The most international Belgian pop star returns. But Angèle does not offer more of the same in ‘What You Want’, but instead proposes a long-awaited and refreshing evolution of her sound, holding the hand – very tightly – of Justice, producers of the song.
And it shows. Let’s say that ‘What You Want’ doesn’t seem so much like a collaboration between Angèle and Justice, but rather Justice and Angèle. The dense, dark and creeping musical production would not have been out of place in the universe of ‘Hyperdrama’ (2024), Justice’s latest album, given its semi-gothic aspect, to the point that Angèle seems like the guest artist in her own song.
Even so, ‘What You Want’ is one of the most interesting musical proposals so far in 2026. The base is powerful, Angèle sounds ethereal and, after all, international pop almost no longer dares to take this creative risk. Wasn’t this what we expected from ‘Radical Optimism’, and not 10 tributes to All Saints? Justice’s previous feature, on The Weeknd’s ‘Wake Me Up’ (2025), was really good, but it didn’t offer this level of forcefulness.
Angèle and Justice met after the artist greeted them in her dressing room after a concert. They talked about their careers and their creative visions, and Angèle suggested they visit her at the studio. Angèle had ‘What You Want’ written, but she was not satisfied with the demo and proposed to Gaspard and Xavier that they give it a spin. When Justice sent him his part, they managed to provide the “electro-club tension and expertise” that he was missing.
That tension runs through the entire song and is sexual in nature, as ‘What You Want’ explores desire, with Angèle singing about “role reversals”, kissing in the shower and demanding attention: “I like it when you talk, but shut up when I touch you.”
Charging …