Category Archives: Music & Playlists

Album Review: Abbey Road

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Abbey Road is the eleventh studio album from legendary British rock band The Beatles. Originally formed in Liverpool, the band consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. The Beatles rose to global fame in the 1960s and are widely considered one of the most influential and iconic musical acts in history. After years of record-breaking albums and groundbreaking music, internal tension began to form within the group. Despite this, they came together to create Abbey Road, which many fans and critics consider their finest work.

Abbey Road blends rock, pop, and psychedelic elements and was a stunning return to form after the more experimental White Album. It includes 17 tracks and is known for its tight production, memorable melodies, and legendary medley on side two. Here are some highlights from the album in my opinion…

Come Together:
The opening track and one of the album’s most famous songs, “Come Together” sets the tone with a bluesy, psychedelic groove. John Lennon’s vocals are mysterious and cool, and the bassline is iconic. The lyrics are abstract but compelling, and the production is smooth and layered. It’s the perfect opener and feels effortlessly cool. It also shows the Beatles embracing a more modern rock sound.

Something:
Written by George Harrison, “Something” is a standout ballad that has been praised by artists like Frank Sinatra, who once called it “the greatest love song ever written.” Harrison sings about being deeply drawn to someone but not entirely understanding why. The lyrics are simple and beautiful: “Something in the way she moves, attracts me like no other lover.” The string arrangement and guitar solo are just as emotional as the words. It’s a tender, romantic masterpiece.

Here Comes the Sun:
Another Harrison-penned gem, this is probably my personal favorite track on the album. Written in Eric Clapton’s garden during a break from the band’s tensions, it’s full of optimism and light. The acoustic guitar is bright, the synth line adds a dreamlike feel, and the lyrics bring hope: “It’s been a long, cold, lonely winter.” Every time I hear this song, it reminds me of better days ahead.

Honorable Mentions:

  • Oh! Darling – A passionate McCartney vocal performance that sounds like a lost ’50s classic.
  • Because – A haunting and harmonically rich track that feels like a lullaby in space.
  • Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End – The emotional and powerful conclusion to the Beatles’ recording career.

While Abbey Road was a huge success in both the UK and the US, it’s fascinating to know that at the time of release, it received mixed reviews from critics. Over time, though, it has rightfully earned its place as one of the greatest albums of all time. Personally, I think Abbey Road captures everything that made The Beatles great—imagination, emotion, and unmatched musical talent. Even decades later, it still feels timeless.Whether you’re new to The Beatles or a longtime fan, Abbey Road is an essential listen. I hope it resonates with you as much as it did with me.

Epic the Musical: The Ocean Saga (EP Review)

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EPIC: The Musical is a concept musical loosely adapting the story of the Odyssey, the famous Greek epic. It has been fully released with 9 sagas, each featuring 3-5 songs, and the Ocean Saga is the third in line. If you haven’t listened yet, this will have spoilers – go check it out!

  1. Storm
    The opening song, Storm is mostly setting up the rest of the saga. Odysseus and his crew are facing a torrential storm (go figure), but Ody spots a floating island. He asks Eurylochus to prepare the crew to throw harpoons at the island, hoping to latch on and escape. Admittedly, the plot hook of a storm is underwhelming compared to the previous threat of a cyclops, but it is catchy nontheless. I often find myself humming the main lines when it rains! The vocals of the crew echoing back Odysseus’s lines drive home how he is what is keeping the crew afloat, and how they all listen to him. (Which certainly won’t come back to haunt us later).

2) Luck Runs Out

In this, Eurylochus expresses his doubts about Odysseus’ plan. This song is fascinating as it delves into the mindset of both of the characters. Odysseus’ main trait is that he is cunning, a trickster. He has relied on his wits to get the crew out of all situations thus far. Eurylochus is above all else, practical. We saw this in Full Speed Ahead, in his introduction, where he proposes the crew take the more brutal, but efficient way of raiding the island. Eurylochus is worried about the fact that Odysseus is relying on nothing but himself, that he has no safety net to fall back on. “How much longer,” he asks, “til’ your luck runs out?” Odyssseus tries to convince Eurylochus under the mantra of optimism, but he doesn’t relent. In the end, Odysseus pulls Eurylochus to the side and reminds him that he can’t be opposing his plans. The crews voices, interestingly, echo Eurylochus instead of Odysseus here, showing that they share his doubts and fears and are siding with him.

3) Keep Your Friends Close

Odysseus has successfully made it to the island in the sky, and is now requesting the aid of Aeolus, the wind god, to help them through the storm. Aeolus proposes a deal – the storm will be put inside a bag and given to Odysseus. Now, he will be able to get through, but should he open the bag, his crew will be blown all the way back. Aeolus’ “winions” feed into Odysseus’ crew the idea that the bag actually has treasure inside, tempting them to open it. Despite Odysseus’ best efforts to dissuade the crew and protect the bag, the temptation is too great and the bag is opened – blowing the ship in the complete opposite direction away from Ithaca.
This song overall perfectly accomplishes a light and bouncy feel in the first half contrasted with a deeper, dramatic tone in the second. Aeolus’ singer perfectly portrays the airy, whimsical feel of the wind god, and the segment where Odysseus has a dream perfectly serves to remind the viewer of what he is working towards – right before it is brutally ripped away. This song also deepens the growing divide between Odysseus and his crew, which has been a major theme in this saga. The usage of the flute perfectly suits Aeolus as well!

4) Ruthlessness

The usage of trumpets, Poseidon’s designated instrument, match his aggressive temper amazingly. Poseidon’s singer has some amazing vocals with growls and roughness that perfectly mature the brash nature of the god. Besides the musical aspect of this song, it also displays some important themes. The main conflict of EPIC: the Musical is the clash between the ideology of “Open Arms”, as referred to by Polites in the aptly named song, which is the idea that everyone should be treated with trust and kindness, versus the idea of Ruthlessness.

The Ocean Saga’s songs set up vital theme dominoes for the rest of the musical with their compelling instrumentation and devastatingly catchy lines. Next up: The Circe Saga!

Songs For Summer

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Summer is just around the corner, and nothing completes a summer vibe more than upbeat songs coming out of your speaker. Here are some fantastic summery tracks to listen to on your next beach day.

Waves by Miguel (Tame Impala Remix): This might be the most stereotypical summer track that not many people have heard. With pop-style production that could be reminiscent of an EDM track, and lyrics like “gonna ride that wave”, Waves is the perfect song to play at the beach.

Lost by Frank Ocean: This is one of Frank Ocean’s most popular songs and the track that got me into his music. The production contains a flute sound that is repeated throughout the song, giving it a catchy feel. The lyrics depict travels and getting “Lost in the heat of it all”.

Snow (Hey Oh) by Red Hot Chili Peppers: Unlike the title suggests, this track is a mid-tempo-paced anthem is perfect for summer. This is an alternative rock song with vocals that sound almost reggae-influenced. The chanty but laid-back chorus is the perfect vibe for just laying back and enjoying the sun. 

Up Up & Away by Kid Cudi: This is an incredibly well-produced track about getting above all the things that drag you down. The indie pop production creates incredibly catchy and unique song that is great for karaoke.

Good Days by SZA: Despite the lyrics having a pessimistic view on nostalgia, the plucky guitar makes this track irresistible to listen to. This song makes you wanna feel like “Good days in my mind (always in my mind)”. 

I hope you enjoy these new additions to the soundtrack of your summer.

Music Recommendations: Radiohead

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Radiohead is one of the most influential bands of all time. Most of Gen Z only knows Radiohead from that Katy Perry song but they revolutionized the sound of alternate rock/ indie music to make it what we have today. With four decades worth of music, it could be overwhelming where to start. So here are some of Radiohead’s best songs.

Bangers + Mash: This song comes from the B-side of In Rainbows, one of their best albums. Not many people know this song, but it is personally one of my favorites. It is reminiscent of other early 2000’s alternative rock bands like The Killers, and The Strokes. There is an upbeat guitar throughout the track. The lyrics are about the different ends of the power pyramid. The people at the top look down at the ones below and vice versa. 

Burn the Witch: One of Radiohead’s most unique songs from one of their most underrated albums, A Moon Shaped Pool, “Burn the Witch” has a fantastic orchestral production. The violins and strings are unlike anything I have heard before. The lyrics are almost haunting depicting a metaphoric/fiction witch, with the incredible refrain “It’s a low flying panic attack.” The entire song has a peaceful and grand mood.

You And Whose Army?: The song starts very gently and slowly, with angelic vocals. But the ending is a phenomenal, passionate, vocal performance, as the production seems to reach a triumphant ending. The song covers political themes, similar to “Bangers + Mash,” this person abuses their power. 

Karma Police: Arguably Radiohead’s best-written track, “Karma Police,” lyrically depicts this fictional character called the Karma Police. Essentially if someone had done something wrong Karma Police would come get them. The chorus’s refrain “This is what you get when you mess with us,” followed by the ending refrain of “I lost myself,” perfectly tells how we only regret things when the punishment comes. The production is done in Radiohead’s signature style, and the lead singer, Thom Yorke, gives passionate vocals at the end.

No Surprises: This is the most streamed song from their Magnus Opus record, OK Computer. I am sure some people have heard the iconic glockenspiel melody in this song’s instrumental. The lyrics depict fear and anxiety, as the singer pleads “No alarms and no surprises”. This somewhat contrasts with the gentle, lullaby-like production, but still adds to the meaning of not wanting things to turn bad.

Many artists cite Radiohead as an influence, so I am sure you would love the original. I hope you listen to some of these tracks.

SIngle Review and Analysis: Neutron Star Collision [Love is forever]

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Throughout the winter season, a song that caught my attention is Neutron Star Collision [Love is Forever] by Muse. This Single was released on May 17th, 2010, and was not immediately popular when it was first announced, and later released. However, it did gain a resurgence of popularity in 2013.

This song stands out to me due to its piano usage at the beginning of the song in the first verse. The piano is accompanied by the vocalist, Matt Bellamy. Bellamy’s usually strong, bold, dramatic vocals begin with a more gentle, slower, approach than usual. Bellamy then picks up speed and adds more projection in his voice during the pre-chorus, then slows back down in the last line, “With no trace of fear that.”

Picking up from the last line in the pre-chorus, the Chorus continues with, “Our love would be forever. And if we die, we die together.” The vocals become increasingly stronger and more emotional, further portraying the anguish Bellamy possibly felt while reflecting on his recent breakup of the time. Finally, at the end of the Chorus, the instrumentals are completed with an added electric guitar which is essentially motif of the band during this era.

This section of the song focuses on the build-up of tension and the expression of intense feelings. Emphasis is added to phrases and words to get the message across to the listeners. My favorite component of the song is the guitar usage that conveys and maintains emotion alongside the vocals. The fluctuations in speed also make the song all the more appealing.

In the 2nd verse, the tempo is increased from the Chorus preceding it, holding a steady yet quick pace. This adds contrast and variety to the verses. Following, the pre-chorus brings back build-up by dragging out words and slowing back down again in the last line, similar to the previous pre-chorus.

This section ends with the Chorus being extremely similar to the last, nevertheless, there are small yet impactful differences in phrasing. The first Chorus refers to “Our love would be forever. And if we die, we die together. Lie, I said never. ‘Cause our love would be forever.” However, in the second chorus, Bellamy changes to “Love is forever. And we’ll die, we’ll die together. Lie, I said never. ‘Cause our love could be forever.” This single has been incredibly interesting to analyze since there are so many shifts in both mood and details. These changes stand out to me significantly, especially when looking at the lyrics carefully.

Ending the song is a guitar solo followed by the pre-chorus, chorus, and outro. The solo mimics the second verse. The sound of the guitar is high-pitch with echos and a very electric sound. Muse’s music is very appealing to me because of this aspect. My favorite part of their songs are always their guitar solos because of how they find ways to vary the sounds while still fitting the mood of the song.

After the solo is the final pre-chorus. This final pre-chorus references the first, copying it almost exactly but has now changed the message. The singer goes from using diction that details a desperate feeling, saying “I had nothing left to lose.” to “Now I’ve got nothing left to lose.” which further represents the changes that have undergone in the relationship. It also does a great job at subtly showing passage of time, going from past tense to present. We can also conclude that there is a new sense of independence and confidence when comparing lines from the first pre-chorus “Then we told each other. With no trace of fear that…” to the last pre-chorus “I can tell you now. Without a trace of fear…”

Last, the chorus is very similar to the previous choruses, making some slight changes to represent the passage of time and changed feelings. These small changes make a very large impact on the deeper meaning and truly show how people gradually move apart and fall out of love. The subtle changes may also represent how changes in a partner may not be noticeable due to being used to being around them so often, making differences in feelings and character difficult to pick up on.

Closing, The outro of the song shares characteristics with the beginning of the song. This can be seen even in the music video, where in the intro Bellamy is seen playing alone on a piano with slow, gentle vocals. The intro and outro being similar in style ties together the song even with all the variety within it. Overall, this song is one of my favorites and I never get tired of hearing it come up on my playlist.

Songs to get you into the Pop Girls

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2024 has been one of the biggest years in music, almost every mainstream artist dropped a new album. With women dominating the awards ceremonies and charts in music, I thought it would be interesting to pick a song from different artists. A song that would help a person get into their music and understand their style.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift is arguably the biggest pop star in the world right now. With her record-breaking “Era’s Tour” and her 4th album of the year at the Grammy’s, she is at new heights in her career. I am a fan of Taylor’s earlier albums, especially when she was blending genres and making country pop/pop rock songs. “Haunted” from the album Speak Now is a beautiful song and a personal favorite of mine. The instrumentals include violins and rock-style guitars. The lyrics depict a relationship that haunts Taylor in her current life even though that person is long gone.

Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo is the next big thing in pop music. Her debut album of eleven tracks released three years ago is the most streamed female album on Spotify. Her thoughtful lyrics and 2000’s themed aesthetic, make her stand apart from other young up-and-coming artists. “making the bed” is a confessional ballad where Olivia discusses the issues she faces in her daily life. However, she admits that all her issues stem from her decisions. The instrumental is very simple but it also allows the message to shine through.

Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey, “The Queen of Alternative Pop”, is known for her iconic, unique vocals and 1950s Americana aesthetic. Her lengthy discography made one song difficult to choose. “Mariners Apartment Complex” is a romantic ballad about loving a person even though they have their own deeper issues and wanting to help them. Not only does Lana want to guide her lover through a dark time, but she wants him to do the same. This is not a typical piano ballad, the pleasant guitars coming in at certain parts of the song provide a hopeful tone.

SZA

As an R&B icon, SZA has cemented herself as a distinct vocalist and lyricist. Her switching between genres during different songs on a record allows a person to see how versatile she truly is. “20 Something” has a wonderful, ethereal instrumental like much of her debut album Ctrl. SZA sings about how she hopes her 20s won’t change her for the worse. SZA explains how she wants to keep the rest of her friends, which is a relatable feeling to growing up.

Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande is known for her incredible vocal range sung over trap beats. The song “in my head” from Thank U, Next perfectly sums up her music style. She belts out high notes that blend into the production, with braggadocious lyrics like “Boy, I invented you. Gucci tennis shoes, running from your issues”. Ariana is the typical IT girl and it is reflected on this song.

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish is clearly the most unique artist from Gen Z. Her soft vocals and creepy production has become a signature. However, I personally find her best songs to have a more classical production. “TV” is a song about being so depressed you do not want to do anything except watch TV. The song has a gentle guitar instrumental, with heartbreaking lyrics like “I’ll stay in the pool and drown so I don’t have to watch you leave”. 

I hope you give these songs a listen and love them as much as I do.

Free Music Tutoring – Musical Mentors

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Interested in music and want free tutoring? My high school has a weekly after school program on Thursdays from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm that offers music tutoring for elementary, middle, and high school students in the Capistrano Unified School District at no cost.

The goal of this student-led program is to inspire more students to keep practicing their instruments. Students are not required to have prior musical expertise, but they must bring their own instruments. Additionally, the students perform on a wide variety of band and orchestra instruments. Similarly, the mentors represent all instruments and grade levels. The students receive free lessons, grow closer to their mentor, and become more enthusiastic about music. As a result, the mentors build their confidence in their own teaching and playing skills while also gaining experience in mentoring. The mentors receive community service hours as an added incentive to participate in the program.

My brother volunteered as a musical mentor tutor for around four years and he passed the baton to me. Through this, I’ve learned how to teach and break down concepts for my students. Depending on the level of my students, I customize the lesson plans to meet their needs. This can include working on scales (fixing pitch and tone quality of the notes) and practicing how to count notes. Subsequently, I spend about an hour working with my students on songs that they need assistance with. Afterward, with thirty minutes remaining in the session, all students gather to practice rhythmic skills and prepare for our annual concert. At the end of the year, we host an annual concert that helps students become accustomed to playing in front of an audience while also providing parents with a chance to see what their children have learned.

Overall, the program helps our mentees develop a greater understanding and appreciation of music, increase their motivation to play their instruments, and work toward improving their musical skills. Musical Mentors is a beneficial and satisfying experience for parents, children, and mentors. I love teaching students, as I find it incredibly rewarding to connect one-on-one and expand their knowledge of music. I plan to continue mentoring for the rest of my high school career.

-Sophia B.

This is How Tomorrow Moves Album Review

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Whether it be heartbreak, sorrow, joy, or any other feelings, the music beautifully enchants and expresses people’s emotions through the lyrics, melodies, instrumentals, rhythms, and other factors. Often, after listening to a song, a person is moved by these beautiful aspects of music. One of my favorite albums that invoke this type of feeling is the album This is How Tomorrow Moves by Beabadoobee, a Filipino-British singer. This album is truly beautiful and full of emotion as it expresses Beabadoobee’s feelings about her struggles and her journey to healing.

This is How Tomorrow Moves was originally released as an EP by Beadbadoobe, but it was soon released in August 2024 as an album consisting of 14 tracks: “Take a Bite,” “California,” “One Time,” “Real Man,” “Tie My Shoes,” “Girl Song,” “Coming Home,” “Ever Seen,” “A Cruel Affair,” “Post,” “Beaches,” “Everything I Want,” “The Man Who Left Too Soon,” and the main feature, “This is How it Went.” This album expresses the artist’s experiences post-heartbreak and her journey to self-healing, conveying her struggles with her youth and identity. Each track transmits different meanings, but they all are beautifully made to create a memorable album. 

Personally, I think this album is one of Beabadoobee’s best albums and one of my favorites. Every single song on the album is beautifully created, and despite the contrasts between some songs, I love every single song on the album. Two of my favorite songs on this album are “Beaches” and “Girlsong,” which grabbed my attention from the first listen. “Beaches” by beabadoobee is about the artist’s self-journey to heal, which is strongly expressed in the lyrics “Cause days blend to one when I’m on the right beaches.” To me, this song is extremely enchanting, not just through the melodies but also through the lyrics. My other favorite song on this album is “Girl Song” because of its touching lyrics and the meaning of the song in general. This song contrasts with “Ches” since “Beaches” is about being “at ease” when finally getting on the right path, while Girlsong’s meaning is more about the struggles of a person due to insecurities and self-doubt.

Furthermore, this album provides a variety of types of songs, such as “Coming Home,” which has an upbeat tone and calmer vocals and instrumentals, which is pretty similar to “This is How It Went,” which similarly has an upbeat tone. However, “This is How It Went” has more inflection in the song, as the song has some shifts between soft melodies and louder melodies. Also, other songs stood out to me in the album, such as “Post,” which is a loud song as the instrumental dominates the songs, and “Tie My Shoes,” which has such emotional lyrics.

In conclusion, This is How Tomorrow Moves by beabadoobee is such a great album in many aspects, and it captures her personal experiences and her own journeys with heartfelt emotion. This album is a must-listen for anyone who feels they relate to any of the meanings of the songs or the lyrics, or if you just want to listen to music that speaks to the soul.

EP Reveiw: Tremolo

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My all-time favorite band has got to be My Bloody Valentine, and during the winter their dreamy tone feels just right with the cold weather. While looking for something new to listen to, their EP Tremolo caught my eye due to its interesting composition of the cover and choice of colors.

Since I already knew I enjoyed both their older and more recent albums, I thought listening to their EPs would be interesting and I could possibly gain a new favorite. My Bloody Valentine is very instrumental-oriented and might not be for everyone, but if you’re a fan of experimental and hazy music I would definitely recommend giving them a listen if you haven’t already. A good album to start off with is Loveless. It is their most popular album and could be appealing to a variety of music enjoyers.

To Here Knows when

First on the EP is To Here Knows When. What I noticed immediately about this track is that it was also featured on the album Loveless. Overall there are no major differences between the two releases besides a 30-second extension on the recording. This extension adds to the outro of the song with a peaceful and serene mood with the usage of a synthesizer and a variety of sampled instruments creating diverse tones. Generally what I find most appealing in the track is the humming and peaceful vocals in contrast to the louder more convoluted instruments paired in the background.

Swallow

The track Swallow is extremely unique. It was unlike any other track I had heard up until this point and the samples used in their piece are incredibly unique. When further researching the samples used in the song, I learned that the unique sound of percussion and wind instruments came from a Turkish Belly dance song that the band members had found on a cassette tape. Overall, this song comes off to me as tranquil and I find the versatility admirable.

Honey Power

The track that stood out to me the most and ultimately became my favorite from the EP was Honey Power. The strong, layered, loud guitar paired with the usage of drums gave a fast, yet appealing tempo and sound. This combination is what I found captured me during my listening. The shift from rough instrumental to quite gentle vocals during the verses provided a contrast that is overwhelmingly appealing to my own personal taste. As I’ve gotten to experiment with different genres of music over the years I’ve found that songs with stark contrasts are almost always my favorite. The ending of the song is also very peaceful and relaxing with soft vocals and a soothing background.

Moon Song

Ending the EP is Moon Song. With a slow tempo in both instrumental and vocals, it serves as a very good closing of the tracklist and fits the dreamy tone that is present throughout the EP. The messy guitar and chimes truly represent a state between reality and dream, while simultaneously giving a shimmery image to the song. The initially confusing composition is tied together with the percussion, giving a somewhat tropical feel to the song. Concluding, the unique sound of the track and the variety of sounds used to convey a soothing feel is remarkable.

Conclusion

This EP really shows the creativity and flexibility of the band when it comes to instrumentals, which can be seen from the variety of samples to the unique usage of guitar by vocalist and lead guitarist Kevin Sheilds. In the future, I plan to look into more of their EPs and singles throughout this winter season and find my perfect winter song. I would most definitely recommend those who enjoy shoegaze, alternative rock, noisy instrumentals, enchanting sound, and fuzzy music to give Tremolo a try.

Album Review: Starboy

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Starboy is one of the most streamed albums of all time, with several songs having over 1 billion streams. Starboy is the third album from Canadian singer-songwriter Abel Tesfaye under the stage name The Weeknd. With the anniversary of this record approaching and a new Weekend project on the way, I thought it would be good to revisit this album. Here are some highlight tracks

Starboy: I remember hearing this song on the radio when I was younger and it was my first introduction to The Weeknd. With over 3.6 billion streams this song features the electronic duo, Daft Punk. “Starboy” is a track centered around The Weeknd’s newfound rise in stardom. In the lyrics, we realize he can afford to buy his family whatever they want now. However, he acknowledges that there will be consequences of this “House so empty, need a centerpiece”, which perfectly describes a missing piece in his life.

Reminder: The instrumentation has a very laid-back approach. The refrains in the chorus are extremely catchy. The song is about how The Weeknd has built a reputation doing specific things, and anytime people forget that darker side of him, he will be back to remind them.

Stargirl Interlude: This track has over a billion streams on Spotify, making it the first interlude to reach this milestone. It features Lana del Rey, with her signature soft vocal style. She sings most of the track, and the track serves to depict the female version of the starboy.

Secrets: One of the more pop-influenced tracks on the records and my personal favorite. In the lyrics, he explains that his lover talks in her sleep spilling all the secrets of her heart.

I Feel It Coming: The ending track to this record also features Daft Punk. This production is a cross of 80’s pop and house music. The lyrics depict feeling a deeper connection with a person, and you can feel yourself falling in love. 

Overall this is a fantastic record that blends pop, R&B, house, and rap.