Melissa Kacar

Initially inspired by a friend's breakup, "All I Ever Asked" by Rachel Chinouriri later became a reflection of her own experiences as well. The song captures the quiet devastation of realizing that the simplest forms of commitment in a relationship was never truly there. "When I've gone through a lot emotionally, it's easier to get a song out for me," Rachel said in an interview with Apple Music. "Friends tell me their heartbreak and stories, and I guess I just feel a lot when things happen, in proportions which I don't really understand sometimes. I'm a heavy feeler." In another interview with DORK , she explained, "'All I Ever Asked' was inspired by a breakup my friend was going through, and it made me reflect on a similar situation I was going through too. The feeling of asking someone you love to respect you in the simplest form and realizing it's the bare minimum. It's also about realizing your own worth and n...

Olivia Rodrigo 's "deja vu", the second single she ever released in 2021 , solidified her as one of the defining voices of a new generation in pop music, proving she was far from another one-hit wonder. It served as the follow-up to her debut single, "drivers license" , which was a massive cultural moment and one of the biggest songs released that year. "deja vu" felt like a natural progression for her as an artist, while still carrying through some of the same themes of yearning and nostalgia of a past relationship, she also introduced a more expansive and textured sound, signaling her potential for evolution and growth that was to come with future releases.  The song was co-written and produced by Dan Nigro , her core collaborator on all of her music up to this point. The storytelling is so layered and specific lyrically, in a way that is so personal to her own life, while also maintaining a universal relatability to the experiences she shares. Thro...

"BIRDS OF A FEATHER" by Billie Eilish is a sweet and simple love song, one unlike anything she has ever made before. Nearly left off the tracklist of HIT ME HARD AND SOFT due to how much she and Finneas overthought it, the song ultimately went on to quickly become one of the most beloved in her entire discography. This is also pretty much the first love song Billie ever wrote, and easily the poppiest up to this point in her career too with such a bright, soaring melody. At the same time, it still carries a morbid edge, infused with her signature dark humor, while still remaining undeniably heartfelt.  The song radiates so much joy, yet its lyrics lean into themes of death and devotion in a way that feels both intense and endearing. "I want you to stay 'til I'm in the grave, 'til I rot away, dead and buried, 'til I'm in the casket you carry," she sings in the opening verse. "If you go, I'm goin' too, 'cause it was always you an...

While the pandemic era saw a wave of music born from isolation and uncertainty, Charli xcx 's how i'm feeling now remains one of the most innovative, immersive and deeply personal projects to emerge from that time. Charli embraced a fully DIY approach over the course of five weeks, turning this forced isolation into a unique opportunity to produce an album entirely from home while documenting every step of the process in real time through social media. "The nature of this album is going to be very indicative of the times just because I'm only going to be able to use the tools I have at my fingertips to create all music, artwork, videos everything," Charli revealed in a public Zoom call with fans in 2020.  From pitching the idea to her label, to writing, producing, conceptualizing, filming music videos and creating album artwork, Charli shared all of the ups and downs through social media, offering fans a unique look into the process behind making an album. This a...

Lizzy McAlpine 's "Spring Into Summer" is a beautifully written reflection on the cyclical nature of relationships, using the changing seasons as a powerful metaphor for love, regret, and personal growth. The song captures both the melancholy act of letting go and the hope that comes with stepping into a new season of life, embracing change despite knowing that the cycle will inevitably continue. It signals change after the darkness of winter, carrying a sense of warmth and renewal as summer approaches. At the same time, it carries this anticipation that the fall will eventually come again. As always, Lizzy's intimate storytelling shines through in the lyricism, beautifully depicting the emotional transitions that this song represents. "Spring into summer, and the winter's gone, I try to hold on to it, but the current's too strong, somebody finds me in the state I am, love you like I mean it when I know I can't," she sings in the opening lines. I...

Released in May 2020, Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber 's collaborative charity single, "Stuck With U", is a cute and optimistic love song about being stuck inside with someone you love. The track has a soft doo-wop vibe, making it feel nostalgic and comforting, which perfectly fit the time it was released. "So, lock the door and throw out the key, can't fight this no more, it's just you and me," they sing in the chorus. "And there's nothin' I, nothin' I, I can do, I'm stuck with you, stuck with you, stuck with you". Originally written as a solo track, Ariana came up with the idea to add Justin to the song, turning it into a duet that became an instant hit. It became Justin's sixth and Ariana's third number one single, also joining their long list of songs that have surpassed a billion streams . "We just wanted to make something fun that also helps and kind of makes people feel less alone and be hopefully somewhat ...