An Add-Shot of Pop: Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso”

Breathy and a bit bratty, in the best possible way, Sabrina Carpenter’s breakout hit, “Espresso” is easily a song-of-the-summer contender. As the track awakens, it’s cool and quiet, just the sound of shimmery synth keys, handclaps, and a deep bass line in the background can be heard. But it’s quick to rise and shine into a caffeinated eight-line chorus (repeated four times in less than three minutes) that proudly boasts the effect one can have on a partner, specifically the prowess of delivering a shot of love so strong, it’s enough to instill a bout of insomnia (“Say you can’t sleep, baby, I know/That’s that me, espresso”).

And while this hook and most of the lyrical content, for that matter, are far from grammatically correct (“Walked in and dream came trued it for ya”; “One touch and I brand newed it for ya”), certain liberties are allowed when crafting a smart, sugary pop song, the kind of sonic addiction that gets into a listener’s veins and brain, and won’t let go. Is it that sweet? I know so.

Dancing With Myself: Aquaria Heads Out Alone in The Knocks’ Video for “Slow Song”

The electronic-music duo, The Knocks, consisting of Ben “B-Roc” Ruttner and James “JPatt” Patterson, released the sound of summer, in spring 2022. “Slow Song,” featuring Martina “Dragonette” Sorbara on vocals, is shimmery, “bassy” synthpop with a melody line in the chorus that’s so sunny it ironically brings the chills (the good kind).

If the song itself isn’t shimmery enough, the Austin Peters-directed music video delivers the (lip) glossy glam, thanks to “Rupaul’s Drag Race” season 10 winner, Aquaria. Stuck in a dead-end job in the dead of night, Aquaria’s character closes up shop at the farmacia, and retreats to a nearly deserted dancehall to spiritually recharge, with music and movement the metaphorical sources of energy.

After sitting solo at a table, the stunning performer stands up, and sashays out to the dance floor, for what could be considered a Flashdance-finale moment.*

During the song’s bridge, the video cuts to footage of a strobe-light-bathed Aquaria suddenly surrounded by other dancing patrons. It seems unlikely the empty club had an influx of nightclubbers, leading to the theory that this could all be in Aquaria’s head, perhaps a dream of life before COVID closed the clubs, before socializing was replaced by social distancing. The video then quickly cuts to Aquaria adamantly exiting the dancehall, a few patrons can be seen off to the sides, but it becomes more about Aquaria’s ownership of a night out alone, reminding us that sometimes you just have to break free, even if it’s—especially nowadays—by yourself.

*Flashdance, directed by Adrian Lyne. Paramount Pictures, 1983.