International artist Kristina Menissov released her 13th single, “Summer,” an airy, Afrobeats-infused pop track that reframes the idea of a carefree season into something closer to a personal philosophy. Out now via Drew Right Music Inc., the song trades the expectations of the “Hot Girl Summer” trope for a message about independence, self-reliance, and female community.
The single arrives with a clear point of view. Rather than framing summer as a performance for anyone else, Kristina positions it as a state of mind that belongs entirely to the woman living it.
“We’re not asking for a seat at the table. We’re building our own beach,” says Kristina. “‘Summer’ is for every woman who stopped waiting for permission and decided to make it hot herself.”
A Track Built on Reinvention
Kristina Menissov began her music career after years of formal training as an opera singer, and “Summer” marks a deliberate move away from those classical roots. The track leans into a breezy, conversational vocal style, the kind of sound made for top-down convertible drives and long afternoons near the water.
The recording took shape at the historic EastWest Studios in Los Angeles, a room with decades of history behind its walls. Kristina co-wrote the song with producer Andrew Lane, whose past collaborations include work with the Backstreet Boys and Irene Cara. Vocal production and background vocals came from Cooper Philip, adding a polished layer to the finished track.
That combination of talent gives “Summer” a lightness that still feels intentional. The rhythm carries the song, but the message underneath it does the real work. It signals an artist who wants her sound to say something, not just fill space on a playlist.
Redefining What “Hot Girl Summer” Means
The heart of “Summer” sits in how it flips a familiar cultural idea. Where the usual version of a summer anthem centers on looking good for an audience, this one rejects the male gaze entirely. Kristina frames the season as an effortless, high-fashion way of living that answers to no one.
The song reads less like a party track and more like a quiet declaration. It suggests that freedom does not require approval, and that confidence can be its own reward. For Kristina Menissov, the shift is the whole point. A summer worth celebrating is one a woman creates for herself.
That framing turns a song about feeling good in warm weather into something with more staying power. It becomes a message about ownership, about deciding what your own version of luxury looks like without waiting for anyone to hand it to you.
Sisterhood at the Center of the Story
The visual side of “Summer” reinforces the same idea. The cinematic music video, directed by Bakhodir Yuldashev and styled by Anna Gupta, was filmed at Aliso Beach and across Malibu. Instead of casting professional extras, Kristina filled the frame with her real-life friends.
That choice was deliberate. The video emphasizes that true luxury cannot exist without sisterhood, placing genuine relationships at the center of the story rather than the edges. The women on screen are not set dressing. They are the point.
It is a small detail that changes how the whole project lands. A song about self-reliance could easily feel isolating. By surrounding herself with the people who actually know her, Kristina makes the case that independence and community are not opposites. One can hold the other up.
An Independent Path in Pop
“Summer” continues a run of momentum for Kristina as an independent artist. Earlier singles, including “Her Story” and “Geisha,” found success on the iTunes charts, and each release has shown a willingness to move between genres and sounds rather than settle into one lane.
Her background gives that flexibility some weight. Kristina built her name first in fashion, working with houses such as Cartier, Balmain, and Givenchy and walking runways at New York Fashion Week, Los Angeles Fashion Week, and Miami Swim Week. She has appeared on the cover of Vogue Mexico and in other international publications, and she carries that visual sensibility into her music.
The move from modeling to recording is not always a smooth one for public figures, but Kristina has treated the two as connected rather than separate. Both draw on the same instincts for presentation, storytelling, and identity. “Summer” is a clear example of that overlap, pairing a strong aesthetic with a message she clearly believes in. It is a reminder that a well-rounded creative career can grow in more than one direction at once.
What Comes Next
The release does not mark a pause in her schedule. Fans can look ahead to a live studio version of “Anyway You Want,” recorded on Frank Sinatra’s piano for the upcoming short film “Ashes in the Sand.” It is the kind of detail that fits her larger approach, mixing high-profile settings with personal projects that mean something to her.
For now, though, the focus stays on “Summer.” The music video premiered on YouTube, and the single is available across Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and TikTok. You can follow Kristina on Instagram and TikTok for updates, watch the official music video on YouTube, or stream her catalog on Spotify.
More than a seasonal single, “Summer” reflects the artist behind it. Kristina built her career on the idea that reinvention is a strength, not a risk, and this release carries that belief into every verse. Whether listeners come for the beat or stay for the message, the track leaves the same impression Kristina seems to want. It is a song about making your own space, on your own terms, and inviting the right people in to share it.
