For many of us who have gone through break-ups, whether traumatic or mutual, it’s all too tempting to look back at the past and ask ourselves “what if?” Could things have gone differently? How did your own life change after the end? One artist who provides a relatable insight into this thought process is the Icelandic pop sensation Sjana Rut, who has recently released her vibrant new single ‘Tell Me’. Built on subtle Afrobeat rhythms and warm pop melodies, this track conveys a deep emotional pondering over a feel-good summer atmosphere. This combination could almost be contradictory, but Sjana uses this light, sun-soaked sound to emphasise the nostalgia that sits at the heart of ‘Tell Me’.

Sjana opens the track with a direct address to that ex-lover, which sounds like the voice note we all wish we could have sent. With her soft, rhythmic delivery, she asks “hey, between me and you, do you still think about our youth, all the moments that we shared together?” All of this lingering curiosity amps up into a danceable chorus where Sjana repeatedly asks for the truth, yet for us, the highlight is the soul-filled verse after that chorus (around the 2:22 minute mark), where the artist’s voice really steps into a new realm. Throughout ‘Tell Me’, Sjana Rut showcases her songwriting prowess, from the catchy pop hooks to quiet reflection to soulful connection.

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