For many of us, Jesse McCartney has been a mainstay in pop culture for almost our entire lives. He’s been in music since the early 2000s, and acted on television, in cartoons, and in video games in the intervening years. Musically, McCartney hasn’t released new material since 2014, when he released his fifth album, In Technicolor. Four years later, McCartney has once again graced us with new music, this time in the form of the heartfelt single “Better With You.”

If you have a loved one that has changed your life, “Better With You” will especially resonate with you. McCartney sings about how even though the world is dark and often frightening, it’s always easier to manage with someone by your side. It also speaks to how a solid relationship encourages growth for each person, with McCartney singing “I was a wreck when you came along
When there was nothing left you showed me the best” on the chorus. Musically, the song stays acoustic on the verses, with some impressive guitar picking, and mixes pop sensibilities into the mix on the chorus.

“Better With You” also comes with a music video. The video stars actress Danielle Campbell alongside McCartney, and depicts McCartney’s life with and without her. Needless to say, it’s much happier when she’s in the picture. I also love how the video shows how a small, seemingly random moment can change a person’s life for the better.

You can watch the video for Jesse McCartney’s new single “Better With You” above, or listen to the stream on Spotify below. I’m a big fan of the acoustic pop blend that McCartney displays on “Better With You,” and am eagerly anticipating what his next move will be. Stay tuned in to Substream for more as it comes.