The best way to enjoy music is to really get to know it. I like to study it. “Repetition is the father of learning,” and if I’ve got an album on repeat, that means I’m into it for real.

Right now that’s Mariah the Scientist’s new album, Hearts Sold Separately (listen here). I didn’t just play it once and move on. I sat with it. I let the transitions flow, caught the lyrics, the melodies, the little feelings in between. There’s a difference between hearing music and actually living with it.

Some of the synths gave me that 80s vibe: the kind that feels throwback but futuristic at the same time. And the bridges? We’ve been missing those. The way she uses them makes the songs feel fuller, like the writing has more space to stretch.

Songs like “Rainy Days” and “United Nations + 1000 Ways to Die” pulled me in right away, while “Eternal Flame” feels like one of those timeless songs you can sing along to. The more I listen, the more layers come out. It’s not just music playing, it’s music unfolding.

And I can already picture how good it would be with more features. A collab with Tinashe or The Weeknd would fit perfectly, and The-Dream would also bring that classic touch. Either way, Mariah is in her bag with this one, and yeah… this album is staying on repeat.