BEYOND THE NOTES
Photo by Taniya Cooksey
February 4, 2026 | Hailey Benzvi
Pop artist Lily Sturges will release her new single “Want You Back” on February 4, marking her first release with Cherry Pop Records and her third song to date. The track represents a shift in sound for Sturges, combining pop and house elements with subtle rock influences and R&B undertones, signaling a new era in her musical evolution.
“This song started as a purely instrumental house piece that had originally won the YPG Spotify beat battle, but I wanted to challenge myself to expand and add lyrics,” Sturges said. “After recording the lyrics, I was unsatisfied with how the drums sounded because I had used a drum track, so I muted all the instrumentals and started playing around with my own synths and drum packs, ending up with a similar but completely different sound.”
Sturges describes “Want You Back” as intentionally dark and seductive, aiming to capture the emotional intensity of longing and desire.
“I wanted this song to feel sultry, sexy, and a little evil, like how you feel when you want someone back, dangerous almost,” she said.
The track features layered vocal chops, experimental synth textures, and blended analog and digital production techniques, showcasing her growing technical confidence and curiosity as a producer. “The chorus’ vocal chops mimic the original, but I spent hours experimenting with different chop patterns to get the final result,” she said. “The synths were a learning experience for me as well; half of them are analog and the other half are Serum synths. The guitar has some of the original recordings I did in my living room and some from the Schoenberg studio.”
Compared to her earlier, slower and softer releases, “Want You Back” is more energetic and production-forward, featuring prominent synths, a driving beat, and intentional use of autotune. The track signals a more confident and modern direction for Sturges, highlighting both her evolving genre influences and her growth as a songwriter and producer.
“I wanted to continue experimenting with sound design when it comes to production and hope you guys like the song as much as I do,” she added. “I really love this song, and I’m very proud of how much work went into this.”
“Want You Back” is now out on all streaming platforms. Contact Hailey Benzvi at cherrypoprecs@gmail.com for all press inquiries.
About Lily Sturges:
Lily Sturges is a first-year student in UCLA’s Music Industry program. The Los Angeles-based electronic artist moves between alternative R&B, house, and dream pop, weaving subtle rock elements into her production. Sturges approaches music as a visual experience by bridging sound and aesthetics together. Her work is representative of her perspective, through her current experimentation with Western-inspired fashion and modern East Coast prep. Sturges brings a moody, cinematic edge and a forward-looking style to the table – a true fresh perspective.