ROZES came to the forefront of the pop world as the vocalist and writer behind The Chainsmokers’ “Roses,” the triple platinum smash that stormed the Billboard charts and ushered in an era of EDM-inflected pop[…]
Author: Shane Dutta
In 2014, Shane was able to get to the first row of a Lorde concert by waiting for ten hours in front of the venue. During the performance he held up a sign that read "Today is my birthday..." in the same font as her first album cover, threw a 17 page analysis of her album onto the stage, and bowed during "Royals." The term paper was left on the stage, neatly tied in a red ribbon. Lorde fled Washington, D.C. without giving an encore. He has been writing feverishly ever since.
Meet Emily Warren: The Unsigned Pop Star Breaking All of the Rules
Gliding down the low-lit Forest Hills Stadium stage in a black dress and flower-dappled kimono, Emily Warren emerges from the fog-shrouded shadows for the final show of The Chainsmokers’ Memories Do Not Open tour. Drew[…]
Review: Lady Gaga’s “The Cure” is a Return to Form
For Lady Gaga—pop provocateur, jazz aficionado, and country crooner—releasing music has never been the sole focus of a career. In fact, the nexus of paraphernalia surrounding Lady Gaga’s work has, over the past few years,[…]
Review: Gryffin and Sigrid Strike Pop Gold with “Don’t Kill My Vibe” Remix
Scandinavian popstar Sigrid is here to deliver a simple message: back off. She’s tired of both “you” and her ex, and if “Don’t Kill My Vibe” is any indication, she won’t need to depend on[…]
Review: Jessie Reyez’s “Shutter Island” is a Plathian Masterpiece
If Sylvia Plath turned her addled poetry into hip-pop music, she’d probably make something similar to Jessie Reyez’s “Shutter Island.” Within Reyez’s world, we find many of the same tropes: pain and suffering masked as[…]
Review: Harry Styles’ Meteoric “Sign of the Times”
Allow Harry Styles to watch the world burn. Or at least, revel in the minutiae of that possibility—an inescapable freeze-frame of ricocheted bullets, a gentle chin tilt towards the smog-filled sky (“things are pretty good[…]
Music Monday: Kendrick Returns, New Artists Pop
With new albums from Kendrick Lamar and The Chainsmokers on the horizon, and offerings from Blink-182, Calvin Harris, Cheat Codes, and Logic, there were plenty of noteworthy songs out this past week from old artists[…]
Calculated Chaos: Deconstructing Lorde’s “Green Light”
In her “Royals” video released in spring of 2013, Lorde sat perched in a white room, brows arched with her body leaning in as if to tell us a secret. With a faux gold necklace[…]
DEAL Best of 2016 – Editor’s Picks
Oh, 2016. You started out with so much promise. Adele had returned from a five year album hiatus, Justin Bieber was cool again, Beyonce started hinting at a potential surprise album drop, and American[…]
Music Monday: British Invasion, Part 2
As 2016 closed out with a perfectly concocted storm of strange happenings, several artists released new tunes that have stood out from the pack. 2017 is set to start with some tunes by superstars both new[…]
EXCLUSIVE: Scott Harris Sheds Light on Hitmaking with Shawn Mendes, Freestyling in Strange Places
For a songwriter who has masterfully overtaken the pop soundscape of 2016, Scott Harris is dressed decidedly casual—a pink t-shirt, a snapback, jeans, sunglasses—blending in to the unassuming vibe of the cash-only café in Brooklyn[…]
Dear Lady Gaga, I Know Where You’re Going
I moved to New York two months ago in pursuit of a new beginning. I had Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta on my mind when I made my move—the singer songwriter from New York City who[…]
Music Monday: Does Kylie Jenner Secretly Have a Hit?
This week, Lady Gaga, Little Mix, and a band possibly fronted by Kylie Jenner proved themselves capable of releasing some serious jams. Check out the very best music of the week below, and be sure to[…]
Music Monday: Calvin Harris Hits the Charts Alone
This week featured an eclectic mix of good music from both new and old artists alike. A few songs stand a big chance of breaking through this week, including a solo Calvin Harris hit and[…]
Music Monday: Sia Releases a Classic and a New Vocal Powerhouse Debuts
The past few weeks have brought exciting releases from some of the biggest names in music, alongside artists who are about to break through the mainstream music scene. Check out the five best tracks below,[…]
Music Monday: DJ Snake Solidifies Bieber’s Hit-Streak
Over the past two weeks, the summer jams have slowed down, but there have been plenty of debuts by new artists vying for chart success. Check out all the good stuff below on this week’s[…]
Stephen Muses on Desert-Dwelling, the Martyrdom of “Crossfire,” and Experimenting on His Second Album
For an artist who created his first album from “a lot of darkness,” Stephen is feeling relatively upbeat. He’s staying at an Airbnb in the legendary Joshua Tree Park this summer—the desert that once served[…]
Music Monday: The Chainsmokers Team with Halsey for Another Hit
Over the past two weeks, several high profile artists have released major collaborations, and newer artists from all over the world have added fresh sounds to both the airwaves and top playlists. Check out the[…]
Music Monday: Britney Spears Leads as Female Pop Stars Shatter Expectations
This week, pop icons Britney Spears and Katy Perry released new music to much internet clamor, and several new artists pushed the bounds of mainstream acceptability. In this week’s Music Monday post, we pull out[…]
Music Monday: Anne-Marie’s “Alarm” is Electrifying
In this week’s Music Monday post, we take a look at the best three songs from the last week. Shawn Mendes, Phoebe Ryan, Mary Lambert, Steve Aoki, and more of your favorite artists released music[…]
EXCLUSIVE: Emily Warren Talks Writing with The Chainsmokers, the Voicemail That Spurred a Viral Hit, and Making Honest Pop Music
Emily Warren is both an incredibly successful pop songwriter and a breaking new artist. Her latest co-write, “Don’t Let Me Down” by The Chainsmokers, is performing on par with hits by Drake and Justin Timberlake[…]
Music Monday: Australian Singers Reign and the Suicide Squad Nails It Again
Last week saw exciting releases by artists both new (Joel Adams, Becky Hill) and old (Lil Wayne, Troye Sivan, Alessia Cara) that you’ll want to check out. Take a look at the best songs of the[…]
Music Monday: Twenty One Pilots’ Creepy New Single Is a Hit
Happy Music Monday! Mainstays Twenty One Pilots, Bastille, Tiësto, and Hozier released new tunes this week, but most of the weeks’ standouts were actually from newer artists who are just making their stake in the[…]
The Christina Grimmie Cover That Could Help Us Heal
On Friday night, Voice alum and Youtube superstar, Christina Grimmie was murdered at her own concert in Plaza Live in Orlando, Florida at the age of 22. Sunday morning, in the midst of LGBT pride[…]
Music Monday: Shawn Mendes Makes a Strong Case for Stardom and Two Producers Stand Out
Happy Music Monday! Last week featured new music by Mike Will Made It, Nick Jonas, Cash Cash, Mumford & Sons, and Elle King along with songs from some of your pop favorites and masterful producers.[…]
The 8 Artists You Need to Know in 2016
Some musical artists can catch your attention immediately. There’s something there—the voice, the writing, and/or the production—that speaks to you on a deeper level. There are hundreds of musical artists that put out new music every[…]
Ariana Grande Drops Her “Focus” for “Dangerous Woman”
Ariana Grande took the charts by storm last Friday when she released her third full-length album, “Dangerous Woman.” The dark, seductive LP hit the number one spot on iTunes in 67 countries and is in[…]
“Wherever I Go” I Find Magic: 5 Platinum Hits Written By One Republic Frontman, Ryan Tedder
“Wherever I Go” by One Republic was released last Friday and is Ryan Tedder’s latest contribution to pop music. Clocking in at just under 3 minutes, the song outlines a search for love, featuring[…]
Rihanna’s Go-to Collaborator is About to be Your Next Favorite Artist
Twenty-year old artist and songwriter Bibi Bourelly released her first single, “Riot,” on Soundcloud in spring of 2015. Featuring lyrics such as “You gon’ see the fire in my eyes… I’m fighting for my life,” “Riot” served as[…]
Music Monday: Justin Timberlake Returns with a Smash and Two Newcomers Make Their Debuts
Happy Music Monday! Last week saw new releases from your favorite artists like Ariana Grande, Mike Posner, Fifth Harmony, Alicia Keys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Radiohead, and Meghan Trainor. Let’s take a look at the[…]
Songwriting Signatures: 3 Hidden Voices in Your Favorite Tracks
Sia (pictured) brought more light to the secretive nature of pop songwriting. Professional songwriters often remain shrouded in mystery. We always see the singer of a hit pop song or album—on the cover, on stage performing it,[…]
Margaret’s “Cool Me Down” is on Fire
If the name “Margaret” conjures up an image of an old lady who lives with two cats and spends her days knitting, be prepared to be shocked and thoroughly entertained. Polish singer-songwriter Margaret has[…]
“I Want You” Will Be Marian Hill’s Breakout Hit
If you’re an indie music junkie or avid music blog reader, you may be familiar with the electronic duo “Marian Hill” for their jazzy vocals and sublime production. The band released an EP called “Sway” in late[…]
The Killers Wrote with Beethoven
It wasn’t until one of my last college parties, 11 years after the song was originally released, that I heard it clearly for the first time. I leaned against the patio door with a[…]
The Grammys Interrupted Amy Wadge and Nobody Cared
We need to treat professional songwriters with the respect they deserve. On Monday night, Ed Sheeran and Amy Wadge walked up to the Staples Center stage to accept a Grammy for the “Song of the[…]
Why You Love “Roses” by The Chainsmokers
Shout-out to Justin Bieber. If you’re anything like me, you may have heard “Roses” by the Chainsmokers some time in the past couple of months and wondered how on earth the duo that brought us[…]
Hello
Hello. It’s me.* Welcome to DEAL Music Blog! DEAL, or “Drop Everything and Listen,” puts a unique spin on new and upcoming hit music and artists. At DEAL, we take a look at current hits, upcoming[…]