Belot's too busy having a good time on The Good Life

This has garnered an audience in the past year off of some strong singles and EPs. Her music, inspired by pop divas like Charli XCX and Rina Sawayama, reflects a youthful, energetic carefree mindset. Enter The Good Life, Belot's latest EP. It’s just her third short project, arriving a year after her breakout EP Harmless Fun. And if there's anything I've learned about Belot on this record, it's that she's got a penchant for sticky hooks, dance-pop grooves, and shouting out her name.

Title track, "The Good Life," preaches the simple message of living your best life and having fun. Complimented by a tight drum beat and exciting synth passages, which all come together for a pop bop par excellence. "V.I.P." is easily the strongest song here, with a sexy bassline, eccentric vocal passages, and a groove bound to get you moving on the dance floor. It's an excellent showcase of her vibrant personality and uses its brevity to its advantage.

The other few tracks here don't measure up, however, most of which are better suited for a J.C. Penney dressing room or a Walmart. Especially the closer "Ain't It A Shame" and its clunky instrumental that brings little in the way of a memorable vocal line or melody. Many of the issues this record faces come on the lyrical front – with lyrics like "Happy hour makes you feel sad / Which makes you feel mad / Which makes you feel bad," Belot is focused more on earworm melodies than crafting a well-written line.

Another example of this writing is on the opening song "Cool Whip," which has Belot doing her best impression of Carly Rae Jepsen. It's a generic pop song and has Belot wearing her influences on her sleeve. However what Belot lacks in emotional depth, she makes up for with confidence. Many of these songs show Belot with more braggadocio than a bling-era rapper. The swagger expressed in these songs is infectious, and her vocal performances are varied and enthusiastic.

In a recent interview, Belot explains her motivations for writing this project: "The record is about going to things, not overthinking, knowing that doing what feels right is usually the right thing." I have to agree with her. These songs work best in the background when not thinking about them too much.