivers License." "Are You Winning Now" is the kind of song that would be played loudly on the radio at night with the windows down. Its a deeply vulnerable song that makes you want to scream along with the lyrics.Throughout the song, the gentle strums of an acoustic guitar alongside the soft notes of a piano adds to the overall heartbreaking vibes. Pair that with EMME's very angelic, raw vocals, and the entire song feels as if you are actively mourning the loss of a friendship. EMME is a singer-songwriter born and raised in Los Angeles. She is known for her pop melodies and relatable storytelling in her songs. EMME spent the beginning of her music career writing songs for other artists. She has landed credits including Grace VanderWaal's "Hideaway," JORDY's "things I never said" and "Better By Myself," Tritonal's "Out of the Dark," and Le Youth's "About Us." EMME now focuses mainly on her projects as a solo artist. Her debut single "Valley Girl" was released in 2022, and was the first of many songs that explored her perspective of love, identity, and belonging. Her latest single "Are You Winning Now?" was released in May 2025, again showcasing her incredible talent for crafting vulnerable songs about relatable topics. EMME will also soon be performing live on June 11th at The Peppermint Club in Los Angeles! Written By Kyler Griggs FOLLOW EMME: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok
- Review: "So Think Twice" - The Only Arena
We are all at a different point in our lives with different struggles and goals. At times it can seem so hard to push through and come out the other side. There are so many emotions and feelings that go into the things we have planned. But sometimes when those goals don’t work out it may just be a sign that something else better is yet to come. The Only Arena released her brand new single titled “So Think Twice” on May 23, 2025. With powerful messages about growth and overcoming struggles this track has it all. “So Think Twice” opens with instrumentals that immediately grab your attention with their groovy rhythm. The drums were so funky and bouncy, and the guitar was steady but sharp. The instrumentals in this track were my favorite as they gave off such a feel-good mood. They gave a perfect introduction to her soulful voice and forceful lyrics. She also had such a great vocal range, especially with lyrics like “My killer shark mentality got me here, yeah / So I dare you.” This entire song was so powerful and inspiring while also extremely relatable, I could not get enough of it! The Only Arena is a singer/songwriter from Sydney, Australia. She released her first single in 2023 titled “One Of Us” and has released regularly since. Her latest release “So Think Twice” was released as a tribute, showing others that rejection never has to be the end. She had a dream and knew it could be achieved and didn’t let anyone stop her. I highly recommend listening to this track as there is so much emotion and outstanding instrumentals throughout. Don’t forget to follow her social medias down below as well! Written By Julissa Garcia FOLLOW The Only Arena: Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube | Website *Sponsored Post - Discovered on Musosoup. A contribution was made to help create this article. #SustainableCurator


















