Two of the greatest vocal powerhouses of K-Pop are indisputably DK and Seungkwan of SEVENTEEN, and the duo decided to remind us of that once again with the release of their first project as DxS. The mini-album Serenade takes us through the emotional arc of a relationship, from the first meeting to the heartbreaking end.
The angelic voices of DK and Seungkwan bring the absolute best of this love story to life and comfort us through it as well. From the thrill of DK’s solo, ‘Rockstar,’ which narrates the “butterflies in your stomach” feeling of first meeting someone to the gut-wrenching feeling of seeing that person slip away in ‘Silence,’ Serenade is a perfect showcase of DxS’s vocal and storytelling abilites. Honestly, there’s a little something for everyone waiting to be discovered in this album.
‘Blue’
‘Blue’ is the lead single of Serenade and one of the tracks that got us crying the most while we listened… and then again when we watched the music video. A 7-minute music video, by the way. Starring actors Yoo-mi Lee and Steve Sanghyun Noh, the MV feels like a short film that, much like the lyrics, depict “love moving at different paces,” causing the couple to drift apart.
We could spend hours talking about the masterpiece that is this MV. After showing us Sanghyun as a man whose wounds seem too deep to overcome and Yoo-mi as the devoted lover who grows weary of this relationship, we are left wondering what will happen to these two. Will they overcome the difficulties or drift apart forever? Well, seems like we’ll find out on January 19, when an epilogue version of the music video is set to be released.
You can check out the 7-minute cinematic music video for ‘Blue’ below and join us as we sob our way through this beautiful track (again).
The Kings of Musical Versatility
It’s not like we didn’t know that already, but seeing DxS deliver a whole mini album actively showing us how much range they have is honestly very nice. The six songs present in Serenade range from pop-rock to ballad to R&B and we love it!
Like we’ve mentioned, Serenade opens with DK’s solo track, ‘Rockstar,’ and towards the end we also have Seungkwan’s solo, ‘Dream Serenade,’ a direct contrast to the upbeat vibes of DK’s solo. This one explores the concept of finding mutual closure through understanding. Also, DxS were involved in writing and composing these tracks, which is probably why we enjoy them so much.
Beyond the solos, we’re also obsessed with ‘Guilty Pleasure,’ with its R&B sound and irresistible lyrics about being curious enough to face the possible dangers. ‘Silence’ captured our hearts as well with its depiction of the emptiness that follows a breakup we all saw coming but still hurts anyway. And what can we say about the album closer ‘Prelude of love?’ Insipiring to say the least, and a reminder that there’s always a new beginning at the end of every journey.
We already knew DK and Seungkwan are incredibly talented artists from group releases, previous solo tracks and covers, that’s not news. However, Serenade feels like a step further into that talent. And we cannot wait to see what comes next!
What was your favorite track off of Serenade? Let us know by tweeting us @TheHoneyPOP. Or you can also find us on Instagram and Facebook!
We’ll say it… 2025 was one of the best years for K-Pop yet! The continued global explosion of K-Pop was pushed to new levels thanks to K-Pop Demon Hunters, more idols expanding their world tours, and highly anticipated returns from the likes of G-DRAGON, MONSTA X, BLACKPINK, and GOT7. We could talk all day about our favorite K-Pop comebacks, but here (in alphabetical order) are 25 of the best from 2025.
aespa – Rich Man
We really didn’t think it was possible for aespa to have a better year than they did in 2024, but in 2025 they levelled up (… ‘Next Level?’). We loved ‘Dirty Work,’ but the Rich Man mini-album is our fave comeback from aespa this year. Each of the six tracks is a masterpiece that showcases aespa’s ever-evolving skillset, but if we had to pick a favorite other than the title track ‘Rich Man,’ then it would have to be the album closer, ‘To The Girls.’
ALL(H)OURS – Smoke Point
If hype energy K-Pop comebacks are your thing, then we hope Smoke Point was on your 2025 playlists! The title track, ‘GIMME GIMME,’ is another level of fiery and intense. It’s giving old school MONSTA X! 2025 was ALL (H)OURS’ second year since debut, and the growth they’ve shown in that time is so impressive. We can’t wait to see what happens for ALL (H)OURS next.
ATEEZ – GOLDEN HOUR: Part 3
As if the ‘Lemon Drop’ era hadn’t been enough, ATEEZ did not come to play with ‘In Your Fantasy’ and GOLDEN HOUR: Part 3. The album is a true ‘Masterpiece’ (pun somewhat intended), and we couldn’t have been more thrilled to get solo b-sides from each ATEEZ member! Our faves have got to be ‘Slide to me,’ ‘NO1,’ and ‘Sagittarius.’
BLACKPINK – ‘JUMP’
The world is always tuned in every time there’s a BLACKPINK comeback! In 2025, the quartet reunited for a world tour and the single, ‘JUMP.’ Naturally, the track is as vivacious and high-energy as anyone would expect from a BLACKPINK release. This time, though, as well as YG’s in-house team, ‘JUMP’ was co-written and co-produced by music juggernaut Diplo. Here’s to more BLACKPINK music in 2026…?
BOYNEXTDOOR – The Action
Between No Genre and The Action, it’s been a career-best year for BOYNEXTDOOR. Again and again, the group proves that they’re at the forefront of K-Pop and will continue to pioneer the 5th Generation. The members continue to get more and more hands-on, too, with Jaehyun, Taesan, Leehan, and Woonhak all contributing to the songwriting of the tracks, which focus on BOYNEXTDOOR’s group aspirations, with a sprinkle of their usual tongue-in-cheek spirit.
ENHYPEN – DESIRE: UNLEASH
As ever, in 2025, ENHYPEN took the time out of their hectic world tour schedules to release one of our favorite K-Pop comebacks. DESIRE: UNLEASH was first announced during ENHYPEN’s Coachella set, and that performance was probably a 2025 highlight, too. DESIRE: UNLEASH was stacked with hits, but our favorites have to be ‘Outside’ and ‘Helium!’
EVNNE – LOVE ANECDOTE(S)
The Honey POP stans EVNNE big time, and the release of their 5th mini-album, LOVE ANECDOTE(S), was no different! The title track, ‘How Can I Do,’ feels like several songs in one, but in the best way possible. From the R&B moments to the intense chorus, there’s an edge of 3rd Gen sensibilities in this song. The highlight, though, is the bass and drums breakdown underneath the fierce rap verses.
GOT7 – WINTER HEPTAGON
We’ll be real, we almost forgot that WINTER HEPTAGON was a 2025 release because it came out so early in the year! Nonetheless, we are always thrilled to have more GOT7 music in our lives. This album, which we had truly been dreaming of, brought all of our wishes to life. As always, GOT7 were hands-on in the creative process, with every member contributing to the writing and production. The lead single, ‘PYTHON,’ was exactly the statement GOT7 needed to make. “I know I’m an icon.” Yes, yes, you are.
G-DRAGON – Übermensch
The king of K-Pop finally returned in 2025! With an absolutely top-tier album, Übermensch,G-DRAGON firmly restated that he is not going anywhere, even if he keeps us waiting in between releases! From ‘POWER’ dropping at the end of 2024 to ‘TOO BAD’ to all the bsides, Übermensch is a masterpiece. And if you don’t wanna take our word for it, check out the cameos in the ‘TOO BAD’ MV to see who else is a fan of G-DRAGON, too.
Hearts2Hearts – FOCUS
Hearts2Hearts made the list of our favorite K-Pop debuts in 2025, but their first mini-album, FOCUS, was easily one of our fave comebacks, too! There’s something about the title track that makes it one of the most intriguing of the year, and it’s the perfect choice for Hearts2Hearts’ end-of-year stages as they entice more fans. “I cannot focus on anything but you,” is how Hearts2Hearts are making S2U feel!
ILLIT – ‘NOT CUTE ANYMORE’
‘NOT CUTE ANYMORE’ might be one of the most recent K-Pop comebacks from 2025, but it’s still one of the best! ILLIT is a group that knows their brand perfectly, and they know how to both embrace and expand it, too. ‘NOT CUTE ANYMORE’ is (sorry) super cute, whilst still showing a new side to the girls. We cannot wait to see how ILLIT continue to grow as we go into their third year as a group!
IVE – IVE EMPATHY
Doesn’t it feel like IVE has a career-best year, every year? Well, 2025 was no exception! Way back in February, the girls released IVE EMPATHY, which was immediately one of our fave IVE comebacks yet. Thanks to mega-hits ‘ATTITUDE’ and ‘REBEL HEART,’ this album quickly set the stage for IVE to exceed expectations once again.
JENNIE – Ruby
“Who wanna rock with JENNIE?” Umm… us please! Ruby was technically JENNIE’s debut solo studio album, but we’re including it as a comeback as she’d had official solo releases before. Having said that, Ruby definitely felt like a brand new start for JENNIE. Having worked with the likes of Dua Lipa, Childish Gambino, Diplo, and so many more, JENNIE gifted us with a cohesive, theatrical body of work. We waited for this album for so long, and it was so worth the wait!
j-hope – ‘MONA LISA’
Not satisfied with wrapping up his solo world tour, j-hope gifted us with a trio of iconic singles. It was so hard to pick just one of them for our top K-Pop comebacks list, but we’ve gone with ‘MONA LISA.‘ This track has been on repeat for us all year, and we reckon it’ll still be that way throughout 2026, too. From the slick choreography to the fun message, we love every part of this song.
KATSEYE – BEAUTIFUL CHAOS
KATSEYE spent 2025 “making beats,” and we couldn’t be more grateful to them for it. The girlies had their first comeback this year, the BEAUTIFUL CHAOS EP, led by ‘Gnarly’ and ‘Gabriela.’ Sometimes divisive but always talked about, everything these girls touch seems to turn to gold. Here’s to hoping that KATSEYE never go ‘M.I.A!’
LE SSERAFIM – ‘SPAGHETTI (feat. j-hope of BTS)’
Not only was ‘SPAGHETTI‘ one of our favorite K-Pop comebacks of 2025, but it’s maybe our favorite collaboration of the year, too! Every aspect of this release was iconic, from the styling to the TikTok trends to the packaging of the physical albums! The title track from this single album is fiery, mischievous, and tongue-in-cheek, which is basically all we could have wished for from the fimmies.
MEOVV – ‘BURNING UP’
MEOVV’s digital single ‘BURNING UP’ saw the girls take a different sonic direction than their previous releases, but this sounds works just as well for them! Still equally fierce, but with a brighter pop edge, ‘BURNING UP,’ as well as just being super fun, showcases how much MEOVV has grown in such a short amount of time.
MONSTA X – THE X
Was this the most highly anticipated comeback on this list? Maybe! MONBEBE had to suffer for literally years waiting for a group comeback, thanks to military enlistments, but we finally got it! The members didn’t come to mess around when they finally reunited either; 2025 has been stacked for them. As well as THE X, they celebrated their 10th anniversary, announced a 2026 world tour, and dropped the single ‘Baby Blue.’ We wanna see MONSTA X ‘N the Front’ row next year!
P1HARMONY – DUH!
Not only was DUH! one of our fave K-Pop comebacks in 2025, it also gave us one of the very best b-sides we’ve heard in a long time: ‘Pretty Boy.’ We’re not the only ones who think that, either! ‘Pretty Boy’ has actually overtaken the title track’s streams on Spotify! ‘DUH!,’ though, is totally worth celebrating too. Our favorite thing about the title track is its music video. Filled with references to their discography, lore details, and some classic P1H looks, it’s the perfect MV for fans both old and new.
Stray Kids – KARMA
There’s no way we couldn’t include Stray Kids on this list when both of the albums they released this year topped the Billboard 200, is there? Our fave 2025 comeback from the megastars has to be KARMA. Even if the music wasn’t incredible (which it is), the very fact it celebrates Stray Kids’ work ethic and all of their success (so far!) would be enough to earn KARMA a place in our hearts, and on this list.
TOMORROW X TOGETHER – The Star Chapter: TOGETHER
We’ll be honest, ‘Love Language,’ nearly made the list as a top K-Pop comeback in 2025, but then we thought: why have one TXT song, when you could have eight? The Star Chapter: TOGETHER was a special era for many reasons, not least because it wrapped up all of TXT’s lore and storyline for the past seven years! It also gifted us solo tracks from each member for the first time, and from the cuteness of ‘Sunday Driver’ to the moodiness of ‘Ghost Girl’ to the sensuality of ‘Dance With You,’ each and every one of these b-sides is a dream come true!
TWICE – THIS IS FOR
Like for TXT, we were torn for this pick. We nearly chose TEN: The Story Goes On as our fave TWICE comeback in 2025 because we’re just so thrilled about their tenth anniversary, but ultimately we couldn’t resist THIS IS FOR. The title track was one of the most underrated bops this year, and we will never, ever, stop watching clips of ‘Right Hand Girl’ from the World Tour. Plus, we got brand new unit songs! What’s not to love?
XLOV – I One
2025 was the year that we, and the world, fell totally in love with XLOV. Imma Be was one of our favorite debuts this year, and UXLXVE was a top album, so it’s only natural that I One would be one of our fave comebacks! Led by ‘1&Only,’ this era was what truly launched XLOV to the forefront of K-Pop. Even more than that, ‘1&Only’ and ‘BIZNESS’ had some of the best choreography of the year, and we cannot recommend the performance videos enough.
ZEROBASEONE – NEVER SAY NEVER
Well, first of all, we have to say that we’re very sorry to ‘BLUE,’ but how could we resist the pull of ‘ICONIK?’ ZB1 told us to “Let the rhythm flow through [y]our body,” after all! In another year filled with hits from this group, we were thrilled about this comeback for many reasons, not least because it was their first full-length album! With the future of ZEROBASEONE still a mystery, we’re glad that we, and ZEROSE, got to enjoy a full body of work from ZB1.
&TEAM – Back To Life
One of our favorite global groups finally had their official Korean debut! &TEAM released Back To Life, including the searing rock-inspired title track that earned &TEAM their first Korean music show win. However, the mini-album’s b-sides are what make this comeback so special. We’ll never stop watching performances of ‘Lunatic’ and ‘Mismatch.’
So there you have it, all of our top 2025 K-Pop comebacks, or at least 25 of them! Which is your favorite comeback? Did your ults make the list? Let us know! You can find us at @thehoneypop on Twitter, or by visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.
In 2025, twenty-three different albums reached number one on the Billboard 200. These ranged from industry powerhouses to debuts, from deluxe versions to older albums, and even from animated idols to real ones! From SOS on January 4th to DO IT on December 6th, here’s every Billboard 200 number one from 2025.
SOS – SZA
The first album to top the Billboard 200 in 2025 was a true chart phenomenon – SZA’sSOS. The album, which came out way back in 2022, has hit the number one spot on the Billboard 200 in three (yes, three!) separate years, and has spent over 100 weeks in the top 10. In fact, it peaked at #1 on three different occasions this year alone! What’s more, in 2025, SOS became the longest-running U.S. top 10 album by a Black artist.
WHAM – Lil Baby
DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS – Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny has had an iconic year, right?! His sixth solo studio album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, is maybe his best work yet, and we’re clearly not the only ones who think so. The album spent four non-consecutive weeks at number one in 2025, and we reckon it’ll probably return to the top spot in 2026, too. See you at the Super Bowl, King!
Hurry Up Tomorrow – The Weeknd
GNX – Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar’sGNX is another album that reached the number one spot on the Billboard 200 in 2025 despite not being released this year. Surprise-dropped in November 2024, GNX was easily one of the best albums of that year, and clearly it’s not out of rotation yet!
Some Sexy Songs 4 U – PartyNextDoor & Drake
So Close to What – Tate McRae
Tate’s third album, So Close to What, was also her first to debut at number one on the Billboard 200! With singles like ‘Sports Car,’ ‘Revolving Door,’ and ‘It’s ok I’m ok,’ this album was clearly one of the most polished pop records of the year!
MAYHEM – Lady Gaga
We guarantee that, just like us, you haven’t been able to escape ‘Abracadabra’ or ‘Die with a Smile’ all year. But then again, why would you want to?! As well as giving us GRAMMY-winning hits and one of the most exciting tours of 2025, The Mayhem Ball, the album saw Lady Gaga return to her pop roots. No wonder MAYHEM became her seventh album to top the Billboard 200!
MUSIC – Playboi Carti
Eternal Sunshine – Ariana Grande
Thanks to the release of Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead, Ariana’s 2024 album, Eternal Sunshine, returned to the top of the Billboard 200 in 2025. Featuring new tracks: ‘twilight zone,’ ‘Hampstead,’ ‘dandelion,’ ‘warm,’ ‘past life,’ and an extended version of ‘intro (end of the world),’ these new releases are maybe some of our favorite Ari b-sides of all-time.
More Chaos – Ken Carson
Skeletá – Ghost
Ghost’s Skeletá is unlike any other album that topped the Billboard 200 in 2025! For a start, Ghost is a Swedish rock band, and this was their first-ever U.S. number one! In fact, this is only the second time, ever, that a Swedish performing artist has nabbed the top spot. The only other act to do it? Ace of Base way back in 1993.
Even In Arcadia – Sleep Token
I’m the Problem – Morgan Wallen
JackBoys 2 – JackBoys & Travis Scott
The JackBoys project is one of the most exciting in music, and we were so glad to see it return for album number two this year! JackBoys consists of Travis Scott and the signees of his record label, Cactus Jack, plus a bunch more collaborators. With the likes of Travis, Don Toliver, GloRilla, Tyla, Future, Playboi Carti, and so many more, all on one album, how could JackBoys 2 not top the charts?
DON’T TAP THE GLASS – Tyler, the Creator
KARMA – Stray Kids
Can you believe we made it all the way to September before a K-Pop album topped the chart?! Well, Stray Kids arrived to fix that, and gave us some good KARMA in the process. With all 11 tracks written by 3Racha, mostly during Stray Kids’ most recent world tour, the focus of KARMA is celebrating all of their achievements (so far)! How about adding another Billboard 200 number one to that list, lads?
Man’s Best Friend – Sabrina Carpenter
Short and Sweet is still reigning over all our playlists, but Sabrina gifted us with another album full of her quintessential wit and pop perfection. Man’s Best Friend, led by ‘Manchild’ and ‘Tears,’ debuted straight at number one.
K-Pop Demon Hunters – Various Artists
Honestly? This is the 2025 album where we’d be more surprised if it hadn’t reached Billboard 200 number one. Songs like ‘Golden,’ Soda Pop,’ ‘Takedown,’ and more have been inescapable this year! Through K-Pop Demon Hunters, we’ve loved seeing the world of K-Pop reach even bigger audiences this year.
Breach – Twenty One Pilots
Am I the Drama? – Cardi B
The Life of a Showgirl – Taylor Swift
Probably the most talked-about album in 2025 was The Life of a Showgirl. Whether or not you love this iteration of Taylor Swift, there’s no denying her continued success! From ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ to ‘Eldest Daughter,’ she always commits to the bit, and we love that about her.
DO IT – Stray Kids
Two Billboard 200 number one albums in 2025? Stray Kids were the only act to DO IT! Last, but certainly not least, one of K-Pop’s biggest groups returned in early December. DO IT is the second in their SKZ-TAPE series, following on from 2024’s HOP, which, you guessed it, also hit number one.
Phew! That’s all of them! Which Billboard 200 number one from 2025 is your favorite? Or, were you surprised not to see your AOTY on this list? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.
If you’ve been living anywhere other than under a rock this year, there’s a one hundred percent chance that you’ve heard of Sabrina Carpenter! In just a few short years, we’ve gotten to watch an artist we’ve loved for years blossom into a full-blown pop star, and 2025 was the biggest year of them all! From being on SNL, to winning big at the Grammys (and being nominated again) to releasing Man’s Best Friend, there was no stopping Sabrina Carpenter this year! When looking back at Sabrina’s list of accomplishments this year, we knew we had to break down some of the biggest and best for you!
Let’s jump in!
Man’s Best Friend
We say this with complete confidence, Man’s Best Friend is one of the best pop albums of the last decade! And we don’t even think that’s a hot take because we’ve watched the general public fall as in love with this record as we, career-long fans, have. The witty songwriting, the visual storytelling, the vocals, and the elements Sabrina continuously excels at are heightened even further here on this record. From ‘Manchild,’ which has been inescapable, to some of our favorites, ‘Go Go Juice,’ and ‘House Tour,’ there is no doubt in our mind that Man’s Best Friend will have a long, ever-evolving life with fans.
Grammy Awards
The Grammys are one of those accomplishments that artists spend their whole careers chasing, that hold meaning for their nominees, and for fans alike. At the 2025 Grammy Awards, Sabrina Carpenter took home two (!!!!) awards, and has already scored six nominations for the 2026 ceremony! That is the direct result of over a decade of hard work and dedication to mastering her craft.
Variety Hitmaker Of The Year
Much like the Grammy Awards, being named Hitmaker of the Year comes on the heels of hard work. What sets this honor apart is that being a “Hitmaker” in such a pop-saturated market takes a deep understanding of what a “pop” song entails, and how to catch lightning in a bottle time after time. From ‘Espresso’ and ‘Manchild’ to ‘Nonsense,’ Sabrina’s deep understanding of this concept just keeps growing.
Saturday Night Live
SNLis a true rite of passage for creatives throughout the entertainment industry, and Sabrina pulled off three appearances this year alone! And even more impressively, one of these appearances included the double duty of hosting and performing! These appearances reminded so many people that Sabrina is an actress! Her comedic timing is impeccable, and she also happens to have an incredible voice and is a master storyteller.
Check out more of our year-end/holiday content here!
We would love to hear from you! What was your favorite Sabrina Carpenter moment from 2025? Let us know by commenting below or by tweeting @TheHoneyPOP! We are also on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!
2025 was truly the best year in pop music we’ve had in a while! It seems like artists are simply locking back into what makes a true pop song and mastering that art. Narrowing this list down to simply 25 songs was quite the challenge, but we think this list is the best of the best throughout all facets of pop music! From Olivia Dean and Chappell Roan to Greyson Chance and so many more, let’s jump in!
Taylor Swift – ‘The Fate of Ophelia’
There is no way to talk about the great pop resurgence of 2025 without highlighting The Life of a Showgirl by Taylor Swift. For us, the entire album is full of examples of a true-to-form pop song, but we had to choose to highlight ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ due to it being inescapable since its release. This song is pure ear candy, and will get stuck in your head for hours even after just hearing a few seconds.
Olivia Dean – ‘Man I Need’
Olivia Dean is taking the pop music world by storm with ‘Man I Need,’ and to us that makes perfect sense. In anyone else’s discography, ‘Man I Need’ would be an easy career highlight, and yet, it’s one of many songs on Olivia’s most recent album, The Art of Loving, that blew us away upon the first listen and could have easily taken this spot.
Sabrina Carpenter – ‘House Tour’
Man’s Best Friend is stacked top to bottom with pop gold, but after listening back through the album, ‘House Tour’ had to be our choice! Everything from that infectious chorus to the “my house is on pretty girl avenue” line made this one of those songs that will soundtrack nights out for us through the foreseeable future.
Jonas Brothers – ‘Love Me To Heaven’
The Jonas Brothers have been experts at the pop music game since Nick first uttered the words ‘red dress’ back in 2008, so it’s no surprise to us that they are only getting better and better 17 years later. Their newest record, Greetings From Your Hometown, had an obvious stand-out to us the first time we listened, and that was ‘Love Me To Heaven.’
Audrey Hobert – ‘Phoebe’
Who’s The Clown?by Audrey Hobert was truly on an endless loop here at THP! Upon first listen, it was automatically clear that we were witnessing the artistic birth of someone who had a crystal clear understanding of how to bring themselves through in the music, be specific while staying relatable, and develop a sound that was particularly hers. We could have easily put any song from the album here, but ‘Phoebe’ is a forever favorite of ours!
Greyson Chance – ‘Waiting Outside The Lines ‘25’
No, we are not trying to transport you back to 2011, but there is so much beauty in taking a certified nostalgia-packed hit and reimagining it with years of life lived and heightened vocal ability to back it up. We can’t help but have a permanent smile on our face listening to this track and diving into Greyson’s current catalog (which everyone should do themselves the favor of doing)!
Jensen McRae – ‘Novelty’
If you asked us what album impacted us the most this year, one of the easiest answers would be I Don’t Know How But They Found Me!Anyone who has dived into Jensen’s discography knows what a savant she is. Her relationship to her pen is one of one, and this album may be the best example of that in her discography so far. ‘Novelty’ is the song that immediately jumps out at us as a must-listen.
Lady Gaga – ‘How Bad Do U Want Me’
Lady Gaga is synonymous with pop music at this point. She has always had the skill on lock, and in many ways, has influenced so much of what the modern genre looks like. MAYHEM was a true return to form for Lady Gaga, and showed that her knowledge and talent with the pop music world has never faltered. ‘How Bad Do U Want Me’ is an instant smash and is still on repeat.
5 Seconds of Summer – ‘NOT OK’
We will forever preach our love for 5 Seconds of Summer and how they get better with every release! (If you didn’t know, this band is literally why THP exists!) EVERYONE’S A STARcame out just over a month ago and is the band’s most ambitious, larger-than-life project yet. But of course, every element was nailed perfectly. Each of the guys has so many standout moments, but there are even more moments when it is so clear why they continue to make music together: everything flows seamlessly.
Sadie Jean – ‘She’s Dating My Boyfriend’
Sadie Jean is the exact singer-songwriter your playlist is in need of, and we had to highlight a track off her debut album, Early Twenties Torture! Every song on this record feels like Sadie had a insider’s look at our deepest thoughts and struggles, was able to turn them poetic, and then put them to music. That skill of relatability is rare. ‘She’s Dating My Boyfriend’ is our favorite example of that peek inside our minds.
Laufey – ‘Lover Girl’
Laufey has seamlessly blended the worlds of pop and jazz music and made a fusion that leaves us regularly at a loss for words. A Matter of Time is Laufey’s most recent album. And upon our first listen, it was clear that this is a generational album, one of those records where anyone who gives it a chance will fall in love with it. ‘Lover Girl’ is our favorite song off the record, so we had to highlight it!
Amber Mark – ‘Let Me Love You’
Amber Mark is the pop star you’ve been looking to add to your playlists! If you’re a fan of artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Dean, Amber’s album, Pretty Idea, and specifically our favorite track, ‘Let Me Love You,’ is going to be right up your alley! We are predicting that 2026 is going to be a huge year for Amber! And with music of this quality, it makes complete sense!
Justin Bieber – ‘Yukon’
‘Yukon’ was one of our most-streamed songs of the year; it’s that serious to us! SWAG, for us, felt like Justin coming back into his own, making the music that feels true to form. With ‘Yukon,’ that infectious chorus we’ve come to know and love from Justin Bieber is the shining star, which definitely adds to why we are constantly playing this track on a loop.
Lydia Night – ‘The Bomb’
You may know Lydia Night from her time with the band The Regrettes, but trust us when we say she has turned into a full-blown solo pop star. Lydia released her debut album, Parody of Pleasure, back in August, and all thirteen songs are expertly crafted! ‘The Bomb’ has been a standout since we first dove into this album. The song is playful and reminiscent of early 2000s pop.
Role Model – ‘Sally, When The Wine Runs Out’
Obviously, ‘Sally, When The Wine Runs Out’ has taken the world by storm this year, so there was no way we weren’t going to give Role Model his flowers. We haven’t heard a chorus quite as infectious as ‘Sally, When The Wine Runs Out’ in quite a long time. It’s impossible not be in an instant good mood when it hits.
Myles Smith – ‘Stay (If You Wanna Dance)’
If you were as obsessed with Myles Smith’s ‘Stargazing’ as we were, then ‘Stay (If You Wanna Dance)’ is the perfect addition to your playlists! Myles is someone who you continue to find new things about his artistry to dig into with each listen.
Zara Larsson is a pop star in the truest sense of the word. Her entire album, Midnight Sun, is a pop masterclass, in which she’s the only person equipped to teach. When we first heard the title track ‘Midnight Sun,’ we knew that this was a whole new ball game in terms of pop music, and that we would take every opportunity to praise what Zara is doing with her artistry.
HAIM – ‘Relationships’
This song is pure ear candy and truly a discography highlight from one of our favorite trios! The chorus has serotonin woven into every line and lyric. And it makes us want to be out at night in the city with friends, dancing to every word. Their most recent album, i quit, is chock-full of tracks where you will see these themes.
Conan Gray – ‘Vodka Cranberry’
Conan Gray was born to make the exact music he’s making right now. He releases such infectious pop tracks with lyrics that both feel true to self for Conan and still connect deeply with his audience. ‘Vodka Cranberry’ blew up this year, and to us, it only makes perfect sense. This is a solidified hit.
Tate McRae – ‘Sports Car’
If you didn’t know, Tate McRae is a name that we have been screaming from the rooftops since we got to interview her years ago (which you can read here!). Tate blends musicality with dance seamlessly to draw people into who she is as a musician. ‘Sports Car’ and its visual components showcase exactly why Tate has quickly become a household name.
Avery Cochrane – ‘Shapeshifting On A Saturday Night’
Hailing from Seattle, Avery Cohrane is bound to be the name you can’t escape this next year in pop music! This year, she released her track, ‘Shapeshifting on a Saturday Night,’ and blew us away with the established pop sound she was crafting. If you’re a fan of artists like Chappell Roan or Olivia Rodrigo, we think you will love Avery!
Addison Rae – ‘Headphones On’
It’s no secret that Addison Rae has had a massive year. From the success of ‘Diet Pepsi’ and her tour to her debut album, Addison, everything about her career so far has been the beginning of a pop star who will be talked about and celebrated for years to come. For Addison, pop is a true work of performance art, following in the footsteps of the likes of Britney Spears. ‘Headphones On’ off her debut album summarizes everything we love most about Addison as an artist.
Reneé Rapp – ‘I Think I Like You Better When You’re Gone’
We yell the chorus to ‘I Think I Like You Better When You’re Gone’ at truly astronomical levels. Everything about this track resonates with us. Something that Reneé Rapp never fails to do is draw the listener in and weave her story in a way that feels relatable to others. On top of the lyrical content of the song, Reneé’s vocals are otherworldly here.
Demi Lovato – ‘Joshua Tree’
The 2025 version of Demi Lovato is the only artist who could craft an album like It’s Not That Deep. This record is a amalgamation of someone who has gone through it all. Someone who has experienced hardships and heartache and is in the complete opposite space now. And a lot of it is backtracked with songs you want to be in the club dancing to. That’s the duality of pop and of Demi, and it’s beautiful. To us, ‘Joshua Tree’ best represents the album as a whole.
Chappell Roan – ‘The Subway’
Ending our best 2025 pop songs with one that is still inescapable like ‘The Subway’ only felt right. Chappell Roan is a once-in-a-lifetime artist. She creates with such intention and really takes her time with each project, which comes through in the music. ‘The Subway’ will be looked at years from now as one of the great songs of the decade.
We would love to hear from you! What is your favorite pop song of 2025? Is it something off the new Taylor Swift album? Maybe a Conan Gray song? Or an Olivia Dean song? Let us know by commenting below or by tweeting @TheHoneyPOP! We are also on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!
From rookie groups to some of the most-established idols finally going solo, K-Pop was full of iconic debuts in 2025. We saw record-breaking sales, one-of-a-kind concepts, and more idols getting hands-on in the production process than we could’ve dreamed. It was really hard to narrow down our favorite K-Pop debuts from this year, but here’s our top 10 in 2025!
MARK
Considering it sometimes feels like MARK debuted 802 years ago and is in more groups than we can count, it feels kind of strange to think that he hadn’t had a solo debut yet. But all that experience led to one of the most versatile and fully-realized K-Pop debut albums, not just in 2025, but ever. The concept of The Firstfruit, led by the title track ‘1999,’ is built around the four cities that made MARK who he is today: Toronto, New York City, Vancouver, and Seoul. We’d love this debut for the concept alone, so the tracks being that good just feels like a bonus.
Hearts2Hearts
Hearts2Hearts’ 2025 has been so strong that it’s kind of hard to believe it’s their debut year. ‘STYLE’ might be the group’s biggest hit of the year, but there’s no denying the statement that their debut, ‘The Chase,’ which was written by fellow THP faves FLO, made. ‘The Chase,’ and Hearts2Hearts concept so far, is a pure embrace of pop in all its open-hearted, bright, “sparkle, sparkle,” glory.
CORTIS
CORTIS was arguably the most-anticipated K-Pop debut of 2025, and the rookie group seemed to take that all in their (very tall) stride! BIGHIT’s third boy group, after BTS and TXT, CORTIS was always going to be under scrutiny. However, not dissimilar to their predecessors, CORTIS jumped onto the scene with an anarchic attitude, determined to do their own thing. Their debut track, ‘What You Want,’ and pre-debut release, ‘GO!,’ show off this energy perfectly, as well as their commitment to a hands-on approach to their music.
JURIN ASAYA
In 2025, leader JURIN ASAYA became the first member of XG, a Japanese group based in South Korea, to have a solo debut. Collaborating with Rapsody on the track ‘PS118,’ JURIN ASAYA put her skills on display perfectly, with her quintessential delivery and lyrical wordplay. The track was a great example of what a solo debut should be: a clear statement of individual identity with just a lil’ sprinkle of the group’s character, too.
XLOV
Four-member K-Pop group XLOV had a truly unique debut in 2025. They promote a genderless concept, spotlighting their intricate choreography, decadent styling, and impressive production skills instead. Of course, this has earned them a lot of attention, both positive and negative, and shines a light on how gendered the expectations but on boy groups and girl groups can sometimes be. But, even putting all of that aside, XLOV would still be one of our fave debuts this year, thanks to how great ‘I’mma Be’ was. And they’ve just gotten better since!
YEONJUN
Does this count as a debut? Technically, yes, so we’re gonna talk about it. TXT’s Yeonjun released his official solo debut album in November, and we’re already anticipating a NO LABELS: PART 02 in 2026…maybe? Taking the stage by storm, as always, Yeonjun brought his quintessential power and charm to the record. NO LABELS: PART 01 deftly balances the opulence of K-Pop with the grit of Yeonjun’s other musical influences blending, hip-hop, hard rock, and more, seamlessly.
BEOMGYU
Ok, so we might be contradicting ourselves just a teeny-weeny bit. Like Yeonjun in 2024, Beomgyu didn’t have an official solo debut this year, but he did release his debut mixtape track, ‘Panic.’ The indie-pop song grows from a gentle intro to a searing anthem, with one of the sweetest concepts in any 2025 debut. The track came to life thanks to Beomgyu’s personal experience of music’s healing powers and how he’s been comforted by his own favorite artists. In turn, Beomgyu wanted to pass that hopeful energy onto MOA, and so, ‘Panic’ was born!
YEJI
ITZY’s formidable leader, YEJI, finally had her solo debut in March 2025. Air is all about embracing excitement, and there were few releases more exciting than this one! A mix of synth-pop and dream-pop, this EP had exactly the energy we had dreamed of for a YEJI debut, but it still exceeded all our expectations, with killer performances and fairytale references. YEJI’s intention with this solo debut was to showcase her aura, and she definitely achieved that!
HUNTR/X
You knew we had to include our girls, HUNTR/X, right? In 2025, the girl group that stars in K-Pop Demon Hunters had a debut year that most idols couldn’t even imagine! ‘Golden’ has topped the Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) chart for a record-tying 19 weeks, and hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for 8 weeks, too. And all of that success is before we even mention their other songs, like ‘How It’s Done’ or ‘What It Sounds Like!’
Saja Boys
Where HUNTR/X go, the Saja Boys will follow! Just like HUNTR/X arguably became the world’s favorite girl group in 2025, Saja Boys became a top boy group, in our hearts as well as charts all over the globe. From ‘Soda Pop’ to ‘Your Idol,’ there are few debut tracks that have gotten stuck in our collective heads like the ones from K-Pop Demon Hunters!
And that’s our ten! Do you agree with our picks for favorite K-Pop debuts of 2025? Anyone you wish we had included on this list? Hit us up! You can find us at @thehoneypop on Twitter, or by visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.
If you have not heard of Dylan Espeseth, then we have a treat for you! Dylan is an alt-emo songwriter who embodies the perfect blend of the current emo scene and the golden era of emo from the early 2000s. Fresh off playing a few shows in LA with The Rocket Summer, we got to sit with Dylan to learn more about him as a songwriter and his newest single, ‘Thoughts.’
So without further ado, let’s get into the interview!
Image Source: Razy Faouri
Hi Dylan! Thank you so much for speaking with us today! For our first question, we like to give you a chance to introduce yourself to the THP readers. Hey! I’m Dylan Espeseth. I’m from Seattle, and I’m a songwriter and musician who mostly just writes songs about what I’m feeling.
You just recently came off playing a few shows with The Rocket Summer. As massive fans of TRS, what was your favorite moment from that tour? That whole experience was so incredible. The most notable thing for me was probably the absolute masterclass of a performance from TRS. Watching the way that Bryce was able to have such presence and command of the stage, even in moments where he was alone on the stage with just an acoustic guitar, the energy was incredible. I could feel the genuine passion and emotion radiating off of everyone in the room.
Is there anything that you have learned now that you are home? Being home, I think, has really cemented in me the importance of live music. Going from playing my songs to a room full of people, back to writing alone in my room has really shown me why live music is so powerful. It feels like a case of ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder,’ where now that there’s nobody around for me to play to, I realize how meaningful that sharing your art is to the process of making it.
Image Source: Razy Faouri
Your debut album is produced by Aaron Sprinkle, what was it like working with him and is there anything that you have learned after working with him on this project? Working with Aaron has been a dream come true in a lot of ways. I’ve been a major fan of albums he’s produced for many years, and after working with him, I totally see why they’re so great. He understood the vision for the project so well from the very first conversation we had. He very much taught me the importance of emotion in the vocals above everything else. His advice was more or less that if you can deliver the lyrics with the right emotion, everything else will follow, and I think that really showed to be true. I definitely think he brought out a lot of my best vocal performances I’ve ever done on these songs.
You just released your song, ‘Thoughts,’ which reminds us of Yellowcard’s ‘Only One.’ What can you tell us about the process of writing this track and something you are hoping fans can take away from it? When I first wrote this song, I didn’t really think it would ever see the light of day. I wrote the first verse and chorus when I was just playing around on my guitar at home, and it just lived as a voice memo on my phone for a month or two.
During one of my first meetings with Aaron, I was showing him some acoustic demos. I wasn’t planning to play that song, but he asked me if I had anything a little slower or ballady, so I played him the first verse of that song, and he immediately said, “We NEED to do that one.” So I went home and added the bridge part, which was scrapped from a different song, and over the next week, I wrote a second verse for it. Overall, I just hope that people realize they’re not alone in not having everything figured out. It feels so easy to fall into feeling behind everyone else, but for the most part, I think nobody has it all figured out.
We have an eclectic music taste here at THP, but we are forever emo kids at heart. What has it meant for you to be bringing that true angsty emo rock vibe to the front of the current scene? I think the angsty emo vibe will always have my heart, so getting to be a part of that scene is such an exciting thing for me. It truly feels like I’m making music that I would be obsessed with if I just heard it organically. This project really feels like I’ve finally honed my sound into what I’ve been working towards for years, and I’m so ready for everyone to hear the rest of it.
Image Source: Razy Faouri
With your debut album releasing in early 2026, what can you tell us about the album as a whole? The album really feels like a perfect mix of my music taste, all swirled into one cohesive project. I’d say it’s at the center of the emo rock, folk, and indie pop venn diagram, which I think encapsulates my entire musical personality. The goal was to make something that fuses all of my influences into one cohesive project, and I really think we nailed that.
We’d love to dig in a little deeper into your songwriting process! What is your favorite way to write? Are you more of a get into the studio and see what happens, or do you like coming into the studio with an idea of the topic of the session or a specific project? I do most of my writing unintentionally in my bedroom. It’s fairly rare for me to sit down with a topic in mind. Usually, I just strum around on my acoustic at home or in my backyard until I come up with a few lyrics I like, and then I build off of that. Sometimes I’ll take just that idea into the studio, but especially with this project, most of the songs were almost completely finished acoustically before we began working in the studio at all.
For the last question, is there anything else you would like your fans and any new fans to know about you and your upcoming projects? All-in-all I’m just really excited to share everything I’ve been working on. I truly think this project is my best and most honest writing I’ve ever done. I just want everyone to know how glad I am to get to share this music with anyone who’s willing to listen.
Watch the music video for ‘Thoughts’ below!
We absolutely loved getting to chat with Dylan about his songwriting, new track ‘Thoughts,’ and what he’s learned after opening for The Rocket Summer!
We want to hear from YOU! Let us know your thoughts on ‘Thoughts’ in the comments below or chat with us on Twitter, Instagram, and Discord.
CJ Mask finishes the musical mission of Richard Sherfey Credit: Nick Kramer
The landmarks and the memorials, those are for glory. But true inspiration is the light you leave in the hearts and minds of others. By that count, country rocker Richard Sherfey is a hero, and when you’ve also got close, talented friends to help carry the torch, magic happens.
Sherfey was an Athens musician who went from touring through Orlando to relocating here in the 2000s and becoming a local Americana luminary. At the time of his untimely passing in 2018, he was in the embryonic phase of making a new album. Thankfully, even through the wreckage of loss and dashed creativity, Sherfey’s seasoned collaborator and friend CJ Mask saw the ideas.
In the immediate aftermath, Mask — an erstwhile Orlando music pillar now based in Nashville — corralled everything he could of those ideas that Sherfey shared with him. Demo fragments, texts, anything he could retrieve from Sherfey’s own laptop —Mask cobbled it all onto a hard drive. Then he stepped away, to grieve.
After the shock settled, Mask returned to it. Under his stewardship, the effort swelled to a collective campaign that, naturally, includes some hometown stars like Jeff Irizarry (Gasoline Heart), Mike Dunn and John Fortson (All God’s Children, Squad Five-O, Gasoline Heart). Somehow, through perseverance and duty, he turned those rough threads into a full tapestry. The result is the remarkable No Distance, a new posthumous Richard Sherfey album helmed, arranged and finished by CJ Mask.
For something whose source material was often germinal and lo-fi, this collection is lush and seamless with full rock arrangements replete with keyboards and violin. The recordings pack enough body and texture to aptly accompany Sherfey’s famously full-throated singing, which is just about the ultimate triumph for any posthumous endeavor. Together, Sherfey’s voice and Mask’s arrangements soar in unity to conjure soul that could stir in both late-night bar and church alike. I knew Richard, and I think that’s exactly what he would’ve wanted.
Unquestionably, Sherfey deserves full salute as the voice and mind behind the tunes. But Mask merits rare credit for his significant, personal and executive role in making No Distance happen at all. It’s a feat of not just craftsmanship but of the deepest love and respect for the man and the material.
“I got to spend another year with him in a very creative space,” says Mask. “And I got to work with him again and spend more time with him after he passed. … It’s given me a space to kind of grieve and be with my friend. And I hope now that it’s done, people can take the album and have that same space to grieve and live with Richard again.”
No Distance now streams everywhere and is available on limited-edition gatefold vinyl and CD on Bandcamp.
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Known for her unusual yet distinctive, memorable, and almost intriguing musical style, Rosalía has been tearing up Spanish, European, and global charts with record-breaking numbers, reaching over 1,000 million streams at her peak over the last five years. Her song ‘Despechá’ hit 1,236 million streams on Spotify in 2022, while her “lowest” popular track, ‘TKN’ (feat. Travis Scott), still climbed to 495 million in 2020.
This year, beginning in early November, she delighted the audience with her fresh album LUX, which includes 15 digital tracks and 18 on the CD and vinyl editions. The Rosalía’s LUX albumadvert campaign was loud, sharp, and straight to the point.
Album cover in Times Square, orchestras on Madrid’s billboards, and songs in 13 languages, it blew up the internet and won new fans worldwide in just hours. The hype for the upcoming album went through the roof. Social media was buzzing, dropping the playful hint: “Album of the Year?” Considering all this excitement, it’s clear this release is something you definitely don’t want to miss.
Here, at Honey POP, we picked five non-cliché reasons proving why LUX truly belongs on your Spotify list.
Catalonian DNA Fuses With Eclectic Rave
Born near Barcelona, in Spain’s Catalonia region with its own Catalan language and free-spirited identity, Rosalía grew up surrounded by flamenco rhythms from childhood. Blending those traditional melodies with Latin touches like reggaeton, she shaped a recognisable sound and performance style that feels entirely her own.
In LUX, Rosalía virtuously places the orchestra at the core of most tracks, adding to each a different mix of pop, rave, and electronic notes, together with striking, loud cues and screams that cut through the sounds of violin and organ.
The paradox of LUX’s success lies in its screaming infusion of spiritual music and Spanish baroque archaism. The sound itself becomes both the artwork and the instrument to convey the stories, carrying the ideas even without words.
Unbeatable & Unexpected Collabs
Yves Tumor, Björk, and even the child choir Escolanía de Montserrat are not the whole list of collaborations LUX offers to the discerning listener.
Notably, while separate artists like Björk, the Spanish artists Estrella Morente and Sílvia Pérez Cruz performing each in one song, the Escolanía de Montserrat accompanied a full seven tracks, including‘Magnolias’ and ‘Reliquia‘, highlighting the divine sense of the last tracks and the whole album’s core, referring to the divine topic as the roots of the world’s birth and natural processes like love, soul tortures and the rebirth theme.
The most explosive track, ‘Berghain‘, drew the most attention out of all the others.
The London orchestra, operatic singing, Björk’s deep, enchanting voice, the use of German, Spanish and English, the visual interplay of violence and love combining into a single whole, highlighted by Mike Tyson’s violent quote, “I’ll f*** you ’til you love me” allures strongly, almost forcing the space around the listener to convey the emotional background of the track itself. In the context of LUX, collaboration is not only about performers.
It masterfully weaves contemporary musical techniques with timeless classical traditions, where the divine choir gives way to words of cruelty and violence that coexist with love and tenderness, equally forming an inseparable part of the human life cycle.
Rebirth Of History And Spirituality
The Palau de la Música Chamber Choir, the London Orchestra, Escolanía de Montserrat, and the sounds of the organ are not simply Rosalía’s whims or carefully staged hype to promote LUX.
Like the album itself, the presence of these different choirs, alongside operatic and baroque elements, points to the central idea of LUX — the question of divinity, where religion is reimagined as much as the human role within it. The Escolanía de Montserrat, a boy’s Catalonian choir, flows with precision and innocence, later replaced in some passages by the adult Palau de la Música Chamber Choir and the London Orchestra.
This progression embodies the musical art of LUX, illustrating the natural life cycle: as youth move into adulthood, they remain angelic and almost pure. In ‘Berghain‘, the London Orchestra plays brisk, ascending motifs that capture the essence of the song — love and hatred intertwined as part of the adult world.
By contrast, in ‘Magnolias’ and ‘Reliquia,’ the parts performed by Escolanía de Montserrat convey tender self-love, untouched by violence or suffering. Here, the children’s choir remains present on the spot, highlighting innocence, purity, and the gentle side of human experience.
Femininity In Its Strength
In her interview on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Rosalía mentioned the powerful women in history who inspired her while creating LUX. Among them were Joan of Arc, Saint Olga of Kyiv, Saint Rosalia of Palermo, and Saint Teresa of Ávila.
However, what is particularly noteworthy is that, unlike how they are usually portrayed in history, these figures are, if not for the first time, presented to the audience not as martyrs but as women whose sanity, forged through suffering, is a source of strength rather than weakness.
Their resilience resists passive submission to the inevitable course of events. Fighting against a Catholic Church dominated by men, like Saint Teresa of Ávila. Standing up to her husband’s murderers in the name of justice, like Saint Olga of Kyiv. Striving for a kingdom’s unity only to be betrayed by men, like Joan of Arc.
The strength of these women went far beyond resilience, defying violence and centuries of patriarchal pressure. Nearly 500 years later, LUX pays tribute to their memory, weaving their courage and spirit into its tracks.
A Multilingual Hymn to Global Cultures
LUX is the first album ever with 13 tracks, with a couple of them having three or more languages in one.
Beyond her love for diverse cultures and their histories, Rosalía, fluent in Spanish, Catalan, and Portuguese, revealed that creating a multilingual album reflects her long-standing passion for learning new languages.
This daring blend of languages, from Japanese and Ukrainian to French and more, struck a chord with listeners, propelling the album’s popularity to unprecedented heights, even by Rosalía’s already global-star standards. Let us know what is your favorite track from LUX? Don’t keep it to yourself—tweet us your thoughts at @thehoneypop or on Facebook and Instagram.
So close to what? So close to having a mental breakdown. Tate McRae (aka Tatiana) surprised fans with a deluxe version of her popular album, So Close To What. So Close To What??? (deluxe) features four new songs, including her surprise drop ‘TIT FOR TAT.’ Even though the Miss Possessive Tour has concluded, we’re still blasting all our favorites and these new songs: ‘TRYING ON SHOES,’ ‘ANYTHING BUT LOVE,’ ‘NOBODY’S GIRL,’ and ‘HORSESHOE.’
In honor of the new album, we’re pairing the most outrageous designer shoes with each of the new deluxe songs. Also, we’d love to see Tate wear any of these on stage one day.
Image Source: Courtesy of Whiteboard PR
‘TRYING ON SHOES’ – Miu Miu Satin Ballerinas
Since Tate McRae is a dancer, we have to see her wear these adorable Miu Miu satin ballerina flats, inspired by real pointe shoes. They come in the cutest colors, and we want to own every single pair! We think Tate would go with the classic pink–what color do you like best?
See and shop our selection for ‘TRYING ON SHOES’ here.
‘ANYTHING BUT LOVE’ – Golden Goose Ball Star Wishes Sneakers
The second song on the deluxe, ‘ANYTHING BUT LOVE,’ inspired us to head straight to Golden Goose’s website for these red and white sneakers. The heel is the selling point with “love you” written on the back. Sorry, but we need these shoes in our lives, and we know Tate would look so cute with these on. Do these get the Tatiana stamp of approval?
See and shop our selection for ‘ANYTHING BUT LOVE’ here.
‘NOBODY’S GIRL’ – Prada Leopard Loafers
These Prada loafers are giving the ultimate girl boss energy with a flair of that ‘Miss Possessive’ leopard print fans know and love. If you really want to get back at an ex, you need these platform loafers immediately. Yes, the price tag is high, but just think, what would Tate do (WWTD)? She’d buy these in a heartbeat! Tatiana approved!
See and shop our selection for ‘NOBODY’S GIRL’ here.
‘HORSESHOE’ – The Alexander McQueen Hoof Boot
You either love them or you hate them, but there’s no better pairing for ‘HORSESHOE’ than these Alexander McQueen Hoof Boots. They mimic a real horse, with a tail and everything, but just on your feet. We feel like Tate might just love these as much as we do. What do you think?
What did you think about Tate McRae’s new deluxe album, So Close To What??? (deluxe)? Which of the new four songs did you connect with the most? Will you be buying any of these designer shoes? Let us know in the comments down below or hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
If you’re looking for a new band to take over your playlists, look no further than Arrows in Action! Their latest album, I Think I’ve Been Here Before, is the perfect gateway into their musical world, so this is the ideal time to jump in! We were lucky enough to get to chat with Arrows in Action all about their newest album, past music, live shows, and so much more!
Hello! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us! To start us off, how would you describe your sound to someone who is tuning in for the first time? We’re an alternative pop-rock band! We’re a blend of everything we love, and we love a huge array of music.
I Think I’ve Been Here Before is less than a month away. What emotions are you guys feeling leading up to the release of this record? We’re feeling a mix of relief, excitement, and catharsis with the release of this album! We can’t wait for people to hear it all in its intentional order.
Out of the eleven songs on the record, only two are unreleased. What goes into the decision of what to release and what to hold back? We wanted to make sure to save the conclusion of the album for the day of release. We were very intentional with the track order on this record, and we wanted our fans to experience the album in its entirety together.
‘Hello Sunlight!’ is the oldest track on the record, having been released in May of last year. When this song came out, did you know it was part of a bigger project, or did that come with time? Though it was released far ahead of the album, ‘Hello Sunlight!’ is the track that started the writing process and was instrumental in guiding us towards the sounds that would make up Side A.
You’ve released this album in two parts, with Side A coming out earlier this year. How do you group the songs and figure out which song belongs on which side? In both subject matter and sonics, we accidentally curated two distinct vibes while writing this album. It could be the simplest thing, like the placement of a minor chord that guided a song toward side B, and in many cases, it was the lyrical perspective that placed the song.
With a new album comes the hope of live music! While crafting the album, which song off this album were you most looking forward to bringing to life on stage? Victor: ‘Cheekbones,’ Jesse: ‘Empty Canvas,’ Matt: ‘Empty Canvas.’
Your debut album, Be More, came out four years ago! When you look at the artists who released that record, and the artists who are about to release this record, what do you see as the biggest area of growth? Our biggest area of growth has been how much we collaborate! With years of touring and writing together, we know each other better than ever before, and we know how to expand on each other’s ideas.
Once again, thank you so much for chatting with us! Before we let you go, what is one thing on the Arrows in Action bucket list as we close out 2025? A bucket list item we completed this year was headlining in Europe and the UK! A bucket list item we have that is yet unchecked is performing at Red Rocks in Colorado. Thanks for having us!
We would love to hear from you! What is your favorite song off of I Think I’ve Been Here Before by Arrows in Action? Let us know by commenting below or by tweeting @TheHoneyPOP! We are also on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok!
ASTRO‘s Cha Eunwoo didn’t wait for the perfect moment to make his music comeback. His second mini album, ELSE, was in the works even before his military enlistment, proving just how far ahead he thinks.
The album features four tracks, each stepping into a slightly different sound. From bright pop-funk influences to softer, emotionally tinted vocals, Cha Eunwoo lets us explore his musicality without ever dropping the elegance he’s known for. Just… with a little more confidence this time.
Full track list:
‘Sweet Papaya’
‘SATURDAY PREACHER’
‘Selfish’
‘Thinkin’ Bout U’
A Glimpse Into ELSE
‘Sweet Papaya’
First is ‘Sweet Papaya,’ a lighter, pop-funk-inspired track that feels like the album’s warmest moment. It sets the tone with a subtle groove and an easy confidence, almost like a sort of introduction.
‘Saturday Preacher’
Then, the energy rises with ‘SATURDAY PREACHER,’ the title track and most visually defined moment of the project. Rhythm-driven and slightly theatrical, it carries the kind of presence expected from a lead single. The music video reflects this with a gradual shift: Cha Eunwoo starts out composed and controlled, then subtly reveals a second persona. This second persona carries a different kind of energy. He feels more intense, almost like someone watching from the outside and quietly steering what’s happening.
‘Selfish’
‘Selfish’ follows with a more modern pop feel, steady in tempo and layered with self-reflective nuance. It lands somewhere between performance and confession. It’s not overly emotional but pointed enough to linger and leave a message.
‘Thinkin’ Bout U’
Things soften with ‘Thinkin’ Bout U’, closing the album on a slower and more vulnerable note, which got us feeling some things (and it has been on repeat since).
All in all, Cha Eunwoo really came through with ELSE. Four tracks and one standout music video later, and we’re low-key still unpacking it.
Alright, now here’s the real question: which track are you playing on repeat first? Or did ‘SATURDAY PREACHER’ already hijack your playlist before you even finished this article? Be honest. Drop your pick in the comments or tag us on X @thehoneypop. Also, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for even more content.
Want even more K-Pop chaos, reviews, and emotional crisis moments courtesy of your faves? Head over to our The Honey(K)Pop category for more.
Is it too soon to say we miss this era already?! Jeff Satur just capped off an iconic year with the release of the Red Giant EP. Throughout 2025, Jeff has given us a behemoth concept and storyline, the “Year of Red Giant,” and now we have the full EP to enjoy. Allow us to bask in the light of this bright star!
Red Giant EP
What’s better than ‘Golden Night?’ Two versions of it! On Red Giant, Jeff gives us exactly that, with both an English version and a Thai version of the track. And what’s better than a miracle? Two miracles! Which coincidentally is the message of ‘Golden Night:’ miracles do happen, and what’s more is that they can happen more than once! We love a hopeful, magical message!
It goes without saying (but we’ll say it anyway) that Jeff gives us one of the best vocal performances we’ve heard in a long time on Red Giant. Or at least, probably some of the best vocals since Jeff’s last release. We’ve been indulging in some of these tracks all year, but the EP release brings some brand new songs, too! As well as both versions of ‘Golden Night,’ we get ‘Passion Fruit’ and ‘Call It Over,’ each with its own visualizer (basically a mini music video). Check out the full tracklist below!
‘Ride or Die’
‘Tell Me the Name’
‘Golden Night (English Version)’
‘Passion Fruit’
‘Call It Over’
‘ของขวัญปีใหม่ (Golden Night (Thai Version))’
The “Year of Red Giant”
If you’re not familiar with the concept of Red Giant, it’s the moment just when a star swells and appears as it reaches its full life cycle, kind of like a phoenix just before it’s reborn from ashes. From the moment we heard Jeff Satur’s plans for a “Year of Red Giant,” we’ve been absolutely in love with this imagery and how well it fits Jeff at this point in his career.
However, even that couldn’t have prepared us for how Jeff has soared this year. From ‘Ride or Die’ way back in January (how has it been that long?!) to the Red Giant world tour, we’ve loved seeing Jeff Satur get his flowers! He’s a genuine world star and one of our absolute favorite vocalists. Now, we just need to get ourselves back into the audience for one of his shows. Join us in anticipating, and hoping for, even bigger things from Jeff in 2026!
What’s been your favorite moment from Jeff Satur’s “Year of Red Giant?” Do you have a fave track on the EP? Let us know on @TheHoneyPOP on Twitter or by leaving a comment on our Facebook and Instagram posts.
The last time we saw Seattle-based band, The Home Team, was on the idobi Summer School Tour last year. Sunday, we finally got to see them again at The Belasco in Los Angeles on The Crucible of Life Tour. The Belasco isn’t a huge venue, so it’s a place where you can feel every cheer, clap, and scream.
Jay Flores for THPJay Flores for THP
When the lights dimmed, the crowd went wild! Opening with ‘Turn You Off,’ a song off the band’s most recent album, which shares the same name as the tour. The night had a natural rhythm, shifting between high-energy bursts with songs like ‘Hell’ and quieter, more reflective moments with songs like ‘Walk This World With Me.’
One of the most OMG moments we caught was when Brian paused to address the crowd: “This is the biggest headlining show of our entire tour.” To be a part of this monumental crowd for a band we have seen grow has brought so much joy to our lives. For the OG fans who have seen them grow in the last 12 years, it must be such a surreal feeling. We can only imagine what it feels like to be in the band!
The crowd carried the night from start to finish, helping sing every lyric to every song. And let us just say, we appreciate that THT kept some of those OG bangers on the setlist, as well! ‘Fashion Forward’? ‘She’s Quiet’? Keep those on there forever!!! Please!!!!
Jay Flores for THPJay Flores for THP
If you have the chance to see The Home Team on the rest of their tour, please make sure you do! You’re not going to want to miss this one!
Check out the full gallery below!
If you caught THT this tour or plan on seeing them soon, let us know in the comments, on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, where we’re always buzzing about something!
Musically Expansive and Hopeful Canopy, Out Now on Vibrantly Packaged Deluxe CD and Vinyl
NEW YORK, November 17, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– Rachael Sage & The Sequins have released their captivating, musically expansive and hopeful full-length studio album, Canopy, on deluxe CD and Vinyl. The special limited-edition 40-panel hardcover book CD package – featuring Sage’s original artwork – as well as an orange colored vinyl edition is available to order now via MPress Records. The record was released digitally worldwide on October 24. With Canopy, Sage offers listeners yet another beautifully crafted, deeply heartfelt collection of songs that feel like a refuge, woven from resilience, longing, and the irrepressible determination to find light in the darkest places. Equal parts reflective, mournful and optimistic, Canopy is one of her most soulful and thought-provoking works yet.
Merging pop, gospel and Americana in a way that brings to mind the soulfulness of Bonnie Raitt’s unforgettable ballad “I Can’t Make You Love Me” and the wistfulness of Norah Jones’ “Don’t Know Why”, “Belong To You” celebrates love in all forms and perfectly captures the devotion and loyalty of our friendships in the heartwarming visual. Directed by Jenny He, the video for “Belong To You” is a uniquely meaningful moment shot during an open casting call for people to show up with who they love the most. Sage sings: “With a grip as strong as a weatherman’s gaze/I will belong to you/With a torn up rag for a prayer shawl of praise/I will hold on to you/I will be strong for you” – a reminder to cherish who we’re most grateful for ahead of Thanksgiving.
Watch/Listen To “Belong To You” HERE Stream/Download “Belong To You” HERE Order Canopy HERE
“It was such a wonderful experience working with Jenny He again as I am so inspired by her very singular, focused vision,”shares Sage on the video. “We knew we wanted to find a concept that reflected the timeless, unconditionally loving sensibility of the song and that ideally included as many types of loving relationships as possible… not only romantic but also parent/child, friendship, owners/pets, and so forth. Her idea to invite everyday people to join us for a real-life portrait session that captured loving interactions between ‘soulmates’ – and then to also provide them with those portraits for posterity – was brilliant and fit the song so well. It was such a joyful and wholesome experience meeting everyone and capturing it through Jenny’s unique perspective. It felt hopeful, genuine, and spiritually uplifting and it was one of the most positive and uplifting days of 2025 for me- and having members of The Sequins there to be part of my own ‘portrait’ was the perfect way to express my gratitude for simply being able to do what I do, day in and day out, as an artist surrounded by musicians who I deeply love.”
Currently on her Under My Canopy Tour in the UK and gearing up for a special MPress & Bar-None Records Holiday showat New York’s Bowery Electric on December 10 with Seth Glier, Glenn Morrow‘s Cry For Help, Karyn Kuhl & The Gang, and more, Sage has been bringing her incomparable live show and the inclusive musical message of her new album to major cities across North America and the UK. A balm to the divisiveness in the world, Canopy tackles themes of acceptance, non-violence, and safety. Stand out tracks include “Nexus“, “Live It Up“, “The Best Version“, “Canopy“, and “Just Enough.” Bringing our collective humanity back into focus, Canopy is a 14-track project that confidently spans Americana, pop, and neo-folk in a statement of self that is a masterclass in radical inclusivity and self-acceptance. Produced by Sage with GRAMMY-nominated engineer Mikhail Pivovarov, Canopy features inspired performances by her longtime beloved bandmates and friends including Kelly Halloran (Goo Goo Dolls), Trina Hamlin (Susan Werner), Ward Williams (Sara Bareilles), and more. The record was mixed by Pivovarov and GRAMMY-winning mixer Andy Zulla (Kelly Clarkson, Diana Ross) and continues Sage’s ongoing journey of storytelling with the goal of creating a community in which everyone feels safe and embraced for exactly who they are.
ABOUT RACHAEL SAGE: Since founding her own label MPress Records, NYC-based folk-pop artist Rachael Sage has steadily released a slew of vibrant, dynamic albums. She has toured with an eclectic list of artists including Rufus Wainwright, Ani DiFranco, Beth Hart, Howard Jones, and Grammy® winners Shawn Colvin and Judy Collins – with whom she also recorded a critically-acclaimed duet of Neil Young’s “Helpless.” In addition to being a six-time Independent Music Award-winning musician and producer, Sage is also a John Lennon Contest Grand Prize winner who has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, SXSW, and toured globally from Japan to Berlin. Sage is also a visual artist and former ballet dancer who performed with the New York City Ballet. A self-described “cancer thriver,” she is a philanthropic advocate who has raised money for a wide range of causes, including Foundation For Women’s Cancer, WHY Hunger, American Refugee Committee/Alight, National Network For Youth (NN4Y), The Trevor Project, and Rainbow Mind (UK).
Tour Dates (please see rachaelsage.com for all ongoing US and UK tour dates)
with: *The Overtones **Amy Speace # Holiday Bash MPress Records & Bar-None Records recording artists Rachael Sage, Seth Glier, Glenn Morrow’s Cry For Help, Karyn Kuhl & The Gang, and more. ^Meghan Carey
Suggested Post Rachael Sage &The Sequins, have released their heartwarming Official Video “Belong To You” from their captivating, musically expansive and hopeful album, Canopy. Just out on art-filled, vibrantly packaged CD and vinyl, Canopy is a masterclass in radical inclusivity and self-acceptance.
It’s here! Yeonjun has released NO LABELS: PART 01, and neither us nor our playlists will ever be the same again. We’ll be the first to admit that we had very, very high hopes for Yeonjun’s debut solo album, but we’ll also hold our hands up and say that he exceeded every single expectation. Rather than a perfect, sparkling pop album (which we all know Yeonjun is capable of, too), NO LABELS is bold, untamed, and disruptive.
Throughout NO LABELS: PART 01, Yeonjun provocatively dares the listener to try and categorize him, whilst proving time and time again that it’s impossible. Every aspect of the album is rebellious yet calculated.
However, as thought-out as NO LABELS: PART 01 is, it never comes across as inauthentic. Yes, Yeonjun has a point to prove, but that point is so intrinsically tied to him and his artistic self that it never feels deliberate. Yeonjun can’t help but demonstrate just how dynamic and enigmatic he is, because that’s just him.
From now on, too, through my music, I’ll keep showing you the honest and new sides of myself.
Yeonjun on the NO LABELS: PART 01 listening party CDs.
There’s no doubt that K-Pop’s formula to promote upcoming releases works incredibly; from concept photos to MV teasers to tracklist announcements, with something happening pretty much every day at 00:00 KST, it’s a surefire way to get audiences hyped for a comeback or debut. With NO LABELS: PART 01, Yeonjun rebelled even against that process, announcing and promoting the album on his own social media, including setting up a Pinterest account specifically for the concept photos, and giving MOAs sneak peeks at almost every track on the album. Plus, throughout TXT’s career, Yeonjun has been notorious for dropping spoilers, and he seriously weaponized that talent for NO LABELS.
Even the very notion of a PART 01 is disruptive. We already (especially after that teaser at the end of the music video) know we can expect a PART 02, but when and what that looks like is on Yeonjun’s terms. And he’s always one step ahead!
My very presence speaks for me, and it will not be silenced. I exist on my own terms. Outside of words, this is just me.
Text in Yeonjun’s NO LABELS: PART 01 packaging
Track By Track
Now, let’s get stuck into the details, and how each NO LABELS track proves Yeonjun’s artistry is limitless.
‘Talk To You’
Once upon a time, we had ‘LO$ER=LOVER,’ which opened with Soobin kicking us in the face; now we have ‘Talk To You’ opening with Yeonjun getting punched. Unlike the music video, which has it as the grand finale, Yeonjun opens NO LABELS: PART 01 with ‘Talk To You,’ the title track. Like the rest of the album, this song toes the line of just-weird-enough, and on first listen reminded us of another album that straddles that line: RM’s RPWP. ‘Talk To You’ builds on a duality that Yeonjun is already well known for: the potent mix of rock and hip-hop. Both genres are rife with anarchy, which is exactly the energy that Yeonjun attacks them with.
If there were ever any doubt that Yeonjun’s personal mark is all over this album, then ‘Talk To You’ alone would prove that theory wrong. Yeonjun is credited for both the lyrics and composition (he’s credited on five out of the six NO LABELS tracks), and further contributed to its creative direction through the choreography and performance. In fact, the choreography itself is some of the hardest we’ve ever seen, to the point where, in behind-the-scenes content, Yeonjun has been warning fans not to try it out! We’d expect nothing less from the 4th Gen It Boy, but he still exceeded all our expectations.
‘Forever’
If ‘Talk To You’ reminds us of RM’s RPWP, then ‘Forever’ reminds us of another of RM’s previous collaborators, Anderson .Paak. Where so much of this album is deliberately disruptive, ‘Forever’ is its sleekest moment. A simple (in comparison!), bright hip-hop track contrasts with the nonchalant delivery of Yeonjun’s all-English rap, and we love this low-pressure version of a seize-the-day mentality. Yeonjun mentioned that a lot of his friends picked this track as their fave when he gave them a sneak preview of NO LABELS: PART 01, and we can totally appreciate why.
‘Let Me Tell You (featuring Daniela of KATSEYE)’
This is the track for the 00s R&B lovers! With two of K-Pop’s best dancers, we knew the choreography of this track would hit, and it still blew us away. The sensual nature of ‘Let Me Tell You’ suits both Yeonjun and Daniela so well, and we need a full performance ASAP!
And, once again, Yeonjun rebels against the limitations placed on idols, who often face massive backlash (think ENHYPEN’s ‘Bite Me’) for performing with people of other genders. Of course, male and female idols singing and dancing together shouldn’t be controversial, but it is, and Yeonjun and Daniela do a beautiful job of pointing out the absurdity of that, simply by not acknowledging it at all.
‘Do It’
‘Do It’ is an underrated gem on NO LABELS: PART 01, and we can totally see this track having some serious longevity. The song is full of confidence and charisma, but in a completely unexpected way; it’s not brash or loud. In fact, the live band style and jazz influences make ‘Do It’ feel like a very intimate listen, and this nonchalance adds to its effectiveness. Yeonjun doesn’t need to shout to be heard, or for everyone to stop what they’re doing and pay attention.
In the second half of the album, which ‘Do It’ kicks off, Yeonjun responds to the question of NO LABELS more directly, speaking about his persona and the criticism that he has faced. Throughout ‘Do It,’ he teaches his critics how to be “YJ’s miniature,” but even when he plots out the most basic steps for them, they can’t manage it. All of this goes to show that just because Yeonjun makes something look easy, that doesn’t mean it is. That’s just his talent.
‘Nothin’ ‘Bout Me’
Like ‘Do It,’ ‘Nothin’ ‘Bout Me’ tackles the album’s themes head-on. With lyrics like “you can’t fit me in any kind of frame,” and “I’m my own product,” Yeonjun speaks directly to people who try to contain him as any one specific thing. Moreover, whilst “you” try to box him in, he’s not even paying attention to your failed efforts; he’s busy “snoring in a Carnival.” A Carnival is the car most commonly used by idols, and it’s not the first time they’ve been used as a status symbol in a diss track, just look at the way ATEEZ belittle their stalkers in ‘MATZ.’
Yeonjun co-wrote and composed Nothin’ ‘Bout Me,’ and you can definitely feel that raw, untamed energy come through in this hip-hop track. On an album full of self-assuredness, ‘Nothin’ ‘Bout Me’ still takes the crown for the most provocative and defiant moment.
I rip off any label put on me, even if it gets sticky, sticky, sticky, I still go.
Yeonjun, referencing NO LABELS and ‘GGUM’ on ‘Nothin”Bout Me’
‘COMA’
‘COMA’ is Yeonjun’s favorite track on NO LABELS: PART 01, and we’re inclined to agree with him. The production on this hip-hop track is deliberately disorienting, as Yeonjun displays how much power he has over his rapt audiences. In addition to creating the choreography for ‘COMA,’ Yeonjun co-wrote the lyrics. As a result, ‘COMA’ brings us one of our favorite Yeonjun trademarks: wordplay. When rapping “The ‘GGUM’ you were chewing on,” Yeonjun uses 씹다, which means both ‘to chew’ and ‘to belittle’ (source: TranslatingTXT), so this line can also be taken as a reference to the haters’ reactions to his 2024 mixtape.
Yeonjun then goes on to say that he has “Fed this scene a new topic, eyes on me, all them eyes on me.” Yeonjun’s name is often mistranslated as ‘fed,’ so it’s like he already knows that everyone will be talking about NO LABELS: PART 01, and about Yeonjun himself too. With an album this iconic, can you blame us?
It’s clear in every aspect of NO LABELS: PART 01 that Yeonjun has uncovered a true artistic vision, and as fans, we couldn’t be happier for him (or happier to reap the benefits!). From the lyricism to the aesthetic and everything in between, NO LABELS: PART 01 is completely undefinable, except for the only label it needs: Yeonjun.
What’s your favorite track on the album? And tell us your predictions for NO LABELS: PART 02! Let us know over on Twitter @TheHoneyPOP! You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram.
And if you want more TOMORROW X TOGETHER in your life, you’ve come to the right place…
Ever since Bearings gave us the deluxe edition of The Best Part About Being Human, we have been itching for more music. Lucky for us, they’ve come back better than ever with their fourth full-length album, Comfort Company! They’ve drawn us in with singles like ‘Quick Release’ and ‘Float Away’ featuring Derek Discanio of State Champs, but we would’ve never guessed how hard the album was going to hit us.
While this may be their fourth full-length album, Bearings are closer to themselves than they’ve ever been. These songs started from places that lead singer Doug Cousins would describe as “honest” and were recorded in the same studio where their first album was recorded. They have encapsulated what it’s like to grow up and really come to terms with the fact that maybe we actually don’t know what we’re doing. And the timing of this album couldn’t be more perfect. Days are shorter, the weather is colder, and the need for some comfort? It’s heavy on all of our minds right now.
“Comfort Company is for us the record that feels like coming back home.” – Doug Cousins
It’s never been easy for us to pull just a few songs from Bearings’ discography, but that doesn’t mean we won’t try! Here are our four recommendations that brought us the most comfort:
Courtesy of: Bearings
‘Comfort Company’
We obviously couldn’t talk about this album without talking about the title track. This song embodies the classic pop-punk vibe we are always craving. It has that hard-hitting sound that makes us just want to get up to dance, but don’t let that fool you. These lyrics? Ouch. But that’s what Bearings do best, and we can never get enough of it. Like, come on, “Is it a miracle we somehow make it by?” Someone pass us the tissues, quickly.
‘Float Away’ Featuring Derek Discanio
This next one is so special to us. As long-time lovers of all things pop punk, seeing Bearings collaborate with Derek Discanio has got to be the highlight of our year. It blew us away when we heard it as a single, but in tandem with the whole album? Now that hits different. This song puts into words how crazy it can feel sometimes when you’re left to figure it out on your own. As much as you want to escape from it all, a lot of times it feels like everyone is just trying to pull you back down.
‘Freaking Me Out’
Another single, but we couldn’t leave out this banger of a fall anthem. Doug even says it himself: “It’s the season I believe in all my subconscious doubt.” The lyrics take us through such a whirlwind of emotions that a lot of us have been dealing with recently. There’s almost a humorous aspect to it, like when Doug says he’s “dying” but then immediately switches to “I’ll just shave my hair”. And while we did laugh upon first listen, we also can relate. (But please, put the scissors down. Your hair is fine).
‘Never Ending Cycle’
Now this song is the epitome of what Bearings does: tear-jerking lyrics mixed with a**-shaking instrumentals. This song had us up and ready to dance… but then Doug said, “I know failure’s part of living / When’s success gonna make an appearance?”. We won’t lie to you; we had to pause it for a minute just to take that one in. One of the hardest parts of growing up and being on your own is feeling like nothing you do is good enough. Bearings absolutely nail this feeling on the head with this song, and truthfully, it feels good to know we aren’t alone in that feeling.
To say we were impressed by this Bearings album would be an understatement. Truthfully, it felt like a mug of hot chocolate and a nice pair of fuzzy socks on a rainy day. Let us know which track brought you the most comfort by commenting. You can also talk to us about all things Comfort Company on our Twitter @TheHoneyPOP, Instagram, and Facebook!
Wearing a cheetah-print beret like she’s the newest member of the feline elite, Faouzia lounges with a white cat in her arms—because of course she does. The whole scene feels straight out of a monochrome fever dream, as if your Spotify app accidentally time-traveled to the 1950s. From her vintage visuals to those powerhouse vocals that could shatter martini glasses, Faouzia doesn’t just fit into another era—she owns it. With 4.2 million monthly listeners and a fanbase that made her the second-highest streamed international artist in China, right after Taylor Swift (casual), Faouzia’s not a rising star—she’s a meteor, rewriting her own orbit. Since her 2021 project CITIZENS—and that career-defining ‘MINEFIELDS’ duet with John Legend, which casually pulled 325 million YouTube views for its music video—she’s been crafting something cinematic.
The result: FILM NOIR, an 11-track masterpiece sung partly in French, entirely self-made, and draped in mystery, chaos, and candlelight. It all ignites with ‘PEACE & VIOLENCE,’ a track that perfectly captures the album’s duality: soft and sharp, glamorous and guttural. We sat down with Faouzia to talk about the making of FILM NOIR, the lyric she’s betting her fans will scream back the loudest, and how she turned vintage glamour into modern mythology.
Image Source: Alejandra Hinojosa
FILM NOIR
Hi Faouzia, congratulations on the release! FILM NOIR is not only your first full-length project, but also your first fully independent one—huge. Looking back at the journey, what part of the process are you most proud of, whether artistically or personally, in finally bringing this album to life? I am most proud of completing this album independently and following my instincts. I always knew that building a world around a project was my calling. Finally being able to do that is what I am most proud of, and I am absolutely in love with every song on FILM NOIR.
Because the term film noir originally came from French critics dissecting American thrillers, the genre has this built-in idea of reflection and critique. After the three-year gap since CITIZENS and the global response to ‘MINEFIELDS,’ did you approach this record by “critiquing” what worked and what didn’t from the last era—or did you intentionally wipe the slate clean and start fresh? After years of reflection and critique, I wiped the slate clean and started fresh. Almost in a “learn the rules to know how to break them” type of way. I followed my heart and wrote this album very instinctually. Every word stemmed from stories that were very personal to me, but crafted by skills that I learned along the way. I think my essence is present in this album because I led with my heart first, then my mind.
Faouzia’s Parisian Duality
The album opens like we’ve just stepped into a smoky 1950s Paris alleyway—sirens, trumpets, the whole curtain-rise—before it slinks into that sensual, romantic-thriller soundscape. When you were crafting those first 40 seconds, what visuals were playing in your mind? I wanted to set the mood in this opening track and transport people into the world that is FILM NOIR – live instrumentation, drama, and an emotional rollercoaster filled with tension and heartache.
You speak English, Arabic, and French fluently—and we hear French spotlighted both in the voice-note outro and in ‘TOUS CES MOTS’—and you even wrote your first ever song in French at age six. What is it about French as a language that feels most creatively you? French is my second language. I grew up speaking it at home and spent most of my education immersed in it, so many of my most formative memories live in French. It’s the language in which I first learned to express sorrow and depth, to give shape to feeling. There’s an inherent poetry in its softness and a quiet melancholy that made it the natural choice for the stories I needed to tell in this album.
Image Source: Alanna Durkee
Several tracks have that gorgeous cinematic build—the strings on ‘UNETHICAL’ feel like they’re doing the dramatic lighting. You’ve genre-blended before, but this time, working with Arthur Besna and F E R R O, how did you stay rooted in your sonic identity while leaning into those big, film-score moments? A big part of my musical identity comes from big, dramatic instrumentals as well as classically-inspired pieces. It came very naturally to me to make this album in this world because it felt like “coming home” to what felt the most natural to me.
Flashbulbs & Frequencies
“Sometimes I wish our puzzle aligned” from ‘WEIRDO’ feels like an instant-tattoo/future-bio line. Is there another lyric or couplet on the album you secretly suspect fans are going to claim as their identity quote? This is a hard question… There are so many lines in this project that I love, but the one that is coming to mind right now is the mantra-esque lyric, “I am not my emotions, they’re a point in time.”
Fashion is such a big storytelling device in this era. Is there one outfit from this cycle—a video look or shoot—that you feel most embodies the persona of this record? I’d say the ‘DON’T EVER LEAVE ME’ music video and outfit. Or… ‘PORCELAIN.’
Finally, when listeners close the curtain on FILM NOIR for the first time, what do you hope they walk away feeling? I hope they’ve connected to the music and can feel the depth and passion in it. I hope they can find solace in it.
What’s the song playing as you strut through your black-and-white FILM NOIR TikTok fantasy? Picture this: shadowy lighting, oversized hood, mystery in your eyes—basically giving “I might be in Paris, or just really good at curating vibes.” Spin FILM NOIR one more time, let the credits roll in your head, and then tell us—what’s your soundtrack for the sequel over on our Twitter, Insta, or even Facebook if you’re feeling retro.
Let us start by saying that Starkissed is the most perfect name for a TXT album. It’s beyond fitting, and just so cute. TXT’s most recent album finished with ‘Song of the Stars,’ and now we get lots of Starkissed songs!
Instrumentals
One of the very best things about TXT’s Japanese albums is that we are treated to beautiful intro and outro instrumentals! ‘Intro: SPARK’ and ‘Outro: GLOW’ are no exception. We love how these two tracks open and close this chapter and, as always, we hope to see them live on in something else too… perhaps background music for the VCRs at the ACT: TOMORROW Japan Dome Tour? TXT’s creative team, our door is always open.
‘Can’t Stop’
The names ‘SPARK’ and ‘GLOW’ for an album with a starry concept are so gorgeous too, but they’re not the most-aptly named songs on Starkissed. The title track, ‘Can’t Stop,’ is perfect. It’s shot up to the top of all our ‘On Repeat’ playlists, and we truly ‘Can’t Stop’ streaming it. TXT, like a lot of K-Pop groups, usually lean towards ballads for Japanese singles, and this is easily their most fun, catchy Japanese release to date. Full of 80s synth and irresistible guitar riffs, the THP MOA hive was never going to survive this comeback unscathed.
Original Japanese B-Sides
Another one of the new Japanese original songs on Starkissed is ‘Where Do You Go?,’ a song that made us immediately jealous that we won’t be attending the Japan tour shows to see this IRL. It has a cute, bright energy that we haven’t seen from TXT in a while, and instantly reminded us of 2020’s ‘Wishlist.’
The final original track is ‘SSS (Sending Secret Signals),’ which is a pretty good tongue twister. Written by HYDE, this song is rich with the rock-pop energy everybody loves to see from TXT. The pre-chorus breakdown stole our breath the first time we heard it, not to mention Yeonjun’s spoken lines. HYDE is a music icon in Japan, having been active in the industry since 1988. As TXT’s global and Japanese fandoms continue to grow, we are so happy to see them getting the opportunities to work with such storied artists!
Re-Releases
Additionally, we were treated to Japanese versions of some of our other favorite TXT singles, ‘Beautiful Strangers,’ and ‘Deja Vu,’ as well as re-releases of ‘Step by Step,’ ‘Rise,’ and CHIKAI’s ‘We’ll Never Change’ and ‘Kitto Zutto.’ Not to mention that we, of course, had to be gifted with a Japanese version of our beloved ‘Song of the Stars!’
With the Starkissed release, we’ve got to indulge in several brand new songs, renew our love for some familiar ones, and enjoy plenty of TXT content on Japanese music and variety shows! Considering The Star Chapter: TOGETHER still feels like it came out yesterday (how has it been three months already?!), MOAs really do feel like the luckiest fandom.
What’s your favorite track from TXT’s Starkissed? What have you enjoyed about this comeback? Let us know on Twitter @TheHoneyPOP! Or, if you’d rather, you can also find us on Facebook and Instagram!
Cottage wh*res and coven queens, gather round. 1500s sirens with bleeding nipples and thrashing tails couldn’t out-sing Florence & The Machine when she’s in her mythic bag. And honestly? She’s been haunting (and treating us with) folklore since forever, so a Halloween album drop was never going to be a trick. Everybody Scream (produced by Florence Welch, Aaron Dessner, Mark Bowen & James Fordis) is what happens when gothic cathedral choirs get drunk on moonlight and sea salt. It’s got all the eerie elegance we crave—windchimes that tinkle not by breeze but by the ghost in the rafters on ‘Drink Deep,’ banshee wails curling through ‘You Can Have It All,’ and titles that flaunt their witchiness on lace sleeves, like ‘Witch Dance’ and ‘Sympathy Magic.’
To celebrate this deliciously deadly dawn, we conjured five crystal grids—one for each of our top tracks. Think moon-charged quartz, screaming carnelian, and obsidian that’s seen things. Because if Florence just opened a portal, you know we’re stepping through—in heels, of course.
🩸’Witch Dance’
Sounding like a possession in motion from the first breath, ‘Witch Dance’ channels the Irish grief ritual of keening—a loud, high-pitched wail for the dead—to express not just sorrow, but its collective release. The sound appears first in the intro, haunting the air, then sinks into the production like a ghost remembering its body. Yet beneath the communal mourning lies something achingly personal: a metaphorical coitus with death, referencing Florence’s near-death experience following an ectopic pregnancy two years ago. It all culminates in one of the record’s most gutting lines: “there’s nobody more monstrous than me.”
Ritual Grid for ‘Witch Dance:’ This grid hums where grief and ecstasy blur—light a single candle and let the flame waver with your breath.
Begin with Garnet at the base, the life-force ignition stone that grounds passion into the body and keeps your spirit tethered when it wants to drift.
Place Obsidian at the left point, a torch in the dark—it transforms pain into power, fear into fire.
End with Moonstone at the right point, the crystal of divine surrender, helping you release what must die so something softer can rise.
Sway with it. Let your pulse keep time with the keening. This isn’t mourning—it’s resurrection in motion.
🌊 ‘Kraken’
A ‘Cassandra’ lyric parallel? Yup, ‘Kraken’ has it. Where ‘Cassandra’—based on the Trojan princess cursed by Apollo so her prophecies would never be believed—asks, “Well, can you see me? I cannot see you,” ‘Kraken’ replies, “Well, do you see me now?” Both are metaphors for how the industry treats women as disposable, never granted the same footing as their male peers, only for her now to rise, colossal and undeniable, above what they once imagined. Its production is gorgeous: siren backing vocals, floorboards that creak like ship decks, the crackle of storm wind, and clapping chants that sound like beer-soaked sailors hailing their queen.
Ritual Grid for ‘Kraken’: This one’s for when you’re done shrinking for anyone.
Start with Aquamarine as the base—the ocean’s own crystal, a calm current through emotional turbulence.
Place Labradorite at the left point for transformation’s shimmer—it’s the flash right before you break the surface.
Finish with Chrysocolla on the right point, the stone of truth and song, to reclaim your voice and let it echo like waves against steel.
Breathe like the tide: in power, out release. You’ve always been the storm they whispered about.
🥀 ‘Buckle’
Even when thousands of adoring roses get thrown on stage, it’s the haunting, withered black one that catches your eye—the one that reminds you what it feels like when your muse takes you for granted. ‘Buckle,’ co-written by Mitski, is an ode to that lonely ache of being an option even when, in Florence’s case, the entire world treats her like a star. With its hushed, stripped-back guitar melody, it’s the moment the curtains fall away and you’re not watching the bewitching siren anymore—you’re watching the woman underneath.
Ritual Grid for ‘Buckle’: Lay your crystals under dim candlelight—no spotlight here, just soft flicker.
Rhodonite sits at the heart center: its rose-pink glow streaked with black veins, a spell for love after chaos.
Place a Smoky Quartz at the left point to ground your grief and dissolve any attachments that still hum with old pain.
End with Rose Quartz at the crown or center of your palm, its light-pink aura whispering, you are worthy of softness, even when the music stops.
Breathe deep. Let the melody hum through your bones. This is how you heal when even the applause feels lonely.
🕯️ ‘The Old Religion’
Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Florence & The Machine fans, eat your heart out. When talking to Radio X, Florence said that while writing ‘The Old Religion’ with Aaron Dessner, she was trying to craft something that belonged in those worlds. A few decades may have passed since Buffy’s slay-age, and our vampires might now come with daylight rings and leather jackets (looking at you, Damon Salvatore), but this track shows us exactly what those shadowy realms would sound like, infused with Florence’s haunted brilliance.
Beyond its vampiric glamour, ‘The Old Religion’ also confronts addiction—its harrowing guitar-piano pairing layered with trembling drums and the biting line, “And it’s your troubled hero back for season six.” The lyric mirrors both Florence’s own cyclical rebirth in her sixth album and Buffy’s literal resurrections throughout the series: her leaps through portals, her returns from death, her endless struggle to find light in the dark.
Ritual Grid for ‘The Old Religion’: This grid hums best under candlelight—a flicker for every life you’ve survived.
Start with Pyrite at the base: a golden shield of unshakable confidence, your armor when the shadows flirt too close.
Anchor Black Tourmaline at the left point to keep you grounded through energy surges—the kind that make your pulse feel supernatural.
End with Carnelian on the right point for raw instinct, sacred rage, and the courage to release what no longer feeds you.
Let the music rumble through your ribs like a heartbeat you’ve heard in a hundred lifetimes. You’ve slain your monsters before—this time, you dance with them.
🌙 ‘And Love’
Our gorgeous outro—and perhaps a subconscious echo of ‘My Love’ from Dance Fever—’And Love’ feels like the wish the album itself has been building toward. Amid its messy, scream-worthy sisters, Florence describes this track with Zane Lowe on Apple Music as the quiet incantation that wants to come true. There’s this stunning duality: Florence describes love as a kind of deep hibernation in the second verse, then transforms it into a mantra by the chorus, repeating “peace is coming” like she’s manifesting serenity by living in the end. Between the glimmering chimes reclaiming their spotlight and Florence’s celestial vocals, it’s a lullaby that feels too brief for the kind of calm it casts.
Ritual Grid for ‘And Love’: Set this grid somewhere gentle—on your nightstand, altar, or near your heart as you drift toward dreams.
Begin with Selenite at the base, a beam of divine clarity that purifies and allows light to flow through the cracks you once called flaws.
Anchor Green Aventurine to the left point for steady heart healing and the courage to open again.
Close with Lepidolite, lightly infused with lavender if you can, on the right point to soothe anxiety and whisper peace through your aura.
Take a breath, slow and sure. Let the words “peace is coming” echo softly within you until they no longer sound like hope—only truth.
Which crystal grid are you stuffing into your bra? You know Florence would approve. Or maybe you’ve got your tarot deck spread across the floor, asking if you’re “gonna be in pit” for her newly announced North American tour—featuring Rachel Chinouriri, SOFIA ISELLA, CMAT, and Mannequin Pussy joining the coven for select dates.
Either way, manifest a blessing from us by tweeting your own crystal grid inspired by one of the other songs @thehoneypop. Then follow our Facebook and Instagram for more of the Halloween magic we dropped all October long.
