Le Journal

Recommended tracks: “bad enough,” “angel wings,” “complexity” Artists you may like: Charlotte Lawrence, Isabel LaRosa, Sadie Jean Madison Beer has released her new album locket and it arrives as her most personal and confessional work yet. On her third studio album, Beer steps boldly into the messy yet beautiful contradictions of the post breakup psyche — equal parts vulnerable and empowered. The album showcases Madison as she matures beyond pop singles and now digs deeper into emotional nuance while still embracing the pop landscape she thrives in. From the gentle, atmospheric opener “locket theme” to the tender closer “nothing at all,” the album feels like a diary that is locked tight, but offered freely. “yes baby” and her Grammy-nominated song “make you mine” helped to set the tone for the album with dance-ready production and throbbing pop energy, nodding to Beer’s comfort in the mainstream sphere. But it’s in the mid-tempo and ballad-leaning moments where locket truly sparkles. Tracks like “bad enough” and “you’re still everything” peel back layers of heartbreak and self-reflection, revealing a songwriter who is unafraid of complexity. Madison released the official music video for “bad enough” alongside the release of the album. The centerpiece, “bittersweet,” may be the album’s emotional anchor: a shimmering exploration of conflicting feelings that share an equal amount of sadness and hope. Her vocals soar over lush electronic flourishes and capture the feelings of simultaneously letting go and holding on — a theme that resonates throughout the record. Beyond its emotional centerpiece, locket continues to reveal its depth through quieter, understated moments. All 11 tracks on the record trade a radio-ready punch for intimacy, capturing the lingering ache and self-questioning that can follow heartbreak. The album as a whole feels cohesive and intentional, threaded together by themes of memory, longing and emotional growth. Each track functions like a small keepsake: personal on its own, but more meaningful as a whole. Beer’s songwriting feels more confident and emotionally transparent than ever, suggesting an artist fully in charge of her narrative. Ultimately, locket stands as Madison Beer’s most emotionally resonant project to date. It’s an album that rewards patience and close listening, offering moments of softness, strength and self-realization in equal measure. By embracing vulnerability without sacrificing pop sensibility, Beer delivers a record that feels deeply personal and widely relatable; a carefully held collection of memories that listeners are invited to keep close long after the final track fades. See Madison Beer on tour in 2026 (tickets here): 5.11 – Krakow, Poland @ TAURON Arena +* 5.13 – Vienna, Austria @ Marx Halle +* 5.14 – Munich, Germany @ Zenith +* 5.15 – Düsseldorf, Germany @ Mitsubishi Electric Halle +* 5.17 – Hamburg, Germany @ Sporthalle +* 5.19 – Berlin, Germany @ Max-Schmeling-Halle +* 5.21 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Ziggo Dome +* 5.22 – Paris, France @ Adidas Arena +* 5.24 – Madrid, Spain @ Palacio Vistalegre +* 5.26 – Barcelona, Spain @ Sant Jordi Club +* 5.28 – Antwerp, Belgium @ Lotto Arena +* 5.30 – London, UK @ The O2 +* 5.31 – Manchester, UK @ Co-op Live +* 6.8 – Austin, TX @ Moody Center +^ 6.9 – Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory +^ 6.13 – Las Vegas, NV @ Fontainebleau Las Vegas +^ 6.15 – Vancouver, BC @ Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre +^ 6.16 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre +^ 6.20 – Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre +^ 6.21 – San Diego, CA @ Gallagher Square at Petco Park +^ 6.23 – San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium +^ 6.24 – Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum +^ 6.29 – Chicago, IL @ Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom +^ 7.1 – Atlanta, GA @ Coca-Cola Roxy +^ 7.2 – Hollywood, FL @ Hard Rock Live +^ 7.5 – Raleigh, NC @ Red Hat Amphitheater +^ 7.6 – Washington, DC @ The Anthem +^ 7.7 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Met Philadelphia +^ 7.9 – Detroit, MI @ Fox…

For the yearners going into 2026, your new favorite R&B artist has arrived and is delivering music that cuts straight to the soul. R&B sensation, Phil., has released his newest single “stay with me.” Also known as Phillip Johnson Richardson, this artist is not only a phenomenal singer-songwriter, but he also brings his talents to the stages of Broadway as an actor. Phil. is best known for his roles as the Tin Man in The Wiz, Alexander Hamilton in Hamilton, and Knuck in Hell’s Kitchen with co-star Alicia Keys. Beginning his musical journey in 2016 and graduating college with a degree in Musical Theatre in 2018, he has accumulated and brought a youthful soulfulness back into traditional hip-hop, alternative, and R&B scenes with his creativity. Filling his music with emotional lyrics and vocals that feel both refreshing and familiar, he delves into themes of personal experiences and expression. This new song is no exception with lyrics like: “You hold my hand and told me what I’m going through’s okay / told you I love you and I said it to your face / Know I’m scared (but don’t be scared of me) / I’ll be there / All my life its always been easy for me to run away”. If you’re looking for new music in your playlist, or another artist to hyper-fixate on, this guy right here is a perfect start! Keep up with Phil.: Instagram // Spotify // TikTok // X // Youtube // Website

Rolling in from the UK, singer-songwriter Tally Spear has released her newest single, “Upside Down.” Drawing inspiration from artists such as Avril Lavigne, this alt-pop/rock princess brings a fiery energy to each stage she steps upon with songs that retain relatable themes to her listeners. Spear’s music explores themes of social commentary and personal conflicts, which many can relate to in their own sense — her newest single being no exception. “Upside Down” tells a story for those who tend to overthink life. In an Instagram post, the artist mentions that the inspiration for “Upside Down” came from the feeling of grief, feeling as if you’re “stuck in the upside down”: “Don’t know where to go / and there’s no signs / I tread so carefully / overthink everything / but still nothing ever turns out how I want / And now I can’t believe / this new reality / Guess I thought I knew the way but now I’m lost/ in the upside down.” The release of “Upside Down” marks the fifth song on Spear’s second studio EP titled Bittersweet, coming out April 10. The single joins the ranks of other popular songs “How Are You”, “Where Do I Go From Here?”, “August 31st“, and “Bittersweet.” Much more is to be anticipated from this rockstar, but in the meantime, you can catch Spear live; she plays January 22 in London at the Signature Brew Haggerston, and on May 15 in Glasgow at Glasgow Stereo. Keep up with Tally Spear: Instagram // TikTok // Spotify // Facebook // Youtube // X

Mike Posner / pc: Facebook Nearly a decade after “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” became an unavoidable global hit, Mike Posner is reclaiming the song that once defined him and is rewriting its meaning in the process. Originally released in 2015, the track was an honest snapshot of fame’s emptiness, substance use, and the hollow chase for validation. While Posner wrote it from a deeply personal place, it was the Seeb remix that propelled the song into festival culture, transforming into a euphoric dance anthem. Suddenly, a song about disillusionment was soundtracking sunsets, club nights, and a generation’s coming-of-age. But in 2025, Posner is standing on the other side of that story.. 10 years sober, 12 years older, and without his friend Avicii. Over the weekend, he shared a video online performing an updated version of “I Took a Pill in Ibiza,” adding new lyrics that reflect sobriety, loss, faith, and the life he’s actively choosing now. The melody remains familiar, but the lyrics shift the song’s meaning entirely. In the clip, Posner sings: i went back to Ibiza and got a hotel by shore and i’m 12 years older and im 10 years sober but avicii isn’t here no more Posner continues by reflecting on leaving behind the lifestyle that once consumed him: i moved outta LA im tryna start a little family cuz all the things i was chasing, and the things i was taking had me headed towards tragedy Comments flooded in, many calling the Avicii lyric devastatingly beautiful, others urging Posner to officially record and release the updated version. One fan wrote, “Somewhere between the two versions of this song, we grew up.” Another sharing “Life comes full circle, and this song is proof.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mike Posner (@mikeposner) Posner has never shied away from the real story behind “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” and its meaning. He’s spoken openly about writing the song after taking a pill at an Ibiza show in part to impress Avicii. In the years following the song’s success, Posner stepped back from the spotlight, committed to sobriety, and pursued a slower, more grounded life. In 2019, he even walked across America, raising money for charity and further redefining what success looked like to him. Now, with this rewritten version, Posner is closing a chapter to who he was and proof that songs, just like people, can evolve.