MC’s MUSIC LOUNGE: Alter-Egos

There’s a whole other level of familiarity that comes with being a musician versus any other entertainment figure. Sure, we recognize the actors in our favourite shows and films, but they are almost always playing fictional characters which they can hide behind. A musical artist has nowhere to hide, they are feeding us their hearts and souls with every note and lyric, which is why many artists adapt an alter-ego when performing or recording: it adds a layer of safety to the already vulnerable experience that is being a musician. Beyoncé has Sasha Fierce, Mariah has Bianca, Eminem has Slim Shady and now Brent Faiyaz is joining the club. After a long hiatus away from the music scene (apart from a re-imagined dance remix), Brent Faiyaz has returned with two new singles, both named after iconic fictional characters, Peter Pan and Tony Soprano.

It can feel taxing to try to put all the aspects of your personality into your work, whether it’s music, writing, or any form of art. We can be many things at the same time and by embracing multiple truths, you open doors to artistic expression that wouldn’t have been there otherwise. Brent Faiyaz is aiming to do just that with his new music. While he isn’t adapting the alter-egos in the same vein that Beyoncé did with Sasha Fierce, he is allowing the associated narratives with both Tony Soprano and Peter Pan to bleed into the messages of the songs themselves. Lisa named her entire album Alter-Ego after the persona she adapts when she is on stage, so there is certainly something to be said for the freedom that a creator feels when they can step into another version of themselves. 

We’ve seen alter-egos be represented in TV shows and films as well over the years. Miley Cyrus was Hannah Montana, Sarah Michelle Gellar was Buffy, and currently in 2025 the tradition continues with KPop Demon Hunters. The film follows a world-famous girl group who, like Miley in Hannah Montana, are forced to balance their lives as pop stars along with their own alter-ego secret identities. Well, maybe not exactly like Hannah; Miley’s other self was just a normal girl while these ladies are demon hunters. It may sound obscene on paper, but the film and its accompanying soundtrack has been slaying the charts on both Netflix and Billboard and is taking the world by storm, even getting Oscar buzz. If that wasn’t enough to intrigue you then don’t worry because this week’s viral pick of the week comes courtesy of that very soundtrack (and with good reason). 

Next week we’ve got some duets in store from Craig David & JoJo and Frankie & Ariana Grande. Plus, Burna Boy’s eighth studio album No Sign of Weakness drops and given my consistent features of his newest tunes, you can pretty much bet that will be the soundtrack to the week. Until then, we’ve got new tunes from Brent Faiyaz, Kesha/JADE, David Guetta/Bonnie Tyler, Drake, Danny Ocean/Kenia Os and the fictional group Saja Boys whose songs off the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack are taking over the streaming charts.

Listen on…

MC’s PICKS OF THE WEEK

“tony soprano.” by Brent Faiyaz

Naturally, when you use the likeness of a character that is both beloved and understood by millions around the world, there will be preconceived interpretations to the songs from the jump – now just multiply those interpretations by 20 when using characters that are as famous as Brent has. “tony soprano.” gives exactly what you think it’s gonna give: big dick energy. He mentions in a new interview how both his new singles represent “embracing duality” and the different sides of him as an artist. He can talk his sh*t while still being the emotional R&B crooner who can make us feel all our feels. His laid back rap/singing style throughout the song embodies the big boss energy that we all associate with Tony Soprano, with Faiyaz insinuating he is his own version of the Big Don, as he so poignantly expresses in the opening lyric “I’m really a don, no dada”. He’s singing about fame and the tribulations that come from it, whether it be girls trying to take advantage of him or a case of imposter syndrome. Tony Soprano himself is famous for saying “those who want respect, give respect” and in the music industry that can get foggy. Let us not forget that Brent found himself involved in a dangerous situation between Halle Bailey and DDG earlier this year, and those online trolls can get f*king vicious. Brent may be the don but as he lays out for us on this song, it’s not always what it’s cracked up to be. This topic is especially relevant to Brent as in the two years since his last mixtape, Larger than Life, he launched his own record label ISO Supremacy – taking the narrative of being a “don” to a new level and clearly he knows it, since both new singles are attached to his upcoming album, quite intentionally titled ICON.

 

“BOY CRAZY.” by Kesha, JADE

Fun times need a soundtrack. Lucky for me and all my fellow girls and gays, Kesha and JADE have teamed up to give us just that. Kesha released the original version of “BOY CRAZY.” as the fourth single from her newest album Period and it was instantly embraced by the gay club scene. The song was designed to be blasted from a speaker in a room filled with strobe lights and shirtless men, I couldn’t express it any clearer. Now, with the addition of British pop princess JADE, a gay ally in her own right, the song feels elevated. For one, JADE is singing about being femme, a top and a dom. Period. This is the c*nty pop that JADE has made herself known for – thumping bass lines, unapologetic lyrics and kick-ass vocals. The two ladies are both making pop for the gays so this collaboration feels like a no-brainer. They sing about being well… boy crazy. “Gimme gimme all the boys” being repeated continuously might not be the deepest pop lyric, but it sure is fun to dance to. The girls both recently appeared as performers in South London’s Mighty Hoopla festival and JADE even posted this snap with the text “Boy Crazy Two” on her t-shirt. This album Period (stylized as a literal period “.”) also happens to be Kesha’s first-ever independent album release, giving her complete ownership of all her masters from this moment forward. Let me press play one more time. 

 

“Together” by David Guetta, Hypaton, Bonnie Tyler

One of the best things that comes out of dance music is the genre’s ability to take classics and re-imagine them into a fresh sound that is palpable for both a new generation and the OG fans. David Guetta has done this numerous times in the last few years, most notably with Bebe Rexha. Now he’s doing it again with an ‘80s classic courtesy of Bonnie Tyler and this time he’s teaming up with up-and-coming DJ Hypaton for the song, which is a revamp of “Total Eclipse of the Heart”. The main lyric that has been borrowed and transformed is “’Cause we’ll never be wrong together” with “together” being repeated in the post-chorus on top of a dreamy, energetic and euphoric dance beat. It’s been over 40 years since the original version of the song was released, so it’s nice to see the song getting a new life in 2025. The demand for Bonnie’s hits are very much alive as David Guetta’s reasoning for creating this song is due to the incredible reception he’s been receiving in his live sets for incorporating samples of “Eclipse”. That’s usually how the story goes with dance interpolations - a DJ uses the sample, it goes viral on TikTok, the people demand for a release and boom… it hits streaming. I can already hear the speakers from a Mykonos day club blaring this, and I want to be there. 

 

“What Did I Miss?” by Drake

Drake is hurt, very hurt, and he wants all of you who hurt him to know that you did. You don’t write a lyric like “It’s love for my brothers and death to a traitor” unless you’re trying to send a message. His PR has taken quite the hit in the last year, and it seems like many of those he once called friends and colleagues have turned into enemies. You give me better inspiration for a new rap album era, I dare you. While he released new music earlier this year in the form of a collab album with PARTYNEXTDOOR, this upcoming project will be his first standalone body of work since the whole Kendrick feud came to be, so naturally Drizzy has some things to get off his chest. Whether you’re a fan of his or not (and I go back and forth), the man knows how to make a summer banger. Also, I hate to admit it, but the charts need him right now. The song’s lyrics don’t address anyone by name directly, but they seem to take aim at everyone from Rick Ross, Kendrick Lamar, Lebron James and Demar DeRozan among others. The Rick Ross of it all tickled me especially since Drake’s acknowledgement of him and that infamous Vancouver bar brawl comes in the form of a TLC pun – “you gon’ need a chilli ice pack for your left eye”. I’ll give you that one Drizzy, that was clever, as y’all know I’m a sucker for ‘90s R&B reference. “What Did I Miss?” serves as the first single from his upcoming album Iceman, and just to add another level to the pettiness, Drake was seen around the streets of Toronto this past weekend with… you guessed it, an ice truck! Petty, petty, petty but at least the new song snippets sound pretty good – hell hath no fury like a manchild scorned… or however that saying goes. 

 

“AyMami” by Danny Ocean, Kenia Os

I love a sexy Spanish back-and-forth duet, especially during the summer. “AyMami” is flirty and sultry and makes for the perfect sun-soaked anthem. While the song definitely has a sexual undertone, there is also an added narrative of love without any limitations or just any strings attached period. In the gay world we call that Saturday night at Woody’s. Danny Ocean is from Venezuela, while KeniaOS from Mexico, making for a blend of cultures and sounds. The two talk about having a kiss in their own respective cities, adding another layer of lore to the cross-country love session that is being played with in the song. Danny spoke to Rolling Stone and talked about how it took four years for both artists to finally link up together, and how it was important for him to collaborate with a Mexican artist given his immense success in the region. I love seeing artists from the same genre both embrace their own respective cultures and share it through song. Plus, if we’re keeping it all the way real, everything is just sexier in Spanish and I don’t know why. Ay, Papi!

 

MC’s VIRAL PICK

“Your Idol” by Saja Boys 

I don’t want to spoil too much of the ICONIC KPop Demon Hunters film for you all, but also it’s been out for a minute so proceed with caution. The movie has taken Hollywood by storm and has amassed a devoted following in a short period of time. It follows fictional girl group HUNTR/X, pop stars with secret identities as demon hunters. The Saja Boys are the rival boy band who happen to be demons, in disguise of course. They want to destroy the hunters and you can figure out the rest. The gag is that the band’s songs are f*cking fire – so fire that just as it is in the movie, Saja Boys songs are charting. The boys sing two songs in the movie, but as of today it’s “Your Idol” in particular that’s sitting pretty at #2 on the top Spotify charts (only behind Drake’s newest hit). A few days ago the song was #1 and the real kicker is that this is only the fourth song by a K-pop artist, and first by a K-pop boy band to have reached the top spot on that chart (“Seven”, “Who” and “APT.” are the other three songs). All this for a fictional boy band is kind of wild, but that’s proof that if the music is good, it doesn’t make a difference if it’s a real act or not. Plus, it’s time for the western music world to pay more attention to the impact of K-pop and the incredibly passionate fans of each act. K-pop acts are selling out stadiums as big as the biggest artists who sing in English. I wouldn’t be surprised if Saja Boys themselves turn into a real touring act. The Cheetah Girls did, so why the f*ck not. 

@her.fav.dream

#kpopdemonhunters #kpopdemonhunterscosplay #mysterykpopdemonhunters #mysterycosplay

♬ Your Idol - Saja Boys & Andrew Choi & Neckwav & Danny Chung & Kevin Woo & samUIL Lee & KPop Demon Hunters Cast

@soundtiss

JINU COSPLAY 😈 #jinucosplay #jinu #kpopdemonhunters #cosplayer #foryou #viral

♬ Your Idol - Saja Boys & Andrew Choi & Neckwav & Danny Chung & Kevin Woo & samUIL Lee & KPop Demon Hunters Cast

https://www.tiktok.com/@jjkkxzz/video/7518462779674692919

@pinkprincess123377

the saja boys would’ve got me at Soda Pop to be honest #kpopdemonhunters #jinu #sajaboys #movie

♬ Your Idol - Saja Boys & Andrew Choi & Neckwav & Danny Chung & Kevin Woo & samUIL Lee & KPop Demon Hunters Cast

You can also check out my “MC’s MUSIC LOUNGE” Spotify playlist here to keep up to date with my weekly picks throughout the year. 

With Love, 

MC