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There's very little I know about Maxine except that she's Dutch and able to serve up a great pop melody. Case in point is her new single "Help Myself" that's a pristine little pop banger. Written by Maxine, Julian, and Adriaan Philipse, "Help Myself" is "about being so in love with someone that you do stupid things to keep them close to you," explains Maxine.

She writes, "It's about being jealous and all the crazy things you do if you're jealous. Like checking someone's phone without them knowing, obsessively scrolling through their Instagram stories just to find out that the girl he's standing next to is his sister. I mean, even the brightest persons can be jealous. It's a human emotion."

So who is this bright young new star on the pop scene? The bio on her web site provides some clues. Maxine is 21 years-old and hailing from The Hague. Before starting her career as a writer, she attended Sweden's famed pop academy Musikmakarna where she learned how to apply her innate talent for pop following the advice of mentors like Max Martin. 

"Help Myself" is a very, very promising introduction to what Maxine has to offer. It's current, universally appealing, and prominently displays her songwriting savvy and powerful pop vocals. You can easily file her music next to Lauv, Julia Michaels, Julian and LANY. Maxine is one to watch.

Every song Carlie Hanson has put out since her debut in 2018 has been excellent. Today, she released her new single "Daze Inn" and I love every single second of it. It's moody and introspective but has a bright pop glow that perfectly defines Hanson's sonic aesthetic. She has a knack for sharing what's on her mind, the good and the sad, and making it universally appealing with great hooks and melodies. I'm such a fan of what Hanson is doing. This lady has spunk and pure star power. If you're only just discovering Carlie Hanson make sure to also listen to "Back In My Arms," "Only One," and "Side Effects." Every generation needs their Avril Lavigne, and Carlie Hanson is that for 2020 (and more).

"Black & White" is the best Niall Horan song you may not have heard yet. The song is taken from his new album, Heartbreak Weather, that is filled with fine little bops about love and heartbreak. Horan took a few sonic risks on this new LP to continue to evolve and aim higher as an artist. I applaud him. Songs like "Put A Little Love On Me" and "Dear Patience" are finely tuned, heartfelt ballads that we never have enough of. The title track is a breezy jam straight from the 80s, and let's not forget about the island vibes of "No Judgement." There's a lot of great music to dig in here, but to me, there's one that firmly sticks out. That's "Black And White." Expertly produced by Julian Bunetta and Teddy Geiger, Horan serves up a straight-up anthem of the goosebump kind. It's full of life and full of fervor. In other words, it's great pop music. "Black And White" has a racing pulse that will have you tapping along the moment the needle drops. Enjoy.

(Note: I like sharing things that I love on this blog. Those can be songs, books, art, films, and also places that I think are worth recommending. It may seem insensitive to refer to travel during a time of a pandemic, but please note that I write from a place of hope, looking towards the future. These places are going to need our support three-fold as soon as they open back up.)

Every town has a place that serves the best local and genuinely authentic food with the greatest care. It's the closest thing to a homecooked meal. Usually, it's not a white table cloth establishment. Most often, it's just a simple hole in the wall diner, cafe, or truck where the cook cares about preparing a great meal for customers from all walks of life.

In El Paso, TX, that place is H&H Car Wash & Coffee Shop. Since the 1950s, the Haddad family has been running this car wash and adjacent cafe that has been become a city staple. The concept is simple.  Get your car cleaned while enjoying some delicious food. The cooks at H&H serve up timeless American breakfast favorites along with some tasty Tex-Mex dishes with a regional twist.

It feels like time has stood still at H&H, which adds to its friendly and familiar appeal. The walls are filled with old movie posters, family photographs, football jerseys, and other sports memorabilia. Take a seat on the counter to watch the cooks do their work, or sit on one of the few tables if you're in a larger group.

Local favorites on the menu include Chile Relleno, Chile Colorado, and, of course, classic tacos that come with a side of Spanish rice and black beans. Top it all off with home-made green tomatillo sauce, and you know what El Paso tastes like. Yum.

Some girl named Anna knows how to make a first impression.

The newcomer, who goes by the artist name somegirlnamedanna, delivers a concise yet compelling introduction to her music with her debut single, "hello i am." Just under 2 minutes in length, the track is a multi-layered choir of her vocals without any instrumentation that's pop of the purest kind.

I loved it the moment I heard it. "hello i am" has a quirky and self-assured essence that reminds me of Imogen Heap. It's fresh, and it's different - it's somegirlnamedanna. 

Hailing from rural Minnesota, Anna grew up without television or social media. Instead, she spent time listening to music by artists like Tracey Chapman and Joni Mitchell who helped shape her musical point of view. Anna also found comfort in writing, both poetry and short stories.

Anna was signed to LAVA Records by Jason Flom who also first signed artists like Lorde, Katy Perry, and Jessie J. 

Her forthcoming debut EP blends both her songwriting savvy and her love for telling stories. Titled "twenty-one, twenty-two," it represents a chapter from Anna's life that she hopes many listeners can connect with.

"The one thing I want people to take away at the end of the day, it's to remind them we are all human," Anna explains in a press release. "We all experience pain, happiness, angst, hurt, shame, and anxiety. I want anyone listening to know that I really want to connect with them and bring all of us together to start a conversation. "

Anna's one to watch.