JOHNNY E SULLIVAN mapped Manhattan’s emotional undercurrent in the pop earwom, ‘New York Nights’ –

Pop rarely sounds as alive as it does in Johnny E Sullivan’s latest single, New York Nights. The 16-year-old New York City native sharpened the edges of metropolitan pop by lacing it with Latin rhythm and late-night pulse, setting a new standard for sonic storytelling from the Gen Z perspective. From the moment the beat kicks in, the earworm writhes with superlative style, echoing the city’s relentless buzz through his impassioned kaleidoscope of layered instrumentals.

Sullivan paints the already relentlessly storied streets with emotional precision. With charisma that’s a gravitational force in itself, he reimagines the cityscape as a place of possibility, fuelled by longing, energy, and creative ambition. Every cadence carries the kind of youthful verve that refuses to settle for the well-trodden path, channelling his reality as a competitive athlete turned songwriter into a pop anthem that speaks volumes.

Since making waves with rooftop sets and unfiltered songwriting clips across social media, he’s rapidly etched out a place in the NYC pop scene with his melodic vulnerability and fresh honesty. Influences from The Kid Laroi, Lauv, and Bazzi are present, but it’s his ability to shape raw experience into something cinematic that’s setting him apart.

New York Nights marks a confident new chapter following the release of ‘It Is What It Is’, teasing a 2026 packed with promise and more emotionally charged singles from one of the city’s brightest young voices.

New York Nights is now available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast