For fans of American Idol season 22, where dreams either catch fire or quietly fizzle out, a new partnership has emerged from the ashes—two soloists turned collaborators, Jordan Anthony and Mackenzie Sol, are offering a new take on soulful pop with their single, “Don’t Ya.” But don’t expect another cookie-cutter pop duet. This is a convergence of ambition, talent, and a shared understanding that sometimes two voices are better than one.
The track “Don’t Ya” marks the debut of J+M, as the duo calls themselves, a project neither artist anticipated but both wholeheartedly embraced. Mackenzie Sol, the Northern England native turned LA-based pop star, is the first to admit that collaboration wasn’t exactly on his radar. “Collaborating with Jordan was a dream I never knew I had,” Sol said. “As a solo artist, I never imagined working with someone else, but when the opportunity came, I couldn’t resist.” And that sums up the nature of “Don’t Ya”—unexpected, but it works. When the pair hit the studio and heard the song for the first time, they knew they had something. It wasn’t just a track. It was a hit.
https://open.spotify.com/album/7Mn9L75p5KZ1QaEbLeNp6w
For Jordan Anthony, whose rise to fame started in Perth, Australia, the journey to this collaboration has been just as unexpected. At 14, Anthony became the youngest finalist on The Voice Australia, earning a place in the Top 4. By the time he was 16, he was representing Australia at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest with his original song “We Will Rise.” At just 19, Anthony has already packed a career’s worth of accolades into a short time span, but the excitement of this first collaboration with Sol was undeniable. “I’m so excited about this record, not only to be releasing more music, but being able to collaborate with Mackenzie on this one just made sense for me,” Anthony reflected. “It’s always cool to release alongside other artists, especially as this will actually be the first collaboration project I’ve dropped.”
The synergy between the two artists is apparent from the first beat of “Don’t Ya,” a track that straddles the line between soulful vulnerability and high-energy pop. Anthony’s history of songwriting—marked by his heartfelt lyrics about bullying, heartbreak, love, and loss—infuses the track with emotional depth. Meanwhile, Sol’s early start in the entertainment industry (he was on X-Factor UK at just 4 years old) and years of training in London’s West End provide a theatrical flair to the production. The result? A song that feels like the perfect storm—polished, yes, but also raw in its emotionality.
Sol’s journey from the UK to the U.S. reads like a pop star’s dream diary: from training at the Royal Ballet School in London to performing with Jennifer Hudson, Josh Groban, and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds at the Carousel of Hope Ball in Los Angeles. His social media clout—12 million followers on TikTok and 1.3 million on Instagram—would suggest he’s in it for the flash of fame, but there’s more to Sol than the glitz of viral moments. His voice, drenched in soul, hints at a deeper understanding of his craft. At age 13, he was already singing alongside some of the greats, and at 22, he’s ready to make his mark as both a singer-songwriter and actor.
“Don’t Ya” benefits from this duality. It’s the marriage of Jordan’s earnestness and Mackenzie’s showmanship. The song itself thrives on contrasts—between smooth verses and punchy, high-energy choruses, between the laid-back beat and the urgency of the lyrics. It’s a modern pop song that knows its roots, pulling from the soulful traditions that define both artists’ backgrounds.
While their paths to American Idol were different—Anthony coming off a hot streak in Australia, Sol building a global social media presence—their shared love for storytelling is what ultimately makes “Don’t Ya” shine. The song touches on universal themes of love and vulnerability, but with a musicality that elevates it above the average pop offering. The layered harmonies give it a depth that recalls classic duets, while the production—helmed by a team of industry pros—ensures its relevance in today’s soundscape.
Sol, a performer since childhood, knows how to balance the fine line between heartfelt and polished. His years of ballet training, stage work, and collaborations with industry heavyweights have prepared him to navigate the music industry’s treacherous waters with grace. Likewise, Anthony, though younger, brings a rawness and sincerity that grounds the track in genuine emotion. Their contrasting styles—Sol’s soulful bravado and Anthony’s tender, introspective lyricism—create a dynamic that keeps the listener engaged from the first note to the last.
Their collaboration doesn’t end with this single, either. “We’re excited to share this song with the world and unveil the incredible content we have in store,” Sol teased, hinting at more projects to come. If “Don’t Ya” is any indication, this partnership is just getting started, and their future releases will likely continue to push the boundaries of pop-soul fusion.
At a time when many pop collaborations are thrown together for clicks or quick chart success, “Don’t Ya” feels refreshingly organic. It’s a project that, according to both artists, simply made sense. And while Jordan Anthony and Mackenzie Sol both have thriving solo careers, it’s clear that J+M is more than just a side project. It’s the beginning of something new, something exciting, and—if “Don’t Ya” is any indication—something that we’ll be hearing a lot more of in the months to come.
Gwen Waggoner
