FFO: Ryan Petitjean

Stockton musician Ryan Petitjean releases his new single, HEAT, ahead of an EP release later this year. The track is an infectious earworm, showcasing Ryan’s pop and R&B sound. Here, he talks about three tracks which sum up his style.

Tate McRae – Sports Car

This was my song of the year in 2025 without question. What I love most about Sports Car is that it never feels like it’s trying too hard to be cool, it just is. There’s something so infectious about the production, especially that opening melody, and the lyrics just radiate confidence. It’s packed with clever metaphors and distinctive phrasing, and Tate’s vocal delivery made it feel unlike anything else when it came out. As soon as I heard it, I knew I wanted to create a song that captured that same feeling. That’s really where HEAT began. The first two-thirds of the track are built around that same bold, self-assured energy, embracing desire without apology. While HEAT ultimately takes a different emotional turn, Sports Car was the blueprint for creating something that felt equally addictive and instantly memorable.

JADE – Headache

Honestly, JADE’s whole debut album shaped the sound I wanted to chase with HEAT. It’s unapologetically pop while constantly experimenting with different textures, influences and ideas, blending polished pop with an alternative edge. Headache in particular was a huge inspiration because of the way it transforms. It starts as this confident, boisterous track before suddenly becoming something much more vulnerable and pleading. That switch was the moment HEAT really clicked for me. Like Headache, it doesn’t stick to a traditional pop structure, and the ending is a complete emotional and sonic shift from where it begins, both lyrically and in the production.

Robyn – Dopamine

When I first heard Dopamine, I was struck by how it balances euphoria and melancholy within the same song. It’s a huge, futuristic pop track, but every production choice reinforces the emotion behind the lyrics. That contrast felt really fitting for the kind of yearning I wanted to explore in HEAT. I also love how the track is constantly evolving rather than staying in one place. The lyric, “but it feels so real to me,” really stuck with me because it captures the idea that even when something isn’t healthy, or maybe isn’t even real, if it gives you that feeling, it can be incredibly difficult to let go.