Chelle – HAVE TO DO (2026)
Refusing to stay in one lane, Chelle is “redefining the modern pop soundscape… with a sound that is as bold as her vision.” We came across Chelle with her 2026 single, ‘TROUBLE’, a couple of months ago – a song that finds the sweet spot of solid pop, vintage R&B and a kick of chilled-out reggae. Today, we turn up our speakers once again as the US-based singer-songwriter continues to redefine contemporary pop with ‘HAVE TO DO’.
Produced and recorded by Declan Lonergan at Bluebird Studios, ‘HAVE TO DO’ is one of those tracks where you can’t help but dance along. Well, it’s actually more of a strut with cheeky winks and swaying hips. With bold beats and sleek synths, the melody shimmies this way, then twirls about with delicate charm before heading off in another direction, constantly calling you to join the sonic hop, skip and jump. For me, ‘HAVE TO DO’ is a sleek, sophisticated, polished tune, but there is a boisterous attitude in the arrangement, adding a kick of mischief. It’s fun and lively, but also dark and enigmatic.
The melody itself is exciting and can stand tall in the dark-pop world; however, it is Chelle’s vocals that turn my head. Rich, strong and brimming with a subdued wildness, her voice inserts liveliness into ‘HAVE TO DO’. At the same time, while there is this small spark of rambunctiousness, a blend of calm, gentleness and soothing exists. It’s like she’s giving you a tender smile with friendly eyes, but raises her eyebrow in that ever-so impish way.
Not a massive fan of contemporary pop, I find myself travelling with old-school pop acts like the Spice Girls and Christina Aguilera. Chelle hasn’t necessarily joined the mixtape of yesteryear, but is a wonderful breath of something new in a scene that can become stagnant. I highly recommend this infectious track and the artist’s intriguing sound.
Find out more about Chelle on her Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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