Rising pop girl AL1CE in Wønder1and comes back with her new single, ‘Heroin *sorta* Love’ set for release on November 14th, 2025. Following the success of her debut pop summer anthem, ‘Love Me Down’, AL1CE continues to expand her sonic world, this time diving into the intoxicating chaos of love and heartbreak through lush City Pop and Dream Pop soundscapes.
Born in Hong Kong, and now based in Dublin, the 18-year-old artist crafts music that transcends genres. Drawing inspiration from Doja Cat, Melanie Martinez, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, and Lana Del Rey, AL1CE blends vulnerability with vibrant pop textures, creating songs that feel as cinematic as they are intimate.
Heroin *sorta* Love is a raw exploration of emotional addiction, the kind of toxic love that feels impossible to let go. Mixing nostalgic retro-pop tones with dreamy modern production, the track captures the duality of beauty and pain that defines AL1CE’s artistic voice.
For her second single, AL1CE comments: “This is a song intended for broken hearts, written by a broken heart, in a bustling city. And that person is me,” AL1CE shares. “For this song, I want to express that toxic loves are just like drugs, you know it’s bad but you always want to come back for more. Maybe it’s all just like the lyrics said: ‘We shouldn’t begin / Just rot / Heaven or hell / I need to (know)’. I hope it resonates with anyone going through a tough time right now.”
Ferrari - Bebe Rexha
So, here we go. My first song is one of the very few Western pop songs I knew at a young age, back in 2018, when I was 11. This song is Ferrari by Bebe Rexha. It may not be her most well-known song, but something about its atmosphere, its production simplicity, the heavy emotion, and the climax of the chorus made me fall in love with it. I love how Bebe sings with strength in this song, and I’ve always found a similarity between my voice and hers. The imagery of the Ferrari, living the high life and moving fast but barely catching a breath, and the loneliness of running so quickly made it an emotional pop masterpiece, and one of my favourites.
Carousel - Melanie Martinez
Cry Baby, woah, what an album. I can’t describe how influential this album has been to my entire artistic persona. I love Melanie Martinez’s master-level storytelling and the profound social meaning behind these 16 tracks. Other songs on the album, like Mad Hatter and Mrs. Potato Head, are also bright gems not to be missed. But my favourite, and the most enchanting song for me, is Carousel. I love how she goes crazy so calmly, showcasing this exact dramatic contrast so perfectly through her music. A cute and pretty psychopath, for sure — and that’s exactly what makes me fall in love with this album. I find resonance in her craziness.
Empire state of mind - Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
The first rap song out of the ten! It might be a bit cliché to pick this song to represent the Americana side of my music taste, but I’m truly amazed by Jay-Z’s rap skills in this track. I’m not his biggest listener, but with this song, I’m in awe of his lyricism, wordplay, and punchlines. What stood out to me most, though, is his flow — how he scans through each word in such a rhythmic way that the long verses never feel boring, but instead fun and full of curiosity for the listener. I have to admit I fell in love with the rap verse even more than the chorus (I still love you Alicia Keys <3). The beat is simple, it’s the artists who make the song stand out. I really look up to Jay-Z’s lyrics and flow.
Sports car - Tate Mcrae
Young, young, young. Dance, dance, dance. Sex, sex, sex. Sports Car only came out this January, but it quickly became one of the most impactful songs in my musical journey. I’ve always loved songs that make people touch their own body and dance. When Tate McRae released this strong, sensual dance track, something clicked in me. It made me realise that I want to create songs like this, music so catchy and groovy it hooks you into its enchantment instantly, making one believe you’re the prettiest, sexiest, hottest person on the planet. I want to make music like that, and I’m on my way there. What an inspiration you are to me Tate!
Lip & Hip - HyunA
The fifth song is K-pop. I’m very international and I admit it, probably because of constantly relocating across different cultures growing up. K-pop has always been influential, as it was almost the biggest thing around me and my friends growing up. I chose this song by HyunA because it’s one of the earliest K-pop songs I came to know, and listening to it reminds me of the good old days, 2018, when the colours were so bright they almost hurt your eyes, and the music was so lively it made you forget all hardships. HyunA’s performance is undeniably charismatic. She sings, raps, and dances — she’s an icon and an inspiration to me. She proves that even as a soloist in a group-dominated K-pop industry, you can still shine the brightest and become your own ace.
7 rings - Ariana Grande
Girls can be sexy. Girls can be confident. Girls can buy diamond rings for their six favourite bishes. Ariana Grande is one of the most important musicians for people my age, we grew up listening to her. She was always there, giving us the ultimate pop experience. The first song I heard from her was Side to Side back in 2018, and that track made me fall in love with both Ari and Nicki Minaj. I picked 7 rings because it’s truly one of a kind. It’s bold, careless, and has an attitude. It’s “I’m rich, I spoil my girls, and F all the haters.” The boldness made me fall in love with this flashy Ariana. Her rap verse in this song also inspired me, reminding me that I can always showcase my rap skills in a pop track, and you can get hold of this in my debut single Love Me Down.
Everything is romantic - Charli xcx
Initially, I didn’t really like this track. I preferred Von Dutch and even the remix version of this song. But one day, I came back to revisit the original, and something struck me and I can’t move on, now it’s my favourite. There’s a sense of solitude amidst the complicated instrumental. The lyrics, the robotic repetition: together they create an emotional roller coaster. Listening to this song feels like being brought somewhere only Charli, only Brat, can take you. And I ask myself, “Everything is romantic, right?” It’s chaotic, it’s fast, but it’s also meticulously crafted. It has an atmosphere I can’t quite name, but it’s surely enchanting enough.
Drew Barrymore - SZA
Yes, I also listen to R&B, and this song is the one I listened to the most of the genre. Instead of her biggest hit album SOS, I found myself in love with Ctrl. Her voice is raspy, and the way she pronounces words is so unique. There’s something so cozy about her tone and the instrumentals that establishes this song for winter, the kind you listen to with a cup of hot chocolate, wrapped in an itchy sweater, in a cold cold temperature. The vulnerability in her delivery, and the effortless yet sophisticated flow of R&B, are things I deeply look up to. I hope I can bring that same natural fluidity and emotional depth into my own musical landscape.
Saint Pablo - Kanye West
Kanye West, however controversial he is, you can’t deny that he’s a genius, especially in music production. He may not be the greatest rapper; quite the opposite, his flow isn’t very versatile and often stays in the same tone. But the lyrics of this song show his sincerity, his confidence, and his attempt to build a conversation and communicate his thoughts straight to his listeners. He’s also a master at manipulating instrumentals, samples, and production, which can be seen in Bound 2. Saint Pablo is significant to me because I like its storytelling lyrics, clever wordplay, and the section where the beat drops and the rap stops, leading into Sampha’s hook (starting exactly at 1:28). It gives an almost sacred, spiritual feeling to listeners, and I invite you to experience it.
Tomorrow never came - Lana Del Rey & Sean Ono Lennon
Everything comes to an end, and so does this list of mine. After a series of distinctive songs, let’s rest our bones with Lana Del Rey’s duet with John Lennon’s son, Sean Ono Lennon, Tomorrow Never Came. This song’s album, Lust for Life, is my favourite from Lana. Unlike her usual persona: dark, sad, and emotionally heavy, this album feels like a fresh breath. It’s an outlook toward a bright, new life filled with happiness and hope. Tomorrow Never Came is folk and country; it’s easy, sleek, and relaxing, like an old fine wine you’d taste at a quiet, small dinner. The bridge is beautiful — Lana’s voice is loose and reminiscing, while Sean sings with pureness and sincerity. Everything is just, great. And with this, the list ends.