Listeners Could Get Obsessed with New Track from Jasmine

I have made no secret that I am a big fan of using the Shazam app for music discovery.  Often times I will find myself out eating somewhere and a song catches my attention for all the right reasons.  These are instances where I want to hear the song again – in an environment where there’s no competition from conversations as well as dishes and glasses and silverware clanging.  Thank you very much.  I just added another entry to my personal Spotify playlist.

As someone who works in the music industry, I consider myself very fortunate to also be on the receiving end of song submissions.  In other words, unlike Shazam, I have an opportunity that not everyone else does.

While this weekly blog is not devoted exclusively to song reviews, you do see me publishing such from time to time.  Thankfully, the newest single from Toronto-based artist Jasmine came across my virtual desk and gave me the opportunity to hear – unobstructed – another track that I enjoyed.

Just released 17 days ago, her song “Obsessed” has an appealing commercial sound, good production, and would fit in a club, on a TikTok video, or just in a casual listening environment.  That’s a grand slam home run – none of which is easy to do.

Listening to the song I felt as though the vocals weren't as clear as I would have liked in the first part of the song, but it's catchy enough that it will cause listeners to press Play again and/or go searching for the lyrics.  And while it’s something that only I’m privy to and not the general audience, the artist did a good job on the song description that accompanied this submission too.

It read, “Obsessed is a confident, playful pop track inspired by early-2000s energy, built around catchy hooks and hypnotic melodies.  The song is about magnetic self-assurance—walking into a room, being noticed, and owning that power.  It’s made for listeners who love bold, flirty pop and songs that feel empowering and addictive.”

This is a very rare thing for me to admit, but let’s just say that maybe younger listeners will decipher the lyrics faster than me.  It can’t be that big of an issue, though.  After all, I stuck around and listened to the whole track.

At a time when creators – podcasters, YouTubers, TikTokers, and yes, songwriters – are under the pressure cooker of hooking the audience in the first seven seconds, getting someone to stick around for a three-minute 18 seconds song says a lot.  Clearly, there is something to be said for the power of the curiosity factor.

If a formula existed for how to accomplish what Jasmine has achieved with “Obsessed,” every songwriter would be employing that approach and every artist would get a song (if not songs, plural) on the Billboard chart.  The fact is, with this release she has achieved a sound that will both get and hold listeners’ attention.

If you’re a songwriter or artist, I encourage you to find your own sound.  After all, your name is on it, and you want it to personify who you are.  Besides that, “Be yourself, everyone else is taken” comes to mind.  So, study, but don’t simply try to duplicate, what Jasmine has done with “Obsessed.”

If you’re a casual music listener, listen to the song and see if you agree with my assessment.  Keep in mind that Jasmine is not a client of mine.  I have no skin in the game.  In other words, I have no ulterior motive other than to pay it forward in the form of word of mouth.

And be confident in what you put out there.  Take the same step that Jasmine did and send your music out for review.  You’re certainly going to think it’s great, but are others sharing that opinion?  People outside of your close circle, that is?  If so, go to your website and your social media channels and let your family, friends, fans, and followers know about these good reviews that you’re getting.  Watch too for what it will do for your confidence as you start your next write.

Never lose sight of how many rejections there are in this business.  Jasmine, surely, was realistic when she sent out “Obsessed,” so as to manage her expectations.  So, enjoy the good reviews that come back rather than focusing on those who don’t reply to you or do so with a thumbs down.

Now a Member of the Recording Academy, I have been helping indie music artists, authors, actors, entrepreneurs, podcasters, filmmakers, small business owners, and more for over twenty years.  What challenges are you having in your creator career that I can lend some insight to?  Connect with me so you can take advantage of all my experience, and I can help and keep you moving forward.