Mathea-Mari shines as the summer anthem in “Crush”

Mathea-Mari has returned, and it’s with a voice that seems at once a memory and a revelation. The 24-year-old Norwegian pop singer, a child star who’d made it to the finals of Norway’s Got Talent at age 12 and taken the top spot at Eurovision Junior at 14, returns with “Crush,” a sparkling, feel-good update of a little-known early-2000s gem. "Crush" is not just a re-imagined track but Mathea-Mari’s reminder to the world that she’s here, shining and ready to take pop music by storm.

Written in 2003 by legendary rock producer Rick Beato for the band SomeOtherLife, this version receives a full pop update from Mathea-Mari, who adds her distinctive presence and warming charisma. Her voice floats through the track with a magnetic composure. There is no push, no strain, just a calm, effortlessly magnetic tone that draws you close and refuses to let go. She brings it up all the time, but what she delivers is rarely captured: a proper balance struck between nostalgia and now.

“Crush” is luminous, catchy, and the equivalent of a summer breeze in song form. While the melody retains the tug of the mid-2000s, it lifts emotionally; the production is fresh and sparkling, with the visible resonance of radio-­scaled polish, loaded with the gusto of the now. There’s a special kind of luster to it, like sunlight off water, and Mathea-Mari’s voice is that luster.

But what distinguishes her, in addition to that formidable vocal talent, is the down-home authenticity she imparts to a given moment. There’s no overproduction, no gimmick, just a true artist re-reintroducing herself with confidence and a song that sounds instantly familiar and totally her own. On “Crush,” Mathea-Mari demonstrates that comebacks don’t have to be bombastic to leave a mark. Sometimes, a song finds the right voice at the right moment. 

Link with Mathea-Mari: Instagram