In a recent single, “How Do You Like Me Now?” For up-and-coming pop singer Jadelyn, it’s a literal power punch of power, poise, and unapologetic self-worth. At just the right emotional tempo, this song is a mission statement. It’s the sort of anthem you throw on when the old you is a ghost, the new you is here, and you’re not regretful.

Jadelyn’s voice is soulful and pronounced from the onset, full of emotion and texture. She’s singing for herself. This music is for anyone who’s ever had to claw their way through doubt, toxic expectations, or personal heartbreak, only to emerge stronger, wiser, and 100% in charge of their narrative.

“What used to bring me down is what’s lifting me,” her voice could be whispering between the lines, but there’s a sense of broken-down honesty and resolve. The production crackles with a brittle pop savvy, pulsing synths, a hook that doesn’t leave your head no matter how many close listens you take, and an undercurrent of vulnerability that never feels pathetic, just real. This is pop with teeth, glammed and grizzled.

But what makes “How Do You Like Me Now?” special and aside is the emotional intelligence baked into every note. It’s a song about looking back at yourself, not in the bitter way, growth, not revenge. Jadelyn is not asking for validation. She’s in charge of the room, cupping the microphone to her mouth, daring the listener to stand up to the power of someone who looks her worth.

Whether cruising with the windows down or eyeballing yourself in the mirror, this track meets you where you are and dares you to level up. There is a universalism to its message that makes it personal and communal. We’ve had our “watch me now” moments, all of us. Jadelyn just made hers a pop anthem.

Connect with Jadelyn: Instagram

The R&B Season playlist is here yet again with another soul-soaked update, and this time, it comes with a big look for upcoming Coco Jones. “Why Not More?” has arrived for good, and it’s making a dramatic entrance. At only 14 songs, “Why Not More?” is anything but small. It’s a bold, genre-warping testament to Jones’ vocal elasticity and emotional puddles, each song serving up a unique slice of the modern soul pie. Over silky, sexy grooves or spikier, more spirited bangers, Coco sings like someone who’s here to stay.

“I wanted to see what sticks and what lands what really changes my life,” Coco said of the album. That raw ambition courses through the album. It’s exploratory but not aimless. From thoughtful slow jams to sensual, radio-ready hits, Jones sounds like she’s already figured out what works for her and isn’t afraid to push the boundaries. Not for “On Sight” if you’re trying to get started. It’s playful and magnetic and captures just the right amount of latent charisma Coco Jones brings to the mic. It’s also one of the more pumped-up tracks on the album, so it gives you a sense of her skill in the diplomacy of designer pop’s decorousness and real vocal chops. When that one catches, the rest of the album makes for a ride worth taking.

Check out this article: SZA Calls Out Shannon Sharpe for “Tacky” BBL Question During An Interview With Coco Jones

While Coco takes center stage this week, R&B Season also reserves space for another new drop, Roy Woods’ Dark Nights. It’s a moody, late-night counterpoint to Jones’ sophisticated revolution of R&B, nine slow-burning tracks that sound intimate and cloudy. Woods is committed to the atmosphere, with his high-pitched tones and dreamy flows creating an immersive, sometimes other-worldly listening experience. Yet the heart of this playlist update is the one and only Coco Jones. With “Why Not More?,” she asks the question and answers it. And by the sound of it, judging by this debut, there’s far more greatness yet to come.