State of The Music

Are women preparing to run music in 2019?

This past week saw the first major releases from some of Pop music’s biggest players so let’s see who's gearing up to make this year their own.

Dancing With a Stranger by Sam Smith (with Normani)

Dancing With a Stranger is a sultry mid-tempo duet by Sam Smith and Normani that explores the struggles that come with a fresh breakup. The two do a great job in blending their unique vocal styles to create an infatuating duet. Normani steals the show with her beautiful tone that skates along the minimal production of Dancing With a Stranger. The only issue I have with the song is that it takes no risks. The production and vocals are okay but nothing about the track is exceptional or stands out which is something I believe Normani has been struggling with since she went solo.

More Than That by Lauren Jauregui

More Than That is a surprisingly dark R&B-pop track from Lauren Jauregui’s forthcoming debut album that finds Jauregui entertaining the idea of cheating on her lover. The track is fun in it’s lyrical content and 808-filled production, but by the end of the track you almost feel like the song is missing something. The song could’ve stood to have had a more interesting vocal performance, a bridge or at the very least a feature from a prominent rap artist. Although Lauren has previously confirmed that her debut album would have no features — tracks like this one could certainly use it.

Nights Like This by Kehlani (feat. Ty Dolla Sign)

Kehlani delivers one of the best songs to be released this month in the form of Nights Like This — a soul-stirring breakup jam that may or may not have you texting your ex after you listen to it a few too many times. NLK is Kehlani’s first single in almost two years and it doesn’t disappoint. Her vocal performance is nothing shy of excellent and Ty Dolla Sign does a great job as a feature in not overpowering the song, but instead delivering his own take on the overall theme of NLK — failing relationships.

Lost In The Fire by Gesaffelstein and The Weeknd

Easily the best song Gesaffelstein and The Weeknd have done together, Lost In The Fire is an exhilarating reminder that The Weeknd is always at the top of his game. The duo do a great a job in complimenting each other as the beat on this song is phenomenal, but doesn’t overshadow Abel’s heavy lyrics that even contain a bit of Drake shade? Either way I’d like to see some more collaborations from these two in the future as they don’t miss a beat.

7 Rings by Ariana Grande

Ariana reminds us that her money is long on new track 7 Rings from her forthcoming album thank u, next. Grande remains in a league of her own because — like her previous singles — the overall composition of the track sounds nothing like anything we’re hearing from today’s pop artists. I’m talking about the genius The Sound of Music sample and the dazzling rap verse at the end of the track that proves 7 Rings is a bad b*tch anthem done right. Ariana never fails to turn pain into power with lyrics like “Been through some bad shit, I should be a sad bitch Who woulda thought it’d turn me to a savage?” The track sent the internet into chaos so I just had to mention it with the releases from last week.