Carly Rae Jepsen Channels ABBA on New Single From Double Album

Carly Rae Jepsen is channeling her inner ABBA with “Don’t Leave Me on the Dance Floor,” a shimmering new single that captures the Swedish legends’ infectious pop energy while pushing it into her own contemporary sound. The track marks the first offering from the “Night” half of her upcoming double album Day and Night, a 24-track project that promises to showcase different moods and creative directions.

The inspiration behind this infectious earworm came directly from a pilgrimage to ABBA Voyage, the immersive concert experience in London. After recording sessions in Sweden, Jepsen made the trip to catch the show, and the experience reignited her passion for pristine pop craftsmanship. “I came home with a mission of making my own ABBA-esque pop song,” she explained in a statement. The result feels both reverential and refreshingly modern, a careful balance between honoring a legacy and creating something distinctly Jepsen.

Crafting the Perfect Pop Hook

Working alongside producers CJ Baran and Arthur Besnainou, Jepsen prioritized melody above all else. She wanted what she called “a perfect pop melody” paired with updated production that wouldn’t feel like a museum piece. But beyond the sonic framework, there’s something equally important embedded in this track: an irresistible call to action. “I wanted a hook that made you feel like you had to participate and sing along,” Jepsen said.

That participatory element is crucial to understanding what makes this song work. It’s not enough to passively listen; “Don’t Leave Me on the Dance Floor” practically begs you to become part of the experience. In that way, it’s very much in the spirit of ABBA’s greatest hits, which have maintained their cultural relevance precisely because they invite universal singalongs.

A Visual Story for Uncertain Times

The accompanying music video brings a new creative voice to Jepsen’s visual storytelling. Director Jeremy O. Harris, a Tony-nominated playwright and actor, makes his music video directorial debut here, bringing theatrical sensibility to the project. Stars Alden Ehrenreich and Olivia Washington play a couple navigating the fragile terrain of commitment.

Harris brought his own emotional depth to the project, viewing the song as a statement about resilience in relationships. “I feel so lucky that Alden and Olivia were here to play a couple on the brink,” Harris explained. He sees the track as representing something larger: people choosing to work through their struggles rather than abandon each other. In his reading, “Don’t Leave Me on the Dance Floor” becomes a gentle manifesto about staying committed through dark times.

The Bigger Picture

This single arrives as part of Day and Night, Jepsen’s first album of new material since 2023’s The Loveliest Time. The double album concept allows her to explore different emotional territories, with the “Day” and “Night” halves presumably offering contrasting perspectives. Previous singles “On Wires” and “After All” have already given listeners a taste of what’s to come when the project drops on September 18.

For fans of pop music, this release signals that Jepsen remains uncompromising in her pursuit of craftsmanship and emotional authenticity. She’s not chasing trends; she’s creating timeless pop moments that demand to be sung in the shower, at parties, and in cars with the windows down. Whether she’s channeling ABBA or exploring her own territory, Jepsen continues to prove why she matters in contemporary entertainment.

The question now is whether the rest of Day and Night can maintain this level of thoughtful pop brilliance, or if “Don’t Leave Me on the Dance Floor” will stand alone as the album’s shining moment.

Source: Rolling Stone