After weeks of speculations, cryptic stories, crazy hypotheses, "Redlight," the new single from Swedish House Mafia, has finally dropped. Alesso played the track in full during his performance at Echostage in Washington DC last weekend. The story of "Redlight" started some months ago, under the name of Desembra’s Juicy. Desembra, a.k.a. Carl Nordstrom, is a long-time trio’s friend and collaborator for those who don't know. He worked basically on every new SHM’s such as "Lifetime" and "Moth To A Flame." In December of last year, Axwell played a brand new ID during his solo set in Saudi Arabia. The track turns out to be part of the Desembra – ID SHOWCASE VOL 2 mix on Desembra’s Soundcloud. The mix was rapidly deleted from Soundcloud after that. Desembra has also recently collaborated with Enzo Ingrosso, Sebastian’s younger brother, on a new project called "Runway." This song will be featured on their upcoming new album "Paradise Again," which is due in the spring of this year. Another member of the trio, Steve Angello, said about this album: “We worked with incredibly talented artists on this album. We can't wait to unveil this to the public. Unfortunately, I cannot reveal any names to you now, but there is a huge list. We made 50 pieces to keep 14 or maybe more." The Scandinavian group will then go on tour and will notably stop in Paris at the Accor Arena on October 10.

The funk-pop group fronted by Joe Jonas has reunited for new music and is primed to return with a new single, "Dancing Feet," with Norwegian DJ Kygo. Jonas, 32, announced the group's return on Instagram Monday, showing off a new logo and teasing the new track, of which he'd previously posted a snippet on TikTok. Kygo also shared photos taken during rehearsals for the song's music video that featured returning members Jonas, drummer Jack Lawless and guitarist JinJoo Lee. "It's really happy. It's that feeling of not really giving an f— and enjoying life to the fullest," Jonas told Rolling Stone of the new single. "I think what DNCE always did so well was bring joy to people, which is what I wanted to do with this new batch of music. Obviously, it's still very tricky times, but it reminds us all of being able to go out there and dance and enjoy life." The musician first formed the group in 2015 while on a Jonas Brothers break, and they saw success with hits like "Cake by the Ocean" and "Toothbrush." When the Jonas Brothers reunited in 2019, DNCE took a backseat as Jonas struggled to divide his attention. "In the past with the Jonas Brothers, I used to carry a lot of trauma when new projects would present themselves because you could only focus on one thing at a time," he said. Without the pressures of a timeline, his creativity could flow more quickly. Jonas said he was inspired to get things moving once more while filming the upcoming movie "Devotion" in Savannah, Georgia, early last year.

Monica Martin has teamed up with James Blake to rend the latter’s track "Go Easy, Kid." Initially released by the LA-based, Wisconsin-raised Martin back in September, "Go Easy, Kid" has been described by Blake as “my favourite song to come out in years.” The gorgeous and, at times, the heartbreaking song takes a look at Monica's rebellious spirit and self-sabotaging qualities but also how freeing it is to think about our insignificance in the scope of the world, with lyrics like "I commit myself to sabotage," "Pledge allegiance to some sanity" and the song's refrain, "Cause, after all, no one's in control. Go Easy, Kid; it's only rock & Roll." Last year, Monica was also featured on "Show Me" from James's latest album, "Friends That Break Your Heart," and performed with him at New York City's Radio City Music Hall and additional cities. Monica Martin is presently at work putting melodies to her "explorations in romantic f*ckery," with lowkey pop songs, blue note whispers, some golden-era Hollywood dramatics, and psychedelic flicker courtesy of a theremin. Look for much more from her in the coming months. Blake, meanwhile, recently teamed up with Labrinth for the track "Pick Me Up," which features on the soundtrack to the second season of the HBO show "Euphoria." In addition, Blake will tour in the UK and Europe in support of "Friends That Break Your Heart" in April and May.

Eighteen years since Tears for Fears was released, "Everybody Loves a Happy Ending" has been especially rough on Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith at times. Orzabal's wife died in 2017, forcing the duo to pull out of some live dates and work on their seventh album, "The Tipping Point," which began nearly ten years ago before a frustrated Smith temporarily left the group. There's even an eagerness in these ten songs, starting with the stripped-down and slow-building "No Small Thing," to reboot and reshape Tears for Fears as something both familiar and evolving. They are setting up a theme for an album that explores mental illness, moving on and mortality. The death of Orzabal's wife of 35 years certainly has a part here, but just as often, Orzabal and Smith take stock of their often fractious relationship. The music usually reflects knotty and dark subjects from folk-rock to art-rock to synth-pop. It's not exactly what you'd expect from Tears for Fears at times, though the title track and "End of Night," as well as a handful of other songs, dive head-first into the "Big Chair" era's new wave grandeur. But even these moments offer small reminders that "The Tipping Point" has larger aspirations in mind. Acoustic guitars and accordions blend into the synths and programmed percussion in this landscape, never making the easiest connection to the past, which is the point. Highlight "Break the Man" isn't too far removed from "Woman in Chains" – 30 years on, we still have a long way to go – but the path isn't exactly straightforward either. There are some tricky turns to navigate with the band before there's a comfortable resting point.

Florence Welch anoints herself royalty in Florence and the Machine’s new gender-challenging song “King.” The Florence Welch-led band began teasing new material earlier this week, prompting speculation that the follow-up album to June 2018’s "High As Hope" will arrive soon. “I am no mother, I am no bride … I am king,” Welch sings on the song, which is built on throbbing bass and sparse textures. She howls long and proud as an orchestra joins the coronation halfway through. Near the end of “King,” Welch reveals her motivations singing, “I was never as good as I always thought I was/But I knew how to dress it up.” “As an artist, I never actually thought about my gender that much,” Welch said in a statement. “I just got on with it. I was as good as the men, and I just went out there and matched them every time. But now, thinking about being a woman in my 30s and the future, I suddenly feel this tearing of my identity and my desires. That to be a performer, but also to want a family might not be as simple for me as it is for my male counterparts. I had modelled myself almost exclusively on male performers, and for the first time, I felt a wall come down between me and my idols as I have to make decisions they did not.” While the next Florence + The Machine album has still yet to be officially announced, "King" marks the band’s first new music release since 2021’s "Call Me Cruella," which featured in the Disney film "Cruella."

Four-time Grammy-nominated, multi-Platinum singer/songwriter Jewel announces “Freewheelin’ Woman,” her first new studio album in seven years, due out on April 15 via her own Words Matter Music. Along with the announcement, the Alaskan native also shared her brand-new single, “Dancing Slow,” featuring Train, who she’ll join on their recently announced North American summer 2022 tour. Kicking off June 8 in Mansfield, Massachusetts, the tour makes 35-plus stops, including New York, Nashville, Dallas and San Diego, before concluding Aug. 6 at the legendary Red Rocks venue in Colorado, Jewel’s home state. The show visits locally, with concerts Saturday, July 9, at the Darien Lake Amphitheater, and Sunday, July 10, at the Budweiser Stage in Toronto. In sharing the new single, Jewel said, " "Dancing Slow" is ultimately about the ebb and flow of life and cherishing those moments of certainty that are shared when you’re with a trusted companion. It feels like time slows down for a moment. I'm so glad Train was able to join me on this track, with Pat Monahan's sweet vocals adding another layer to the melody." “Freewheelin’ Woman” finds Jewel working with producer Butch Walker (Taylor Swift, Gavin DeGraw, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness), dreaming up a soulful and groove-heavy sound partly inspired by the classic R&B records made at Muscle Shoals. The new album "Freewheelin' Woman" serves as the follow-up to Jewel’s self-produced and critically praised 2015 album, “Picking Up the Pieces,”

We recently got a new Troye Sivan collaboration, “Trouble,” featuring Jay Som. Now, the Australian pop performer has quickly followed that up with another collaboration, “Wait,” featuring fellow Aussie Gordi. Both songs are originals Sivan recorded for the movie "Three Months" (streaming now on Paramount+), which he stars opposite Ellen Burstyn. This isn’t the first time Sivan and Gordi have joined forces — they first collaborated on the 2018 track “Postcard,” which appeared on the former’s Bloom album. Opening up about her latest work with Sivan, Gordi says: "I love collaborating with Troye. He has this unique way of speaking in images that we then try and translate into melody and lyrics. Our instincts with songwriting really seem to align, and after our work on “Postcard,” I was excited to have another chance to work together. He told me all about 3 Months and said he wanted to write an original song for it. As a proud member of the queer community, I felt a deep connection to the film. We wanted to write a song that was worthy of the story." Three Months marks Sivan’s first screen role for the year. Last November, he was announced as part of the cast for The Weeknd‘s forthcoming drama series "The Idol," though it remains unclear what his role will be. "Wait" and "Trouble" mark Sivan’s first new music this year. 2021 saw the singer release the single "Angel Baby" as well as a full version of "Could Cry Just Thinkin About You," an earlier rendition of which featured on his 2020 EP "In a Dream." He also collaborated with Tate McRae and DJ Regard on "You."

Nearly 20 years since the release of her debut album, “Let Go,” Avril Lavigne is going full-throttle back to her roots with her seventh studio album, “Love Sux,” and her timing couldn’t be more perfect. It’s no secret that throughout the past two years, pop-punk — the genre that melds angsty riffs, sticky pop melodies and distorted guitar chords pioneered by 1970s acts like the Ramones and Buzzcocks — has experienced a revival with artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Machine Gun Kelly and Willow. Her collaborators helped push the tempo. In addition to veteran producer John Feldmann (5 Seconds of Summer, All Time Low), Lavigne worked on the album with Travis Barker, the Blink-182 drummer and Svengali of the current pop-punk resurgence that has crossed over from alternative radio to top 40 over the past two years. Lavigne signed with Barker’s Elektra Music Group imprint DTA Records for "Love Sux" after a one-album deal with BMG for "Head Above Water" and brought in revival poster boy Machine Gun Kelly, his “My Ex’s Best Friend” collaborator Blackbear, Barker’s Blink bandmate Mark Hoppus and her boyfriend, Mod Sun, for the album. Throughout the record’s 12 tracks, Canadian singer Lavigne fuses the recognizable, angsty ethos from “Let Go” with more polished production. Blistering tracks like “Cannonball,” “Bois Lie,” an homage to “Sk8er Boi” and “Avalanche” are bursting with Lavigne’s striking runs, spunky one-liners and the rush that made listeners become fans of her work. It’s what makes “Love Sux” both nostalgic and of the moment.

NYC electro-pop artist Jake Lancer just released his debut single “Feel Your Love,” and the passion and energy found in this song couldn’t be more refreshing. The song will appear on his upcoming debut EP “Take Off!" written by Jake Lancer and Jack Hoffman, who also produced the track. The queer artist, a working therapist with a background in music at UMG, is now a breakout talent that’s sure to turn heads. In “Feel Your Love,” Jake confides, “I wrote, “Feel Your Love” in a time of loneliness, craving validation and intimacy, while also looking outward to fulfill my innate shame as a gay man. My debut single, “Feel Your Love,” is my Dance-pop fantasy, romanticizing intimacy and the illusion that is unfulfilled by the apps and “gay” hookup culture.” Featuring glimmering vocals over a feel-good anthemic chorus, the song oozes with ecstasy and annihilation, signature to defining dance floor hits. The longing and romance that radiates from this song instantly consume you, luring you in to let your troubles fade away and escape into a disco revival. Jake Lancer’s influences range from artists like Lady Gaga, Abba, David Bowie to Troye Sivan. Growing up closeted yet a part of the LGBTQIA community, Jake dreamed of creating pop music that not only inspired but could give a voice to anyone on their healing journey. Jake Lancer’s music is more than an expression of pop and dance, but a mechanism for healing, a love story, and a voice for those feeling both heartbreak and life’s greatest euphoria.

Following a challenging year, eager fans of Jamaican artiste Sevana, whose real name is Anna Blake, can now breathe a bit easier as the singer has returned from the shadows and has once again taken the mic into her own hands with the release of her new single, Brand New. The new song comes as the first in a string of pending releases for one of the island’s favourite sirens. The song was debuted on Monday (February 21) in a performance on the coveted COLORSxSTUDIOS stage, a German music performance platform that aims to introduce and showcase emerging artists. The sultry and soulful original produced by Kelsy Gonzalez of American R&B band Free Nationals is a reminder of Sevana’s range. Driven by Gonzalez’s delicate bassline and caressed by Sevana’s background vocals, listeners are covered in her silky vibrato and carried by the groove with sensitive ears sure to prickle, and belly-bottoms tremor at the singer’s subdued, but still intricate dalliance in the octaves. Fans have been eager to follow up on the organically successful single, Mango. Brand New enters airwaves at a significant time for the singer, just three weeks shy of Mango’s anniversary. Under Protoje's In.Digg.Nation Collective label, Sevana released her self-titled EP in 2016. She made her major-label debut in 2020 with "Be Somebody." Sevana performed to a virtual audience at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival in March 2021. Following a road accident in May, Sevana was charged with causing death by dangerous driving a month later.

Critically acclaimed artist Regina Spektor's eighth studio album "Home, before and after," is set for release June 24 on Warner Records. Spektor is unveiling the album's first single, "Becoming All Alone, in anticipation of the upcoming record." "Home. Before and after" is Regina Spektor's eighth studio album and most quintessentially "New York" in years. Recorded in upstate New York, produced by John Congleton and coproduced by Spektor, the album is Spektor at her most inspired, heralded by "Becoming All Alone," a surrealist ballad that swells with arrangements and comes alive in your head. During the summer of 2019, Spektor completed a successful five-night Broadway residency at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, marking her debut on the Great White Way. The Daily Beast called the run "both whimsical and thunderous," with Gothamist saying Spektor "delights on Broadway with a fun, zany show." Regina Spektor is synonymous with New York City. The Russian-Jewish-American singer, songwriter and pianist got her Sign on the Bronx Walk of Fame, as well as "Regina Spektor Day" (June 11, 2019) proclaimed by Mayor Bill DeBlasio. The Grammy Award nominee first saw commercial success with the RIAA Gold-certified LP Begin to Hope, which includes singles "On the Radio," "Better," "Samson," as well as "Fidelity," which climbed the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Spektor's fifth album, Far (2009), and sixth album, "What We Saw From the Cheap Seats" (2012), debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

Singer/songwriter and actress JADE has taken her time learning her craft and studying the business before jumping into it. The strategy is set to pay off like triple-cherry jackpots with her vibrant debut single, "Lucky Stars," dropping on the artist's own TS2 Records imprint. She hasn't figured out all the how's and why's of love, JADE sings about finally taking that plunge into the sweet unknown with a man worth betting on. Paradise Valley, Arizona Native to Perform During Halftime At The Los Angeles Lakers vs Phoenix Suns Game At The Footprint Center In Phoenix On Tuesday, April 5. Produced by Bobby Genius, "Lucky Stars" creeps up on the listener with a sexy guitar refrain followed by fittingly spacey synthesizer washes and a chattering beat. Vocally, JADE sings lead and her background, making for a clean, intimate delivery as she enunciates her whip-smart & wistful lyrical offering. The single plus an early edit of JADE's "Lucky Stars" video were privately premiered by an SRO focus group of industry professionals at legendary The Village Recorders in Westwood to a rousing response. While the single is being intentionally targeted to young females and males, its overall appeal, thanks to its catchy melody and mind-bending chorus, actually span all ages - demographically speaking 16 to 65. "Lucky Stars" is the inaugural single from JADE's April 22nd-slated debut EP, "Contact," which will reveal even more of this exciting new artist's gifts.

Pop/R&B artist Christian Lalama is back with his first new single in almost two years. A belated Valentine's Day gift to his fans, "Girlfriend." Interpolating Fabolous, P. Diddy & Jagged Edge's "Trade It All (Part 2)," originally found on the blockbuster 2002 soundtrack to Barbershop, the feel-good track is joined by an official music video. "I'm so excited for my fans to hear my new song, Girlfriend," says Christian. It's my first release in a while, and it showcases how my sound has grown over the past few years. I hope you love it!" "Girlfriend" marks a significant leap forward for Christian, affirming his signature gift for blending his mix of pop and R&B. Newly signed to LA-based music management company, The Shalizi Group (Marshmello, Alesso), the Ontario-based artist has worked tirelessly over the past year crafting his mature new sound, with additional releases on the horizon. Lalama has had an innate calling to perform for as long as he can remember. The quickest scroll through YouTube will turn up footage of a young Christian rocking behind a piano at just four years old. In 2018, he made his official Atlantic Records debut with his first original single, "Tic Toc," accompanied by an official music video now boasting almost 2.5M views via YouTube. A string of increasingly acclaimed singles followed, including "Gotta Be You," "Knocked Me Off My Feet," "FrFr" and "Miss Me," for which the video premiered exclusively via Billboard.

New Orleans-native R&B powerhouse Lucky Daye debuts his new single “NWA” ft. OTF Chicago rapper Lil Durk. To coincide with this, he also announces the release date for his highly anticipated upcoming album, Candydrip, scheduled to be released on March 10th via Keep Cool/RCA Records. The new track is produced by longtime collaborator D’Mile, “NWA” ft. Lil Durk blends Daye’s smooth vocals over a trap-infused, bossa nova-esque synth beat. The track follows the release of previous singles “Candy Drip” and “Over,” both met with critical acclaim upon release. Daye delivered an electrifying performance of “Over” on the BET Soul Train Awards last fall, where he was also nominated for Best Male R&B Artist. Lucky Daye will embark on a tour through North America this spring, kicking off March 18th in Portland, OR, which will hit major cities including Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago before culminating on April 25th at New York City’s Terminal 5. Daye is currently nominated for two 2022 GRAMMYs in the Best Traditional R&B Performance and Best Progressive R&B Album categories for his EP "Table For Two," released last Valentine’s Day (Feb 2021). The project features some of the industry’s most accomplished female artists, including a collaboration with recent-breakout star Yebba entitled “How Much Can A Heart Take.” The two delivered an emotionally-charged performance of the single on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!."

London-based alt-pop band KAWALA premiered a new song, “Hypnotized,” which is taken from their upcoming debut album “Better With You,” which is out on March 4, 2022. Built around a gentle acoustic riff and a snaking bassline, ‘Hypnotized’ feels like KAWALA at their absolute peak. The song builds slowly, drawing you in with its enthralling melodies and a stunning performance from both Jim and Daniel, before ending in a big festival-ready chorus set to come into its own this summer. Containing a spectrum of thoughts, feelings and observations, the band’s debut album, ‘Better With You,’ is driven by golden melodies, danceable afrobeat-inspired rhythms and immediate harmonies that create a genuinely encompassing atmosphere across its ten songs. The album follows a series of acclaimed EPs and live shows from the North London band over the last two years, which has seen them establish a community-focused fanbase. Fittingly, their debut album is a celebration of this communality, with a lyrical thread running through its songs charting the band’s growth as people and as artists. The record’s artwork helps reflect this, with the band having chosen to ask several individuals who have helped them along the way to paint or draw different panels that eventually formed the overall mosaic of the cover. The album marks the culmination of years of work that has seen the band grow from humble beggings to today's world-class act.

Canadian singer Tyler Shaw releases his highly anticipated viral rendition of GAYLE’s No. 1 hit “abcdefu.” “Love You Still” (abcdefu Romantic Version) is a romantic reimagining of the track and started as a TikTok duet in late January. It reacted instantly with its fans. That initial post now has over 16.1 million views, 2 million likes, and 330K creates, prompting Tyler to make a full-length version featuring a classic romantic Tyler spin on the angsty teen song. “After a tour in December, I’d been doing some covers and sharing original demos on TikTok and came across ‘abcdefu’ by GAYLE. I just kept singing the alphabet and slipped into this softer love song, and people started really connecting with my reimagined version. Things started to take off, and fans were asking for more,” said Tyler of the track’s creation. “I was inspired to write a full song and am really happy to be able to share this…finally!” The new track song comes after a very busy 2021 for Tyler, releasing two albums in four months. His third studio album, "Tyler Shaw," came out in 2021. Tyler released his first-holiday album, "A Tyler Shaw Christmas." Tyler Shaw released his hit song “Kiss Goodnight” in 2012, and the melodic track quickly hit platinum sales. In 2014, Tyler earned a JUNO Award nomination for Breakthrough Artist of the Year and released certified Platinum track “House of Cards” and Gold “Wicked,” both from his 2015.

The much-anticipated debut EP from George Alice (Georgia Mannion) "Growing Pains" has finally arrived. Alice will embark on a tour supporting the EP in May, culminating in an appearance at Splendour in the Grass. The 8-track EP contains Alice’s current single "Hold On" as well as previous singles "Mid Years," Teenager," "Stuck in a Bubble," and her triple j unearthed high winning track. "Circles." The album opens with "Band Aid" a song about ripping off the band-aid of a failed relationship. The song showcases Alice’s ability to hit the high notes and features a banging dance-inducing chorus, which neatly offsets the song’s sad subject material. Next up are the previously-released "Mid Years" and "Hold On." "Teenager" has Alice expressing all the angst that has been a characteristic theme of songs about the teenage years since the Shangri Las and others first sang about this period of life. Next up are "Nervous" and the single "Circles" which was co-written with Maribelle Anes. With an irresistible beat offset by Alice’s plaintiff rendering of the lyrics, it is not hard to see why this song has been streamed over 8 million times on Spotify. The EP closes with "Haunted" which starts off as a piano-led ballad but builds slowly to a crescendo of irresistible pop gorgeousness. George Alice with "Growing Pains" delivers on the promise that she has shown from the days that she was a busker in her home city of Adelaide. Her ability to draw on contemporary artists and fuse them together with music from a much earlier age is remarkable.

This year, Carlie Hanson wants to “blow the fuck up already.” Her debut album which documents the highs and lows of transitioning into adulthood and maybe her time. After 190 million streams and two EP releases, alt/pop singer Carlie Hanson has unleashed her debut album "Tough Boy" today. Paired with the 12-track album is a video for the focus track, "Girls In Line For The Bathroom." She will be performing the track on The Late Late Show With James Corden on February 23 and on The Kelly Clarkson Show on February 28. Inspired by the music of Mac DeMarco, Jean Dawson, Alanis Morrissette, Lil Peep, Nirvana, Tough Boy unfolds over 13 tracks, taking listeners on a journey that entwines Hanson's "pop bitch" goals with her sonic boundary-pushing ambition. Thematically, the album culls from Carlie's full, vibrant spectrum of feelings but with a confidence that seems new for this 21-year-old. Most recently, Carlie was featured on the cover of Alternative Press as "An Artist to Watch for 2022." She was also named Billboard's 21 Under 21 last year and had fans of artists like Taylor Swift and Demi Lovato. Her first EP, "JUNK," was released in 2019, while her sophomore EP, "DestroyDestroyDestroyDestroy," was released in October 2020. "Tough Boy" tracks "Gucci Knife (feat. MASN)," "Off My Neck," "Snot (feat. Deb Never)," and "f Your Labels" were all released in advance over the past year. She'll be performing at Winston House on February 24th to celebrate the album's release.

After witnessing the millions of homeless youth in America, singer Jewel was moved to ‘tears.’ She’s returned with her first song since 2015 and tells us why she was ‘inspired’ to write this hopeful message for the downtrodden. Before she became one of the biggest music icons of the ‘90s, Jewel was homeless, living in her car while trying to scrape by. Though she would find fame and success with 1995’s "Pieces Of You," she never forgot the time when she didn’t have a home to call her own. As one of the executive producers of "Lost In America," a documentary focused on the issue of homeless youth in America, Jewel was able to lend her perspective to the project. She also lent her voice to the soundtrack. In “No More Tears,” an original song was written for the documentary, Jewel delivers a powerful message of hope and resiliency to those trying to find the strength to make it through the night. Jewel was homeless for a year when she was eighteen. “I started living in my car because a boss withheld my paycheck when I refused his sexual advances,” she said in a statement. “When my car got stolen, things got more difficult from there. The issue of homeless youth is important, misunderstood, and overlooked. … t’s all of our jobs to make sure that no more youth is lost in America.” “No More Tears” is Jewel’s first song in four years. Fans last heard new music from her in 2015 with her eleventh studio album, "Picking Up the Pieces." The song was included collaborating with Dolly Parton, “My Father’s Daughter.” Fans won’t have to wait much longer for new music. “No More Tears” is the first release on her label imprint, Words Matter Media, and she’s signed a distribution deal with The Orchard (Sony.) In 2020. she marked the 25th anniversary of her debut studio album, "Pieces of You." with a deluxe edition. The album had sold 7.3 million copies in the U.S and was certified 12× Platinum for shipments of 12 million copies in the U.S, making it one of the best selling debut albums of all time

Released on October 7, 1997, Janet Jackson’s sixth studio album, "The Velvet Rope," caught a lot of people off guard with its frank exploration of sexuality, the complexity of human relationships, and the worrisome burden of emotional trauma. Though Janet Jackson’s solo recording career began in 1982 at A&M Records, where the label was initially keen to portray her as a cute, innocuous, girl-next-door figure, she grew frustrated at being a producer’s puppet and decided to reinvent herself. Adding edge and attitude, Jackson hooked up with ex-Time members, songwriters and producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis in 1986 and began making music that reflected her life. What resulted was the platinum album "Control," whose autobiographical theme about taking the initiative and being true to yourself instantly transformed Janet into a pop star whose success began to rival that of her more famous elder sibling, Michael. By the time "The Velvet Rope" came along in 1997, the girl from Gary, Indiana, had morphed into a confident young woman whose two follow-up albums to "Control" – 1989’s "Rhythm Nation 1814" and 1993’s "Janet," both co-produced by the singer with the dependable Jam & Lewis – made her the most famous woman in the world at that point. Conceived over two years, "The Velvet Rope’s" creation was undertaken by Jackson and her longstanding musical architects, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Jackson’s second husband, Rene Elizondo Jr., co-wrote alongside his wife on the project. Their marriage wouldn’t become public until their separation in 2000, but Elizondo Jr. inspired Jackson. After years of avoiding her far-ranging internal struggles―depression, an eating disorder, body dysmorphia―Jackson sought to expunge these demons lyrically on "The Velvet Rope." “You” is the most scathing of Jackson’s self-examinations. On the opposite side, “Special” nods to her self-care. With her intrinsic ruminations, she also takes on the global human condition. Scattered throughout the LP are songs touching on LGBTQ issues (“Free Xone”), domestic abuse (“What About”), mortality (“Together Again”) and other socially conscious subjects. Unlike the topical tracks of Janet Jackson’s "Rhythm Nation 1814" (1989) or "Janet." "The Velvet Rope’s" social justice arc doesn’t feel strong-armed, only pragmatic and relaxed. More intriguing was Jackson’s sexuality, a significant component of the record’s narrative. Lyrically, she traverses the shadowy side of desire on “My Need” and “I Get Lonely.” From this album onward, eroticism became the thematic catalyst Jackson worked on until the mostly conservative-leaning "Unbreakable" (2015). Musically, the lighter soul of Janet. that unnecessarily tended toward pop accessibility is exchanged for a bolder, blacker sonic on "The Velvet Rope," which favours deeper mining of hip-hop (“Got ‘Til It’s Gone,” “Go Deep”), house (“Together Again”) and a miscellany of other modish urban designs, some sampled, some original. Notably, there was a new ingredient at play here: neo-soul. This R&B sub-genre was to bring artistic relief to a black music scene soon to become rife with super producers and manufactured talent as the 1980s closed. Starting in 1991 with Omar, the sub-genre grew with efforts from Caron Wheeler, Meshell Ndegeocello, D’Angelo and Maxwell. This movement influenced the imaginations of black artists far and wide. Jackson is no exception, as neo-soul carried the Blaxploitation/freestyle merger of “Free Xone” and the bare-faced piano preciousness of “Every Time.” Neo-soul also touched Jackson’s visual aesthetic for "The Velvet Rope." Two of its partnering music videos directed by Mark Romanek (“Got ‘Til It’s Gone”) and Seb Janiak (“Together Again”) were celluloid encomiums to Afrocentrism. Quite the musical meal when served up on October 7, 1997, "The Velvet Rope" asked for patience while unmasking its treasures. The set’s singles―“Got ‘Til It’s Gone” (featuring Q-Tip), “Together Again,” “I Get Lonely,” “Go Deep,” “You,” and “Every Time”―were fantastic lures for what awaited listeners on "The Velvet Rope." Jackson’s sixth LP marked a new pinnacle for her, both critically and creatively. Since then, only 2004's "Damita Jo" has entered "The Velvet Rope’s" orbit as her secondary masterpiece. By granting temporary access to the “spiritual garden” of Janet Jackson on "The Velvet Rope," audiences can experience and celebrate the complexities of this woman.