Moonchild and their mellow vibes are the complete antithesis to the chaos currently swirling around in the world. Now that they are readying their newest album Waves for release this coming February and the kickoff of their Waves Tour 2026 the following month, the trio is in a giving mood. To that effect, they’ve released not one, but two tracks from the upcoming album as a double single — the beautifully vulnerable “Strong” featuring Erin Bentlage and the jazzy self-love cut “For Yourself” featuring Lalah Hathaway and drummer Chris “Daddy” Dave.
“Strong” deals with the complicated feelings of loving a man who’s heartbroken over someone else. Over the song’s lush production (as is standard for a Moonchild release), lead singer Amber Navran and Erin Bentlage seamlessly blend their voices as they address what’s been plaguing this dying relationship. It’s all summed up in the chorus, on which they sing, “I didn’t need you to feel strong / I needed someone / Someone to cry with me, someone to hide with me / (I needed someone) / To cry with me, say it’s never gonna be all right.”
“For Yourself” acts as a sort of companion piece to “Strong.” With jazzy, neo soul vibes to spare thanks to wobbly synths, keys, snaps and Chris Dave’s drum skills, the song hooks the listener in while giving an important message, seemingly speaking to the woman trying to fix her man on “Strong.” “He won’t let you in if it’s up to him / Don’t wanna see it for himself,” Amber sings on the chorus. “He can’t love you like you love him / You’ve gotta find it for yourself.”
Lalah’s entry into the song switches the groove up entirely, with things slowing down to half-time so she can make her point clear. “Dust off your cape and get your mind right,” she advises on her verse. “It’s time to fight, girl, fight for you.”
While both songs fit right in with the rest of the Moonchild catalog, the addition of these collaborators changes up the group’s formula just enough to have us intrigued about what else is to come. It’s going to be a long wait until February. Pass the time by listening to “Strong” and “Love Yourself” when you press play.
