On her fourth album, Plæygirl, MØ is finally having fun again. When making her 2014 debut, No Mythologies to Follow, the Danish singer-songwriter was creating purely for herself. After a breakout feature on Major Lazer’s global smash “Lean On,” she continued to chase pop highs through high-profile collaborations and chart hits. In trying to keep up with the industry hamster wheel, she eventually lost sight of what grounded her, and the resulting burnout spawned 2022’s Motordrome. As MØ spent the next two years writing, seeing artists like Charli xcx and Chappell Roan be applauded for their fearless authenticity did more than inspire her—it helped her heal. Plæygirl is what happens when she tunes everything else out, follows her instincts, and just goes for it. MØ worked with producer Nick Sylvester (Yaeji, Channel Tres) to create Plæygirl’s sound, mixing her Scandi-pop roots with colorful electronic production that feels youthful and, at times, defiant. It’s a fitting backdrop for her unflinching storytelling. She embraces her outsider status on the fizzy “SWEET” (“I don’t go to clubs/I go to Comic-Cons and thrash metal shows”) and mocks societal pressures with a resounding “BUAH!” over punkish disco on “Keep Møving.” But beneath the playful surface are adult emotions. They’re messy, intense, and soul-wrenching, such as when she wrestles with her fear of commitment (“Who Said”), treats heartbreak with club therapy (“Knife”), or realizes she’s in a codependent relationship (“Without You”). Through the hard times, “Lose Yourself” is a reminder to live in the moment, and that those moments are often better shared with friends: “It's our time now, it won't last forever.”