Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Motivation”: A Glittering, House-Infected Anthem for Blood and Chosen Family

Pop royalty Carly Rae Jepsen is at it again, reminding everyone why she holds a permanent crown in intelligent, emotionally resonant dance-pop. Ahead of her massive 24-track double album, Day and Night (dropping September 18), she’s just shared her latest shimmering single, “Motivation”.

Living on the “Night” side of the record—the half that leans hard into maximalist, club-ready energy—”Motivation” manages to balance deep personal storytelling with an absolute earworm of a groove.

Sidewalks, Soundchecks, and Soundscapes

Penned alongside Cole M.G.N. (who co-produced it with Kyle Shearer), the track actually started in the most unassuming way: during a fall walk in Jepsen’s hometown. As the leaves crunched underfoot, she caught a rhythm and started turning over thoughts about complicated family dynamics, high expectations, and the people who make us who we are.

“Motivation became my way of making peace with all of that—it’s our little family anthem that recognizes all the complicated parts, but I hope it can be an anthem for chosen families as well.” — Carly Rae Jepsen

That warmth shines right through the lyrics, especially when she sings:

• “We go hard in this family / We love hard in this family / I’m in love with my family / We’ve got room for insanity…”

The Pulse of “Day and Night”

While earlier teasers like “On Wires” and “After All” gave us the sun-soaked, left-field indie pop of the “Day” tracklist, “Motivation” plugs straight into the vibrant pulse of the “Night” side. It hits that sweet spot reminiscent of her golden E•MO•TION era, but layers in a sophisticated, strutting house bounce that feels tailor-made for late-night city drives.

A Parisian Visual Masterpiece

Naturally, the music video is a whole moment in itself. Directed by Caio Viera—who also handled the “On Wires” visual—the clip was shot on location in Paris and is packed with gorgeous choreography.

The video even features an appearance from fashion icon and RuPaul’s Drag Race breakout Gigi Goode, tying into the theme of connection before closing out with a sweet, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo from Jepsen’s newborn baby.

Stream “Motivation” Now

If Day and Night is any indication, Carly Rae Jepsen is playing a completely different game than the rest of pop music right now.

• Album: Day and Night (Out September 18)

• Where to Listen: Out now on all major streaming platforms.