It's almost absurd that we're in the middle of July as I write this. I have friends groaning that the summer is over already, which is completely and wholly untrue in my eyes. But enough with the mourning, this article is about happiness (among other things.)

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As you read this, imagine me to be sitting somewhere on a beach in New Jersey (hold your horrified gasps) surrounded by friends and a Bose Soundlink Max speaker blaring my favorite tracks. I'm always on aux, dear reader, as I'm sure you can imagine. My Spotify playlists are highly sought after by a specific group of people (my friends).

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What can you say about a 2x World No. 1 DJ, who has been leading the electronic dance world for over a decade since he was only 14, who has officially remixed tracks for huge names in the music industry like Rihanna and Calvin Harris, that hasn't already been said? That's the case with the legendary Hardwell, who at 25, is just getting started.

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Video and Photos by Jordan Edwards

Like many of his peers in the LA music scene, Haiden is unashamedly pop. While he's gained a fair share of streams, his music is unpredictable, touching on the last three decades of rock. It helps that his voice is versatile, as evident from his TikTok, where he consistently teases new songs and posts covers straight to camera with no microphone.

Haiden by Jordan Edwards for Popdust

Haiden by Jordan Edwards for Popdust

Raised in Ojai, Calif., and educated at USC, he released his debut EP Good Grief! last fall. He speaks like a college professor (a cool one), records songs that last longer than three minutes, and dares not to stylize his name in all caps.

From the layered production to the vivid lyrics, it's clear he makes music meant to last, not just trending sounds. A good example is his latest single "flight attendant," an epic ballad with echos of Silverchair.

Watch Haiden talk about his favorite songs by Eminem, Arctic Monkeys, and more for 5 Tracks That Inspired Me, and stream "flight attendant" below.

5 Tracks That Inspired Haiden


For more from Haiden, follow him on Instagram and TikTok.

MUSIC

13 of the Most Controversial Music Videos Ever

From Kanye West to Madonna, these gory and graphic clips got people talking — for better or for worse.

Photo by Gordon Cowie on Unsplash

Music videos are a perfect opportunity to expand the story of a song.

The best music videos can showcase killer choreography, Halloween-ready attire, or movie levels of cinematic gold; others can spark controversies, no matter how well-intended. Whether centered around copious bloodshed or near-pornographic nudity (sorry, Mom and Dad), there's one thing all controversial music videos have in common: They get people talking.

Here are 13 music videos released over the past 30-plus years that have sparked disputes. Watch at your own risk.

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By: PETER JONELEIT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Hip-Hop legend Snoop Dogg is rap's cool uncle.

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