Where It All Began: The Early Years
She did not exactly crash into the music industry with fireworks and a megaphone. She tiptoed in. Back in 2014, she dropped a single called "Can't Blame a Girl for Trying" through Hollywood Records. It was charming. Acoustic. The kind of song that does not scream for attention but somehow gets it anyway because the writing is just that solid. Right then, you could hear the instincts of a real singer-songwriter clicking into place — someone who actually had something to say, not just someone filling space between acting gigs.
A year later she put out her first full album, Eyes Wide Open, and it leaned hard into that same earnest energy. Coming-of-age songs. Acoustic guitars. Honest lyrics. It worked because it felt genuine — not manufactured, not focus-grouped to death. Those early recordings built a foundation that honestly still holds up if you go back and listen now. You can hear little hints of where she was headed, even if nobody knew it yet. That debut planted seeds for the bigger moments that would arrive years later.
Then 2016 happened. EVOLution came out, and you could feel something shifting. The production got sharper. The hooks got bigger. Tracks like "Thumbs" and "On Purpose" were not just cute — they were sticky in a way her earlier stuff had not quite been. "Thumbs" specifically? That one blew up. Like, actually started getting played on the radio — the kind of spins where strangers who could not have named a single song of hers suddenly knew every word of the chorus. That was her first real taste of a radio hit, the kind of hit single that reroutes an entire career. Looking back now, that was the exact moment her catalog stopped being promising and started being serious. It is still one of those tracks that fans lose their minds over at shows.
The Singular Era: Two Acts of Confident Pop
Most artists at her level would have played it safe here. She did the opposite. Instead of one album, she bet on herself and split the whole project into two acts. Singular: Act I landed in 2018. Singular: Act II followed in 2019. Together they told a more complete story than any single record could have managed. You have to respect the guts it takes to do that when everyone else is chasing playlists and singles.
Act I came out swinging. "Almost Love" and "Sue Me" were sleek, bass-heavy, and unapologetic — the kind of pop music that walks into a room and owns it. These were not polite little songs asking for permission. She was planting a flag and saying, look, I know exactly who I am now. The official music video for "Sue Me" captured that energy perfectly — playful, self-assured, totally in command. Both tracks became instant fan favorites, the kind that still show up on her setlists because people would riot if they did not. If you are building a playlist, skipping these would be a mistake.
Act II kept the momentum rolling without repeating itself. "Pushing 20" brought the attitude. "Exhale" pulled everything back and got vulnerable in a way that felt earned. That song hinted at something deeper brewing under the surface — a willingness to sit in discomfort and write about it honestly. The kind of thing that would later become the backbone of her best work. Taken together, these two records are a crucial chapter in her story. You can hear her bridging the gap between the pop instincts she started with and the more personal, unfiltered writing that was just about to arrive.
Emails I Can't Send: When Everything Clicked
Something shifted when Emails I Can't Send dropped in 2022. She sounded different — looser, sharper, less concerned with what anyone expected from her. She was writing about uncomfortable things. Messy things. The stuff most pop stars either avoid or dress up in metaphors. She just said it straight. And people felt that.
"Nonsense" was the one that caught fire first. That wordplay? Ridiculous. And the chorus burrowed into your head whether you invited it or not. Within weeks it had become one of her most played tracks on every streaming music platform worth naming. "Feather" followed a similar path — lighter on its feet but lyrically sharp enough to reward you on the third and fourth listen. Both turned into those trending songs that just would not quit, dominating social feeds and playlist placements for months.
But the heavier stuff is where this album really lives. "Because I Liked a Boy" went places most pop songs are too scared to go — public scrutiny, relationship chaos, the whole exhausting circus. The honesty was almost uncomfortable. In the best way. "Vicious" does not ask nicely. It kicks the door in with sharp, pointed lyrics over a beat that just keeps pushing forward. These were not just catchy tracks. They mattered. The album earned real critical respect and brought in a much wider audience than she had ever had before. It is the kind of record where love songs and breakup songs sit right next to each other, and neither one feels out of place. For a lot of listeners, this was the moment her music became something they could not put down.
If songs that explore real emotional territory are your thing, check our best sad love songs playlist for more tracks that hit in a similar way.
Short n' Sweet and What She Is Doing Now
And then came Short n' Sweet in 2024. Look, I am not going to pretend this was anything other than her biggest moment by a mile. The lead single "Espresso" was genuinely everywhere — this playful, retro-tinged slice of dance pop with a hook that simply refused to leave your skull once it moved in. It became one of those rare viral songs that actually deserved every stream it got. A proper global music hit. Not the manufactured kind. The real kind. "Please Please Please" followed right behind and proved it was not a fluke — the momentum was real. Both now sit comfortably among the top streaming songs in her entire catalog, and they have locked in her reputation as an award-winning artist with genuine staying power. These latest releases introduced her to a wave of new listeners across every continent.
Here is why these newest tracks actually satisfy though — they did not come out of nowhere. You can hear pieces of every era baked into them. The storytelling instinct from her debut. The rhythmic confidence of Singular. The emotional rawness of Emails I Can't Send. All of it converged. For anyone just now discovering her work, these songs are the perfect door to walk through. And for the people who have been riding with her since day one? They feel like the payoff to a decade of steady, thoughtful growth. If you are putting together a full playlist or a complete playlist, these top hits are the anchors everything else should orbit around.
Enjoying tracks like these? Our viral hits page has more trending picks and other viral music having a moment right now.
Complete Albums in Order
If you actually want to understand a music artist — like, really understand them — the move is always the same. Start at the beginning. Go in order. Listen to how things change. So here is the full rundown, every studio album she has put out, lined up by project. This is your road map for listening in sequence:
- Eyes Wide Open (2015) — The debut. Where it all started. Title track, "We'll Be the Stars," and that wide-eyed first-album energy.
- EVOLution (2016) — The leap forward. Home to the hit single "Thumbs" and the fan-favorite "On Purpose."
- Singular: Act I (2018) — Confident, bass-heavy electropop. "Almost Love," "Sue Me," and "Paris" live here.
- Singular: Act II (2019) — The other half of the story. "Pushing 20" brings the swagger, "Exhale" brings the tears, "Looking at Me" ties it together. Each one shows a different side of where her head was at.
- Emails I Can't Send (2022) — The game-changer. Loaded with some of the best work she has ever written — "Nonsense," "Feather," and "Vicious" all hit completely differently.
- Short n' Sweet (2024) — The blockbuster. Powered by the chart-topping "Espresso" and "Please Please Please." This one is stacked with her most commercially successful material to date.
Playing through in order like this tells you a story you cannot get any other way. The songwriting tightens. The production expands. The confidence builds. Each release feels like a reaction to the one before it. This is a collection that actually rewards you for paying attention — and honestly, it just keeps getting better.
Building Your Own Playlist
Making your own playlist might be the single most satisfying way to get into her stuff. A properly balanced mix is not just the obvious top songs and hit songs on repeat — you want the deeper cuts too, the ones that sneak up on you over time.
Start with what you already know or have heard floating around. "Espresso." "Please Please Please." "Nonsense." "Feather." "Thumbs." You know the ones — these popular songs and famous songs are the foundation most people build from, and there is a good reason for that. Then reach for the tracks that show a completely different side. "Because I Liked a Boy." "Exhale." "Skin." These ones pull way back from the big dance pop energy and sit somewhere quieter and more reflective. They balance everything out. Throw in her latest songs and whatever singles she drops next, and your playlist will never feel stale. If you would rather someone else do the work, just head to her official Spotify playlist, the Apple Music essentials page, or YouTube Music. All of them have ready-made collections with her all hit songs, album tracks, fan favorites, and new releases gathered in one place — plus all the official audio and music videos. Whether you need a full playlist or a complete playlist, the streaming platforms make it easy. Her chart songs are also tracked on Billboard, and her full catalog lives on Spotify and Apple Music.
Need more ideas? Our best pop songs playlists and popular songs collections are solid places to browse. And do not sleep on her soundtrack songs from various film and TV projects — they add a whole extra dimension to your listening.
Live Performances
Studio recordings are one thing. Seeing her on stage? Completely different animal. Her tours — especially the Emails I Can't Send Tour — gave fans a chance to hear these songs and the deeper album tracks in a room full of people who knew every single word. The reviews tend to zero in on the same things: her stage presence feels natural, not rehearsed, and her voice actually holds up live. Which, if we are being honest, is never a guarantee in pop. For fans chasing the complete experience, these concerts bring energy that even the best studio mix cannot replicate.
Her setlists pull from across the entire catalog, which means the day-one fans get those early recordings and famous songs mixed in with the newest releases, and the new fans get a crash course in everything they missed. That balance — the hits people came for plus the deeper cuts that make them stay — is exactly why her reputation as a live performer keeps climbing. It is a genuine piece of what makes her collection feel alive, not just archived. You can find clips from her concerts and viral songs from her shows all over social media and YouTube Music.
For more trending sounds and artist spotlights, check our trending sounds page.
Where She Fits in Pop Right Now
She occupies a weird and wonderful little corner of the pop music world right now. Her songs work on the surface — you do not need a decoder ring to enjoy them. The melodies stick. The production is pristine. The hooks land exactly where they are supposed to. But almost every track has something else going on underneath. A lyric that reveals itself on the third listen. A production choice that winks at a different decade without feeling like cosplay. Songs that feel just as at home blasting through club speakers as they do through headphones at two in the morning. This is music for people who like pop that actually rewards attention.
She pulls from a handful of traditions. The pulse of dance pop. The texture of electropop. The instincts of someone who writes her own stuff and actually cares what the words say. That mix — accessible but not disposable, polished but personal — is the whole reason her popular English songs keep finding ears in places you would not expect. Her catalog has upbeat radio hits for the car, quieter love songs and breakup songs for when you are in your feelings, and those soundtrack songs she has sprinkled across film and TV projects over the years. It is a surprisingly deep well. Whether you stream her work on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music, her global music hits and chart-topping songs are always right there waiting.
Keep up with the music charts at Billboard Hot 100 and Rolling Stone Songs Chart. Stream her complete catalog on Spotify and Apple Music. And if you want to go straight to the source, her official YouTube channel has every official music video and official audio track she has ever put out.
Common Questions About Her Songs
What are her most popular songs right now?
Ask someone where to start and you will get the same five answers almost every time: "Espresso," "Please Please Please," "Nonsense," "Feather," and "Thumbs." These are the ones that have absolutely dominated the streaming charts, left the biggest footprint on Billboard hits rankings, and taken over radio rotations and Spotify and Apple Music playlists alike. If you are just dipping your toes into her catalog, these are where you should begin. They will give you a real feel for what makes her work click — and honestly, they are the reason so many people stick around for more.
How many studio albums has she released?
Six studio albums and counting. The full timeline runs like this: Eyes Wide Open came first in 2015, then EVOLution in 2016, then Singular: Act I in 2018 and Singular: Act II in 2019. Emails I Can't Send arrived in 2022 and completely changed the conversation around her, and Short n' Sweet dropped in 2024 as her biggest moment yet. Each one captures a different version of her — play them in order and you can actually hear the growth happening in real time. Her discography is proof of how far she has come as both a music artist and a pop singer.
What is her biggest hit single to date?
"Espresso." No contest. It came out as the lead single from Short n' Sweet and went properly global — the kind of streaming music numbers that make your eyes water, relentless radio play, and that rare viral music energy you cannot fake or manufacture. It is her most commercially successful release by a comfortable margin and the defining entry on any list of her top hits. Among all her work, this is the one that took things to a completely different stratosphere.
Where can I find a complete playlist of her songs?
You can pull up a full playlist or complete playlist on any major digital music platform. Her official Spotify playlist, the Apple Music essentials page, and YouTube Music all have curated collections that pull together her hit singles, album tracks, fan favorites, and new releases in one convenient spot. Whether you need music for a workout, a road trip, or just background vibes, these collections have you covered. The viral songs and trending songs usually sit right at the top.
What was her very first song?
"Can't Blame a Girl for Trying." She put it out in 2014 through Hollywood Records. One single. That was it. And it started what has become a seriously impressive catalog. That one track put her on the music industry radar as a singer-songwriter who was worth watching — and looking back now, that instinct was spot on. It is the very first entry in what has grown into a remarkable collection.
Which songs show her more personal or emotional side?
If you want the tracks where she really lets her guard down, go straight to "Because I Liked a Boy," "Skin," "Exhale," and "Vicious." These are not surface-level pop tracks. They sit squarely in the messiness of heartbreak, the suffocating weight of public pressure, and the whole exhausting project of figuring out who you are while everyone is watching. These fan favorites get brought up constantly for their raw, unfiltered writing, and they are absolutely among the best work for anyone looking for her deeper love songs and breakup songs. Honestly, some of the most powerful material she has ever made lives right here.
What record label does she record for?
She is with Island Records now, which is under the Universal Music Group umbrella. Her earlier albums came out through Hollywood Records. Her entire collection spans both record label eras — from those very first recordings she ever made all the way to her newest releases. Two chapters, one catalog, and everything in between.
Has she won any major awards?
She has Grammy Awards nominations in some seriously meaningful categories now. That alone puts her in the award-winning artist conversation within the music industry. The nominations reflect the critical respect her recent work has earned — and that respect sits right alongside the massive commercial success those same tracks have racked up on the charts and across streaming platforms.
Does she have any soundtrack songs?
She does, actually. Her soundtrack songs pop up across a handful of film and television projects over the years. Those contributions add another layer to her catalog and sit right alongside her studio albums and singles as part of her full body of work. It makes her collection even more diverse and worth digging into if you have not already.
Has she done any concert tours?
Multiple. The Emails I Can't Send Tour was one of her biggest, and at her shows she makes a point of mixing the huge top hits with deeper album cuts — so whether you have been following her for a decade or just discovered her last Tuesday, there is something for you in that setlist. The live performance side of her career has become central to how fans connect with her music beyond just the recordings. Her concerts regularly feature all hit songs alongside those deeper album tracks that the dedicated fans love most.
Wrapping Up
Here is what I keep coming back to with her work. It tells an actual story. Not a manufactured narrative, but a real one — moving from the acoustic-driven pop of her early stuff through the confident electropop and dance pop of the Singular years, all the way to the chart-topping songs she is making right now. And every step actually feels connected to the one before it. She writes with personality. She takes actual risks with her sound. She has built a body of work that functions whether you are half-listening in the car or sitting there with headphones on, paying attention to every word. Whether you came here for a quick playlist, you are working through her albums in order, or you just want to watch her official music videos, this should give you everything you need. Bookmark the page. Her collection is still growing, and if the pattern holds, the best songs might still be ahead of her. From new songs to the famous songs that defined earlier eras, the complete song list is a journey that is genuinely worth taking.
And while we are here — The Weeknd's music keeps finding new listeners all over the world too. You can hit up his official website or watch "Blinding Lights" on YouTube if you want to go down that rabbit hole. We have also got Weeknd cover songs, our latest songs roundup, and music wallpapers if you want to freshen up your playlist and your background at the same time.
If you are in an exploring mood, our New Songs 2025, Latest Songs, Viral Hits, and Best Songs pages are all worth a scroll. Looking for the best new songs and latest viral hits? Our playlist rounds up the new songs 2025 and popular songs making noise right now.
And do not forget — our Best Sad Love Songs Playlist is there for you when you need that kind of energy.