Toronto-based artist Sabby Sousa taps into something nostalgic and exhilarating on her new single “Emerald”—out today on all digital platforms worldwide.

Despite its openness to tackle a romantic relationship gone astray, the smooth R&B song inhabits an optimistic headspace that values emotional maturity over impulsive demeanor.

With her syrupy vocals complementing the track’s atmospheric sonic backdrop, Sabby remembers her past relationship fondly, setting aside bitterness for a peace of mind. “I had gone through a breakup and didn’t want to write anything sad or angry,” the teen-pop sensation shares. “I wanted to remember what it felt like in those moments and hold them close. It reminded me that not all relationships are meant to last forever. What lasts forever is the memories you make. So live life to the fullest.”

Unlike her viral bop “Cream n’ Frosting,” which hit more than two million streams on all music platforms and landed on Spotify Viral 50 charts in the Philippines and Malaysia, Sabby’s smoky new track establishes her more introspective side as both a singer-songwriter and a vocalist.

This time, she mines a wistful narrative straight from a journal entry: confessional in form and function, but also hopeful in the way it was written and delivered. “There’s a lot of electric guitar and synths that make the song so dreamy,” Sabby Sousa adds. “I would definitely say, it’s a lot different to previous songs as it marks the beginning of a new sound for me.”

“Emerald” is produced by House of Wolf, a rising French-Canadian electronic duo who has worked with the likes of Cheat Codes and Carlie Henson.

Recorded in August last year, the infectious jam sounds like a star turn from a young artist who is now ready to take the spotlight and make a lightning strike, one more time.