Le Journal

Photo courtesy of @normandieofficial on Instagram Swedish metalcore band Normandie has continued to keep fans on their toes ever since the release of “Sellout” and the announcement of their upcoming EP, SIDE EFFECTS PT. 1, out April 17. Now, they’ve released “Cyanide,” the second single from the EP. “Cyanide” starts off slow with a melancholy piano melody before exploding into heavy guitars. Lead vocalist Philip Strand’s slightly distorted vocals come in with “All of my thoughts are turning on me again,” immediately setting the tone. The first verse pulls the listener into the darkness the band is experiencing due to a toxic person, while the pre-chorus brings us back to the haunting piano we heard at the start, mimicking a slow fall into blackness. The chorus erupts with the strong declaration “falling in love / is going insane”, further emphasizing the toxicity of the relationship. But still, the narrator can’t seem to step away from it, stating he’d rather die. The second verse dips into the “heavy Normandie” that fans were so excited to hear the return of on “Sellout” as Strand serves up some harsh vocals and describes “running from the feelings” and letting “the devil in.” The bridge brings a full-on breakdown, which works well in contrast to the song’s ending: after the final chorus, we hear “everything is going black” before the music abruptly chokes off and we descend again into the same melancholy piano. After all we’ve heard, this melody paired with some eerie electronic beats feels like a final fall, with dark water consuming us until everything goes dark. The cinematic, moody music video brings the song to life as we see the band performing in the rain and on a cloudy beach, with a striking shot of Strand screaming underwater in the intro. The video features cool tones throughout, adding to the atmosphere Normandie has built with “Cyanide”. Leading up to the release of “Cyanide”, the newly independent band had been “boosting the algorithm” by posting daily covers of popular songs as reels on their Instagram. This has certainly helped to hype up fans, and their dedication to both their craft and their fans is clear. We can’t wait to see what’s next from Normandie. Follow Normandie: Instagram // Website // 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.