"Solo" by Clean Bandit feat. Demi Lovato - Single Review

   Hey Demi, want to make sure you have not forgotten about stellar Tell Me You Love Me just yet. Remember potential singles “Daddy Issues”, “Ruin the Friendship”, “Cry Baby”, “Games”, etc.?

   Okay, moving on.

   Not only has “Sorry Not Sorry” songstress Demi Lovato fulfilled a childhood dream by releasing the empowering “Fall In Line” alongside idol Christina Aguilera earlier this week, but the artist has also managed to collaborate with instrumental trio Clean Bandit for “Solo”, a dancefloor jam portraying Lovato as the queen of heartbreak. Fresh off successful collaborations with the likes of Anne-Marie, Julia Michaels and Zara Larson, the new release could be another in a line of deserved chart hits.

   “Solo” incorporates Clean Bandit’s gorgeous and delicate strings, paired with EDM-styled beats, to provide Lovato with a technicolor escape following a tough break up. Instead of finding strength to move forward and find another suitor, the singer finds herself stuck, reminiscing about the good times with her former flame. Quite frankly, Lovato admits to being the one who ruined it all. Now she must pay for her actions by enduring nights out with boys who are not up to par.

   Pain and despair can be heard in Lovato’s pitch-perfect vocals as she retells Clean Bandit member Grace Chatto’s real-life relationship demise through a different lens. Forced to be reminded of her mistakes, the uptempo production creates a cruel juxtaposition as Lovato struggles to shake off the feeling of loneliness. “Every single night I lose it, I can't even hear the music without you, try to stop myself from calling, but I really wanna know if you're with someone new,” she admits on the second verse.

   Though difficult to hear, the new “Solo” does not only dwell on the negative. Buried within, vital messages of self-love and recovery are sprinkled throughout. While she may have given up a bond so special and important, along the way, she uncovers strength in being on her own. No immediate rebound necessary. While things may look grim and bleak at the moment, Clean Bandit ensures there’s an optimistic ending on the horizon.

   Lovato has become quite the club queen lately. While previous diverse projects with Jax Jones and Cheat Codes (“Instruction”, “No Promises”) showcased her vocal abilities outside her normal comfort zone, the recently released “Solo” perfects the foray into dance territory. The new single is an infectious effort carried to thrilling heights by authentic sentiment and a subtle Latin flare. This meaningful collaboration should not have trouble finding time on the radio airwaves.