“in the city” by cathleen ireland feels like stepping into a cinematic skyline – neon lights reflecting off wet pavement, the rush of bodies moving in every direction, and one solitary voice carrying above it all. it’s not just a pop single, it’s a full experience: groove-driven, emotionally layered, and rich with the kind of detail that sticks with you long after the last note fades.

there’s a real sense that ireland has always been more than a singer. she’s a songwriter, producer, filmmaker, and storyteller whose work has moved across genres and mediums. her music videos have been selected for over 70 international film festivals, she has taken home more than 20 awards, and her songs have reached the finals of major competitions from the international acoustic music awards to the usa songwriting competition. but accolades aside, what defines her is an ability to weave vulnerability into something luminous. “in the city” is xża showcase of that skill.

the track, produced in collaboration with multi-platinum producer ryan m. tedder (ariana grande, jennifer lopez, meghan trainor), blends radio-ready sheen with heartfelt storytelling. synths shimmer like skyscraper windows at dusk, while rhythmic layers pulse with the energy of crowded streets. above it all is ireland’s unmistakable voice: soulful, emotive, steady in its power but never overdone. she doesn’t belt for the sake of spectacle; instead, every phrase is measured, carried with intention, letting the words resonate.

lyrically, “in the city” balances universality with intimacy. the song feels as though it’s speaking both to an individual listener and to the collective hum of urban life. cathleen doesn’t romanticize city living blindly, nor does she dwell in cynicism – instead she captures the paradox of city existence: exhilarating and isolating, connective and lonely, radiant and fragile. that honesty gives the song a pulse of its own, one that beats in sync with the listener.

what makes “in the city” work so well is its structure. the verses are spacious, like wide avenues filled with possibility, before the chorus arrives like a flood of headlights, luminous and insistent. the bridge cracks the song open just enough to breathe, before everything surges back, bigger and more alive. it’s a pop construction, yes, but it avoids the clichés of formula – instead it feels crafted, cared for, designed to carry emotion as much as rhythm.

the collaboration with tedder is felt not just in polish but in restraint. the track could have gone maximalist, chasing the high drama of pop drops and EDM climaxes. instead, it holds back, focusing on clarity, on groove, on texture. ireland’s voice is given space to lead, and that space is what makes the track land with such weight.

it’s a reminder of what pop music can be when handled with both skill and honesty: not disposable, not background, but a place of connection and reflection. cathleen ireland has given us a skyline in sound, a city made of rhythm and memory, and a song that will keep glowing long after it ends. we really love it.

thank u for making this cathleen ireland 🌆✨