Johanna Linnea Jakobsson’s new single, “Work,” is a tender whisper reverberating big truths. With “Work,” Johanna knows vulnerability can be both a strength and a soundtrack. The song explores that very familiar feeling of being stuck. But instead of dramatizing it, she wraps the emotion in something tender and true.

Curtailing the velvet undertones of jazz with the earthy folk textures and the intimacy of singer/songwriter storytelling, “Work” sounds like a contemplative, honest, and quietly powerful rainy Sunday morning. From the opening note, the track has a lazy ease that calls to mind Norah Jones, its jazzy lilt, and soothing vocals coaxing you into the fold. The instrumentation is subtle but intentional, with acoustic guitar chords softly caressing a jazzy rhythm section, while delicate piano lines add an almost meditative dimension to the song. The production never overwhelms the message, and it adds emotional shading.

But where it works its magic is in the chorus, which is instantly memorable and deeply relatable. It captures the inner dialogue that so many of us know too well, the push to keep moving forward despite emotional exhaustion, and the quiet shame of not knowing how to ask for help. Instead of easy answers, Johanna gives us something better and a shared space of feeling seen.

The power of “Work” is in its restraint. It aspires to be glossy or overproduced. It breathes. It listens. And it gently whispers to the part of us that’s quietly screaming. There’s a healing there, especially when it comes packaged in this lush, genre-fluid arrangement.

Sandra Mae Lux immortalizes music with her new single, “Are We Having Fun. ” It’s reflecting on where you’ve been and getting lost in a groove that is as thoughtful as needed. From the first note, “Are We Having Fun” has a satin, retro-find elegance. Lux floats her voice through a plush soundscape, seamlessly mixing funk, soul, and smooth jazz elements into something vintage and fresh.

There’s an understated elegance here, a melodic wink that every listener takes a moment and checks in with themselves. Are we having fun or just pretending to? Inspired by her love of storytelling, Lux gives the track genuine emotion. “I love songs that evoke something in me,” she explains, and that outlook is writ large on this record. The track unfolds almost cinematic-like Lux is multitasking, taking us through late-night city drives, wistful bops, and melancholic joy. It’s music for deep thinkers and dancers, too.

Her delivery is full of warmth, playfulness, power, balance, and restraint, showing that she knows when to hold back and allow herself to fly. Every lyric feels considered, ensconced in instrumentation that glitters with vintage delicacy Rhodes keys, silky basslines, and a rhythm section that knows it can sway without yelling. Yet its sincerity makes “Are We Having Fun” really shine. It’s a song that wants to be sung, which is why it resonates above all.

Sandra Mae Lux has created a song that poses a question and resonates in your mind long after the last note dies, gently nudging you to answer it for yourself. Whether cruising solo or dancing with someone you love, this song is your soundtrack to a joyful night of introspection.